Mountain camp in Abkhazia

Welcome with our Club to hospitable Abkhazia! During the week of rest, we will admire what the mountains and lakes look like on the other side of the Main Caucasian Range, and at the end of the route we will rest on the Black Sea shore.

Ritsinsky National Park is a real treasury of Abkhazia!
Here you can still see the untouched corners of nature, enjoy the waterfalls and swim in the alpine lakes. The national park is a place where the forested mountains of Abkhazia and the snow-capped peaks of the Main Caucasian Range fit in one frame.
The most striking sights of the park are colorful lakes. Along the route we will see 12 lakes: Blue Lake, Lake Malaya and Big Ritsa, Lake Mzy, Cha and the Valley of the Seven Lakes.
During the rest, we live in a tent camp and go on all walks lightly, without backpacks. Therefore, this tour is recommended for beginners and tourists with children.

Travel area: Abkhazia
Type of rest: accommodation in tents, walking lightly, without backpacks.
Cost: 15400 rubles.

Dates of travel in 2020 (7 days):
- July 19-25
- July 26 - August 1

The route line: Adler - Abkhazia - Blue Lake, Yupsharsky Canyon, Lake Ritsa, Auadhara resort - Lake Mzy, Acytaka Ridge - Valley of Waterfalls, Mount Adjara - Valley of Seven Lakes - Lake Cha, Mount Chha - Lake Malaya Ritsa - rafting, Black Sea - New Athos.

Day 1

11:00 (Moscow time) - group gathering at the railway station Adler near the entrance to the new station building from the city side.
Transfer by bus to post. Psou (20-30 minutes), crossing the border between Russia and Abkhazia on foot.

Blue Lake - Yupsharsky Canyon - Lake Ritsa - Auadhara resort.
After meeting all the tourists, we take the bus to the mountains! The road goes along the Bzyb River, past amazingly beautiful mountain slopes, gorges and waterfalls.
Soon we will see the waterfall “Maiden tears”: on the limestone rocks running down thin jets of water appearing directly from the stone. On the rock under the waterfall immediately attract the eye of hundreds of colorful ribbons left by tourists.
Further along the way, the picturesque Blue Lake and the Yupshar Canyon are a magnificent gorge covered with ivy, moss and boxwood. The steep stone walls of the Yupshar Gate rise up to 400 meters. There are always great pictures here!
After driving a little more up the gorge, we will finally see the pearl of Abkhazia – Lake Ritsa, located at an altitude of 950 meters. On the dark emerald surface, light waves run, hitting the fir shores. And in quiet weather in the lake, as in a mirror, the surrounding mountains are reflected.
Near Ritsa you can take a leisurely walk, or you can sit on one of the wooden piers, hang your feet above the water and just enjoy this beauty!
After resting near the lake, we go further, to the mountain resort of Awadhara. Here we set up camp for the next five nights.
Duration of transition from transport to the place of installation of the tent camp: 2-3 minutes.
The parking lot is at an altitude of 1600 m.

Clothing and footwear for walking on the first day: T-shirt, slippers, shorts / trousers, walking shoes (we will walk on asphalt).
With him in the backpack: cap, raincoat, camera, subpopnik, drinking water.

Day 2

Lake Mzy, Acytaka Ridge.
In the morning we wake up in a beautiful place - the valley of the river Awadhara. For those of you who haven’t had time to look at everything, take a look!
The valley of the Auadhara River is rightfully considered one of the most picturesque corners of Abkhazia. This land is rich in huge reserves of healing, mineral water. There are more than 30 springs, from which water is collected and delivered to Sukhum, the bottling plant of mineral waters.
We taste water directly from the source and go to the emerald lake Mzy. It is located on the Acytaka ridge, at an altitude of 2050 m. The lake is large – its length is about 100 meters!
To the delight of photographers, there is still snow on the shores of the lake in July. And in August, only small white spots remain in the folds of the mountains.
Like any self-respecting mountain pond, Lake Mzy boasts its almost icy and very invigorating water! The brave ones can swim, we will take a picture of you.
Having captured Lake Mzy, we will climb the Acytaka Ridge. From here you can see the beautiful mountain scenery and the valley of the Lashipse River, where we went by bus yesterday.
The active part of the route: 13.8 km, the height difference of 1600-2050 m, the duration of the route is 6-7 hours.

Day 3

Falls Valley, Mount Adjara.
Our journey continues!
Today we go to an untouched corner of nature, hidden in the valley of Audhara. This place has a beautiful name “Valley of waterfalls”. White streams of water slowly flow from the mountains, decorating already luxurious landscapes.
Further, we plan to climb the spur of Mount Adjara to enjoy new views of the Ritsin National Park from a bird's eye view.
The active part of the route: 9.1 km, the height difference of 1600-2250 m, the duration of the route is 6-7 hours.

