On June 5^th, the Organizing Committee offers several free one-day tours for all the conference participants. Sign for a tour of your choice at the conference registration desk on June 4 and get a free ticket.

Chekhov and the Crimea. A special and touching story of writer’s love and struggle for life, of his soaring creativity and hopeless fading away. Chekhov’s places in the Crimea help us look at the genius writer anew and get a feeling of his epoch.

Gurzuf is a typical south coast settlement at the foot of Ayu-Dag mountain. Adalary, Genoese, Pushkin, Shalyapin, and Ay-Danil rocks create a unique look of the place. Gurzuf dacha was given by Chekhov as a gift to his wife Olga Knipper-Chekhova. It is a little cozy house on a cliff, a small bay and a colorful flower garden. In 1881 Mr. Gubonin, a millionaire, bought the coastal land and developed it into a resort. To attract rich public, several fountains, Night, Nymph, and Greek Woman were erected in the Gurzuf Park.

Yalta is called a Chekhov’s town. He spent his last days in a house on Yalta outskirts that he built in 1899 and settled in with his mother and sister. Now this house is a museum known as the White Dacha. As writer Kuprin said, “The White Dacha has become the most original building in Yalta”. The famous White Dacha and the garden planted by Chekhov himself attract literature pilgrims from all over the world.

The main mountain chain of the Crimea is a real natural museum that has been created over centuries. In the depth of the mountains hides an amazing world of karst caves. It is the world of underground rivers carrying their waters to sparkling chains if miniature lakes, of growing stone trees and blooming flowers. In fantastic shapes of limestone stalactites your imagination may recognize mysterious dragons, extinct monsters, and fairy-tale characters. A winding road leads along the ravine among the mountains and forest to the Red Cave. It is the territory of a natural reserve. A Hassock site provides a spectacular view of the ravine while bathing in the Su-Uchkhan waterfall will refresh your strength.

Note: you will need comfortable shoes and warm clothes as the temperature in the cave is +9 – +12ºÑ with almost 100% humidity.

Kara-Dag is the symbol of the Eastern Crimea, an extinct volcano praised by poet Maximilian Voloshin. This is a state natural reserve, a fairy tale in stone. You’ll start ascending the Kara-Dag Coastal Ridge from the territory of Kara-Dag biological station where you’ll get acquainted with unique showpieces of a natural museum. You’ll see the ridges of Karagach, Khoba-Tepe, Magnet, fantastic erosional sculptures of King and Queen with the Court, Gingerbread Horse, Falcon, Pyramid, Devil’s Finger Tower, a wild Giaur-Bakh ravine, endemic plants, and the endless blue of the sea and sky.

If the sea is calm the return trip is possible by sea. During the boat trip along the coast you’ll have a chance to admire the Malchin Cape, the Lagorio Wall, Barakhta, Cornelian, Puzzolan, and Lion Bays, Shaytan and Roaring Grottos, Ivan the Robber Cliff, and of course, the Golden Gate – a natural arch of amazing shape and beauty.

Note: you will need comfortable shoes and a hat. Good state of health is essential, as it is a 7-km long walking tour.

Start: 8am.

Duration: 7-8 hours.

Crimean wines are a real treasure of the Crimean peninsula. You can’t visit the Crimea without tasting the sweet and austere honey of local wines. Everyone who comes to Sudak ought to taste the wine that is produced only in this region.

The modern history of winemaking in the Sun Valley began in 1888 when Princes Gorchakov and Golitsyn built wine cellars in the place of Arkhaderesse. Gorchakov entrusted the estate management to Golitsyn and the latter created exemplary vineyards on more than 100 hectares of land with wind-protecting lines of almond trees. With his inherent enthusiasm Prince Golitsyn started building a winery in the estate. Even today, after over a hundred years, the good conditions of Arkhaderesse wine cellars that you’ll visit during the tour allow to produce miraculous wines.

During the wine tasting guided by experienced winemakers you’ll learn how to appreciate wine. Arkhaderesse is the branch of Sun Valley Co. and is famous for the velvety tone of the exclusive Black Doctor wine, nice austerity of the Black Colonel, amber sweetness of the Sun Valley. These wine brands have become elite not only because of their price but because of the unique natural conditions of the place used for growing the grapes that produce wonderful, heavenly drinks.

The tour buses will leave from the Main Gate at the announced time. A ticket is required. Should you have any questions please ask them during the registration.