Name: Day Trip to Abkhazia with a Visit to the Lake Ritsa
SKU: 27938
Price: 10 USD
Availability: InStock

Duration: 10h

Activity Level: Moderate

Experience: Adventure, Ecotourism, Historical, Nature

Language: English

Photo permit included

Tour by public transport

Canal Boat tour included

Train tickets included

Suitable for little children

Wheelchair accessible tour

Museum ticket included

Light snack included

Lunch included

Transportation included

Walking Tour

Overview

10-hour tour that will make your trip to Abkhazia memorable and bright. You will visit Gagra with its iconic places and will get to see some itshistorical buildings. Also this tour will take you to some places of rare beauty which will help you to feel relaxed and filled up with energy at the same time. After having a chance to get to know the history and nature of Abkhazia, its time to get to know its culture and there is no better place to do it than national cafe right on the shore of the lake. And of course you will have a chance to meet the natural pearl of Abkhazia from a shorter distance visiting one of the beaches. Add to this a sunset on the seashore and you will see this is a perfect option to spend a perfect day in Abkhazia.

What's included

English-speaking guide
Pick-up and drop-off
Transportation
Entrance fee to the national park

Lift pass
Food and drinks
Personal expenses

Highlights

Abaata Fortress

The Gagra fortress Abaata – is one of the most interesting historical attractions of Gagra. It was originally built in the 5-6 centuries of our era, but several times in its history been destroyed and restored again. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Prince of Oldenburg (founder of the resort Gagra) ordered the destruction of the fortress wall, and built on the territory of the hotel. Preserved only some remnants of the fortress walls and towers, and as such, the fortress is gone, the hotel operates today. You can come here and walk around the hotel along the city walls or go inside the temple area.

Bzyb River

The Bzyb is one of the two largest rivers of Abkhazia, along with the Kodori and the twelfth longest river in Georgia.The river valley has rich biodiversity of herbaceous garden plants, particularly in the gorge section in the upper reaches where the most prominent and colourful bellflower Campanula mirabilis with profuse growth of 100 flowers per plant is given the name, the "Queen of the Abkhazian flora". From 1904-1917 it served as the border between Abkhazia and Russia.The river valley has a rich biodiversity of flora, right from the mouth of the river at Pitsunda and extending upstream to the Ritsa Lake.The river is popular for kayaking and rafting. The mountainous Ritsa Lake region in the Ritsynsky reserve of Abkhazia is well known for its wines, grown between forests and mountain rivers. Pitsunda Cape at the mouth of the Bzyb has many important landmarks such as the ancient settlement of Pitiunt, a lighthouse, a temple of the 10th century, a museum and an old pine tree maintained from 1926.

Castle Prince of Oldenburg

Castle Prince of Oldenburg, or rather its ruins – an architectural landmark of Gagra. It was built in 1902 in art Nouveau style on the initiative of Prince .P. Oldenburg, who was the founder of the resort. Architect made famous in those days I. K. Luteranskiy. Next broke seaside Park, which today is one of the most beautiful and green places in the resort. In Soviet times, the castle was converted for recreation of the Soviet elite, and later renamed the resort "the Seagull." After the Soviet collapse, the building was abandoned and looted, survived the fire. Finally it did during the Georgian-Abkhazian war of 1991-1992, when the castle was badly damaged from the fighting.

Gagra

Gagra is a town in Abkhazia sprawling for 5 km on the northeast coast of the Black Sea, at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. Its subtropical climate made Gagra a popular health resort in Imperial Russian and Soviet times. Gagra occupies a narrow coastal belt and the slopes of the Gagra Range, which are covered with thick forests. The summers are very warm (average August temperature of 23° C), and the winters are mild (average January temperature of 6° C). The season lasts the whole year round, and swimming extends from May through October. Along the coast of the Black Sea stretches a beautiful seafront and park (about 14 sq km in area) with ponds and rich subtropical vegetation. Gagra has picturesque environs (the gorges of the Zhvava-Kvara and Tsikherva rivers), and to the south of the city is located the new health resort of Pitsunda. The industry of Gagra is mainly connected with services to the health resort; it includes a meat-packing complex, a dairy, a winery, and a fish-processing plant, among others.

Lake Ritsa

Lake Ritsa is a lake in the Caucasus Mountains, in the north-western part of Abkhazia, Georgia, surrounded by mixed mountain forests and subalpine meadows. The road from the Black Sea coast was built in 1936. The resort of Avadhara lies to the north of the lake. The lake was an important tourist attraction during the Soviet period. Lake Ritsa is the deepest lake in autonomous republic of Abkhazia (116 m), and is rich in trout. It is fed by six rivers and drained by one, the Iupshara River. Lake Ritsa water is cold and clear. Mountains with heights of 2,200 to 3,500 m surround the lake. In 1930 the Ritsa Nature Reserve (162.89 km2) was established to protect the natural state of the lake and the surrounding land.

Pitsunda

Pitsunda is a popular resort on the coast of Abkhazia, 25 km from Gagra. Its main asset is the relict pine forest that borders the Pitsunda Cape. The resort even got its name from the pine trees. When the ancient Greeks came to these places, they were so impressed by the heady aromas of pine needles that the city founded here was called Pitiunt or "pine". Centuries later, this name turned into Pitsunda.

Yupsharsky Canyon

Yupsharsky canyon ("Stone bag") is one of the most beautiful places in Abkhazia and in the entire Caucasus. It is located on the road to Lake Ritsa at an altitude of 400 meters above sea level. The canyon with age-old boxwoods, moss and ivy hanging from rocky cornices looks really impressive. The road passes between two very close standing rocks that were once split by an earthquake. The narrowest point of the canyon is called the Yupsharsky Gate, where two rocks practically converge, the distance between them does not exceed 20 meters. On the bottom of the gorge, the picturesque river Yupshara flows, from the Lake Ritsa, the water in which is crystal clear. Not far from the canyon there is the famous Gega waterfall. Here, near the road, there is a huge stone - popular among tourists “Stone of Kisses”, and even lower there is a waterfall “Men's tears”. At the end of the Jupsharsky canyon there is an observation deck with a magnificent view.

Itinerary

09:00

You will meet your tour guide at the lobby of your hotel in Gagra.

You will start your trip visiting Abaata Fortress, the Gagra Church built by Greeks in the 6th century. Here you can get to know the history of the place. You will continue getting to know about its history visiting another historical place – castle which once was prosperous and magnificent and now is hidden by the surrounding forest.

Then it’s time to enjoy some natural views and to do this you will get to Bzyb River valley. Don’t be surprised finding many hidden gems here too, such as temples, waterfalls and astonishing views as well.

Yupsharsky canyon is another attraction well-known among travellers and it will be a stop on your itinerary. After that you will be led to the pearl of Abkhazian nature – lake Ritsa. You will have lunch right on the shore of the lake before getting to the beach where you will have some time to relax and enjoy sunbathing.

On your way back you will also stop by Pitsunda to visit its fruit farms and to meet the sunset on the seashore.

Your trip will come to an end as soon as you arrive back to your hotel.

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Day Trip to Abkhazia with a Visit to the Lake Ritsa