An unusually beautiful republic with deep caves, alpine meadows and lakes, high mountains and proud people has been attracting vacationers since Soviet times. We share our personal experience of a trip to the Land of the Soul! Find out how to plan your vacation in Abkhazia in 2021.
Rest in Abkhazia now
On August 1, 2020, the border between Russia and Abkhazia was opened. Now tourists can freely enter and leave the republic: certificates are not required, and passing the border, according to the latest reviews of tourists, takes a few minutes. There are still very few people at the resorts and hotels, so you can have time to enjoy a calm and pleasant vacation at the height of the summer season, which is very unusual!
Watch a video review of tourists who were among the first to come to rest in Abkhazia:
When is the best time to go
The beach holiday season in Abkhazia begins with the arrival of the calendar summer - in early June you can already swim. The sea warms up to + 20 ° С. Tourists begin to arrive in May, but at this time the water is cool and the wind on the beach is noticeable. My family and I rested in Abkhazia in the first days of summer. It was comfortable to walk, but only children swam with pleasure in the water - they hardly feel the cold.
July and August are hotter months, the sea temperature reaches +23 ... + 25 ° С. At the same time, the air temperature is about + 28 ° С. Despite the availability of the resorts of Abkhazia, there are fewer vacationers here even in the middle of summer than on Russian beaches. This means that Abkhazia is suitable for families with children and a relaxing family vacation.
In September, the velvet season in Abkhazia, the water and air temperatures are approximately equal and keep at the level of +23 ... + 24 ° С.
Which resort to choose
Gagra, Pitsunda, Sukhum - these names are familiar to almost everyone. If not you, then your parents definitely rested in these parts at least once. Which resort to choose for a vacation in Abkhazia in the summer of 2021? Here we will briefly talk about the main vacation spots, and you will find more information in the full review of the resorts of Abkhazia.
Gagra
Tourists come to Gagra for active rest: on the beaches of this city you can do water sports, visit the water park and tennis courts. And Gagra is also a balneological resort with a large hydropathic establishment. The beaches in Gagra are small-pebbled. Find out more about the rest in Gagra. Look for apartments and hotels in Gagra.
Pitsunda
This village is located near Gagra and is famous for its clean air, because it is here that large relict pines grow. Vacation in Pitsunda will benefit people with respiratory diseases. In addition, there is a sandy beach in Pitsunda - there are no other such places in Abkhazia. The water in these places is very clean (they say, the most transparent on the entire coast), and there are almost no winds, since the village is located in a bay. Read the comparison between Gagra and Pitsunda. Look for apartments and hotels in Pitsunda.
Gudauta
The Gudauta beach is considered one of the best in Abkhazia, and it also has the mildest climate. Not far from Gudauta are some of the main attractions of Abkhazia - Ritsa lakes, Blue Lake, and the mountain meadows located in this area are even called alpine and take excursion groups there. At the same time, there are few tourists in Gudauta, and prices are lower. Look for apartments and hotels in Gudauta.
Sukhum
Sukhum is the capital of Abkhazia and one of the oldest cities in the world. It is the largest city in the country, famous for its numerous sanatoriums, a beach area stretching for almost 20 km, and unique mineral springs. Landscaped beaches give way to wild ones, and the main pearl of Sukhumi is a botanical garden with almost 200 years of history. Look at apartments for rent and hotels in Sukhum.
New Athos
It is also good to relax in New Athos from the point of view of health: the optimal combination of humidity and air temperature makes the climate truly healing for tourists. And also New Athos is a place with a rich history and interesting architecture. Whether you consider yourself a believer, these places will impress you with their atmosphere and numerous monuments. There are small pebbles on the beaches. Learn about holidays in New Athos. Look for apartments and hotels in New Athos.
Tsandripsh
Tsandripsh is located in the valley of the Khashupse river, on the beaches of this resort the pebbles are mostly large, and during the day they are also hot. Here is the oldest three-aisled basilica in the Caucasus, founded at the turn of the 6th-7th centuries, and the Hashesup fortress, towering above the river on a rock. The most famous beach of Tsandripsha is White Rocks. This is a very picturesque corner of Abkhazia with clear water and huge white stones. Don't forget to bring comfortable shoes to the beach to walk on the rocks. Find out more about holidays in Tsandripsh. Browse hotels in Tsandripsha.
Gechripsh (Leselidze)
This small village is located at the very border with Russia, and if you wish, you can walk to Adler on foot. The prices here are low, and there are few tourists. Unfortunately, there is no entertainment either. However, there are many small shops with local produce, cozy guesthouses and tall trees.
Resorts of Abkhazia on the map
How to choose accommodation
Reviews of tourists about their vacation in Abkhazia are ambiguous - someone travels to the same resort for several years in a row, and some will never agree to a trip to Abkhazia again. To a large extent, the final impression strongly depends on the hotel, so you should be very careful when choosing accommodation in Abkhazia.
