May holidays in Abkhazia

Abkhazia for the May holidays is already a real summer oasis!
Prepare beautiful shorts, T-shirts – on the coast we will be photographed against the background of palm trees and flowering pomegranates. But when we go to the mountain lake Ritsa, we will dress warmer. This lake is surrounded by magnificent mountains, on which in May there is still snow!
During the trip, we are waiting for walks through picturesque waterfalls and canyons, ancient temples. We swim in the thermal springs and by train we will go to the very center of the Iberian Mountain to walk through the huge New Athos cave. And also try local trout, delicious khachapuri "boat", jam from figs, persimmons and bring friends great souvenirs from Abkhazia!

During the whole trip we live in a hotel, which is located on the Black Sea coast :)
The tour is easy, recommended for beginners and parents with children.

Travel area: Abkhazia
Type of rest: hotel accommodation, auto-pedestrian excursions.
Cost: 17400 rubles.

Dates of travel in 2020 (5 days):
- May 01-05
- May 6-10

Excursions:
Gagra - Colonnade, restaurant "Gagripsh", Park Prince of Oldenburg.
New Athos - waterfall on the river Psyrtskha, the temple of Simon Cananite, the New Athos monastery, Iverskaya mountain, New Athos cave, Primorsky Park.
Thermal springs in the village of Kyndyg, in the village of Primorskoye.
Waterfalls of Akarmara, trout farm, Rock monastery in the village of Othara, Lykhny temple.
Lake Ritsa, waterfall "Maiden tears", Blue Lake, wine tasting.

Day 1

11:00 (Moscow time) - the gathering of the group in Adler, on the border of Russia and Abkhazia from Russia.
Walk with the instructor of the border between Russia and Abkhazia (the time of crossing the border is 30-50 minutes).

From Adler airport to the border can be taken by taxi or bus number 58. Bus stop in front of the airport building, travel time 30-40 minutes.
From Adler railway station to the border can be taken by taxi or bus No. 50, No. 58, No. 125, No. 117 (travel time 30-40 minutes). The bus stop is located near the main entrance to the station. The bus number 58 stops closest to the border.

City of Gagra - restaurant "Gagripsh", the park of the Prince of Oldenburg, Colonnade.
Temple Lykhna, thermal springs in the village of Primorskoye.
Our acquaintance with Abkhazia begins with the resort town of Gagra.
One of the symbols of this city and its emblem is the restaurant "Gagripsh". Built in a medieval style, the restaurant has graced these places for over 100 years. The unique interiors of the restaurant often attract cinematographers here, the famous film “Winter Evening in Gagra” was shot here.
We will look outside at the spectacular restaurant building and go on to Prince Oldenburg Park. The park was founded in 1902. At different times, from different parts of the world, unusual plants were brought here. From the Canary Islands brought date palms, from China - fan palms, from South America - coconuts! Now the park grows about 400 different plants, including oleanders, Himalayan cedars, agaves and even a candy tree.
The park smoothly passes into the seaside alley, the decoration of which is an openwork, snow-white colonnade. On the square in front of it is built an elegant fountain with a white dove, which symbolizes peace on earth.

Then we go to the village of Lykhny. Here we will touch the history and see the Lykhne temple - one of the oldest in Abkhazia. Near the temple, local residents arranged a small souvenir market, so today there will be an opportunity to buy local teas and try jam made of figs or persimmons.
Our day will end in the village of Primorskoye, where we swim in hot, thermal springs! Thermal water has a beneficial effect on human health, calms, relaxes and fills the body with minerals.

Moving to New Athos, settlement in the hotel.

Day 2

Waterfalls of Akarmara, thermal spring in the village of Kyndyg.
The waterfalls of Akarmar are the highest and most spectacular in Abkhazia!
From the glaciers of the Kodori Range, rivers are born, which descend through the valleys and turn into picturesque waterfalls.
The largest waterfall is called the Giant, its height is 100 meters! Near it there are smaller waterfalls - Saint and Irina. These waterfalls are 37-40 meters high. Waterfalls are almost drowned in the subtropics: around a dense forest, vines, ferns. There will be beautiful photos in these places, get ready!

