an image, when javascript is unavailable

672 Wine Club

  • Motorcycles
  • Car of the Month
  • Destinations
  • Men’s Fashion
  • Watch Collector
  • Art & Collectibles
  • Vacation Homes
  • Celebrity Homes
  • New Construction
  • Home Design
  • Electronics
  • Fine Dining
  • Benchmark Wines
  • Brian Fox Art
  • Disneyland Resort
  • Ka La’I Wakiki Beach
  • Kalamazoo Grill
  • Raffles Hotels & Resorts
  • Tributary Idaho
  • Sports & Leisure
  • Health & Wellness
  • Best of the Best
  • The Ultimate Gift Guide

A Russian Oligarch’s $500 Million Megayacht Just Mysteriously Arrived in Hong Kong

The lürssen vessel nord is connected to the third-richest man in russia., tori latham, tori latham's most recent stories.

  • Jay-Z Promises More Than $250 Million to Hell’s Kitchen If He Wins N.Y.C. Casino Bid
  • Inside La’ Shukran, a Levantine Bar and Bistro in D.C. From One of the Country’s Best Chefs
  • A Former Snap Engineer Says the Brand’s New Smart Glasses Are a ‘Disaster’
  • Share This Article

The Nord yacht

Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year, authorities have been keeping an eye on the megayachts owned by Russian oligarchs and allies of Vladimir Putin. One such vessel just mysteriously turned up in Hong Kong.

Related Stories

  • Car of the Week: This 1935 Auburn Once Rivaled Bugattis and Bentleys. Now It’s up for Grabs.

The Rolex Swan Cup Is One of Sailing’s Most Illustrious Races. Here’s What It’s Like to Attend.

Baltic yachts just unveiled its first catamaran, a sleek 107-foot multihull.

The 465-foot Lürssen vessel in question, which contains two helipads, a cinema and 20 luxury cabins, left Vladivostok on September 27 and was initially headed for the Vietnamese port of Da Nang. However, it soon changed its route to Hong Kong and has been anchored there since Wednesday night, according to Bloomberg. It has also changed its flag from the Cayman Islands to Russia. A spokesperson for Mordashov told the publication that he was currently in Moscow and declined to comment on the yacht’s movement.

Since Putin began his war in Ukraine in February, more than a dozen yachts owned by Russian oligarchs have been seized by Western governments as a form of punishment for the owners having ties to the Russian president. In total, the seized yachts add up to more than $2.25 billion, and others have been immobilized in ports and naval yards across Europe.

The US has even formed a special task force, KleptoCapture, to go after Russian billionaires’ assets. Earlier this year, the unit helped seize Amadea , a $325 million superyacht supposedly owned by the gold tycoon Suleiman Kerimov.

To evade capture, some yacht owners have moved their vessels to the sanction-free waters of Russia and Turkey. But now that Mordashov’s Nord has turned up in Hong Kong, it’s unclear what will happen to it. One thing’s for certain, though: Despite its considerable size, the 465-footer is proving to be quite elusive.

Tori Latham is a digital staff writer at Robb Report. She was previously a copy editor at The Atlantic, and has written for publications including The Cut and The Hollywood Reporter. When not…

Read More On:

More marine.

Baltic 107 Catamaran

The Deep-Sea Submersibles Market Is Thriving Again More Than a Year After the ‘Titan’ Disaster

C Superyacht Concept

This 246-Foot Electric Superyacht Concept Is Designed to Shine Like a Diamond

magazine cover

Meet the Wine Club That Thinks Differently.

Receive editor-curated reds from boutique California producers four times a year.

Give the Gift of Luxury

Latest Galleries in Marine

Tailgating by boat at University of Washington

Football Season Is Here: The 7 Best Stadiums for ‘Sailgating’ Around the U.S.

Monaco Yacht Show

The 11 Most Exciting Superyacht Debuts at the Monaco Yacht Show

More from our brands, what’s new in tailoring, according to milan fashion week spring 2025 presentations, reggie bush sues usc, pac-12, ncaa for ‘uncompensated’ nil use, turkish filmmaker belkis bayrak heads to san sebastian with gripping new directors title ‘gülizar,’ reveals trailer (exclusive), fanny hauser named director of kunsthalle zürich, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors.

Quantcast

Luxurylaunches -

A rare look inside Nord, the $500 million megayacht of Russia’s richest man Alexei Mordashov. The 464 feet long tuxedo donning warship has palatial interiors. For extra fun, its garage has a hovercraft, a deep-diving submarine, ATV’s, a few Toyota Land Cruisers, and more.

motor yacht nord marine traffic

The video shows us first-hand the elegance and enormousness of a megayacht in the truest sense of the term. From seemingly unending corridors to well-appointed interiors and the most insane tender garage, the Nord is a massive ship that’s impressive from the word go.

motor yacht nord marine traffic

You may also like

motor yacht nord marine traffic

Billionaire Peter Thiel wanted to build a luxury lodge in New Zealand. The officials were gobsmacked at its ostentatiousness and refused consent.

motor yacht nord marine traffic

Mystery Chinese millionaire buys four rare F1 cars with cryptocurrency

motor yacht nord marine traffic

The 90m Conch Superyacht is inspired by seashells

motor yacht nord marine traffic

It seems that Anant, the son of Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, influenced Mark Zuckerberg so much with his multi-million dollar watches that the Facebook co-founder ditched his humble $500 smartwatch and got himself a shiny $141,000 Patek Philippe timepiece

motor yacht nord marine traffic

Meet Elon Musk’s scandal-ridden father Errol. Though ‘brilliant at engineering’, the Tesla centibillionaire just does not get along with his father and has called him ‘Evil’.

motor yacht nord marine traffic

Sanctioned Russian billionaire’s $500 million megayacht was to arrive in Cape Town today. The 10,000-ton vessel mysteriously disappeared after leaving Hong Kong 16-days ago.

motor yacht nord marine traffic

Mark Zuckerberg is so protective of his privacy that for the past three months he has deliberately turned off the mandatory location transponders of his $300 million superyacht Launchpad and has been sailing the 387-foot-long vessel completely dark in the Mediterranean.

motor yacht nord marine traffic

Bernard Arnault’s LVMH single-handedly dominates the wine world with four of the most valuable brands

motor yacht nord marine traffic

From a preschool secretary to styling world leaders, meet LA’s luxury stylist Nicole Pollard. The personal shopper for the 0.001% does it all, from convincing Chanel to open their store on a holiday for a queen to ordering diamond-encrusted jewelry for a wealthy client’s dog.

motor yacht nord marine traffic

MARINE VESSEL TRAFFIC

CORONAVIRUS SHIPS

PLANS & PRICES

FLEET ANALYSES Coming soon

motor yacht nord marine traffic

NORD Yacht, IMO 9853785

This ship info includes data on what the dimensions are and general vessel particulars, last and next special class survey, who is the owner of the ship nord , its commercial manager, ism manager, p&i club, classification society, their addresses and contact details and shipyard where it was built as well as statistics for the number of owned and managed ships and companies related thereto..

