Is vacation on the Caspian Sea good? Where is it better to rest: in Astrakhan, Dagestan, Kazakhstan or Azerbaijan? An overview of hotels and accommodation in the private sector, prices for food in 2021 and reviews of tourists about each resort.
The coast of the Caspian Sea stretches for hundreds of kilometers, its waters wash the Astrakhan region, Dagestan, Kalmykia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan. Beach recreation on the Caspian Sea in Russia is not developed to the same extent as on the Black Sea, although the salty waters of the Caspian Sea have a healing effect, and the sea itself is shallower and warms up faster.
Rest in Astrakhan
Reviews and opinions of tourists
According to tourists, a vacation on the Caspian Sea in Astrakhan cannot be called a full-fledged beach vacation, there are almost no good beaches near the sea in the region - continuous thickets of reeds stretching along the coast for many kilometers. But the fishing is excellent - there are more than a hundred species of fish in the local waters. Most of the recreation centers are located in the Volga delta; people get to the Caspian by boat.
Vacationers go diving, ride catamarans, jet skis, scooters. In Astrakhan, tourists visit the Kremlin and numerous amusement parks, the Astrakhan International Biosphere Reserve. In July-August, motor ships with excursions run, during which you can see fields of blooming lotuses.
In addition to recreation centers on the Caspian Sea, the private sector is well developed in Astrakhan, prices for vacations in which are available to different categories of tourists.
The disadvantages of recreation in this region include the peculiarities of the climate: it is hot in summer, the air temperature approaches + 40 ° C. In addition, from late May to early July, there are many midges in the air, the peak of their activity is the first week of June.
Prices for holidays in Astrakhan
- Accommodation for two per day costs from 600 rubles.
- Sightseeing tours around the city - from 200 rubles, to the reserve - 750 rubles.
- Lunch in the dining room - from 200 rubles, in the cafe - from 600 rubles.
Hotels and the private sector
The hotel "Yantar" in the center of Astrakhan (on the Red Embankment) has earned good reviews. The price for a vacation in 2021 will be from 2200 rubles per day for two, breakfast is included in the price. The hotel is conveniently accessible - it is close to the airport and railway station. Modern design, sauna, cafe-bar, internet. Microwaves, refrigerators and kettles are provided in the rooms.
In the private sector of Astrakhan, vacation prices are quite reasonable: apartments near the beach of the Caspian Sea "On Moskovskaya", "On Savushkina" and "Flowers" will cost around 2000 rubles per day for two.
Rest in Dagestan
Reviews and opinions of tourists
Rest on the Caspian Sea in Dagestan is famous for its good sandy beaches. The best recreation centers are located in Makhachkala, Izberbash and Kaspiysk. Tourists are treated with waters and mud, kiting, windsurfing, rafting, rock climbing and paragliding.
In Dagestan, it is interesting to visit the ancient fortress Naryn-Kala in Derbent, the Holy Kazan Church and the Primorsky Park in Kaspiysk, the Makhachkala State Museum-Reserve, mosques and other interesting places.
The main disadvantage of recreation in Dagestan, according to tourists, is the underdeveloped infrastructure. In addition, Russians are afraid to travel to the republic because of the prevailing opinion that this region is conflict and restless.
Prices for holidays in Dagestan
- Accommodation for two per day - from 300 to 1500 rubles.
- Organized one-day excursions as part of a group - from 600-750 rubles per person.
- Lunch in the dining room from 500 rubles, in the restaurant - from 1500.
Hotels and the private sector
There are many inexpensive hotels and recreation centers in Dagestan. In particular, the hotel "By the Sea", located on the shores of the Caspian Sea in the city of Izberbash. It offers guests a shared kitchen, terrace, bar, recreation area with barbecue, parking. Spacious rooms with bathroom and low prices, double occupancy will cost from 2000 rubles per day.
Another inexpensive hotel - "Assorti" - is located on the seafront in Derbent. All rooms are air conditioned with sea and mountain views. There is a bar, sauna, tour desk, swimming pool and parking. The price of a holiday on the Caspian Sea in Dagestan in a double room at the "Assorti" hotel in 2021 is from 2500 rubles per day.
Rest in Kazakhstan
Reviews and opinions of tourists
Rest on the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan is primarily associated with the popular resorts of Aktau, Atyrau, Kuryk. Aktau is considered the undisputed leader: a resort town with many cafes and nightclubs, comfortable embankments and beaches. Most of the coast and the bottom are rocky, but there are also good sandy beaches. It is very hot in summer: the temperature reaches + 40 ° С during the day and + 30 ° С at night, there is practically no greenery.