We advise you to search for hotels on Hotellook, and apartments for daily rent - on Daily. Both services are reliable and convenient, we always use them for booking accommodation in Russia and abroad. Do not trust the ads on Avito and similar sites. Book accommodation in Abkhazia only on reliable services with real photos and reviews of tourists, so as not to get a pig in a poke. Check out our tips for finding hotels. Also find out how hoteliers in the south cheat tourists.
Housing prices in Abkhazia (for two per day) for August-September 2021:
- A room in a guest house - from 500 ₽
- A room in an apartment - from 700 ₽
- Apartment - from 2000 ₽
- Villa - from 8000 ₽
- Good 3 * hotel (for example, Sun Palace Gagra) - from 2800 ₽
- Hotel Amra Park-hotel & Spa 5 * in Gagra - from 6000 ₽
How to choose the right hotel for your vacation in Abkhazia? Let's start with the fact that there are not so many hotels in Abkhazia at all. There are many more guest houses, apartments and apartments. But whichever type of housing you choose, the following must be considered.
- Explore the maps! If you choose a hotel using booking sites, be sure to check where it is located. Especially if this is your first trip to Abkhazia. It may turn out that the hotel is located in an unknown small village far from the central cities. Sometimes the search engine offers an option 10-15 km from the resort you specified. So it was with us. During our vacation in Abkhazia, we chose a guest house at a low price. It turned out to be very comfortable, but two minutes from the border with Russia, and we did not manage to fully immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of the country.
- If the settlement suits you, pay attention to the distance to the sea... Ideally - when the sea is not more than 500 meters. Otherwise, the road will be time-consuming, especially if you come with children. The roads are far from being good everywhere, let alone the sidewalks. We carried a stroller with us, and from time to time it was not easy with it.
- Tourists are advised to choose hotels with a height of no more than 5 floors, since they may not reach higher hot water, and on a hot summer day, this becomes one of the main requirements.
- Sometimes in the villages during the day the light turns off - this happens both in Russian resorts and in Abkhazia.It's just that this moment needs to be clarified in advance - in the hotel description, in reviews or in correspondence with the administrator.
- You can choose any food... There are also interesting options with breakfasts, and without food at all, but, for example, with their own kitchen. There are a lot of fresh products in Abkhazia, so you will definitely not stay hungry! If you choose a guest house, not a hotel, then dinner or lunch can be easily ordered from the hosts. Abkhazians are very hospitable and will gladly feed you.
Rest in Abkhazia with children
Why do many people choose Abkhazia for families with children? I say "many" for a reason - our plane seemed to be made up of half of preschool kids. I think the proximity to Russia captivates vacationers. If you want the feeling of being abroad, but you can't go far, Abkhazia is a good option. Russian passports are valid in the republic (accordingly, you do not need to make a passport for a child or enter it with you), and Russian is recognized as the second official language. The currency here is also Russian, but cards are not accepted everywhere.
Experienced tourists advise Gagra and Pitsunda for families with children in Abkhazia in 2021. Pitsunda has the best climate for relaxing with a child: fresh wind, relict Pitsunda pines and a very clear sea. According to tourists, this is one of the cleanest areas on the Black Sea coast. For a wellness holiday, it is worth going here. Gagra is an ancient city with beautiful architecture. Attractions are concentrated in Staraya Gagra, while entertainment for children can be found in Novaya. There is a water park there - practically the only one in Abkhazia. In addition, there are many fresh fruit markets in Gagra.
In fact, almost any resort in Abkhazia is suitable for a family vacation. We lived in Gechripsh (Leselidzda) and took a minibus to swim on the White Rocks in Tsandripsh. The kids were thrilled, but be sure to provide comfortable shoes for the whole family. The pebbles on the beach are huge, and it hurts to walk on them barefoot.
What is important to remember on vacation with a child:
- The Russian medical policy in Abkhazia is not valid. Only emergency urgent care will be provided to you free of charge. But if you live near the border, you can go to Adler and visit the hospital there. However, the safest way is to buy insurance abroad on Cherekhapa. A policy for a week costs only 230 rubles per person - a very small payment for peace of mind and safety.
- The end of summer is the best time for families with children in Abkhazia. There is no heat in the second half of August, and the sea is still warm. But there are also the most tourists at this time.
- If you go on vacation to Abkhazia with children in the summer or September 2021, be sure to take care of accommodation in advance! Especially if you want to live in a comfortable hotel or guest house with all amenities and a good location. If you agree to almost any conditions (it also happens!), Finding a room or apartment on the spot will not be difficult. It is best to search for guest houses and hotels on the Hotellook. And if you want a home environment, then look at housing in the private sector on the Daily.