Day 4

Valley of the Seven Lakes.
In the morning we're going to Piv Pass. There is already a zone of alpine meadows, which in the summer will please us with their bright colors. The air here is unusually clean, fresh, mountainous! The aromas of herbs are all around!
After passing part of the way, we will approach the tract "Stone glade" - this place is romantically called "Valley of the Seven Lakes". After all, it is here, in the depths of the Ritsinsky Reserve, that there are amazing mountain lakes in beauty.
On the Stone glade, the path bifurcates - one path is tempting, smoothly goes around the mountain, and the other goes steeply up. As in the Russian fairy tale, here we have to choose. You will go around - you will not find lakes, you will go up steeply - you will get to Semiozero! So we quickly climb up to meet bright impressions.
The area on which we walk today is called Agura. Soon we will see seven lakes with crystal clear, icy water. We will meet lakes large and small, lakes with islets, some lakes even have their own names - "Astoldzy", "Sultan".
Active part of the route: 12.1 km, height difference of 1980-2420 m, route duration of 6-7 hours.

Day 5

Lake Cha, Mount Cha.
Every day we will learn new Abkhaz words. Today, our lexicon will be replenished with a new word "chha" - "horse head". This is how the name of another emerald mountain lake is translated. It’s only an hour and a half away and we’re on our way! From the lake flows a river, which gives rise to a picturesque waterfall.
And we're moving on to Mount Cha. Its height is 2600 m, it will be the highest point of our route!
The active part of the route: 8.5 km, the height difference of 1980-2600 m, the duration of the route is 5-6 hours.

Day 6

Lake Ritsa, Lake Malaya Ritsa.
In the morning we gather camp and move to Lake Ritsa. We set up camp near the lake and go for a walk again!
The Ritsinsky Reserve boasts many reservoirs, but a very special lake is Malaya Ritsa. It is located in the basin of the Gega River, at the foot of Pshegishhwa Mountain at an altitude of 1235 meters.
Small Ritsa is inferior in size to its older sister - the length of the lake is 530 meters, but the water transparency reaches 18 meters. Around the lake grows a dense forest, there are excellent clearings for parking.
If anyone can come to Lake Ritsa by car, then you can only walk to Malaya Ritsa. It is a quieter, more secluded and infinitely beautiful lake. It will put a bright point in our campaign on the Ritsinsky Reserve.
The active part of the route: 7.1 km, the height difference of 910-1235 m, the duration of the route is 5-6 hours.

Day 7

Rafting, Black Sea =)), New Athos.
In the morning we gather camp and go rafting on the mountain river. We will experience new sensations!
Rafting is carried out on catamarans along the Bzip River. The route is simple, suitable for beginners, special experience for rafting is not required.
After rafting, we go to the city of New Athos - one of the cities of Abkhazia, which is incredibly rich in attractions. Here we relax, swim in the sea = ), try ripe peaches, figs and enjoy the Abkhazian summer!!
Our march is over.

On the same day, you can go home or stay in Abkhazia for a few more days, renting housing in the private sector (cost from 500 rubles per day).
In New Athos you can visit:
- 8.5 m high waterfall;
- the temple and grotto of Simon Cananite;
- Emerald lake and unusual railway station Psyrtskha;
- The New Athos Monastery is the main Orthodox shrine of these places;
- New Athos Cave is one of the largest caves in Abkhazia;
- the ancient fortress of Anacopia.

Return passage from New Athos.
In the city of New Athos there is a railway station of the same name. Return tickets should be purchased for trains departing from New Athos after 20:00.
You can also take a shuttle bus to the Russian-Abkhaz border (1.5-2 hours, cost 250-300 rubles), walk the border (40 minutes) and take a bus to Adler airport or to the Adler railway station (travel time 30-40 minutes, sometimes there are traffic jams).
Return tickets should be purchased for trains/planes departing from Adler after 22:00.

Depending on the weather conditions, the physical condition of the participants and other factors, the route of the hike may be changed.

• Travel by minibus along the route
• Mountain transport along the route
• Accommodation in a paid tourist parking lot.
  The parking lot has an equipped toilet, electricity is constantly, it is possible to charge mobile phones and batteries.
• Rafting (mountain river rafting)
• Rental of group equipment (bonfire equipment, boilers, awning, gas burners, group first aid kit)
• Conductor-instructor services
• Three meals a day.

The price does not include:

• Transportation costs to the beginning of the route (Adler) and back (New Athos).
• Lunch in the cafe on the 1st day of the route (300-350 rubles)
• Personal equipment (tent, backpack, sleeping bag, karemat).
• Insurance (optional)