North Caucasus: You're familiar with them, right? North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya and Dagestan PLUS a pre-trip to Sochi in Russia, plus Abkhazia and Adygea, Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkharia. All but Abkhazia are Russian republics/federal districts located between the Black and Caspian Seas, and north of Georgia and Azerbaijan. Does this help? I wasn't familiar with most of them before this trip either. Much of the area is mountainous (beautiful mountains); many different languages are spoken; the people were very, very friendly. Tourists seldom visit, so if this appeals to you, go soon!