What to do on vacation
Despite the average development of infrastructure, there are many options for an interesting and memorable vacation in Abkhazia. Every year the level of resorts is getting higher, and you will always find where to go and what to see.
Camping
The natural attractions of Abkhazia are known far beyond its borders. The most famous was and remains Lake Ritsa. It is located at an altitude of 950 meters above sea level, surrounded by high mountain peaks covered with green forests, and the water in the lake changes color depending on the season. Nearby is the Blue Lake and waterfalls - Man's Tears and Maiden's Tears. In the same area, there were once the dachas of Brezhnev and Stalin, and now you can see the remains of these buildings and even walk through them. All this can be visited in one day, it is not difficult to find an excursion either - they are sold at every step.
We also recommend visiting the national relict park in Ritsa and the Pitsundo-Mussera reserve - there you will see the famous Abkhaz pines and meet rare species of animals.
In addition, there is a unique attraction in Sukhumi - the monkey nursery. If you walk around the city center, be sure to visit here. It is not only a popular place with tourists, but also part of the Research Institute of Experimental Pathology and Therapy of the Academy of Sciences of Abkhazia.
Find out more about what is worth seeing in Abkhazia.
Active rest in Abkhazia
The land of the soul offers tourists classic types of outdoor activities - jeeping, rafting and even diving. If this does not seem extreme enough to you, you can try mountain diving (speleodiving), rock climbing or paragliding. There is also enough entertainment on the beaches: boat trips, rides on the seashore.
Rest for the soul
Abkhazia is a country with a large number of shrines. The most famous place is the New Athos Monastery and its surroundings. Not far from the monastery are the cells and the temple of Simon the Canaanite (you need to climb the mountains to them), the New Athos cave and a beautiful park in which swans swim.
You can go here with an excursion, or you can negotiate with a taxi driver. This is exactly what we did and in one day we visited all the sights of New Athos. The taxi driver took us to places that are not included in any excursion, including on the way back we stopped at a house wine store and an observation deck in Gagra. We paid 5000 rubles for the whole day (four adults and two children). True, I do not advise taking children to New Athos - it was incomprehensible and tiring for them.
Read more about New Athos.
Feedback and advice
There are a lot of conflicting reviews about the rest in Abkhazia in the summer of 2020 (and not only): someone writes that this is a poor country with lazy and rude residents who want to pull money out of tourists at the earliest opportunity, and someone considers Abkhazia the Land of the Soul and returns there over and over again.
Beyond all praise, of course, the nature of Abkhazia and its sights, the clean sea and beaches - everyone speaks about this only positively. Vacationers like the democratic prices for food and housing. Tourists also praise the national cuisine.
Judging by the fresh reviews about the rest in Abkhazia, tourists most often complain about:
- arbitrariness of police officers who work "in conjunction" with taxi and minibus drivers and extort bribes for alleged traffic violations;
- toll passes to attractions;
- non-observance of hygiene rules when preparing food in some establishments;
- rotavirus infection;
- lack of cleaning in guest house rooms - this must be requested;
- rudeness of local residents, the desire to lure money for any service, divorce for money and excessive price increases;
- theft, especially from cars and on beaches;
- interruptions in electricity and water;
- sewers flowing into the sea.
As always, the reviews do not pretend to be objective - some are delighted with the rest in Abkhazia, while others vow never to go there again.
Remember that cheese and honey may be taken away at the border if they are not in their original packaging. You can not export eucalyptus, boxwood and propolis. Animal products (cottage cheese, eggs, etc.) are also prohibited.
Vacationers are advised not to violate the traffic rules if you come with your own or a rented car, because Russian numbers for traffic police are like a red rag for a bull. In addition, tourists recommend taking medicines on the road in case of poisoning or rotavirus infection (especially those who travel with children), eat only in decent establishments and drink bottled water.
Border crossing
It is very easy to cross the Russian-Abkhaz border: a visa to Abkhazia is not needed, only a Russian general civil passport. For children under 14, take a birth certificate with a stamp or citizenship insert.
Compulsory insurance is issued already at the resort, usually it is included in the cost of living. It costs 250 rubles for up to 30 days, if you plan to stay longer - 750 rubles (up to 183 days). Resort tax - 30 rubles if the stay is more than 3 days.
If you cross the border of Russia with Abkhazia by car, you must have documents for the car - a driver's license and registration certificate. If the car is not yours, you need a general power of attorney with permission to travel abroad. In the event that you plan to stay in the republic for more than a month, you need to put the car on temporary registration in the traffic police departments. You also need to pay a fee of 150-300 rubles, depending on the type of car.
Soviet Gagra
Check out this short 1977 documentary... This is an excellent opportunity not only to find out what the famous Abkhaz resorts looked like in Soviet times, but also to look at the vacationers themselves from among the Soviet elite. All in all, this is an informative and atmospheric video.
