Kazantip and Opuk nature reserves opened for tourists: how to get and what to see there

Opuk Nature Reserve: Martian lake with tulips in bloom

Since January 1, these reserves have been on a three-month "holiday", which was necessary for recovery of recreational potential before the new tourist season.

A visit to the Kazantip and Opuk Reserves is possible with or without a guide. How to do this − read below.

An unguided individual tour

Without a guide you can walk along three trails. Free access time is from 08:00 a.m. to 08:00 p.m. So, for unguided tour there are routes:

• Two routes on the territory of the Kazantip Reserve: 'Coast of Stone Crocodiles' (6 km long, 2.5 hours walking time) and 'Antique Kazantip' (3.7 km and 3 hours). They are open every day except Monday. More information about these routes can be found here.

• One route on the territory of the Opuk Reserve: 'Priozyórny' (5 km, 2 hours). You can visit it any day of the week. How the trail goes and what you can see during the walk – please, find here.

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To visit any of these routes, you need to get a permit. This can be done only online and only on the website of the Zapovedniy Krym. Residents of the peninsula receive a pass for free for 1 year, for tourists non−residents Crimean it will cost 150 rubles (about $ 2). To obtain a permit, you need to go to the Reserve Crimea website, select the reserve of interest in the upper right corner and click the 'Issue a permit' button. Then follow the prompts.

There is another option for getting a permit: you need to select the route you like and click on the 'Issue a permit' button. The algorithm of further actions will be the same as above.

When applying for a permit, you will be advised to read the rules for visiting reserves − do not ignore this prompt.

A guided group tour

With a guide, you can visit two routes − one in the Kazantip Reserve and one in the Opuk Reserve.

• 'Antique Kazantip' − every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 a.m. You can apply for a permit here.

• 'Opuk Trail' − daily at 10:00 a.m. and at 02:00 p.m. To apply for a permit go here.

The cost of a guide escort service in both territories is 250 rubles (about $ 3) per person. There are also two preferential rates (100 rubles and free). You can choose one of the offered routes, read information about it and purchase a ticket only online on the website of the Zapovedniy Krym. This information is available at the above links.

All questions about visiting the reserves can be asked by phone: + 7 978 236 82 46. Calls are answered on weekdays from 09:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.