NORTH CAUCASUS

Depart from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai. On arrival, check-in hotel for rest until next flight to Mineralnye Vody Airport near Nalchik.

On arrival, transfer through immigration and meet and greet with local guide. Proceed for breakfast. Then, we start our tour wth drive to Dzeirakh. Visit to Erzi Mosque, Erzi Tower Complex (A massive medieval castle-type settlement), Egikal Towers Complex, Targim Valley (Famous for its medieval stone watchtowers and castles) and Vovnushki Tower Complex (The most famous Ingush defensive towers). Drive to Vladikavraz. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, drive to Verkhniy Lars to view Darial Gorge (Wall of Gog and Magog). Head back to Vladikavkaz. Photostop at Monument Issa Pliyev (a majestic equestrian statue of the two-time Hero of the Soviet Union), visit Sunni Mosque (also known as Mukhtarov Mosque, was built in the early 20th century and it resembles Cairo mosques) and National Museum of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. Evening stroll at Mira Avenue. You will see the buildings beautifully illuminated. Dinner and rest. Overnight in Vladikavkaz.

After breakfast , check-out and drive to Beslan and stop at Beslan school memorial, where the tragic 2004 hostage crisis occurred. Continue drive to Magas, the capital city of Ingushetia, and visit the Memorial of Deportation and Military Glory. Then we drive to Grozny with sightseeing Ahmad Kadyrov Museum, walk through the Flower Park and panoramic city views from Grozny Business Center rooftop. Dinner and overnight in Grozny.

Have early breakfast, and drive off to Galanchozhsky District of Chechnya. Stop at Lake Galanchozh and picnic lunch at the beautiful lake. Proceed to Chechen villages, old medieval settlements with defensive towers. Around the surrounding areas are burial grottos. Continue tour to the ruins of Khaibakh village, where around 700 villagers were massacred (in 1944, Joseph Stalin approved Operation Lentil, where Chechens and Ingush were deported to prison camps in Central Asia). Take the scenic journey back to Grozny. Visit Heart of Chechnya Mosque (also known as the Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque). Then, continue drive to Terek River Valley (have a feel where Hulegu suffered a massive defeat when his forces retreated across the frozen river and the ice broke, drowning much of his army). Dinner and rest. Overnight in Grozny.

After breakfast, check-out and continue journey to Shali city. Visit Shali Grand Mosque (also known as The Price of Muslims Mosque). Drive to Sary-Kum Dune (height of 244 to 262 meters, one of the highest dunes in the world), the lower Sulak River and tour the spectacular Sulak Canyon (one of the deepest canyons in the world and the deepest in Europe. Its depth reaches 1920 meters and 53km length), which served as a natural geographic barrier during Arab-Khazar wars (The Cradle of Balanjar and Samandar). Walk along the observation deck will give you breathtaking view of the turquoise Sulak River. Drive Makhachkala for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, drive to Derbent (129Km), a city with 2,000 years of history. On arrival, start sightseeing with visit the Architectural Complex Citadel Naryn-Kala, Wall of Derbent (UNESCO World Heritage Site, its massive stone walls and towers stretch along the strategic pass between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains), and Kyrkhlyar Cemetery (the cemetery is associated with the first campaign of the Muslims in the Caucasus, led by Salman Ibn Rabiah Al-Bahili, companion of the Prophet Muhammad SAW). After lunch, visit the Derbent Juma Mosque and stop at traditional Tea House at Chaikhana. Drive to the shore of the Caspian Sea and photo stop at the miracle of Soviet technology - the giant Ekranoplan Lun (Also known as Caspian Sea Monster, used to travel across the Caspian Sea). Return to Makhachkala. Dinner and rest. Overnight in Makhachkala.

After breakfast, start city tour in Makhachkala, the capital city Republic of Dagestan. Visit Djuma Mosque (one of the largest mosques in Russia, inspired by Istanbul’s Blue Mosque), Dagestan Museum of Fine Arts (offer insights into the many ethnic groups that make up this mountainous Republic) and shopping at local bazaar. Take a walk along the Caspian Sea Promenade, the waterfront area. You will see a glimpse into everyday life in the city. After dinner, transfer to airport for your flight back to Kuala Lumpur.

Depart early morning to Kuala Lumpur via Dubai. Arrive with wonderful memories of South Dagestan.