What to see in Abkhazia by car - 20 most interesting places

Abkhazia has incredible tourism potential. There are many natural and historical attractions, striking in their diversity. Resort cities with amazing gardens and beaches, majestic mountain landscapes and numerous gorges, valleys of waterfalls and lakes, monasteries and fortresses - this is just a small part of what to see in Abkhazia by car.

The advantages of car rental

Many tourists prefer to use the car rental service during their trip. This type of recreation has a number of undeniable advantages, among which it is worth highlighting unlimited freedom of movement. This allows you to independently and calmly explore places of interest and attractions, regardless of the schedule of public transport and excursion routes programs.

Car rental makes a trip around Abkhazia more comfortable and meaningful, since you can make stops in any natural corners or resort towns you like. Vacationers have as much time at their disposal as they need to contemplate the fascinating beauty of the republic, which is a special pleasure.

Tsandrypsh

A small village surrounds its guests with an atmosphere of calmness, silence and tranquility in the bosom of pristine picturesque nature. The resort corner of the Gagra region of Abkhazia is located in a small bay washed by the waters of the radiant Black Sea. This place attracts lovers of both measured beach rest and lovers of active pastime.

Cozy streets are buried in thickets of outlandish southern plants that saturate the air with a special healing aroma. Eucalyptus, cypress and pine trees grow here. From anywhere in the village you can admire stunning views of the mountain ranges. Tsandrypsh invites car travelers to stroll through the parks or soak up the sun on the wide pebble coastal strips. The beaches are equipped with all the necessary spa attributes: sun loungers, showers and changing rooms.

Guest houses, shops, cafes and restaurants are concentrated in the immediate vicinity of the coast. The natural heritage of the resort is white cliffs descending onto a strip of beach pebbles. Their whimsical silhouettes are reminiscent of some animals. The beauty and splendor of ancient monasteries, fortresses and churches will not leave anyone indifferent.

Gagra

The popular Abkhazian city of Gagra with a developed infrastructure is located 30 kilometers from Sochi. You should definitely go here by car to admire the amazing nature. Enchanting wooded mountains, close to the coast, and emerald crystal waters of the Black Sea create truly picturesque landscapes. The local air is filled with an unforgettable fragrant aroma of pine needles. The boulevards, parks and pebble beach lines are surrounded by evergreen flowers, palms and cypresses.

The well-maintained embankment is replete with all kinds of bars, cafes, clubs and entertainment venues for every taste. In addition to natural attractions, Gagra attracts attention with historical architectural monuments. Walking along the shady alleys of parks with subtropical plants, tourists can observe many ancient buildings and old mansions.

Of interest is the castle of the Prince of Oldenburg, the medieval fortress of Abaat and the grandiose building of the Winter Theater. The visiting card of Gagra is a snow-white colonnade with four towers. The building is crowned by the entrance to the park. The famous Gagripsh restaurant is of particular historical value. The wooden structure was erected without a single nail. In the interiors of the institution, an aristocratic atmosphere reigns, typical of the past era.

Musser

A winding mountain road leads to the small town of Mussera. This is a reserved secluded area, where emerald clear sea waters meet green hills and sheer white cliffs. The village is surrounded by relict pine, majestic oak and chestnut groves, as well as lemon and tangerine trees.

The combination of pristine nature with a cocktail of mountain and sea air makes Mussera a tempting place to relax away from the bustle of the city. On the coast of the village is the former KGB sanatorium of the USSR, as well as the state dachas of Stalin and Gorbachev. Tourists will find cozy small-pebble beaches surrounded by picturesque cliffs. Sandy and pebble coastal strips are saturated with the benefits of resort infrastructure, and also have semi-wild areas.

Gudauta

The distinctive Abkhaz town of Gudauta occupies a gentle coastal plain. The majestic Caucasus Mountains retreat 20 kilometers from the radiant Black Sea. It is a calm and quiet place with a lot of sunny days a year. Several sanatoriums, hotels and guest houses receive their guests. During the holiday season, a dozen cafeterias of local colorful cuisine open.

