Abkhazia, Kodori Gorge: description, history, sights and interesting facts

Abkhazia is a small but incredibly beautiful country. Mountain rivers and waterfalls, ancient castles and picturesque gorges - enough impressions for a year ahead. Today we will talk about one wonderful corner, which Abkhazia is famous for. Kodori Gorge is a place of fantastic beauty. If you decide to spend a vacation here, then definitely do this excursion. Despite the high enough price, it's definitely worth it.

Where is

In the north-eastern part of Abkhazia lies the legendary Kodori Gorge. Coordinates: 43.113046; 41.749371, they are easy to find on the map of the area. It stretches for 100 km between the southern slopes of the Main Caucasian Range and the plains near the village of Ganakhleba. Its name was given to the gorge due to the river of the same name, at the sources of which the sight is located. So, if you could not find another landmark, then boldly follow the channel of the Kodori River. It will take you to your destination.

Short description

Kodori Gorge - a picturesque river valley, located near Sukhum. This is one of the most beautiful and interesting corners in the Caucasus. A real pearl, which Abkhazia gives you. Kodori Gorge is a favorite place for tourist excursions. The abundance of diverse routes will allow you to choose the most interesting option. Hiking along the gorge is very rich: they run through colorful valleys, banks of stormy rivers, mountain lakes and beautiful waterfalls.

Unique attraction

Trekking along the Kodori Gorge (Abkhazia) is interesting for the opportunity to get acquainted with nature and a completely different, special way of life for people. Here lives a lot of nationalities and ethnogroups, with their historical and cultural values. Therefore, you have a chance to see ancient buildings and ruins, in the most unusual places of the Kodori River you can make your way along its banks, sail on kayaks or kayaks.

The gorge is interesting in terms of its geographical location. There are very large differences in altitude, starting from 1000 to 4000 m. Small mountain villages are found throughout the route, but the number of inhabitants here does not exceed 1000 people.

It is impossible not to love

Probably, it is difficult to imagine a country more versatile than Abkhazia. The Kodori gorge abounds in mysterious dolmens and fortresses inaccessible in the past. Tourists have the opportunity to go down to the bottom of deep canyons, to enter the gorges of rocks. But especially tourists like to admire the peacefully grazing herds in the meadows and sparkling rivers full of golden trout. Routes for the most part are simple, so that fatigue will not distract you from enjoying the views of the surroundings.

Although there are areas designed for seasoned tourists and even for fans of extreme sports. What is very pleasing is the mild climate. If you like hiking in the mountains, but do not suffer the cold that prevails in the Altai, then Abkhazia is waiting for you. Kodori Gorge will please its guests with comfortable temperatures during the day and at night, so you can not collect warm things with you.

Planning a route

So, it's decided. We move out into the hike, towards the beautiful. We are waiting for the Kodori Gorge. How to get there, we will now consider. Immediately let us know that this is almost a protected area, for which a special permit is required. You can get it in Sukhum. In any case, the tour operator, through which you purchase a ticket, should take care of this. For solitary tourists you can purchase a permit on the spot and go independently to study the beauty of the gorge.

You can get from Sukhum in various ways - by bus or minibus, by train, it depends only on your preferences. Up to Dranda, the route will take no more than 30-40 minutes. After that, you need to get to Taha. Buses or minibuses will take you exactly to the destination destination. But the hike is already starting from here. Reserve maps of the area or use the services of a conductor.

The journey begins

Let's study together the sights of Abkhazia. Kodori Gorge reveals its secrets to those who are willing to walk many miles, so wear comfortable shoes. The first you are met by the village of Maryhuaul with a mineral spring, the water in which is considered curative. As you move forward, tourists will enter the picturesque Tsebeldinsky Valley, which is famous for the fact that our ancestors lived here in large numbers from the beginning of time. This is indicated by findings: primitive tools, medieval fortresses and much more. Here you can visit the house-museum of scientists, this is not an entertaining, but a cognitive element of the excursion.

A little further down the valley there are mysterious dolmens. This is a small structure of stone, over the purpose of which scientists are still thinking. According to the most common version, these are the places of secondary burial of the dead, which places what is left after the decomposition of the body.

Trekking along the Kodori Gorge (Abkhazia) is just beginning. This is not a gloomy grotto between two steep rocks, as it may seem at first glance. Such places are also there, but on a greater length of the gorge you will find a surprisingly green and attractive valley with picturesque landscapes. Usually tourists visit and lake Amtkel.

Waterfalls

The lake is very large, but it warms up to +20 in the summer, so many tourists are willing to swim here. Staying overnight on its hospitable beaches, you will spend amazing moments inhaling the aromas of grass and fire. The next day you will have an even more amazing sight. A bit further the waterfall flaunts, from where the Machara River originates.

He is not the only one here, therefore, after admiring the unusual spectacle, you can go further. In the gorge there is a very interesting Shakuran waterfall. Here, water flows from a height of 30 meters onto a cone-shaped stone. However, the latter, in spite of everything, only grows year after year.

Creation of nature

Surely you have never seen anything like it in your life. The Kodori Gorge is the river valley of Abkhazia. The way of tourists lies on the bottom of a very narrow canyon. Gradually, the walls converge, and you approach the Wolf's Gate. Behind them lies the stunning valley of Kada, green and picturesque. Here tourists have a real adventure. Take off your backpacks and get ready for the journey into the unknown. It will be much more convenient for you to inspect the local cave where, in addition to stalactites from stalagmites, you will find an amazing sight - huge flocks of bats under the ceiling, which spend their daylight hours here.

On the way to

You will not starve in the way, throughout the route there are so many fruit trees that you can eat fruits all the time. But the landscapes are amazing with their expressiveness. The Wolf Gate is not a place for the weak. Here you will have to wade through narrow paths, clayey and slippery, on the other side of which there is a precipice. Of course, the surrounding beauty compensates for the difficulties that it offers you to withstand the Kodori Gorge (Abkhazia). Excursions to ice caves will be another test. The path goes in the middle of a cold lake, a little to the right or to the left - and you will fall into it with your foot.

End of the tour

Having reached the confluence of the rivers Kodor and Jampal, you can stop at a halt. You deserve rest to regain strength. There is a picnic with shish kebabs, vegetables and homemade cheese, bread and wine, as well as lots of toast. All who passed this route, say that he wants to repeat many more times in a row, despite the fact that sometimes it is very difficult. There are several options. If you expect a hike for a day, then get ready that you will return late at night, stock up with change clothes and shoes. The variant with spending the night is discussed separately with the tour operator, equipment (tents and sleeping bags) should be provided to every tourist.