Not long ago two new superb ski-tour regions were discovered — Dombay and Arhyz.  Dombay is the mountain area in Karachaevo-Cherkessia on the Kuban basin in the North of the Caucasus Mountains.  Arhyz is a settlement in the South-West of Karachaevo-Cherkessia. Of the whole 65 km, 5 separate Dombay from Elbrus and 60 to the shore of the Black Sea.  Hence Dombay combines high-mountain conditions with openness and lots of sea air.  This makes it a very attractive place for lovers of deep fresh snow.

Dombay is not an administrative unit and citizens of this region are not regulated anywhere.  It is a contemporary place, although going back to tradition, the names of the summits, the river Teberda and the strong tributary of the Kuban, which unites some mountain ravines, take their origins from the Main Caucasus range.  The very word ‘Dombay’ in the local language means ‘bison’ – for, it is said, somewhere in the Dombay forests roamed a whole flock of mighty giants.  The southern border of Dombay is the Main Caucasus ridge.  The highest point is the Dombay- Wilren which is 4,040m.  The joining of three main canyons – the Dombay-Alibek, Amanauz and the Dombay-Wilren – forms the picturesque Dombay glade, which lies at an altitude of 1,600m above sea level.  Dombay is a contemporary centre for leisure and sport, especially considered so by mountain-climbers and alpine skiers, and is the tourist ‘mecca’ in the Big Caucasus Mountains.  Now in the Dombay glade there is a whole tourist complex of activities operating from many hotels in the area.  There are has cable cars which allow you alternate going off-piste with joining planned routes and ski-tours.