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Trail description

A multi-day trekking route through the upper reaches of the Chegem Gorge above Bulungu: six stages with a total length of 60.5 km and 3736 m of elevation gain, ranging from 1850 to 3740 m. The route climbs past the Semeynaya Tayna waterfall to the Turist Pass (2680 m), traverses the high-altitude section via the Saryn (3380 m), Djilgi (3592 m), and Kumtyube (3600 m) passes under Kestantytau Peak (3774 m) and past Lake Kum, then descends via the Narzanny Pass (3153 m) to the Shaurta glacier—the source of the Chegem River—and the cave beneath the glacier. Pass sections are almost entirely off-trail. The upper Chegem is a border zone: a permit from the FSB Border Administration for the KBR is required (processing takes up to 15 working days for Russian citizens and up to 30 for foreigners). Approximately 40% of the trek passes through the Kabardino-Balkarian High-Mountain Nature Reserve, which requires a special permit (apply via the website or at the Bashil-Chegem forestry checkpoint).

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