Many connoisseurs of the beauty of nature do not get tired of saying that the most important thing that can give a vacation in the Crimea is the opportunity to see with their own eyes the stunning landscapes, which are so rich in the peninsula. Outstanding natural objects on the territory of the ancient Taurica is really a lot, and, spending a vacation here, with them can easily get acquainted with everyone who wants. One of such more than worthy for acquaintance corners of Crimea is Botkin Trail, traveling along which you can see the beautiful surroundings of Yalta.
If you want to get acquainted with the wonderful Crimean nature, ready to present each interested tourist a lot of pleasant surprises and give the brightest impressions, but there is no opportunity or desire to go on a long hike, one of the best options will be a walk along the Botkin Trail. This trail was laid by members of the Crimean-Caucasian Mountain Club near Yalta in 1901-1902 and belongs to the category of trails-terrenkur (from terra — land, cure — to treat). Guiding the tourist through the most beautiful terrain, the trail allows you to enjoy all the positive effects of «treatment by the terrain»: breathing the healing mountain air, filled with the aromas of the Crimean forest, contemplating the natural landscapes of fabulous beauty and breathtaking panoramas that open to the eye, everyone gets well, energized and energized, filled with the most favorable emotions.
The trail was named Botkin Trail in honor of the prominent Russian doctor S.P. Botkin, who was one of the first to discover that the nature of the South Coast of Crimea has a positive effect on health, and recommended mountain walks as a means of strengthening the body.
The trail starts near the «Glade of Fairy Tales» — a museum of folk decorative art, located right in the open air. Its visit will be a pleasant beginning of a tourist walk — here you can see more than 200 sculptures, including those made of moss, copper, wood and other materials, and visit the zoo working on the basis of the museum. Near «Glade of Fairy Tales» there is a signpost to the Botkin Trail, which starts a little to the north — it is impossible to get lost here, as the signposts are installed along the whole route, the length of which from the beginning of the trail to its end point — Stavri-Kaya Rock, is 4.6 km (about 2.5h of travel time).
No physical preparation is required for traveling along the trail — such a walk is possible for everyone. Through fabulous thickets of oak, linden, beech, aspen, maple, hornbeam and other trees along the left side of the Uchan-Su river valley, the Botkin trail leads through the Lower and Upper Yauzlar waterfalls and the Kush-Kaya rock to the top of the Stavri-Kaya rock.
Despite the fact that the most impressive sight Yauzlar waterfalls are in spring, when the snow melts, in summer they are also worthy of attention — contemplating such a beauty of nature, it is impossible not to be inspired by it, not to think about how limitless is the imagination of the world’s most talented creator. The same thoughts will certainly arise at the end of the trail: standing at its end point — the top of the Stavri-Kaya rock and enjoying the opening grandiose panorama of the Black Sea, which is visible from here for a third of its width (100km!) and Yalta everyone gets the most pleasant impressions!
Having walked the Botkin trail all the way to Stavri-Kai you don’t have to return to Yalta by the same way: if you turn your back to the sea, you can see that three trails converge at the top of the cliff — the right Botkin trail, the one in the center — Stavrikayskaya, and the one to the left and a little ahead — Shtangeevskaya. Many tourists back to Yalta go to Stangeevskaya trail through the waterfall Uchan-Su, Stavrikayskaya trail leads to the yaila, and the way to it takes 2-3 times more time than it took to climb up to Stavri-Kaya. Walking along the Stangeevskaya trail is the best continuation and completion of the Botkin trail.
For those who spend their vacation in Gurzuf, acquaintance with the nature of its surroundings Botkinskaya trail will be an unforgettable experience that will remain in memory for a long time and will give not only aesthetic pleasure, but also health.