VESSEL INFORMATION
Ship type, detailed Yacht
Ship type, AIS Pleasure Craft
Service Status Active, Commissioned
Flag
Home Port -
IMO 9853785
MMSI 273610820
Call Sign UBSX4
Built 2021
Age 3 years
Builder -
Gross Tonnage 10154
Summer DWT -
Length 141 m / 463 ft
Beam 20 m / 66 ft
MANAGEMENT
Care of beneficial shipowner
Address

(of the beneficial owner)

All shipping companies on this address (3 companies)
Location
Contacts
Ship acquired
All ships of this registered owner 1 ship
All ships of the beneficial owner 1 ship
   
Address
All shipping companies on this address (3 companies)
Location
Contacts
Under this management
All managed ships 1 ship
All managed companies 1 company
   
Address
All shipping companies on this address (3 companies)
Location
Contacts
Under this management
All ISM managed ships 1 ship
All ISM managed companies 1 company
P&I CLUB
Membership -
Emergency contacts -
Ships insured
by this P&I Club
-
Companies insured
by this P&I Club
-
CURRENT POSITION MAP
CLASSIFICATION SOCIETY
Class Certificate
Date
Ships surveyed by this class (6760 ships)
Companies surveyed by this class (3344 companies)
   
Class Certificate
Date
Ships surveyed by this class (9605 ships)
Companies surveyed by this class (7078 companies)
SURVEYS
Class Renewal Survey (Last)
Class Renewal Survey (Next)
Full Specifications

(may require registration)

-
   
Class Renewal Survey (Last)
Class Renewal Survey (Next)
Full Specifications

(may require registration)

Capacity, Loadline, Class Records, Home Port
vs
1 GT

(this ship)

-
1 GT

(ship type average) *

DWT (avg/min/max)
DWT / GT

(this ship)

-
DWT / GT

(ship type average) *

t/m lb/ft (avg/min/max)
Full regression
analysis
for
90 ship types
* based on 1488 ships of type Yacht presently in active service or under construction built from 1903 to 2026 having DWT from 1 to 3269 and GT from 101 to 20361 and length from 22 to 229 mtrs. Weekly updated.

motor yacht nord marine traffic

20 emails/day

Send 0 emails out of 20 today

Flag Name Built IMO MMSI Length Beam more

Yacht
2014 1011551 273294110 | m | ft

Yacht
2019 1009663 273216780 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2024 9907196 1 | m | ft

Yacht
1981 8652201 319085200 | m | ft

Yacht
2014 1011850 319055400 | m | ft

Yacht
2020 9809980 1 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2017 1012141 667002036 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2024 9865087 319271500 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
1999 1007043 403003000 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2021 9819820 518999189 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2004 8982307 319011000 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2019 9829394 533132807 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2023 1012933 319258700 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2018 9785108 319136700 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2012 9551454 319054000 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
1984 1003308 538071307 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2008 1009223 319361000 | m | ft

Yacht
2011 1010090 319021900 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2024 9676175 1 | m | ft

Yacht
2008 9463774 461001000 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2003 1007213 319866000 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2016 9661792 319094900 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2023 9857298 319225400 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2015 9044619 319068600 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2015 9648788 310724000 | m | ft

Yacht
2010 9562805 466066000 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
1931 5314810 271000250 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2017 9772929 466443000 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2006 1006324 470886000 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2024 9881627 538071476 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2022 9862231 319239400 | m | ft | m | ft

Yacht
2010 1009613 310593000 | m | ft | m | ft

NORD current position is received by AIS. Ship info reports, fleet analysis, company analyses, address analyses, technical specifications, tonnages, management details, addresses, classification society data and all other relevant statistics are derived from Marine Vessel Traffic database. The data is for informational purposes only and Marine Vessel Traffic is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness and reliability of data reported above herein.

Boat logo

The global authority in superyachting

  • NEWSLETTERS
  • Yachts Home
  • The Superyacht Directory
  • Yacht Reports
  • Brokerage News
  • The largest yachts in the world
  • The Register
  • Yacht Advice
  • Yacht Design
  • 12m to 24m yachts
  • Monaco Yacht Show
  • Builder Directory
  • Designer Directory
  • Interior Design Directory
  • Naval Architect Directory
  • Yachts for sale home
  • Motor yachts
  • Sailing yachts
  • Explorer yachts
  • Classic yachts
  • Sale Broker Directory
  • Charter Home
  • Yachts for Charter
  • Charter Destinations
  • Charter Broker Directory
  • Destinations Home
  • Mediterranean
  • South Pacific
  • Rest of the World
  • Boat Life Home
  • Owners' Experiences
  • Conservation and Philanthropy
  • Interiors Suppliers
  • Owners' Club
  • Captains' Club
  • BOAT Showcase
  • Boat Presents
  • Events Home
  • World Superyacht Awards
  • Superyacht Design Festival
  • Design and Innovation Awards
  • Young Designer of the Year Award
  • Artistry and Craft Awards
  • Explorer Yachts Summit
  • Ocean Talks
  • The Ocean Awards
  • BOAT Connect
  • Between the bays
  • Golf Invitational
  • BOATPro Home
  • Superyacht Insight
  • Global Order Book
  • Premium Content
  • Product Features
  • Testimonials
  • Pricing Plan
  • Tenders & Equipment

motor yacht nord marine traffic

NORD is a 141.6 m Motor Yacht, built in Germany by Lurssen and delivered in 2021.