The streets intersecting at right angles are replete with subtropical plantings. Central Park invites you to get acquainted with the unique representatives of the local flora. The total length of the pebble beaches is about 4 kilometers. The width of the coastal strip reaches 200 meters. In Gudauta, you can see some examples of architecture in the Art Nouveau style of the 20th century and late socialist realism.

New Athos

During a car trip around Abkhazia, tourists are recommended to stop by the beautiful city of New Athos. It is a calm resort and pilgrimage center of Orthodoxy in Abkhazia, conquering with its unique beauty of nature. This picturesque place is located in an amazing bay at the foot of the mountains amidst a riot of blooming subtropical flora, slender cypresses and spreading palms.

Small pebble beaches, surrounded by eucalyptus and pine groves, washed by the crystal emerald bays of the Black Sea. There are no noisy entertainments here, which will appeal to admirers of a measured, quiet rest. New Athos has an extensive palette of various attractions, including many historical architectural monuments. A grandiose monastery complex with six temples was erected on one of the green hills of the city.

Not far from the monastery, you can see an artificial waterfall created by monks during the construction of a dam. Its height reaches 8 meters and its width is about 20 meters. Noteworthy is the New Athos Karst Cave. It is a huge cavity inside the mountain with halls, underground lakes and grottoes. At the top of the Iverskaya Mountain there are the ruins of a 4th century fortress with the remains of powerful walls and an inexhaustible source of pure water.

Sukhum

The capital of the Republic of Abkhazia, Sukhum, is comfortably located on the coastal plain, protected by mountain ranges.Tourists come here to enjoy the gentle sun, wondrous nature and warm turquoise waters of the Black Sea. Palm trees, cypresses, cedars, oleanders, eucalyptus, as well as plantations of exotic citrus plants create a picturesque atmosphere of the city. It is interesting to see historical architectural monuments here.

Pebble and sandy beaches of the South Caucasian capital have areas with comfortable resort attributes and "wild" zones hidden by nature from prying eyes. There are tons of worthy places to visit in Sukhum. The seaside promenade stretches for four kilometers, where you can take a pleasant walk along shady palm alleys and well-groomed beach areas. This main street of the resort houses a considerable number of sculptures, fountains, and a majestic arch.

The decoration of the city is the botanical garden, founded in 1838. More than 6 thousand species of trees and flowers, imported from all over the world, grow in it. After exploring the diverse flora, you can chat with representatives of the fauna. This is facilitated by the Sukhumi Monkey Nursery, where scientific medical research in the field of pathology is carried out on primates.

Lykhny village

In the vicinity of Gudauta there is a small old Abkhazian village of Lykhny, which has a history of 1,500 years. His visit arouses genuine interest among curious auto-travelers. On the territory of the settlement, you can see several unique architectural structures of particular historical value. The hallmark of Lykhny is the cross-domed church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos of the 10th century, which has preserved its original external and internal appearance.

The walls of the shrine are built of cut stone and brick. The interior of the church is decorated with colorful frescoes depicting biblical subjects. The ruins of the estate of influential princes who ruled in Abkhazia from the 11th-19th centuries deserve attention. In the central part of Lykhny, there is a memorial complex dedicated to the victims of the Georgian-Abkhaz war.

Pitsunda

It is impossible to pass by one of the main resort places of Abkhazia - Pitsunda. This fertile small town, located 25 kilometers from the resort of Gagra, attracts tourists with amazing natural landscapes. A relict pine grove, emerald sea surface and an impressive coastline make up the glory of this amazing corner.

Pitsunda occupies a flat area of ​​a sandy cape lying in a bay with an ever-calm bay. The majestic mountain ranges are separated from the coast for 15 kilometers, thanks to which the local climate is not too humid. Sprawling century-old pines and cypress alleys, combined with the sea breeze, give life-giving coolness and form a reservoir of healing air. A forest area of ​​200 hectares stretches along the coastal strip.

The beach infrastructure has all the necessary attributes for a comfortable stay by the sea. A favorite place for tourists is the embankment, which is full of entertainment venues, cafes and restaurants. The historical and architectural reserve stands out among the iconic attractions of the resort. Behind the fortress walls you can see the Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral of the 10th century, the ruins of an ancient city and a stone dolmen.

