Headwaters of Chegema: Abai-Su waterfall, the city of the dead El-Tubyu, Chegem waterfalls

Level of training: Suitable for unprepared tourists
Hosting season: year-round
Duration of the hike: 5-7 hours
Length of walking route: 12 km
Altitude difference: 500 metres

During our trip we will visit as the most popular tourist sites of the Chegem Gorge: Chegem waterfalls, a cliff, and those places where the usual excursion buses do not go.

Let's start in order.

Arriving in the gorge, we first of all look at the small Chegem waterfall Adai-Su, which means “maiden spit”. The waterfall is located away from the highway, about 200 meters away. In hot times, this waterfall is a real center of attraction for locals. It's always cool, shade, clean water. The height of the waterfall is about 30 meters, it is the most powerful of the Chegem waterfalls.

Then, on our way is the Chegem cliff. Its peculiarity is that in the narrowest place its width is, according to various sources, from 15 to 25 meters. It is in the cliff that the Great Chegem Waterfalls are located.

Further, our way lies to the village of Eltubu - the center of the accumulation of historical monuments. Here the family tower of the Balkarukovs, and the sakl of the Kuliyev family, from which the founder of Balkar literature Kaisyn Kuliyev came, and the famous and mysterious “City of the Dead” eight ground mausoleums have been preserved, (keshene).

Next, we leave the car behind the border post and go on foot to one of the most beautiful waterfalls of Kabardino-Bakaria - Abai-Su.
In translation, its name means Abaya waterfall. It was named after a hunter who became famous for his incredible accuracy.

The object is located on the river of the same name, which, in turn, is the left tributary of the Basil-Auzu-Su River. Beautiful and noisy waterfall Abai-Su seems to erupt from the depths of the rock, falling from a vertical wall. Flying 72 meters, it falls into the lake. This is the highest waterfall of Kabardino-Balkaria, without cascades. It is not one powerful stream, but a large number of streams, which are then connected, then broken on rock ledges. Enjoying the beauty of falling water can be endless.

Abai-Su in winter is also an incredible sight. In the cold, he completely freezes, creating an ice sculpture. Stalactites and stalagmites shine in the winter sun, giving tourists who managed to see it, stunning emotions. Sometimes, when winter is not too cold, only the lower part of the falls freezes. Then a continuous stream falls from above as if into an ice glass.

On the way back, you can visit the thermal springs "Geduko", the cost of arrival 1000 rubles + additional costs: 200 rubles / person for visiting the source.
Time + 2 hours.