Her top speed is 18.0 kn. She can accommodate up to 36 guests in 20 staterooms. She has a gross tonnage of 10154.0 GT and a 19.5 m beam.

She was designed by Nuvolari Lenard , who also designed the interior. Nuvolari Lenard has designed 121 yachts and designed the interior of 109 yachts for yachts above 24 metres.

The naval architecture was developed by Lurssen , who has architected 71 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database - she is built with a Teak deck, a Steel hull, and Aluminium superstructure.

NORD is in the top 5% by LOA in the world. She is one of 70 motor yachts longer than 100m, and, compared to similarly sized motor yachts, her volume is 3016.92 GT above the average.

NORD is currently sailing under the Russian Federation flag (along with a total of other 42 yachts). She is known to be an active superyacht and has most recently been spotted cruising near Russian Federation. For more information regarding NORD's movements, find out more about BOATPro AIS .

Specifications

  • Previous Names: OPUS
  • Yacht Type: Motor Yacht
  • Yacht Subtype: Displacement , Expedition Yacht
  • Builder: Lurssen
  • Naval Architect: Lurssen
  • Exterior Designer: Nuvolari Lenard
  • Interior Designer: Nuvolari Lenard

Yacht featured in

Yachts like this, from our partners, sponsored listings.

  • Yachts for sale
  • Yachts for charter
  • Brokerage News

yacht Nord

  • Yacht Harbour

Contact agent

Specifications.

Yard : Lurssen
Type : Motor yacht
Guests : 36
Cabins : 18
Length : 142 m / 465′11″
Beam : 19.5 m / 64′0″
Draft : 5.4 m / 17′9″
Year of build : 2020
Classification : Lloyds
Displacement : Full displacement
Type of engine : Diesel
Brand : MTU
Model : 20V 4000 M73L
Maximum speed : 20 knots
Cruising speed : 15 knots
Gross tonage : 9250
Hull : Steel
Superstructure : Aluminium
Decking : Teak
Decks : 5
Interior designer : Nuvolari Lenard
Exterior designer : Nuvolari Lenard

Similar yachts

Opera

New listings

SWG

VESSEL FINDER

motor yacht nord marine traffic

Full Screen

motor yacht nord marine traffic

Show labels for

motor yacht nord marine traffic

General Options

Tags on label, track color based on, track visibility, playback speed.

 alt=

motor yacht nord marine traffic

MYA CURRENT POSITION

Track ais and satellite current location, next port, eta, imo, mmsi, speed, course, draught, photo.

motor yacht nord marine traffic

20 emails/day

Send 0 emails out of 20 today

Royal Caribbean Fleet Live Map

 OPTIONS 

motor yacht nord marine traffic

 TOOLS

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copy Right

Visiting Russia - Nalchik, Capital of Kabardino-Balkaria

By Koryo Tours

Nalchik, capital of Kabardino-Balkaria

Visiting Russia – Nalchik

Yoshkar-ola | cheboksary  |  astrakhan | elista | stalingrad (volograd)  | abakan  |  nalchik  | validkavkaz  | makhachkala  |  grozny.

Nalchik is a small city of around 240,000 people and serves as the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, one of the lesser-known republics spread across the beautiful North Caucasus area of Russia, the mountain range that separates the former soviet states of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan from the Russian Federation.

This region has incredible diversity in ethnic groups and is a melting pot at the edge of empire. While there have been civilisations in the Caucasus for millennia Nalchik as a city is only a century old, having been a Russian fort since 1724. Today’s Nalchik is a mostly peaceful and relaxing place, being in the foothills of the mountains it has many areas of great beauty and multiple sanatoria for people looking to take the waters, over the last century it has certainly had its share of turbulence though, being occupied by Romanian troops fighting on the side of the Nazis, who embarked on an effort to exterminate the ancient community of Mountain Jews in the area (unsuccessfully), plus a 2005 Islamic militant attack on Russian security forces.

These days Nalchik is known as a clean city, a place for relaxing, and the starting point of expeditions to summit Mt. Elbrus, the tallest mountain in Europe, which lies within Kabardino-Balkaria.

Kabardians make up the largest ethnic group at just under 50% of the city’s population, followed by Russians, Balkars, other Caucasian nationalities as well as Ukrainians, Mountain Jews still live in the area but in very small numbers now, most having emigrated to Israel.

Nalchik

Arriving/Departing

Nalchik Airport (NAL) is a small one but is fully functional for getting in and out, usually the foreigners arriving here will be mountaineers heading for Elbrus.

The Airport is only 3km from the city centre so you could even walk into town from here, otherwise, there are taxis and marshrutkas waiting for arrivals. Flights arrive only from Moscow and St. Petersburg usually, the Caucasus has other larger airports for other international flights (such as those to Sochi). Nalchik has a railway station, dating from 1915, with links to Moscow and across the Caucasus. A good option for travelling around the region in a relaxing manner (usually slower than taking a marshrutka between cities though) For getting around inside Nalchik there are public buses all over the place, easy to use and very cheap. Otherwise most of the centre is very walkable, the main ‘high street’ is Lenin Avenue, which runs for several km through the centre of the city.

Nalchik

Concord Square

The centre of Nalchik and a good place to start a walking tour of the city, with the Kabardino-Balkaria parliament building on one side and Lenin stands at the other, fountains in the middle and Lenin Avenue cutting through the square

Religious Buildings

The central buildings of the main religions practised in Nalchik are both fine examples of their respective architectural styles; the Central Mosque and the Cathedral of Mary Magdalene are both worth visiting. Dress codes apply.

Not actually in Nalchik, but only 50km or so away so the city is the ideal base for starting an expedition. This is Europe’s highest mountain and a dormant volcano. There are cable car/chairlift options to get t the top for those who don’t wish to do it the hard way. It is possible to get up and down this mountain n a single day, making it certainly the simplest of the 7 continental highest peaks to climb.