Maiden's Tears Waterfall

Traveling by car along a winding mountain road, independent tourists can make a stop near the Maiden's Tears waterfall. Thin streams of water quietly flow down the stones of the limestone cliff from the alpine meadows. According to one of the legends, tears of a young girl flow through the thickets of boxwood, moss and ivy. She had a beloved young man.

The evil mermaid envied their happiness and out of jealousy threw the beauty off the cliff. The girl cried, screamed and called for help from her fiancé, but he was far in the mountains. Since then, her tears have flowed from the cliff. Visitors to the waterfall can tie colorful ribbons to the branches of the thickets to make their cherished wish come true.

Waterfall Men's Tears

Located right next to the road leading to the famous Ritsa Lake. It is unthinkable to pass by this natural formation. High sheer cliffs, dense forests and the purest mountain air create mesmerizing landscapes. The waterfall is an impressive sight. A full-flowing stream falls over the cliff from a height of 15 meters. Jets of water beautifully break on stones, scattering into thousands of crystal drops.

Near the waterfall there is a rare Pobeda car, which every year greets tourists in a new color. This place is covered with a legend about a young man who did not manage to save his beloved. The girl was ruined by a mermaid, who experienced envy of the couple's light mutual love. The groom's heart was filled with pain and sorrow. Miserly male tears fell on the stone, where the waterfall now flows.

Blue Lake

One of the country's natural gems is the Blue Lake. The popular miraculous attraction is bordered by high rocky formations overgrown with emerald thickets of a rich flora. You can get to this beautiful corner on your own by car. There is a convenient parking lot for vehicles. The amazingly beautiful body of water impresses with its delightful aquamarine sapphire shade.

The reservoir is not large in size. Its area is 180 m²... The maximum depth of the lake is 76 meters. Despite any weather conditions, the water surface remains absolutely calm. Even on the hottest days, the water temperature does not rise above + 10 ° C. The lake is fed by underground rivers. A characteristic feature of the reservoir is that it never freezes. There is no living creature in the lake. There are no fish, no plankton, and no underwater flora.

Yupsharsky canyon

The majesty of the mountain landscape of the Yupsharsky canyon is mesmerizing, through which a narrow serpentine road runs to Lake Ritsa. The eight-kilometer stretch of the valley is sandwiched between vertical stone walls that rise up to 500 meters. There is a feeling that the tops of the mountains can suddenly close over your head and form a stone bag.

At the height of summer, the sun's rays look into the crevice for only a few hours. The slopes of the sheer cliffs are covered with age-old boxwoods, ivy garlands and green moss. The asphalt road is fenced off from a steep cliff. At the bottom of the gorge, the river Yupshara flows with a rapid stream.

Milky Falls

Among the mountain ranges of the Abkhazian ridges and lush thickets of vegetation, the Milk Waterfall is comfortably located. It is saturated with the flow of a mountain river, the sources of which originate in melting glaciers. A rushing stream of water falls over the stone ledges from a height of many meters. Due to the high content of minerals, the water boils and foams strongly, saturated with air bubbles.

This metamorphosis gives the waterfall a distinct milky hue, which is an unforgettable experience. When falling, streams of water break into millions of splashes, resulting in a chilling cloud of water suspension. Popular belief says that this creation of nature has cosmetic properties and helps to maintain youth.

Lake Ritsa

Alpine Lake Ritsa is the most popular natural pearl of Abkhazia. Due to its magnificent views, it is a huge success among tourists. This fabulously picturesque corner is invariably associated with pristine beauty and purity.A winding serpentine road with steep cliffs and sheer cliffs leads to the famous sight of the republic. Independent travelers can climb more than 900 meters above sea level.

The route passes through majestic canyons, separated by river valleys and dense forests. The surrounding landscapes of Lake Ritsa are so amazing that a lot of indelible impressions will remain in the memory of tourists. A beautiful reservoir of glacial origin has an elongated shape of 2.5 kilometers long.

Hills covered with centuries-old dense vegetation and inaccessible grandiose mountain slopes with snow-capped peaks hang over its emerald smooth surface. Their height reaches 3200 meters. There are several cafes on the shore of the lake where you can taste fresh kebabs and grilled trout. As additional entertainment, guests of Lake Ritsa are invited to ride on catamarans or go fishing.

