The attractions of Crimea include not only palaces and estates, and you can relax not only on the hot shores of the Black Sea. For lovers of active recreation, there is the Botkin Trail, the construction of which began in the early 20th century at the initiative of the Yalta Mountain Society. Over nearly 4.5 kilometers, specialists cleared the path, installed fences, and arranged the area.

The walking route was carefully laid out, choosing picturesque spots with alternating forests, waterfalls, ascents, and descents. The trail is named after the famous doctor Sergey Botkin, who noted the healing properties of the Crimean climate and became one of the founders of the health culture of the peninsula. He believed that active recreation contributes not only to recovery but also to a spiritual uplift: a healthy mind in a healthy body!

The trail begins in a pine forest, where the air is clean and the flowers are beautiful. If you look closely, you can spot lizards scurrying between the plants. After a few hundred meters, there is the Ai-Dimitri stream, where tourists usually make their first stop, wash their faces with cold water, and continue their journey to the Lower and Upper Yauzlar waterfalls.

After visiting the waterfalls, the most challenging section begins, the Stavri-Kai rock. However, over the past century, it has become so well-trodden that many tourists overcome it with ease. There were also branches from the Botkin Trail for the bravest lovers of active recreation, as the terrain there is steeper and hillier. The trail ends at the Kush-Kai rock, where benches and a viewing platform have now been installed, offering impressive views for photographs.