Museum of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic

Great for explaining where you are and the history of the area. Mostly in Russian only though and does tend to assume some knowledge in advance. Still a good stop to get some intro into the complex history of this city and area in general.

Atazhukin Garden

A large park complex running for more than 2km along the eastern side of the city, alongside the Nalchik River. A very pleasant place with so much to see and do. The basic Nalchik Zoo is here, walking trails, restaurants and cafes, theatres, a very retro funfair, and a rickety but reliable cable car running up to a lovely viewpoint to see over the city and out to Mt. Elbrus.

Topped by a restaurant building built in the shape of a Kabardian warrior. An excellent few hours can be spent exploring this park and mingling with the locals of all ages who do their relaxing here.

motor yacht nord marine traffic

Koryo Tours Russia Tours

Related articles, museums of beijing #20: china numismatic museum.

Museums of Beijing: China Numismatic Museum

Museums of Beijing #25: Guo Shoujing Memorial Hall

Museums of Beijing: Guo Shoujing Memorial Hall

Museums of Beijing #15: China Court Museum

Museums of Beijing: China Court Museum

Museums of Beijing #84: Capital Grain Museum

Museum in a former noodle factory

Museums of Beijing #35: Capital Museum

Museums of Beijing: Capital Museum

Is the Pyongyang Metro real? Is the Pyongyang Metro fake? You Decide!

Some frequently asked existential question about Pyongyang’s famous subway system.

A Koryo Tours end-of-year roundup - 2022

leaving 2022 and entering 2023 with Koryo Tours

Museums of Beijing #10: China Customs Museum

Museums of Beijing: China Customs Museum

Hamhung, North Korea – Where is it and Why Should You Visit?

Take a beach holiday in North Korea with a visit to Hamhung

Around China: Aihui History Museum

Russians not allowed!

Before & After: Pyongyang - Kaesong Highway Highway Rest Stop

Changes at the Pyongyang-Kaesong Highway Rest stop over the years

Four Places to See on National Liberation Day in North Korea

August 15th is an important holiday in the DPRK

Museums of Beijing #14: Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall

Museums of Beijing: Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall

Jonas — 5 things that surprised me on my first visit to North Korea

Jonas has been been interning at Koryo Tours since January and just came back from his first trip to the DPRK. In this blog, his writes about his first trip and the things that surprised him about North Korea.

Museums of Beijing #13: China Railway Museum

Museums of Beijing: China Railway Museum

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

  • Group Tours
  • Private Tours
  • Pyongyang Marathon
  • Turkmenistan
  • Cultural Engagement
  • Country profile
  • Terms & conditions
  • Why choose Koryo

[email protected] | + 86 10 6416 7544 WhatsApp (message only): +44 7822 014058 Room A409, Jucai Building. No. 76 Caoyuan Hutong. Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100027, PR China

中国北京市东城区草园胡同76号聚才大厦A 座409 室, 邮编:100027 Download contact card

Not registered yet? Register now

Trouble logging in? Reset password

* All fields are mandatory

Got an account already? Let me log in

Beyond Red Square

Travel Tips to Kabardino-Balkaria: More than Mt. Elbrus!

If you’ve traveled to the North Caucasus before, there is a good chance you’ve already been to Kabardino-Balkaria, and you didn’t even know it!  Kabardino-Balkaria lies in the center of the North Caucasus region, is home to Mt. Elbrus, but more than that is a treasure chest of travel possibilities.  Here is our guide to traveling through the republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, or 9 travel tips to this beautiful land:

1. How do I get there?

Kabardino-Balkaria hosts a large number of both foreign and Russian travelers every year, and has an improving infrastructure able to handle the incoming masses.  Let’s start with the obvious.  You might be a mountain climber or skier coming to enjoy the slopes of Mt. Elbrus.  That means you’re likely arriving on an airplane to Russia.  Here are your travel options:

A. Plane – We advise you fly into the Mineralni Vodi (MRV) airport in the Stavropol Region, which is about 45 minutes from the border of Kabardino-Balkaria.  MRV is the largest airport in the North Caucasus, and has daily direct flights to and from all 3 airpots in Moscow (SVO, DME, and VKO), direct flights from St. Petersburg, and several international flight routes as well, including from Istanbul, Dubai, Greece, Tel Aviv, and Bishkek.  The MRV airport has a growing infrastructure and is the most obvious choice to fly into if going to Elbrus.  From MRV, it’s a 2 hr. drive to Nalchik, and a 3.5 hr. drive to Mt. Elbrus.

That being said, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, Nalchik (NAL), also has a small regional airport with a daily flight to/from Moscow as well as weekly flights to Istanbul. As is to be expected in most smaller, regional airports around Russia, the service standard at a small airport like this will be minimal.  As a result, we recommend you flying in and out of MRV if able.  It’s a 2 hr. drive to Elbrus from Nalchik.  You can also fly into other regional airports which are 2 hrs. from Nalchik, such as OGZ in North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz) or IGT in Ingushetia (Magas).

B.  Car/Public Transport – If you have a car, are using a taxi, or are hitch-hiking your way to Kabardino-Balkaria, the region is accessible by a variety of roads and vehicles.  A major Russian federal highway E50 runs through Pyatigorsk into Kabardino-Balkaria, and can take you towards Mt. Elbrus, Nalchik, and deeper into the North Caucasus.  There are daily mini-buses, or “marshrutkas”, that travel to Nalchik from Pyatigorsk, Vladikavkaz, Grozny, and Magas, if you’re coming from a neighboring republic.  From the main Nalchik bus station, there is a marshrutka that goes to Terskol (i.e. Mt. Elbrus) daily around 12:30 pm; for that matter,  marshrutkas run daily into every valley of this beautiful republic.  For the seasoned international traveler, you can drive from the country of Georgia up the famed “Georgian Military Highway” through the heart of the Caucasus Mountains, cross the border into Russia at the “Verkhni Lars” border stop, and be in Nalchik in about 2.5 hours as well. 

motor yacht nord marine traffic

Anyone traveling on their own should download the “Yandex” taxi app, which is Russia’s version of Uber, and has a very user-friendly app with affordable prices.  In smaller villages/towns where Yandex’s service doesn’t reach, just ask a local and they’ll direct you to a friend or relative who can taxi you where you need to go!

