Akhty, human settlement in Akhtynsky District, Republic of Dagestan, Russia
Akhty is a village in southern Dagestan, Russia, set in a valley along the Samur River and surrounded by high mountains. Its stone and wooden houses with flat roofs stand close together on a hillside, above 1000 meters in elevation.
The village has been inhabited since at least the 5th century BC and belonged to several states over the centuries, including Caucasian Albania. In the 19th century, Russian forces built a fortress here to hold control over the surrounding region.
Akhty is a center of Lezgian culture, and the local language is still heard in everyday life. At the market and in small workshops, visitors can find handmade textiles and carved woodwork made following old patterns.
The village is remote and best reached by rental car or taxi from Derbent or Makhachkala. Small guesthouses offer simple overnight stays, but booking ahead is a good idea since options are limited.
Near the village there are natural hot springs with mineral-rich water that can still be used today in simple bathing facilities. Not far away sits the abandoned village of Gra, where old stone houses still stand much as their inhabitants left them.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