There are many interesting sights in Kazakhstan: mosques, Orthodox churches, nature reserves and amusement parks. Popular excursions to the museums and memorials of Gagarin at the Baikonur cosmodrome, the Charyn canyon, the Saura and Karabulak gorges. Fans of sightseeing trips should definitely combine a vacation on the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan with a tour of the colorful Aktau mountains.
The disadvantage of recreation in Kazakhstan can be called a poorly developed tourist infrastructure, a hot climate and a lack of good roads between different regions. Getting to the country is also not very convenient - it takes several days to travel by train from the central regions of Russia. By plane it is much faster but expensive.
Prices for holidays in Kazakhstan
- Accommodation for two per day - from 600 rubles.
- Sightseeing tours - 300-750 rubles per person.
- Lunch at a cafe starts at 200 rubles.
Hotels and the private sector
The best recreation centers in Kazakhstan at an affordable price can be found in Aktau. For example, the Dostar hotel complex on the seashore. Private beach, shared lounge, pool, bar, restaurant, sauna, parking. A standard double room costs from 2250 rubles per day. Another recreation center, "Rakhat", is located near the Caspian Sea. All rooms with air conditioning, balconies and minibars. On-site private parking, a lounge with billiards, a sauna with a swimming pool, a restaurant with breakfast (buffet) and a children's menu. The price of a holiday on the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan at the "Rakhat" hotel will start from 3400 rubles per day for two.
Rest in Azerbaijan
Reviews and opinions of tourists
The beach season in Azerbaijan opens in May and lasts until September. The most popular resorts Baku, balneological resort Lankaran, Nabran and others. Rest in the private sector on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan is well developed. In the zone of the Absheron Peninsula (Greater Baku) there are comfortable hotels - these are beautiful modern buildings with swimming pools and equipped sandy beaches. Vacationers sunbathe, swim, dive and ride scooters and water skis.
Baku is a large ancient city and the capital of Azerbaijan. Its old part - the Baku Acropolis - is the most visited by tourists. The most popular are the Juma Mosque, the Maiden Tower, the Shirvanshahs' Palace and other attractions. In addition, many beautiful new buildings have appeared in Baku, which is why the city resembles another eastern metropolis - Dubai. Water parks, amusement parks with attractions, restaurants and nightclubs are in demand among vacationers. Reviews of tourists about Baku →
In general, the rest on the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan, according to the reviews of tourists, is very comfortable, although not cheap. The downside is the not very convenient location of the country - it is comfortable to get there only by plane, and trains run rarely, from Moscow it takes at least two days.
Prices for holidays in Azerbaijan
- Accommodation for two per day - from 1200 rubles.
- Excursions are very expensive - from 1,000 to 6,000 rubles.
- Lunch in the dining room from 200 rubles. Food prices in Baku →
Hotels and the private sector
The modern Qafqaz Sahil hotel is the best option for recreation on the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan. The air-conditioned rooms are decorated in a classic style, with a balcony and a private bathroom. There is a fitness center, sauna, beauty salon, restaurant, playground. The cost of a double room is from 2800 rubles per day. The 5-star Ag Saray Deluxe Hotel in Mingachevir offers excellent service and reasonable prices. All air-conditioned rooms, private beach, pool, spa, bar, shared lounge and free parking. The cost of a double room in 2021 is from 3000 rubles per day.
Reviews and advice of tourists about the rest on the Caspian Sea
If you want to save money on vacation by the Caspian Sea, you can go to Dagestan or Kazakhstan. The prices are not high, there are good bases with good service, there are favorable offers for recreation in the private sector on the Caspian Sea. But it's very hot and inconvenient (or expensive) to get to. Astrakhan is more suitable for connoisseurs of fishing than for those who like to laze on the beach.
A class higher vacation on the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan. But here it is more profitable to relax by paying for a tour: comfortable beaches are usually paid, prices bite, and besides, it is forbidden to come to the beach with your food and drinks.
In addition, it is important to remember that Islam in Azerbaijan and Dagestan is the main religion of the local population, and this leaves a certain imprint on the behavior of vacationers. It is undesirable for girls to smoke and drink alcohol in public; they will also have to dress modestly. Separate beaches are even practiced in Azerbaijan, where men and women sunbathe separately. The rest of the rest on the Caspian Sea is wonderful, it is only important to choose the right place for rest.