How People Live in Remote Mountain Villages of Dagestan — Where Almost No One Ever Goes

How People Live in Remote Mountain Villages of Dagestan — Where Almost No One Ever Goes

There are places where life flows in a different pace. The morning begins with caring for the earth, and the night ends with prayer and gratitude The people here are never in a hurry—not out of laziness but because their world is filled with a deep understanding of life rooted in timeless traditions and the wisdom of their ancestors Tatiana Ulengova & The Ulengovs present Beyond The Trace This is Dagestan, one of the remote mountain villages
where life is surprisingly simple Here, people work the land to provide for their families giving what they can and taking only what they need The soil is cultivated just as it was hundreds of years ago In places as remote as Dagestan, life flows slowly, at its own rhythm People aren’t hurried, knowing that time isn’t an enemy but a reliable ally Should I put it here? Can you help me? Oof! It’s heavy!
How is the donkey going to carry all this? It’s really heavy, huh? Need a hand? Just leave it like that Should we tie it down? Wait a minute Okay, I’ve got it. I’m holding it Every day is filled with meaning—simple, yet profound They place their trust in the land and, in return, it yields its generous gifts It’s work that carries quiet dignity, even if it never becomes legend Each spring, people return to the fields with plows and animals leaving tracks on a vast, living canvas: the land This is how it has always been, and it seems it will continue like this forever These furrows, even though they disappear beneath the growing plants continue their endless cycle of birth and renewal A true legacy doesn’t always leave a visible trace — it quietly shapes everything it touches Yeah, this year no one’s keeping oxen anymore Really? Why? In past years, there were a few pairs of oxen plowing the fields. But this year, only mine are left People don’t want to work. No one wants to keep oxen anymore And how do they pay you? Do they give you money or something in return? They pay about $4 per hundred square meters of land. And how big is this plot? This one is just one hundred square meters A sack of feed costs around 8 dollars, and we add bran, which is another 3 dollars Plus hay. One ox need about 70 bales of hay. Do you harvest the hay yourself or buy it? We mow what we can ourselves. If that’s not enough, we order from the lowlands They bring Sudan grass for about 3.5 dollars, and alfalfa for around 4.5 dollars We often believe that greatness is measured by power or fame forgetting that the most essential things in life rely on those who remain unseen These quiet workers of the land care for their families and uphold the very foundation of our society True strength lives in their humble, selfless hands We’re used to measuring results by what’s visible We paint pictures, construct buildings and launch companies But here, traces are left in another way—through furrows in the earth They may disappear, yet they continue to live on, nourishing generations to come What if the real trace isn’t what remains forever but what carries on through our legacy? We tend to believe that when something disappears, it’s lost But here, everything disappears—the furrows, the harvest, the people Yet, at the same time, they continue in another form, sometimes invisible These people don’t work for riches, recognition, or status but for something far greater than themselves Why do you do this? Is it to help others or to earn money? Well… a bit of both, I guess. I help people, and I earn something too It’s the biggest help there is. We don’t have any more oxen left in the village Right, it turns outto be a big help. I mean, what if I stop plowing? There are no other oxen.
How are they going to plow? With shovels or what? Come on, dance! Are you happy we came to help today? Oh yes, so happy! Why are you sitting separately from the men? They don’t let you join their circle? They bite! They bite? They’ve been working hard all day. We haven’t worked like they have First, the men eat. Then it’s our turn. We respect men. In the family circle, we all sit together So you’re not upset they don’t invite you to sit with them? We don’t mind You have your own secrets, and they have theirs, right? We’re breaking up the big clumps of soil so the potatoes can sprout more easily Yes! That way, the potatoes will grow this big You must get tired, right? Yes, I do. Do you work like this every day, or do you get some rest too? I get tired—and I rest too. I rest and I work. How do you rest? I rest at home. My grandmother lives with me. Your grandmother? Yes How old is she? She’s eighty-nine Wow, a true long-liver! In a warm kitchen, meals are being prepared while in a dim pantry, astonishing amounts of provisions are stored But this isn’t just food—it’s memory The old woman preserves these with care, her heart holding the echo of post-war years when even a single crumb was worth its weight in gold Grains, flour, and sugar stored in sacks may seem unusual to the modern eye but to this grandmother, they are symbols of love and protection Each sack is not merely a reserve for hard times it’s her quiet way of saying, “I love you, and I never want you to know hunger.” How old are you? I’m 100 years old. 100 years old? I was born in 1945 I’m 79 now. Not bad for my age, right? She’s more energetic than me. Even I can’t catch up with her. People here – they’re used to this life You look amazing. I never would’ve guessed you’re 100 years old Yesterday she was planting potatoes, working Are you going to plant potatoes today too? No, I don’t want to, I’m done These are such old fabrics… What kind of quality did they have back then? Wool. Pure wool Did women make these themselves? She made them Wow! And how did you make these bags? On a handloom They’ve been so well preserved—look almost brand new! This bag here—my mom made it herself. It’s pure wool And what were these bags used for back then? For wheat, corn, and potatoes Guests gather around the table—children, family, and friends It feels as though the whole house is filled with light as if love itself is the secret ingredient in every dish and the grandmother’s warm hands are protected us from all the dangers of the world. Every small step carries the DNA of something greater We believe the fate of the world is shaped by great leaders But perhaps it’s really shaped by the women who feed their children each day We think history is written by those who build magnificent structures But perhaps it’s created by those who till the soil so that tomorrow we have bread We believe greatness belongs to those remembered by millions But perhaps the truest meaning lies with those no one will remember yet without them, the world could not be what it is They just won’t let me leave this village.
They’ve sat me down at the table again I think this is our tenth cup of tea!
They baked flatbread, there’s fresh bread in the oven… Such incredible hospitality For us, a guest is more important than even a brother who lives far away — or even in the next village Guests have always been honored in every home Anyone passing by could walk into any house, say “I’m your guest,” and stay for weeks if they wanted.
No one would say a word Whatever is best in the house — they’ll give it to the guest For a highlander, the guest is sacred Hello again. You invited us, so here we are. Did all the cows come back? Not all of them yet How many cows do you have? Around 15 to 20 Will you be milking all of them? No, only 8 are for milking. The rest haven’t calved yet Are there many young people like you in the village? Very few. Almost none, actually. We’re probably the youngest family here still working the land. Do the others leave? Yes, they move to the city. It’s better to stand on this side Well, give it a try Do you have any udder cream? I used to believe we had to leave a mark that would be remembered for centuries But living with these people, I understood something much more meaningful each of us is already a trace the trace of everyone who lived before us It doesn’t matter if our names are remembered or if our photographs hang on walls What matters is that we exist What matters is that we live Because through us, others will live and without even knowing it, we become part of their story, their path We are just a small fragment in the vast mosaic of life Yet even the tiniest missing piece leaves the picture incomplete Sometimes, just living—truly living—is the most powerful trace we can leave behind Some go to temples, others to the plow Some lift their hands to the heavens, others sink them into the soil But the essence is the same: to give life to what comes after us

