Spring in Crimea: your best vacation

If the soul and body are missing the real warmth after a chilly winter, then hurry to Crimea, because it is there that spring comes faster than anywhere else in Russia. This is your best recipe for health and good mood. And the undoubted advantages of a spring trip to the peninsula are an inexpensive flight, low prices for accommodation and the absence of a large influx of tourists.

For your inspiration the Travel Portal of the Republic of Crimea offers you a selection of interesting facts and features related to the peninsula in spring.

THE MOST VARIED FLOWERING 

While almost all of Russia languishes under the snow, the first flowers already bloom in Crimea. So, even in January the blooming of snowdrops begins, which continues till early spring:  you can see this fragrant “character” of the Twelve Months fairy tale in early March throughout the South Coast, for example, in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden, on the slopes of Ayu-Dag and Ai-Petri, and also in Simferopol, in the Bagrov Botanical Garden (Vernadsky Crimean Federal University).

In general, if you have a car and desire, you can go around all the main ‘floristic’ places of Crimea. What and when blooms on the peninsula from March to May?

• Kuznetsov's cyclamen from Red Book blooms in early spring. The place of its location is the Kubalach tract and the botanical reserve in the Belogorsk district.
• In March the blooming saucer magnolia (Magnolia soulangeana), especially − in Yalta and Sevastopol is charming. Blooming almonds can be seen everywhere on the South Coast, in Sevastopol and the Sudak municipality − along highways and in the yards of houses, in parks and in botanical gardens – everywhere they fascinate with their beauty.  
  
• In April everyone rushes to the Nikitsky Botanical Garden to see a full parade of tulips, traditional for this time, showing tens of thousands of these beauties of the most diverse varieties. Another magical sight of tulips can be seen in Simferopol, in the Bagrov Botanical Garden.
  
• In April a fantastic flowering of peaches begins in the Bakhchisaray district and the Sevastopol municipality and blooming of Schrenk's red book tulips (the progenitors of the famous Dutch tulips) begins in the Opuksky Nature Reserve, on the Botkin Trail and Kara-Dag Mountain.  
  
• In April-May, lilies sparkle as scattered white pearls in the Crimean Grand Canyon and fiery red peonies peep on the Ai-Petri plateau and the White Rock.
  
• In late April − early May, irises (Noviy Svet) and lilacs (everywhere) bloom en masse, wisteria delights with cascades of purple inflorescences, which acts as a living decor for the facades of houses, densely entwines cypresses and cedars (Yalta).  
  
• At the end of May, rose plantations bloom (in the vicinity of Bakhchisaray) and purple poppy fields “flare up” (in the Bakhchisaray district and in the Sevastopol municipality).

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME FOR PHOTO SESSIONS AND "WALKS IN THE CLOUDS"

This harmoniously stems from the previous passage. You can arrange your own photo sessions in the most beautiful flower places or ask for professional help. The priority of spring shooting is peach and rose gardens, as well as poppy fields. By the way, some companies even organize special multi-day photo tours for those who want to learn how to better photograph delicate buds in the sun rays.

Have you ever admired blooming fields from a bird's eye view? This opportunity the guide Svetlana Golub calls the main “bait” of the spring Crimea.

"There are specialized companies that offer flights on a compact two-seater plane exactly in those areas where you can see the most colorful and rich blooming from above. This is an absolutely amazing sight that leaves no one indifferent," the guide emphasizes.

However, in the spring in Crimea each location turns into a nature masterpiece. Photographers advise, for example: 

• Ai-Petri plateau, where you can find snow even in May;
  
• The White Rock with its stunning views;  
  
• Boat trip in Balaklava or Yalta (sailing past the Swallow's Nest);
  
• The most beautiful Cape Fiolent;
  
• Cape Kapchik in Noviy Svet;
  
• Starfall of Memories gazebo in Koktebel;
  
• And, of course, spring waterfalls. 

THE MOST FULL-FLOW WATERFALLS

In the spring, when the sun melts the snow on the peaks, the Crimean waterfalls are especially full and beautiful. The sounds of nature inspire and help you escape from the bustle of the city, relax your eyes and soul. We advise you to visit: 

• Dzhur-Dzhur waterfall in the vicinity of Alushta, which does not dry out even during hot summer periods;
  
• Uchan-Su waterfall not far from Yalta − the highest waterfall in Crimea;
  
• Su-Uchkhan (Simferopol district), which esotericists call a place of power;
  
• Cheremisovskiyeh emerald waterfalls in the Belogorsk district;
  
• Kozyryok Waterfall in the Baydar Valley (a thin jet flying from 14 meters, closer to the surface of the earth turns into water dust);
  
• Silver streams waterfall in the Bakhchisaray district;
  
• Arpat waterfalls in Greater Alushta area.

THE MOST PINKY LAKE

The guide Svetlana Zinkovskaya advises to include a visit to Lake Koyashskoye, which is located on the Kerch Peninsula and is part of the Opukskiy Nature Reserve, in the must-see of your spring tour. Exactly in spring it acquires an amazing pink color and attracts lovers of unusual photography.