C.  Train – Kabardino-Balkaria is also very accessible by the famous cross-country Russian train system if that’s your preferred method of travel.  Almost all trains to the North Caucasus pass through Mineralni Vodi in the Stavropol region to the north, so make sure wherever you are coming from, Mineralni Vodi is one of the stops.  Despite Nalchik having a train station, the city is about 45 minutes from the main railway route that runs diagonal through the North Caucasus, and as a result it’s a bit convoluted to get a train directly to Nalchik.  That being said, the town Prokhladni is a regular stop on trains going to/coming from Baku, Makhachkala, Grozny, Nazran, and Vladikavkaz, so you can always hop off there and find your way by public transport or taxi.

2.  What are the best places to stay?

This list could get exhaustive, fast. 🙂  Let’s first look at an overview of the republic’s geography, followed by hotel recommendations:

A. Nalchik – This is the capital city of Kabardino-Balkaria, with a population of around 250,000.  Nalchik is growing and new, modern hotels are being built regularly.  Here are some of our recommendations:

-Modern and comfortable:  Azimut , Butik Otel

-Budget with less frills:  Hotel Rossia , Korona

You could comfortably spend a week in Nalchik, while doing day trips into Kabardino-Balkaria’s beautiful mountain valleys.

B.  Baksan Valley – This is the most traveled road in Kabardino-Balkaria, the road to Mt. Elbrus.  If you have questions about its safety because of travel warnings, please see our detailed blog here of the drive to erase any doubts or fears.  Needless to say, because of the draw of Mt. Elbrus, there are a huge variety of lodging options at the end of this valley, from 4-star to mid-range to budget to hostel.  Here are just a few we’ll recommend from our experience:

-Modern and comfortable 4-star-ish:  Azau Star , Kristall 139

-Budget with less frills 3-star-ish:   Laguna , Povorot

If you’re a mountain climber with your sites set on the summit of Elbrus, you’ll have to spend at least 3-4 nights at Elbrus’s famous base camp at 13,000 feet.  The “barrel huts” are not easy to book directly with, and we highly recommend you do your climb (and hence, have your bookings handled) through a trusted climbing company.  Here are two shelters at base camp we recommend:

-Modern and comfortable:  Leaprus

-Budget with less frills:  Heart of Elbrus Lodge

If you’re interested in climbing Mt. Elbrus and staying in these barrel huts, click  here  to see our climbing itineraries, pricing, and group dates.

C.  Chegem Valley – Chegem Valley is the adjacent valley to Elbrus’s Baksan Valley, and is famous for its beautiful waterfalls as well as being Russia’s top paragliding location.  The “ Paradrome ” has modest accommodations for those wanting to get to know this beautiful valley for a longer period of time.

motor yacht nord marine traffic

D.  Upper Balkaria, or Cherek Valley – This is another beautiful mountain gorge not too far from Nalchik.  There is an authentic lodging complex in Upper Balkaria called Tau-El, with amazing local food for meals as well.

motor yacht nord marine traffic

E.  Border Zone lodging – Several of Kabardino-Balkaria’s mountain gorges run into the border zone with neighboring country Georgia, i.e. an area that foreigners cannot enter without a special permit from the local government (often taking 2 months to receive).  There is a famous mountaineering lodge in Bezengi Valley, where several generations of Russian mountain climbers have honed their craft in the Caucasus Mountains.  Perpendicular to Baksan Valley (about 25 minutes from the base of Mt. Elbrus) is Adyr-Suu Valley, where there is a lodge for back-country skiers to stay, while trying their hands (and feet!) on the untouched snow of that valley.  Both these valleys require border permits for foreigners, but are possible to access for the more adventurous!

3.  Top cities to visit?

Most locals would agree that Nalchik is the main city of significance to visit in Kabardino-Balkaria, but let’s be honest, even more would say, “Just go to the mountains!”  Tirnauz is the capital of the Elbrus district, and is an interesting town to spend some time in, with its unique location in the mountains and place in Soviet history as a once-booming mining town.  The main thing to consider in visiting Nalchik and other cities in the lowlands, is the chance to experience Kabardian culture and food.  Whereas the deeper you go into the valleys, the more you’ll encounter Balkar culture and food.

4.  Best local foods to try?

There are 3 types of food that come to mind, when spending time in Kabardino-Balkaria:

A. Khychiny – This is one of the staple national dishes of the Balkar people, and what you’ll inevitably be served if guests of local Balkars.  It’s a thin buttery flat bread, sometimes cooked with fillings of cottage cheese, fresh greens, or potatoes.  It is often slathered in butter, but wow is that some tasty greasy goodness! 🙂

motor yacht nord marine traffic

B.  Shashlik – Shashlik is a MUST for any visit anywhere in the North Caucasus!  Most people would agree that it’s the national food of the entire region.  Shashlik is meat shish kabobs; while pork and turkey can be found in some parts of the Caucasus, lamb or chicken are the preferred shashlik meats of choice in Kabardino-Balkaria. 

C.  Soup – No matter where you are in Russia, you’re sure to find a local soup that people love.  Kabardino-Balkaria is no different.  Especially in the winter months in the mountain valleys, there’s nothing better than to come inside from the cold weather and warm your body up to a bowl of hearty Caucasus soup.  Whether Georgian kharcho or local Balkar lakhman, make sure to try your hand at one of these soups with a side of fresh baked bread/lavash!

motor yacht nord marine traffic

5.  Top Hole-In-The-Wall restaurants:

Of course, for a republic of this size, we’re bound to leave at least a few great local joints off our list, but here are a few to get you started. ***Note:  Restaurants in the North Caucasus are much better known for their food than their service, so prepare for tasty food, but manage your expectations about service:

-Elbrus – Kogutai Restaurant at Mt. Cheget – While this isn’t a hole-in-the-wall restaurant per se, it’s one of many to choose from in the Cheget tourist village, and we have found them to provide consistently good food and service.  Kogutai has a nice interior, and maybe most important, an English-language menu with good pictures. 🙂  There also is a nice outdoor patio with fantastic views of the surrounding mountains.

