Holidays in Abkhazia

To enjoy the natural beauty and views of original works of architectural art, it is not at all necessary to spend a lot of money and go on a long journey. Abkhazia is a unique region, replete with natural and man-made monuments, a combination with a warm, gentle sun and sandy beaches, making this region very attractive for both Russian tourists and guests from abroad.

Sights of Abkhazia

The very first place where tourists try to go in Abkhazia is the magnificent Gagra Colonnade - the oldest and most famous building in the city, located in the area of ​​old Gagra.

The monument was built in the post-war years in conditions of severe financial deficit. The colonnade adorns Gagra Square, in the center of which there is a fountain with an image of a white dove, symbolizing peace, all together this creates a single architectural ensemble. The structure itself is a multi-arched structure 60 meters high with snow-white towers connected by arcades. Almost every tourist who visits this fertile land wants to look at the monument from the middle of the last century and take a photo against its background.

One of the most beautiful architectural structures in the Art Nouveau style, the Prince of Oldenburg Castle was built at the beginning of the last century and has an extremely rich and interesting history.

Initially, the building was erected as the summer residence of the Prince of Oldenburg, a relative of Emperor Nicholas II and a prominent public figure, who cherished the hope of ennobling the Black Sea coast, making it accessible for recreation and treatment. The location chosen was very picturesque - the castle was built on a mountain slope next to a flowing river. The prince, in order to clear the territory, ordered all the swamps to be drained and a park, later called Primorsky, to be planted. It is not known what this place would look like now, but the plans were not destined to come true; due to the outbreak of hostilities, Oldenburgsky left for France, and after the arrival of Soviet power, the castle became a health boarding house. In the 90s, the building fell into complete disrepair, was abandoned and looted, and is currently being restored.

Abkhazia is a region rich not only in man-made but also natural monuments. One of the attractions is a unique gift, the New Athos Cave.

This place became widely known not so long ago, just half a century ago, when one of the Abkhaz artists with a group of activists discovered a mysterious entrance to the cave of Iveron Mountain (another landmark of the city of New Athos). It turned out that local residents already knew about the dungeon, but no one had yet decided to go down to a depth of 135 meters. Already in the mid-70s, the first tourist trains were launched in the New Athos Cave.

Scientists claim that the Abkhazian miracle of nature is several million years old, and those who visit the cave for the first time cannot even imagine all the incredible beauties of the underground kingdom, because here you can see underground lakes with emerald water, stalactite pillars, and fabulous cave passages illuminated by multi-colored spotlights.

Excursions to the New Athos Cave are conducted all year round, the visiting time is about one and a half hours.

Beautiful places in Abkhazia

The fabulous Lake Ritsa, located high in the Caucasus Mountains in the north-west of Abkhazia, is a kind of calling card of these places. The greenish water in the lake is so transparent that it can be seen at a depth of 1 meter, but the total depth of Ritsa is about 150 m, the width is 2 km. The reservoir is unique and picturesque in itself, but if you imagine that it is located on the territory of the relict park of the same name, then it will simply take your breath away from the unimaginable beauty and natural diversity.

In Soviet times, visiting the lake was part of the mandatory cultural program; guests were shown the dachas of Stalin and Brezhnev, built at the foot, and introduced to the local flora and fauna. Then Abkhazia went through hard times, but now the flow of tourists who want to see this miracle is increasing every year.

Mountain rivers, underground holes, many legends associated with this place create a unique magical flair; in addition, the reservoir is interesting from a scientific point of view, because in 1000 years of existence it has never frozen.

The history of the Sukhumi Botanical Garden goes back about 150 years; this oasis has survived many tragic events: Turkish raids, revolutions, and destructive wars of the 20th century, but to this day the garden is known far beyond the borders of Abkhazia.

The Botanical Garden was created in a rather unusual way. In the 30s of the 19th century, there was a military garrison in Sukhumi, whose chief doctor planted a small garden next to the house, where he began to grow medicinal plants. This fact did not go unnoticed by the commandant of the garrison, who contributed financial support - the garden expanded and over time began to be replenished with more and more medicinal plants.

At the moment, the Sukhumi Botanical Garden has about 5,000 thousand unique specimens from all over the world and is almost in first place in all guidebooks of Abkhazia.

Since ancient times, many fortification structures have been erected in Abkhazia, but only one historical monument has survived - the majestic Anakopia fortress on Mount Iverskaya in the city of New Athos.

The lands of modern Abkhazia have been subjected to aggression by foreign invaders throughout history, so local craftsmen mastered the construction of fortresses at the highest level. The Anakopia fortress was created back in the 4th-5th centuries and occupied the most important place among similar military fortifications; at that time it was possible to get into the Anakopia citadel only through one gate located on the south side. But the elements and bloody wars did not allow the monument to survive to this day in its original form. All that remains of the majestic fortress are fragments of the fortress walls, ruins of towers and stone steps of stairs. Of particular interest to tourists is the well; according to legend, the water in it has miraculous powers, as well as the Temple of Theodore Tyrone on the top of Mount Anakopia.