How People Live in Remote Mountain Villages of Dagestan — Where Almost No One Ever Goes

Welcome to the remote mountain villages of Dagestan — places where time flows differently, far from the noise of big cities. Here, people live simple, quiet lives, working on the land and preserving the traditions of their ancestors.

In these isolated mountain villages, the locals continue to plow the land using bulls and simple wooden plows, just as it was done for centuries. Their everyday life is filled with hard work, care for the family, and a deep connection with nature.

In this documentary, we show how people live in these remote villages of Dagestan, how they farm, how they raise their children, how they survive in the harsh mountain conditions, and how their simple life leaves a trace in this world — even if it may seem invisible at first glance.

These remote mountain villages of Dagestan — quiet places far from civilization, where people still live by ancient traditions.
Here, life flows slowly and peacefully. Farmers plow the fields using bulls, as their ancestors did for centuries. The simple rural life of these mountain people is full of hard work, family care, and deep connection to nature.

On our channel, we share real stories from remote villages, off the beaten path, showing how people live in different corners of Russia and the world. These mountain villages of Dagestan reveal a beautiful and peaceful lifestyle that few people ever see. You will see the real life of rural Dagestan, the traditional farming, the simple life in the mountains, and the unique culture of the Northern Caucasus.

We travel far beyond tourist routes to capture untouched nature, forgotten mountain villages, and the lives of people who live close to the land, raising their children and preserving their traditions.

This is a story of simple life, mountain farming, traditions, peaceful existence, and life far from big cities. Our documentaries show how small, remote places carry wisdom, silence, and deep meaning.

If you enjoy slow living, travel documentaries, and exploring remote corners of the world — subscribe and join our journey.

About the Channel:

Welcome to our documentary channel. My name is Tatiana Ulengova — I am a documentary filmmaker and traveler.

Through our films, we explore remote places, far from civilization, where people still live by ancient traditions and simple values. We travel to remote villages, high mountains, tundras, deserts, and hidden corners of the world, capturing the lives of people who remain deeply connected to nature, the land, and their families.

Our documentaries show the real life of rural communities, the beauty of traditional farming, family warmth, and the quiet philosophy of those who live in places far away from big cities and modern noise.

We create slow living documentaries that reveal the wisdom, peace, and simplicity found in forgotten villages, remote mountain settlements, and isolated regions that most people never see.

Join us as we travel to places off the beaten path, visiting remote villages in Russia, Dagestan, Yakutia, Siberia, the Arctic, the Far North, and many other unique regions around the world.

Subscribe to follow our journey into untouched nature, remote cultures, ancient traditions, and life far away from modern civilization.

Our Other Films:

Childhood in the remote Taiga: life without civilization, roads, and communication – https://youtu.be/F6-mwyrbCtQ
Life in the Coldest Village on Earth | Oymyakon, Yakutia, Russia | -71°C – https://youtu.be/keQWuKOZkhk
Life of northern nomads in winter. Life in the Ural mountains and tundra | Full film – https://youtu.be/8COjtY1egvc
Life in the mountains of Tibet: how people live in the Himalayas | Full film – https://youtu.be/ArMZssYO4Pc
Winter in the mountains of Dagestan: the last keepers of ancient embroidery – https://youtu.be/iPF5BMAeEXw
Tsaatan Nomads of Mongolia | Life in the Harsh Winter Near Russia – https://youtu.be/l0r5w89NQxg
How do the forest nomads of the Khanty people live? Life in the Far North – https://youtu.be/cBuVMSh3Zo8
The last villagers in the Taiga: life far from civilization – https://youtu.be/Hv1cGKjtW1s
How do indigenous Russians live in the remote villages of the Russian North? – https://youtu.be/N58C7qgUhWg
How do nomads of Altai live today? Life in the villages of Altai – https://youtu.be/o-NLXF72OwA
One day with a family in the coldest place on Earth -71°C (-95°F) | Yakutia, Siberia – https://youtu.be/0Cn0nOv6Sx8

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