The remote road to Gamsutl, a Soviet ghost town
Russia, europe
1.7 km
1,449 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, so you're headed to Dagestan's "Machu Picchu," the ghost village of Gamsutl? This place is seriously remote, tucked away in the Gunibsky district. Forget smooth sailing – the road to get close is a wild ride!
Technically, you can drive *part* of the way. There's a gravel track that winds up Mount Gamsutlmeer, ending about 500m shy of the village itself, at an altitude of 1,449m. Don't even think about attempting it without a 4x4. We're talking steep sections and hairpin turns galore!
The climb itself is short but intense. Starting near Gostevoy Dom 55, it's just 1.7km to the top, but you'll gain 166 meters in elevation. Expect some seriously steep ramps, with gradients hitting up to 17%!
Gamsutl itself is a total time capsule. Legend says it's over 2000 years old, but it was abandoned fairly recently, in 2015, when the last resident passed. You'll see around 70 houses still standing (out of the original 300!), clinging to the mountainside. The whole scene is pretty breathtaking (if a little eerie!) – definitely one for the bucket list.
Where is it?
The remote road to Gamsutl, a Soviet ghost town is located in Russia (europe). Coordinates: 54.3637, 39.4263
Road Details
- Country
- Russia
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 1.7 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,449 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 54.3637, 39.4263
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