The best hotels in Abkhazia

• One of the highest ratings in the ranking of the best hotels in Abkhazia was given to the Hellas mini-hotel, located in the area of ​​​​old Gagra.   From the windows and balconies there is a magnificent view of the sea, gorge and bay, not far from the famous Gagra Colonnade. Getting to the sea is not difficult; you only have to walk about 100 meters across the road from the hotel. The rooms in “Hellas” are of three types - double, triple and “luxury” for two people, designed in a classic style. All of them are equipped with the necessary equipment: TV, air conditioning, refrigerator, fan, etc. There is a laundry and parking on the territory of the mini-hotel.
• The modern and cozy hotel "Tsar's Alley" (New Athos) offers guests 33 furnished, comfortable rooms to suit every taste, which offer picturesque views of the mountain ranges and the New Athos Monastery. Its location is very convenient, the Black Sea coast is a 10-minute walk away, the hotel itself is built in a picturesque area, next to a waterfall near the Psyrtskha River. The rooms have everything you need for relaxation from household appliances to toiletries, there is a free Internet network, free and private parking spaces.
• In the most visited resort of Abkhazia - Pitsunda, tourists are offered a choice of at least dozens of hotels, but one of the favorites is the Artem guest house, just 40 km from Adler. A guest house is an excellent option for active rest, the favorite pastimes of tourists are cycling in the surrounding area, horse riding, and fishing. There is parking, a shared kitchen and a swimming pool on site. The rooms are equipped with TV, air conditioning, free internet access.

Resorts of Abkhazia

Such resorts, like Sukhumi, Pitsunda and Gagra, have been known since Soviet times, but complex political relations with neighboring states for a time made Abkhazia inaccessible for recreation and tourism, however, in recent years the situation has improved significantly, every year more and more guests seek to visit this small sovereign state, located among the Caucasus Mountains.
Gagra is certainly the most popular resort in Abkhazia, located in a picturesque bay among mountain ranges. During the Soviet era, vacationers came here not only to enjoy the gentle sun and warm sea, but also to improve their health. There are enough tourists here even in the low season; in the fall and spring they go to Gagra for a walk along the deserted embankments, visit the sights and breathe in the healing sea air.

An undoubted advantage of a holiday in Gagra is its developed infrastructure; it is here that there is the largest selection of hotels and boarding houses, cafes and restaurants, as well as entertainment options for children for every taste and budget. Pitsunda can be considered the most suitable for families with children, because here there is the only public beach and sandy shore in the region, as well as the cleanest sea. Thanks to the famous Pitsunda Nature Reserve, which covers an area of ​​200 hectares, the air here is saturated with oxygen, which makes recreation very useful for people with respiratory problems.

The village cannot boast of an abundance of hotels and restaurants; the bulk of tourists stay in a residential complex that unites more than a dozen boarding houses. For families with children, this resort is ideal due to its relaxing atmosphere, famous pine groves and abundance of natural attractions. New Athos is a must-visit if your goal is to better understand the history of Abkhazia. Athos is one of the oldest cities in the region, there are mentions of it back in the 3rd century, located between Mount Athos and Iverskaya.

Today, New Athos is a popular Black Sea resort, known far beyond the borders of Abkhazia for its numerous landscaped beaches, cypress alleys and palm trees.

Holidays in New Athos are suitable for people who value a peaceful atmosphere and unity with nature, however, there are enough restaurants, cafes, and other places to relax. Well, and, of course, it’s worth seeing with your own eyes the local attractions - the New Athos caves, the Monastery of St. Panteleimon, waterfalls and lakes.

How much will a holiday in Abkhazia cost?

Most tourists planning their holiday in Abkhazia wonder how much this pleasure will cost them and how to plan their financial expenses during the trip in advance.

• The season in Abkhazia begins in May and ends in October; February is considered the worst; snowfalls in winter can significantly spoil the impression. Ideal for travel There will be a high season, when the water is quite warm and there is practically no precipitation. If you purchase a tour through an agency, the trip will cost much more than if you went on vacation on your own. On average, tour prices start from 20,000 thousand rubles for two people.
• Thanks to the rapid development of tourism, more and more hotels are being built in Abkhazia; in total there are about 70 of them in the region. The cost of living is relatively low - 1500-2000 thousand rubles per day. But it will be even more profitable for guests to stay in the private sector; for a room in a guest house with all amenities you will pay no more than 700-1000 rubles.
• The cost of food in Abkhazia differs little from Russian prices, but it is worth remembering that large chain stores are located only in the capital, and mainly local residents and tourists buy provisions at the market.
• Abkhazian cuisine is considered healthy and correct, because the dishes are replete with plant ingredients; every guest of this extraordinary region should visit a restaurant or cafe to enjoy the excellent taste of national food. The average bill in a restaurant ranges from 400 to 1,500 thousand per person; in a cafe, dinner for two will be much cheaper - about 400 rubles.