🏔️ Top 5 mountain destinations for summer holidays

Last updated Mar 11, 2025

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People have always been divided into two categories: some choose the sea for relaxation, others choose the mountains. Are you one of the latter? Then you definitely need to study our proposals for traveling to the peaks. The best season to conquer them is from May to October. Ready? Let's go!

Bazarduzu

Dagestan even translated from Turkic sounds like “Country of Mountains”. For some reason, the southernmost region of Russia is not a popular tourist destination, although there is really something to see here. Fans of mountaineering, trekking lovers, and sea fans will find recreational options for themselves. Let's take a closer look at the mountains. High, but not much. Difficult, but not very difficult. This is briefly about the peaks in Dagestan.

The first thing tourists see when they come to Makhachkala is the Tarki-Tau hill. The capital is at its foot. Only 720 m above sea level, but what a view of the city!

This, one might say, is a warm-up for the Dagestan queen – the largest peak with the unpoetic name Bazarduzu. 4466 meters above sea level. It is through it that the Russian-Azerbaijani state border passes, so the mountain is considered the highest not only in the Russian region, but also in Azerbaijan.

There is no need to talk about unprecedented beauties on the way to the peak – this is obvious. But what surprises every climber during the ascent are the residents of the village of Kurush, who settled at an altitude of 2500-2600 meters. This is the highest mountain village not only in Russia, but also in Europe! The locals are very hospitable, so some commercial trips include such an item as “visiting the village residents.”

Climbers climb Bazarduzi Peak along two slopes – the ice wall of the northern one is suitable for professionals, as it belongs to the highest category of difficulty. The southern slope is for beginners. On average, the hike and descent take 3-5 days. 4440… 4460… 4466 – and here it is – the identification mark of the summit. You are on the southernmost point of Russia: on its side there are alpine meadows, on the Azerbaijani side there are subtropical forests.

Ararat

Whether it’s a mountain or an alcoholic drink, everyone knows Ararat. The main natural symbol of Armenia, the peak of which is located in Turkey, is quite feasible for a beginner with good physical fitness. Despite the fact that the locals call the peak Ağrı Dağı (“Mountain of Pain”), Ararat is one of the simplest and at the same time colorful five-thousanders – 5137 meters above sea level. It is especially pleasant to plan an ascent in May, when the surrounding plateaus are covered with a carpet of blooming poppies, and flowers emerge from under the snow on the thawed slopes of the mountain.

In the case of climbing Ararat from Turkey, everyone can find out what ” all inclusive ” in the mountains is. Here the cook will prepare your food, support staff will arrange the camp, and mules will carry your things. If you want a simple tourist track, then, of course, you can do without it.

As a rule, you climb the mountain from the south. The starting point is the ancient city of Dogubayazit, which is located almost at the foot of the peak. A traditional commercial climbing program lasts on average six days. For “mining experienced” people, conquering the peak will be faster. In good weather, you can get a view of three countries at once: Turkey in the west, Armenia in the north and northeast, Iran in the south and southeast.

Bobotov Cook

Montenegro is an ideal option for those who want to combine both sea and mountains during their vacation. Wherever you are, they will be visible from everywhere, because more than 80% of this country is occupied by mountains. The most popular among tourists is Durmitor with the Bobotov Kuk peak (2523 m). Of course, it is not at all interesting for professional climbers, but for a traveler who does not want to carry a backpack and equipment with him, it is quite suitable. Although, despite the relatively easy route, it won’t hurt to have basic climbing skills, walking on snow and loose pebbles.

There are several options for the hike: the shortest one will take 3.5 hours, the longest one will take about 9 hours. The most popular route is the one with a duration of 5-6 hours. True, they can take longer, because you want to take photos all the time! Durmitor is almost like the Alps in miniature: from each pass a completely new landscape opens up. Due to the fact that the picture is rapidly changing, time flies by.

The most difficult part of the climb is a few hundred meters to the peak. You'll have to climb along narrow cornices. The bravest ones will be rewarded with a view of the whole of Montenegro, if you are lucky with the weather. In addition to the photo check-in, you will definitely need to be noted in the ascent log, which is located in the iron box at the top .

Olympus

You can literally climb Olympus in Greece! The highest peak of the country, the mountain of the gods and the home of Zeus – all this is about a mountain range with a peak of 2917 meters above sea level! The mountain is open for independent travel from the second half of May to October. In early spring it is better not to take risks – avalanches are possible.

You can still get to an altitude of 1100 by car. Further – on foot. A few hours – and here it is – a shelter at an altitude of 2100, where you can spend the night and have a snack. Having gained strength, you need to time your climb to the top so that you can conquer it before 11 am. Olympus is located at the intersection of winds so that in summer the peak is clear in the first half of the day. In the afternoon it becomes cloudy. Therefore, to get a great view, beautiful photos and stay dry, you need to plan to get up before lunch. The beauty of the May hike is that the tourist season is just beginning, so there are not many people.

If you decide to go in the last month of spring, be sure to look at what the conditions are like there now. In Greece, there is a lot of snow in the mountains in winter, so it is better to be on the safe side before climbing. On average, the hike and descent take 2-3 days.

Red Mountains

The Red Mountains of Kyrgyzstan are significantly different from all the options proposed above. A spring hiking trip among the Martian landscapes in the foothills of the Tien Shan is suitable for lovers of mountain trekking who are not eager to climb all the time. Maximum altitude is about 2500 m.

May is the ideal time for the Komorchek canyons, as this mountain range is called. Locals say that only this month, spring is especially noticeable in these locations: water is bubbling in the canyons, plants are blooming, making their way through the red clays and sandstones, and birds are chirping all around.

The path itself is also pleasing to the eye: picturesque valleys with shepherd’s houses, rocks of unusual shapes, canyons that have been carved out by water and winds for millions of years, and the main owners of the places are amphibians! When hiking, you need to watch your step. Poisonous vipers, copperheads and even Central Asian scorpions are found here.

Affordable, beautiful and relatively easy. The duration of the route is determined by you: you can organize a hike for a day or for several days.

Elbrus

Of course, as in this list without the most popular May mountain – Elbrus! 5642 meters above sea level – the highest point in Russia and Europe. May is a time when the weather is more or less stable, but there are no crowds of tourists yet. In addition, this month the mountain rivers are not yet full-flowing – in the summer they overflow due to snow melting.

There are several routes for climbing. For example, the southern one, unlike the northern one, is considered easier, so it is well suited for a not very experienced climber.

We will not dwell on the description in detail, since the route is very popular. This is the biggest disadvantage. There are as many offers to climb as there are vendors on popular beaches offering to buy hot corn. Therefore, among all this diversity, it is very important to choose the right company or team with which to conquer Elbrus. On average, the trek will take 7-10 days.

Everyone goes to the mountains for their own reason: testing their physical fitness, the desire to get out of their comfort zone, searching for themselves or contemplating beautiful views. The main thing is not to forget about safety. Even the smallest peaks that seem harmless and suitable for solo ascent can bring grief. So study and double-check the information several times and carefully prepare for the trip. And then the mountains will become one of the most memorable events in life!