-Nalchik #1 – Tameris Restaurant – This is a cafe with a relaxed atmosphere in the capital Nalchik.  Local tour company Elbrus Elevation has taken foreign groups there on multiple occasions and always had good experiences.  Address is ul. Kuliyeva 3. 

-Nalchik #2 – Cafe-Bar Oasis – You have to know where this restaurant is to find it, but once inside, you won’t regret it!  There is a unique cafeteria-style ordering process, that includes several dishes being cooked on the spot once ordered.  You can sample local Kabardian dishes here.  The seating area is very modern and a pleasant atmosphere to have a meal in.  Address is ul. Kuliyeva 2. 

-Upper Balkaria – Tau-El Restaurant – This is the restaurant part of the Tau-El Tourist Complex in Upper Balkaria.  Whether spending the night or just passing through, make sure to stop here for a meal!

6.  Must-See Sites

This republic is so chock full of “must-see” destinations, it’s impossible to narrow the list down.  Here are just a few suggestions to get you started: (***Mt. Elbrus is a no-brainer and we’re assuming that’s on your list)

A. El-Tyubu and Paradrome – This is an amazing area towards the end of Chegem Valley.  Many tourists visit the famous Chegem Waterfalls and don’t drive any further down this gorge, which really is a shame.  El-Tyubu is a picturesque Balkar village with several historical sites to see, including some ancient mausoleums.  The real gem of the area, though, is the Paradrome , which is Russia’s premier paragliding destination.  The combination of the scenic surrounding mountains and constant winds produces almost daily conditions to sail through the beautiful Caucasus sky.  Highly recommend!

motor yacht nord marine traffic

B.  Upper Balkaria – Also known as Cherek Valley, the entire drive to the actual village of Upper Balkaria is one big destination.  First, you can spend time at the 3 consecutive “ Blue Lakes ”, one of which is one of Russia’s deepest lakes with an underground spring.  Then, the drive itself becomes an adventure, as you pass by steep rock walls with a huge drop-off on the other side.  If you’re able to walk this part of the road, that is a bonus!  Once you’ve made your way through the valley walls, the region opens up into a beautiful panoramic view.  Many years ago, there were multiple villages in this region, but they’ve since been condensed into one main village.  You can see some of the ancient Balkar towers that their ancestors used to live in as well.

C.  Djili-Suu – Although hard to pronounce and not easy to get to, Djili-Suu is one of those places in the North Caucasus that people rave about that you “have to” visit.  It’s actually on the North side of Mt. Elbrus, and more accessible from the Mineral Waters region (2 hrs. from Kislovodsk).  The base camp for Elbrus climbers summiting the mountain from the North side is at Djili-Suu.  This area is famous in Russia for its numerous natural healing springs, as well as unique climate conditions that make for beneficial, long holidays for seeking a respite from their daily grind.  There are wide swaths of land available for camping, with probably the most unrivaled views of Mt. Elbrus in the North Caucasus.  Make sure to check this out!

7.  Off-the-beaten path destinations

motor yacht nord marine traffic

A. King’s Waterfalls (Tsarskie), or Gedmisht – Probably the valley in Kabardino-Balkaria with the least amount of hype is the Malka Valley, which is the northernmost valley and mainly runs through the Kabardian lowlands.  At the point where the villages end, though (Khabas), the asphalt turns into dirt and the hills start to rise, culminating with the incredible King’s Waterfalls, or as one friend put it, Avatar Waterfalls.  These stunning waterfalls are best visited in the early summer, when everything is lush green and the water flow is strong, with many streams of water flowing down the earth’s surface.  The different colors are incredible and it’s hard to look away.  Once you’ve enjoyed the waterfalls, enjoy a meal of shashlik at one of the nearby lunch huts.  Having an off-road vehicle is ideal to visit these falls, but worth the time and effort!

B.  One-seater chair lift at Elbrus – As the infrastructure at Mt. Elbrus has modernized, some of the more “authentic” experiences have gone to the way-side.  This is one experience still available, though!  From the 2nd (11,000 ft.) to 3rd level (12,500 ft.) of Mt. Elbrus (whether skiing, going to base camp, or just touring), there is a single-seater chair lift for 100 rubles each way (less than $2).  This is an amazing experience if you have the time.  It’s 8-10 minutes each way, and a surreal experience of the majestic Caucasus mountain range surrounding you, skiers silently passing you by underneath, and in general enjoying the silent expanse of nature all around.  The chair lifts are from the Soviet times and so it feels like something from a different era.  For mountain climbers, the newer group cable car gives better access to most of base camp, but several huts are pretty close to this chair lift, so it still may be a good option for you.

C.  Abandoned Mines above Tirnauz – Tirnauz is about 1 hr. from Mt. Elbrus, and a town everyone drives through to and from the mountain.  Although today it looks old and half-abandoned, it was a booming mining town in the 20th century.  About a 45-minute drive above the city with an off-road vehicle, you can see the remains of the mining operations.  Learning about this history combined with the breath-taking views of the Baksan Valley and even into Georgia, you’ll wonder why more people aren’t visiting this place.  This is a great spot to see eagles soaring in the sky, as well as admire the Soviet city plan of Tirnauz from above.

motor yacht nord marine traffic

8.  What do I need border zone passes to visit?

In Russia, any area within 5-10 km of a neighboring country, without a clearly delineated border (i.e. in the mountains) is considered a special border zone, and patrolled by Russian border guards.  This area IS accessible to all Russian citizens with their passports, but is NOT legally accessible to foreign citizens UNLESS you have a special permit from the FSB (Federal Security Bureau).  These permits are accessible, either through a tour operator or local friend, but require you to submit your application 45-60 days in advance.

Areas in Kabardino-Balkaria that are worth a visit if you have a border zone pass:

A.  Bezengi Wall – This is at the end of the Bezengi Valley, and holds a place of lore among Russian mountain climbers.  Many mountain guides go through training in this valley.  Five of the Caucasus Mountain’ range’s highest seven peaks are a part of the Bezengi Wall, so you can imagine the draw it has for climbers. There are great areas for trekking and camping in this area. 