Malaya Ritsa

Five kilometers from Lake Ritsa is the no less famous reservoir Malaya Ritsa. You can get to it only on foot along the path. Leaving the car in the parking lot, travelers set off on an hour and a half climb up the coniferous-beech forest. The walking route requires certain physical strength and comfortable shoes. The lake is located in a giant sinkhole among mountain ranges, the slopes of which are covered with century-old trees.

Malaya Ritsa feeds on the waters of glaciers melting in spring and atmospheric precipitation. The motionless bright turquoise water surface amazes with its crystal purity and transparency. The steep banks are littered with tree trunks and huge boulders, which testifies to the pristine nature of a secluded corner of nature, unspoiled by the benefits of civilization. The only inhabitant of the lake is the newt, included in the Red Book.

Alpine meadows

The alpine meadows of Abkhazia are fields buried in flowering herbs, surrounded on all sides by mountains with sharp peaks and dense forests. This wonderful place provides an opportunity to enjoy the aesthetics of natural nature. Vast green valleys are located at an altitude of more than 2000 meters above sea level. They can only be reached by a four-wheel drive vehicle, as tourists have to overcome a long off-road route with numerous ditches, holes and winding turns and steep climbs along sheer cliffs.

On the way there are waterfalls, mineral springs, small rivers and lakes. The challenging climb will culminate in awe-inspiring natural beauty. In all its splendor, marvelous mountain landscapes, endless meadows and steep slopes with spreading trees will appear. Ringing silence reigns around, and the purest aroma of wildflowers will not leave anyone indifferent. In the alpine meadows, tourists can ride horses, have a picnic or go for a tasting of high-mountainous honey, cottage cheese, cheese, yogurt.

Valley of seven lakes

During a walk through alpine meadows, a wonderful view of the valley of the seven lakes opens up. A visit to the high-mountain natural sight of Abkhazia will leave a lot of positive emotions in the memory of tourists. The valley is located at an altitude of over 2000 meters in the Caucasus Mountains. Travelers will have to walk about seven kilometers.

The route follows amazing fields and hills, which delight with their rich green vegetation. The mesmerizing panoramas of the majestic snow-capped mountain peaks deserve to be overcome by the difficult ascent. Tourists will see how emerald lakes with the purest glacial and amazingly turquoise water are scattered like beads.

Gega waterfall

On the northern slopes of the Gagra ridge, there is a spectacular and unique waterfall erupting from the middle of a narrow crevice of a sheer cliff. The waterfall is formed by the Gega River, which flows through the bowels of a karst cave. A stormy and wide stream of water falls in a cascade of ice splashes from a height of 70 meters. This amazing creation of nature amazes with its powerful beauty.

You can get to it along the winding, bumpy off-road, which only an all-wheel drive SUV can handle. The picturesqueness of the surrounding landscapes is breathtaking. Around the waterfall are majestic vertical stone walls, sprouted with bushes. It was here that the legendary scene of the fight between Sherlock Holmes and his nemesis Professor Moriarty was filmed.

Kodori gorge

Independent tourists are advised to go to explore the Kodori Gorge, located at the foot of the southern slope of the Caucasian ridge. This unique corner of the nature of Abkhazia is a picturesque river valley. Its length is more than 100 kilometers.

The gorge is distinguished by rather large differences in relief heights from 1300 to 4000 meters. On the way of vacationers there are narrow tunnels, mountain ranges, vast green fields with pleasantly fragrant herbs, wooded hills, banks with a rapid flow of the river and waterfalls.

Aatsyn Gorge

In the vicinity of Gudauta there is a beautiful natural landmark of Abkhazia - the Aatsyn gorge. The emerald waters of the Aapsta mountain river rush in a stormy stream between the sheer cliffs. The vertical stone walls are striking in their majestic beauty. Tourists will find a fascinating walking route along the gorge.

The path runs through boxwood, beech and hornbeam forests. The moss-covered trees create a mysterious atmosphere. The land is covered with lush and lush vegetation. After going through thorny forest paths, vacationers will come to a waterfall, under the streams of which you can cool off. Huge boulders lie at the bottom of the gorge. In the recesses of the rocks, you can explore the mysterious grottoes.

Route in Abkhazia on a car on the map