Dombay is situated within the Teberda Nature Reserve (zapovednik) and is a popular tourist destination. The area attracts people for its skiing and hiking trails and the natural beauty of the Caucasus Mountains. The settlement is located at the elevation of 1,630 meters (5,350 ft) above sea level, with its skiing area occupying the slopes of Mount Mussa Achitara, between 1,800 meters (5,900 ft) and 3,200 meters (10,500 ft) above sea level. Dombay-Ulgen, the highest peak of the Dombay area, is 4,046 meters (13,274 ft). Dombay is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and glaciers all year round.
Even those well traveled in the world’s most stunning wilderness areas can only gape in awe when they first set eyes on Dombay. Wedged into a box canyon at the confluence of three raging mountain rivers, the resort town is surrounded by a soaring crown of jagged, Matterhorn-like peaks of rock and ice, festooned with glaciers and gushing waterfalls.
So great is Dombay’s natural majesty that the locals seemingly gave up on the town itself. Frankly, it’s an eyesore, disheveled and dominated by concrete hotels and abandoned Soviet-era complexes. Fortunately, it takes only a brisk walk or rides to put all that behind you. Local operators will do their best to make sure you see the best scenery – on foot, skis, horseback or by jeep or taxi – both here and in the larger town of Teberda, 22.5km northeast of Dombay, beside the Teberda river.
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