Name: Full-Day Tour in Abkhazia with a Visit to Stalin's Dacha
SKU: 28143
Price: 10 USD
Availability: InStock

Duration: 12h

Activity Level: Moderate

Experience: Adventure, 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

Abkhazia was once a popular destionation for thousands of Soviet tourists. Today you hav a great opportunity to get to know why. It's not only its unique culture, traditions and history that attract tourists but also beautiful views, numerous places of interest which are worth to be seen and, of course, flavour that you can't feel anywhere else. You will start your adventure exploring Gagra, then will be led to Ritsa lake and Stalin's dacha, New Athos Monastery and finally will get to know Sukhum, the capital of Abkhazia.

What's included

English-speaking guide
Pick-up and drop-off
Transportation
Entrance fee

Food and drinks
Personal expenses

Highlights

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.

New Athos

New Athos or Akhali Atoni is a town in the Gudauta raion of Abkhazia, situated some 22 km (14 mi) from Sukhumi by the shores of the Black Sea. The town was previously known under the names Nikopol, Acheisos, Anakopia, Nikopia, Nikofia, Nikopsis, Absara, and Psyrtskha. A large ancient Greek port town of Anacopia was recorded there in the 3rd century. Its ruins are still visible. In the 5th century, Georgians built a fortress on the top of the Iverian Mountain. Anacopia was the capital of the Abkhazian princedom in the orbit of the Byzantine Empire and then of the Abkhazian Kingdom after the archon Leon II declared himself a king in the late 8th century. Later, the capital was moved to Kutaisi. Anacopia was ceded to Byzantine Empire by Demetre in 1033 but was retaken by Georgians in 1072 among the other territories Georgia gained as a result of the Empire's defeat at Manzikert at the hands of Seljuks.

New Athos Cave

New Athos cave is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Abkhazia. It is, of course, not the biggest and deepest, but the most visited one. It is filled with fanciful stalactites and stalagmites, lakes, very spacious, equipped with bridges for easy movement and beautiful coloured lights. For tourists visiting there are six halls of the nine, one of which is conditional to a musical performance demonstrating the unique acoustics.

New Athos Monastery

New Athos of St. Simon the Canaanite monastery is the largest and most famous temple complex in Abkhazia. Here is from six churches that form a courtyard and a Central building. In the center is St. Panteleimon's Cathedral, the biggest in Abkhazia, very spacious and bright, and impressive frescos on the walls and ceiling. It was founded in 1875, but construction was completed only in 1900. The monastery is interesting as one of the most important architectural and religious attractions of Abkhazia. The complex is very attractive and unusual because it is surrounded by palm trees.

Stalin's Dacha

Stalin's summer residence on lake Ritsa is one of about twenty villas of the Generalissimo, which operated on the territory of the former USSR, and believed to have been one of his favorites. This is not surprising, because it is situated on the Bank of lake Ritsa , surrounded by beautiful green mountains. The cottage was built in 1947, and, contrary to expectations, from the outside it is not a Palace, but rather a simple-looking house, really an impressive area of 500 square meters. The area around is also rustic, without sculptures and beautiful gardens. Inside, the house also features simple, though used, rare and precious wood, and the furniture is made to order specifically for small growth leader. Visit this place can be exciting if you want to get to know the life of the leader, his character and habits. You can learn something that can't find even in the history books.

Sukhum

Sukhum is a city on the Black Sea coast. It is the capital of the Republic of Abkhazia. Sukhum history can be traced back to the 6th century BC, when it was settled by Greeks, who named it Dioscurias. The city was named Tskhumi when it became part of the Kingdom of Abkhazia and then the Kingdom of Georgia. It became part of the Ottoman Empire in the 1570s, until it was conquered by the Russian Empire in 1810. Within the Soviet Union, it was regarded as a holiday resort. Sukhum houses a number of historical monuments, notably the Besleti Bridge built during the reign of queen Tamar of Georgia in the 12th century. It also retains visible vestiges of the defunct monuments, including the Roman walls, the medieval Castle of Bagrat, several towers of the Kelasuri Wall, also known as Great Abkhazian Wall, constructed between 1628 and 1653 by Levan II Dadiani to protect his fiefdom from the Abkhaz tribes; the 14th-century Genoese fort and the 18th-century Ottoman fortress.

Itinerary

08:00

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

The adventure will start with the exploration of Gagra. You will visit some of the resort iconic places, walk along the streets and hear its history. After that you will continue your driving to the next destination which is Ritsa lake.

Ritsa lake is considered to be the natural pearl of Abkhazia and you can make sure yourself. Here you will enjoy beutiful views, get closer to nature and listen to some interesting facts regarding this place.

After that another place worth seeing is waiting for you – Stalin’s dacha (summer residence). You will get to know about its construction, about Stalin’s life here and some more interesting facts.

New Athos Monastery is no less impressive due to its history and this is the next step on your itinerary. Ancient church and the cave will tell you even more legends.

Finally you will get to Sukhum and will have some time to explore the city. Your friendly tour guide will be happy to share with you the charm and the beauty of this city.

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

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Full-Day Tour in Abkhazia with a Visit to Stalin’s Dacha