"From mid-April to June, like all flowers in nature, Dunaliella salt water alga blooms. It developed at the bottom of the water reservoir of the volcanic origin. During the period of active blloming (late April, May, early June), this alga produces beta-carotene. And it makes the water and salt crystals pink. Moreover, Dunaliella not only blooms, but also emanates the smell of violets around," the guide told, adding that before visiting this location, it is necessary to request permission from the reserve administration.

THE MOST HEALTH-IMPROVING SEASON

After a cold winter, which for many is associated with low mobility, vitamin deficiencies and diseases, it is extremely important to "reboot" the body, give it new strength. And spring is just the ideal time for recuperation in Crimea. Numerous health resorts, health centers, boarding houses, resort-hotel complexes cope with it excellently. But if the health resorts specialize in narrowly targeted treatment, the other resorts offer a variety of fitness and health improvement programs. 

They offer climatotherapy, landscape therapy, sea therapy, phyto- and aromatherapy, balneotherapy (strengthening and improving the body with the help of mineral waters), healing mud treatments. In addition, almost every large hotel on the peninsula has a spa center, where vacationers can visit the bath complex, swim in the pool, relax in the Jacuzzi and under the skillful hands of a masseur, etc.

THE MOST POPULAR SPRING WALKS  

This is primarily hiking mountain trails. It is in spring, when there is still no heat, the nature awakens after hibernation and the time is ideal for health trails. Where are the most popular eco trails?

On the South Coast

• Botkin trail (starts in Yalta, runs along the left side of the Uchan-Su river valley to the Stavri-Kaya rock)
• Taraktash trail (runs from the Uchan-Su waterfall to the Yalta yayla (plateau)
• Tsarskaya, or the Sunny path (starts at the Livadia Palace and ends in Gaspra, at the Rosa Luxemburg health resort)
• Koreïz trail (starts in the Koreïz area, at the Miskhor junction on the Yalta − Sevastopol highway)
• Shaytan-Merdven (the shortest road connecting the South Coast and the Baydarskaya Valley) starts at the Sevastopol highway)
• Biyuk-Isar (starts near the village of Opolznevoyeh on the Sevastopol highway and leads to a mountain lake at the foot of the rock of the same name)

On the East Coast

• Golitsyn trail (cut in the stone slope of Mount Koba-Kaya, along the coastline southwest of the village of Noviy Svet)
  
• Grin's trail (this is a short way from Stariy Krim to Koktebel)

In the Sevastopol municipality  

• Greater Sevastopol trail (runs from Balaklava to Lyubimovka)
  

All the trails have different lengths and degrees of difficulty. Therefore, when planning such a walk, consider your physical condition.  Of course, you will need comfortable shoes, drinking water and a pedometer for counting steps on your smartphone or fitness bracelet. 

THE MOST SUITABLE TIME FOR PICNICS, GASTRONOMIC TOURISM AND HERBS PICKING

Everyone likes May Day holidays in Crimea, which coincide with the official opening of the vacation season. May in Crimea is almost summer. In May you can bravely open the swimming season and sunbathe, so do not forget to pack a swimsuit, swimming trunks and a protective body cream in your suitcase. And besides that ...

have a picnic

In spring Crimea offers hundreds of different locations for outdoor snacks. It can be both beaches (not crowded at this time), remote lakes or picturesque forest glades. For example, the Panaghia gorge near the village of Zelenogoryeh (between Sudak and Alushta) or lakes hidden in the dense greenery near the village of Nauchny, Bakhchisaray district. Do not forget a thermos with aromatic Crimean herbal tea.

taste Crimea

Spring is the perfect time for a gastronomic experience, guide Svetlana Golub says. Moreover, she recommends not to be limited to traditional products, but to try very extravagant delicacies.

"There is a lot of cheese factories in Crimea (including those in a very picturesque mountainous area) where you can taste both cheese and honey. This is the best, classic combination of flavors. And I am also familiar with Crimean producers who offer guests very unusual tastings − dishes prepared from seemingly incompatible products. For example, raspberry jelly, saturated with fennel and nuts, or tomato jam with blueberries and orange peel, sprinkled with basil. Have you ever tried chili jam? − Svetlana Golub laughs − It doesn't sound appetizing, but as you start eating, you’ll lick your chops!" 

pick herbs for tea

In addition, according to the guide, spring in Crimea is the best time to pick herbs. Of course, in small, purely "touristic" volumes, because it is prohibited by law to collect wild plants on an industrial scale.

“In the spring, I prefer to take groups of tourists to the White Rock, to the Belbek Canyon area, to the lower plateau of Chatyr-Dag, where they can collect a small bunch of herbs with their own hands. People even get excited when they climb the slope and ― there they see sideritis (Crimean lemongrass, also known as ironwort, mountain tea, or shepherd's tea), thyme, chamomile ... ― Svetlana Golub says ― and they pick herbs not so much to make tea later, but to grind these leafs with their fingers and breathe in these spring aromas to feel the harmony of nature and simply feel far from endless everyday routine. Plus a beautiful scenery and no rush, because this is not a hike in its classical sense. I think that this year, after all the snows, there will be just wild feast of herbs."

May your spring trip to Crimea be beneficial and give only joyful emotions!