After visiting the waterfalls, we go to the village of Kyndyg. Here, right under the open sky, there is a complex of thermal springs. The complex consists of several swimming pools, hot showers and mud baths.
From the bowels of the earth hits a source, the water temperature in which reaches 110 degrees Celsius! Once on the surface, the water cools to 40-45 degrees and flows smoothly from one pool to another. You can choose a pool with hotter or cooler water. One of the most popular places in the thermal complex is the shower. Here you can stand under the pressure of hot water and go through a hydromassage session!

Day 3

Lake Ritsa, waterfall "Maiden tears", Blue Lake, wine tasting.
Lake Ritsa is one of the most famous natural wonders of Abkhazia. It is located on the territory of the relict national park "Ritsa".
The lake is big, clean, transparent! Its length is almost 2 kilometers, and the depth is about 150 m. On all sides, Lake Ritsa is surrounded by high mountains, which are spectacularly reflected in the lake. In May, the mountains already wear their outfit of bright, green trees, but there is still snow on the very tops of the mountains.
On the way to Lake Ritsa we will stop at the magnificent observation decks, near the waterfall “Maiden Spits” and the picturesque blue lake.
Oh, yeah! Tasting local wines along the way is sure to be! ;)

Day 4

Trout farm and Rock monastery in the village of Othara.
Seaside Park in New Athos.
What a Abkhazia without trout! Mmm)
At the mouth of the river Mchyshta there is a trout farm, where this very trout is bred. You can watch the fish grow and feed it. Trout is very fond of being fed, it causes a real revival in the pool with fish!
After the tour, in a local cafe, you can try trout baked on coals ;).

Not far from the trout farm there is another attraction - a rock monastery. The path to it goes along the river, through a fabulous, boxwood forest.
The monastery itself is located on a steep rock. Inside the rock are the cells of monks who lived here in the Middle Ages. The cells are very high, so in order to get inside, the monks used to use a ladder or rope ladder.

Day 5

New Athos. Waterfall on the river Psyrtskha, the temple of Simon Cananite, the New Athos monastery, Iverskaya mountain, New Athos cave.
New Athos is exactly the city where attractions are at every step!
We will visit the waterfall with a height of 8.5 meters, the emerald lake and the unusual railway station Psyrtskha. Externally, this station resembles a Chinese gazebo - the walls are made in the form of glass windows, everything around is decorated with patterns and complements the picture of a roof with sharp teeth.
We will also visit the New Athos monastery, which is the main Orthodox shrine of New Athos. The monastery is immersed in the greenery of palm trees and eucalyptus).
On a small train we will go deep into the Iver Mountain, where the famous New Athos cave is located. The special beauty of its halls gives spectacular lighting. Red and orange flowers here shine stalactites, stalagmites, and light green illuminates a huge flood waterfall at the very end of the route.

Transfer to the Russian-Abkhaz border.
Before 18:00 arrival at the Russian-Abkhaz border from Abkhazia. Going home from Adler.
Buy return tickets for trains departing from Adler after 19:30.

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

• Road crossings along the route by minibus
• Accommodation in New Athos, in the guest house "MAG House". Two-, three-bed rooms "Standard". Room facilities, TV, split system, Wi-Fi. There are ironing accessories, washing machine, grille/barbecue.
  In the yard of the hotel there is its own parking for cars.
  The walk from the guest house to the embankment and the sea takes 3-4 minutes.
• Meals according to the program: breakfast (day 2-5), dinners (day 1-4). At the request of tourists, it is possible to exclude the cost of food from the cost of the tour.
• Environmental fees in the gorges, entrance tickets to excursion centers.
• Guide instructor services.

The price does not include:

• Transport costs to the beginning of the route and back (Russian-Abkhaz border).
• Tickets for photo, video shooting at excursion facilities (Novoathon cave).
• Meals: lunch (200-300 rubles). For lunch during excursions we stop at one of the local cafes.
• The surcharge for single accommodation in the hotel room is 3200 rubles. for the entire rest period.
• Insurance (optional)