B.  Adyr-Suu Gorge – This remote valley runs perpendicular to Baksan Valley and is about 25 minutes from the base of Mt. Elbrus.  It’s marked at the entrance by a relic of the past, a car lift from Soviet days that auto-cranks your car (and you) about 50 meters up the mountain.  After 45-60 minutes of driving on gravel road, the gorge opens up into a flat valley with a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains.  The Adyr-Suu Alpine Lodge is at the end of this valley and where back-country skiers base out of during the acclimatization phase of their Mt. Elbrus ski tours.  This is truly a place where you can experience untouched powder!

motor yacht nord marine traffic

C.  Mt. Cheget (Elbrus) – Cheget is a neighboring mountain to Mt. Elbrus and where many climbers will acclimatize, both at its base and while doing some hikes.  It also is famous in Russia for its free-ride terrain for more experienced skiers.  Standard access to the chair lifts and mountain are available to all (i.e. mountain climbers don’t need to worry about accidentally crossing into the zone), but anyone wanting to summit the peak of Cheget OR visit the beautiful Cheget Lake needs a border permit. 

motor yacht nord marine traffic

Foreigners violating the border zone areas is considered a serious offense in Russia; make sure to do your due diligence if wanting to visit one of these areas!  We highly recommend using a local tour operator and always traveling with a local person if visiting one of these areas.

9.  Any cultural “do’s” or “don’t’s” to be aware of

motor yacht nord marine traffic

Kabardino-Balkaria is a fascinating republic with a combination of traditional and modern society.  The more you interact with local people, the more you’ll see a mixture of Muslim faith, post-Soviet mentality, and ancient local traditions all wrapped together.   

Kabardians mainly live in the lowlands (Nalchik, Baksan, and lowland villages), while Balkars primarily live in the mountain valleys (Elbrus, Chegem, Upper Balkaria, etc.).  There is a large population of Russians in the region as well.  Foreigners visit every area of the region regularly, and so local people are used to and will welcome your presence.

Come with an open mind to learn about these peoples, their traditions, and their land.  You won’t regret your trip to Kabardino-Balkaria!

motor yacht nord marine traffic

***Want to learn more?  Here are several self-published resources from the podcast “ CaucasTalk ” related to Kabardino-Balkaria:

– Travel Tips to Kabardino-Balkaria (audio version of this blog)

– History of Mt. Elbrus (Part 1)

– History of Mt. Elbrus (Part 2)

– Interview with Local Elbrus guide

– Climbing Elbrus: Interview with American guide

– Who are the Kabardians? (Part 1)

– Who are the Kabardians? (Part 2)

– Skiing in the North Caucasus (Elbrus and more)

READY TO EXPERIENCE KABARDINO-BALKARIA FOR YOURSELF?

Where to find us.

  • +1 704-810-4296
  • [email protected]
  • 1578 Pine Creek Rd., Gastonia, NC 28056

Travel Information

  • We no longer offer travel services to Russia. See Caucasus Quest Tours for new destinations
  • Is it Safe to Travel to the Caucasus in 2024?
  • Climbing Kazbek & Kilimanjaro: Comparing two 5,000+ meter peaks
  • How to Train to climb Mt. Kazbek in Georgia

Our Elbrus Climbing Tours

  • Climb Elbrus South Route
  • Climb Elbrus North Route
  • Climb Elbrus & The Capitals
  • Climb Elbrus & The Caucasus

Russia Cultural Tours

  • Capitals of Russia
  • Lake Baikal on Ice
  • Delightful Dagestan
  • Heart of the Caucasus

ALL Travel Services to Russia and Mt. Elbrus have been indefinitely suspended as of Feb. 2022.

Explore our new tour branch Caucasus Quest to climb Mt. Kazbek (5,054 meters) in Georgia or for immersive cultural touring experiences in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

IMAGES

  1. Alexei Mordashov's Crazy $500,000,000 NORD Yacht

    motor yacht nord marine traffic

  2. NORD Yacht • Alexei Mordashov $500M Superyacht

    motor yacht nord marine traffic

  3. NORD Yacht • Alexei Mordashov $500M Superyacht

    motor yacht nord marine traffic

  4. motor-yacht-Nord-Lurssen-2021-Alexei-Mordashov-40

    motor yacht nord marine traffic

  5. motor-yacht-Nord-Lurssen-2021-Alexei-Mordashov-26

    motor yacht nord marine traffic

  6. NORD Yacht • Alexei Mordashov $500M Superyacht

    motor yacht nord marine traffic

VIDEO

  1. Yacht Nord coming soon in Hurghada #NORD #automobile #بحر #boating #سفر

  2. Nordhavn Solace

  3. Nord Yacht coming soon in Hurghada for safari, kit and submersible trips

  4. Hurtigruten Feb 2023 MV Maud, a whirl wind tour of some of the boat

  5. Yacht Traffic Jam on Danger Bend in Fort Lauderdale

COMMENTS

  1. Ship NORD (Yacht) Registered in Russia

    Vessel NORD is a Yacht, Registered in Russia. Discover the vessel's particulars, including capacity, machinery, photos and ownership. Get the details of the current Voyage of NORD including Position, Port Calls, Destination, ETA and Distance travelled - IMO 9853785, MMSI 273610820, Call sign UBSX4

  2. MarineTraffic: Global Ship Tracking Intelligence

    MarineTraffic Live Ships Map. Discover information and vessel positions for vessels around the world. Search the MarineTraffic ships database of more than 550000 active and decommissioned vessels. Search for popular ships globally. Find locations of ports and ships using the near Real Time ships map. View vessel details and ship photos.

  3. NORD, Yacht

    Yacht, IMO 9853785. The current position of NORD is at East Asia reported 25 days ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to the port of Petropavlovsk, Russia, sailing at a speed of 0.5 knots and expected to arrive there on Jul 19, 09:09. The vessel NORD (IMO 9853785, MMSI 273610820) is a Yacht built in 2021 (3 years old) and currently sailing under ...

  4. NORD Current Position IMO 9853785, Yacht

    Vessel NORD is a pleasure craft ship sailing under the flag of Russian Federation. Her IMO number is 9853785 and MMSI number is 273610820. Main ship particulars are length of 141 m and beam of 20 m. Maps below show the following voyage data - Present Location, NExt port, Estimated (ETA) and Prediced Time of arrival (PTA), Speed, Course, Draught ...

