The Golden Ring of Abkhazia

The first town of the trip is Gagra. Gagra is a small and comfortable resort town. There will be an option to visit the Stalin's Dacha which is located in a picturesque place named Kholodnaya Rechka.

Pitsunda is a resort town. Unlike Gagra, Pitsunda is situated in the lowlands. Sea water around the Cape of Pitsunda is the clearest and the most transparent all over the Black Sea coast.

The next destination on the route is Lake Ritsa which is the most popular place for the tourists to relax. It is located 950 metres above sea level. Road to the lake goes between the beautiful rocks. There will be stop in the mountains on the shore of Blue Lake where you can taste cool pure stream water. Water in the lake is cold all year round, no more than 7 degrees in the summer. The depth of the lake is 76 metres. The color of the water in this lake is turquoise because the bottom of the lake is covered with lapis lazuli.

The next destination is the mysterious New Athos Cave. A special electric train transports tourists deep into the caves. New Athos Cave is a whole underground town with huge halls and lakes. This cave is one of the hugest in Abkhazia.

Not far from the caves New Athos monastery is located. New Athos monastery is the functioning male monastery. That’s why tourists are allowed to visit only the main cathedral of the monastery.

Schedule:

- early breakfast in the hotel or lunch box.

- departure from the hotel, Abkhazia’s border crossing;

- visit of the summer Stalin’s Dacha on the Kholodnaya Rechka;

- the Iupshara Canyon, Blue Lake and the so-called pearl of Abkhazia – Lake Ritsa;

- lunch on the route (complex tourist menu);

- New Athos – visit of the functioning male monastery of Simon Kananeus;

- visit of the complex of the New Athos Caves;

- Pitsunda – walk along the seafront;

- dinner on the route (complex tourist menu);

- transfer to the Abkhazia’s border, border crossing;

- return to the hotel.

Notes: to cross Abkhazia’s border you have to have passport, other identity documents are not accepted. For tourists not from Russia international passport is needed!!! Children under 14 must have birth certificate. Children under 18 years have to cross the border with their parents. If children under 18 travel without parents, they will have to have notarized power of attorney of parents with the word "Abkhazia".

Gagra - Stalin's Dacha - Iupshara Canyon - Lake Ritsa - New Athos caves - Monastery of Simon Kananeus - Pitsunda

- transportation and guide service;
- a bottle of water;
- entrance fee;
- lunch and dinner.

Please note that estimated tour duration indicated at the excursions description refers to tours starting from the central district of Sochi. Duration of the tour is subject to change if the point of departure is in other districts. You can learn about your tour duration when booking. Prices for guided tours are indicated per person in the group of 19 people if the departure is from the center of Sochi.