The Tsey Valley, about 90 kilometres south of Vladikavkaz via the town of Alagir, is one of the most beautiful alpine valleys in the Russian Caucasus. The valley floor sits at around 1,600 metres, but the surrounding peaks rise to over 4,000 metres and glaciers fill the upper cirques. A Soviet-era cable car makes the glacial zone accessible even to non-climbers, rising to around 3,000 metres for remarkable views over the high Caucasus.
The valley has a small ski resort that operates in winter, and in summer it fills with hikers, climbers, and families from Vladikavkaz and beyond. The trail to the Skazsky Glacier is straightforward and stunning. The Recom Sanctuary — a traditional Ossetian sacred site dedicated to St George — sits near the valley mouth and is worth a visit; it is one of the few pre-Christian Ossetian religious sites still actively maintained.