  5. The $500 Million Russian Megayacht 'Nord' Has Appeared in the Maldives

    Motors. Marine. November 15, 2022. A Russian Oligarch's $500 Million Megayacht Has Avoided Seizure for Months. It Was Just Spotted in the Maldives. The vessel stopped transmitting its location ...

  6. 'Nord' Megayacht Is Returning to Russia After Hiding for Over a Year

    Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images. After avoiding seizure for more than a year, the elusive Russian megayacht Nord is finally heading back to its home country. The $500 million vessel, owned by ...

  7. The $500 Million Russian Megayacht 'Nord' Has Anchored in Hong Kong

    The 465-foot Lürssen vessel in question, which contains two helipads, a cinema and 20 luxury cabins, left Vladivostok on September 27 and was initially headed for the Vietnamese port of Da Nang.

  8. Ship & Container Tracking

    VesselFinder is a FREE AIS vessel tracking web site. VesselFinder displays real time ship positions and marine traffic detected by global AIS network.

  9. NORD Yacht • Alexei Mordashov $500M Superyacht

    The Nord yacht is a 465ft motor yacht built by Lurssen. Designed by Nuvolari Lenard, its interior is a masterpiece of luxury and style. The owner of the yacht Nord is Russian billionaire Alexei Mordashov. With a top speed of 20 knots and a range of features including a helicopter hangar, swimming pool, and cinema, it offers an unparalleled ...

  10. A rare look inside Nord, the $500 million megayacht of Russia's richest

    Nord is a name taken in the same breath as Solaris, Eclipse, Dilbar, and Azzam, the absolute best superyachts in the world. For a change, this article is not about Nord's transponders, refuel costs, or Mordashov's massive empire.After extensively discussing the $500 million luxury vessel, its 464-foot length, swimming pool, sun terrace, spa, diving center, and tender garage, we will show ...

  11. NORD Yacht, IMO 9853785

    DISCLAIMER. NORD current position is received by AIS. Ship info reports, fleet analysis, company analyses, address analyses, technical specifications, tonnages, management details, addresses, classification society data and all other relevant statistics are derived from Marine Vessel Traffic database.

  12. Ship Finder

    Welcome to Ship Finder, a marine traffic web app designed to track live vessel activity from across the world's seas and oceans developed by Pinkfroot. Showing you up to the minute ship tracking data broadcast straight from vessels equipped with AIS transmitters to our receivers showing you information like: ... boats and marine activity and ...

  13. NORD yacht (Lurssen, 141.6m, 2021)

    Lurssen. NORD is a 141.6 m Motor Yacht, built in Germany by Lurssen and delivered in 2021. Her top speed is 18.0 kn. She can accommodate up to 36 guests in 20 staterooms. She has a gross tonnage of 10154.0 GT and a 19.5 m beam. She was designed by Nuvolari Lenard, who also designed the interior. Nuvolari Lenard has designed 120 yachts and ...

  14. Nord Yacht

    Nord is a motor yacht with an overall length of m. The yacht's builder is Lürssen Yachts from Germany, who launched Nord in 2021. The superyacht has a beam of m, a draught of m and a volume of . GT.. Nord features exterior design by Nuvolari Lenard and interior design by Nuvolari Lenard. Up to 36 guests can be accommodated on board the superyacht, Nord, and she also has accommodation for 42 ...

  15. Motor yacht Nord

    Nord is a 142 m / 465′11″ luxury motor yacht. She was built by Lurssen in 2020. With a beam of 19.5 m and a draft of 5.4 m, she has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. This adds up to a gross tonnage of 9250 tons. She is powered by MTU engines giving her a maximum speed of 20 knots and a cruising speed of 15 knots. The motor yacht can accommodate 36 guests in 18 cabins. The yacht ...

  16. Vessel Finder

    VesselFinder shows real-time vessel locations and marine traffic detected by worldwide AIS network. V essel F inder. info. LIVE MAP TOOLS . IMO Search MMSI Search Military Ships Cruise Ships Ferry Ships Container Tracker IMPA Code Search Postal Tracker Maritime Locator. UTC. VESSEL FINDER ...

  17. My Ship Tracking Free Realtime AIS Vessel Tracking Vessels Finder Map

    My Ship Tracking is a FREE REALTIME AIS vessel finder tracking service. With this vessel tracker you can monitor ship positions, vessel tracking, ship tracking, vessel position, vessels traffic, port activity in realtime map.

  18. MYA CURRENT POSITION

    Track current position of MYA on Live Map and find its IMO, MMSI, Call Sign, 1009340,667002209.

  19. Nalchik

    Nalchik Arc De Triumph. The word "Nalchik" literally means "small horseshoe" in Kabardian (or Circassian, a Northwest Caucasian language) and Karachay-Balkar (a Turkic language). It is a diminutive of na'l, a common Middle Eastern word (Arabic, Persian, Turkish) for "horseshoe", possibly from the ancient Scythian, 'nalak" (horseshoe).

  20. Nalchik Map

    Categories: administrative territorial entity of Russia, city or town, big city, fortress, sloboda, capital city and locality. Location: Nalchik Urban Okrug, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Caucasus, Southern Russia, Russia, Eastern Europe, Europe. View on Open­Street­Map. Latitude. 43.477° or 43° 28' 37" north. Longitude. 43.5967° or 43° 35 ...

  21. Visiting Russia

    Visiting Russia - Nalchik. Nalchik is a small city of around 240,000 people and serves as the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, one of the lesser-known republics spread across the beautiful North Caucasus area of Russia, the mountain range that separates the former soviet states of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan from the Russian Federation.

  22. Travel Tips to Kabardino-Balkaria: More than Mt. Elbrus!

    B. Car/Public Transport - If you have a car, are using a taxi, or are hitch-hiking your way to Kabardino-Balkaria, the region is accessible by a variety of roads and vehicles. A major Russian federal highway E50 runs through Pyatigorsk into Kabardino-Balkaria, and can take you towards Mt. Elbrus, Nalchik, and deeper into the North Caucasus.