Gorge on the way to the Ritsu. Abkhazia. "Stone Bag" - a gorge in the Yupsharsky canyon. By car to Abkhazia in winter: what you should know

Even the day before, when purchasing an excursion to the trout farm, we took care of the continuation of the cultural program - we made an advance payment for a ride to the Ritsa. In addition to the Ritsa itself, Lavrik promised us many more interesting things - the Gegsky waterfall, and Stalin's dacha, and high-mountain mineral springs in Auadkhara, and alpine meadows, and Lake Mzy. However, he somehow evaded a direct answer to the question about the reality of getting to Lake Mza, but for some reason we did not attach much importance to this ...

The departure happened long before dawn, very early on the morning of September 29th. An empty PAZik with a guide came right to the house, took the four of us (who, by the way, had time to have breakfast!), And went to the resort. At the resort, PAZik was completely filled with motley people of different ages - there were no empty seats left at all - and we rolled out on an excursion. The tour guide guy talked quite fluently about the surroundings all the way, entertained tourists with stories and generally tried to wake up sleepy people. The people woke up reluctantly, the guy managed to get feedback very, very slowly, around the first stop on the Blue Lake. By this moment, it was just dawn, and it made sense to get a camera. Any bullshit level waterfalls "Girl's Tears" bus passed without stopping, but there is, in fact, nothing to see.

Having warmed up on the Blue Lake (some of them have already begun to warm up here not only in the literal sense, but also in the sense of chacha and wine, since the trade near the lake is developed!), We loaded back onto the bus and drove on. And they did not stop until the Gegsky waterfall. It falls away from the main road, a dead serpentine primer leads to it. There is a classic serpentine, by the way - a cliff on the left, a rock on the right, there is nowhere to pass with an oncoming car. To the question "how will we disperse with an oncoming lane, if so?" the guide confidently answered "we are more!" =) The waterfall turned out to be beautiful and large-scale, and only from a distance it seemed small. The main part of the people jumped a little at the waterfall, clicked on its background, and went back to the bus and apatskhe (to warm up, of course). We and a few other people managed to wait for this happy moment and understood the waterfall without the omnipresent people. However, there are still some people in the photographs - for scale;) On the way back to the highway, at one of the turns of the serpentine, we made one more stop - at the so-called. "lovers' waterfall" on Ghege, where those who wish could fly over the river and the waterfall on a "bungee". Vovka, for example, flew, and he has photos from this flight. Where are they, Vova?..;)

After the Yupsharsky canyon, where people continued to warm up, you know what, the road began to quickly gain altitude, and we rolled out to the Ritsa.

River Bzyb. It's finally dawning, we're going to the mountains.

Lake Tskhyna (Blue).

Depth - up to 76 meters, the water is clear.

Bridge at Blue Lake. Under the bridge - the drain of water from the lake and garbage.

Shabaka! A patient Caucasian guarding an apatskhu near the Gegsky waterfall.

Nosyara! =)

Chestnut... Yes, it's real. Yes, it's edible. No, you can't reach him :(

Dolichos.

Presumably savory.

Black elderberry.

Gega is a small mountain river, a tributary of the Bzyb.

Gegsky waterfall from the bridge.

Small one, right?

Bridge over Gega.

If you get closer, it becomes clear that the waterfall is not small at all. Height - 50 meters.

The Geg Falls played the role of the Reichenbach Falls in Sherlock Holmes - remember, there Dr. Moriarty shoved Sherlock into the waterfall.

Look for little men in the photographs, they are placed there for scale :)

Here you can see the scale very well.

Severe Abkhazian plumbing detected!

In the grotto

Eternal drops from the ceiling of the grotto.

Lover's waterfall. This is the Gega River, just above the confluence with the Bzyb and just below the Gegsky waterfall.

"Bungee" at the "waterfall of lovers" consists of an unlucky tourist, a metal cable, a climbing harness, a winch and an elderly Abkhazian =)

Flying Wolves! =)

Yupsharsky Canyon (Yupsharsky Gate, Stone Bag - there are many names, choose any one).

In the canyon - sheer walls.

View of the canyon from the lookout "Farewell, Motherland!" It’s a very long way to fly down ... Meanwhile, less than a kilometer is left to go to Ritsa! :)

We decided to go to Lake Ritsa. Initially, the trip was planned from Sochi with an excursion, but there were no trips there on Sunday, so we went to Gagra and decided to look for an excursion from there. She was found almost immediately, for 450 rubles we were offered an excursion to Lake Ritsa. I note that from Sochi a similar tour costs 1200 rubles. and it is less interesting, since they stop only in 3 places, while the excursion from Gagra meant stops at the waterfalls of Male and Female Tears, Yushpar Canyon, Blue Lake, the Farewell Motherland observation deck, and, directly, on the lake itself. Also, for an additional fee of 200 rubles, we were offered to go to the Bird's Beak and Molochny waterfalls, as well as look at the lake from a bird's eye view. This is all to the fact that an excursion from Abkhazia is not only more profitable, but also more interesting. There are quite a lot of very beautiful places on the way, so I decided to break my story into several parts to show more.

The first attraction on the way to Lake Ritsa is the Women's Tears waterfall.
The legend says that a family of shepherds lived in this region. The beautiful daughter went to the river bank to graze goats and sing for her fiancé. The love of the young was so strong, and the songs were so beautiful, that the local mermaids were filled with burning envy. They decided to kill the beauty. While the groom was doing his business, the villains waylaid the girl, carried her to the top of the mountain and were about to throw her down. The bitter tears of the shepherdess flowed down the rock and reached the river. From there, the indignant god of water rose up and caught up such fear in the mermaids that they turned into stones from horror. And in memory of the miraculous deliverance, gentle clean streams still flow down the rock.

Next, we were offered to taste various varieties of honey, they gave us a taste of Apitonus, according to the beekeeper, a very useful thing, Bortnik - honey that wild bees make and get it exclusively from a hollow, there was also mead and various varieties of eucalyptus and chestnut honey. The beekeeper showed a very interesting thing, how to check the quality of honey - pour honey into a plate, and pour water on top, then everyone is talking and at that moment honeycombs appear on the honey. As the beekeeper said, the information field of honey appears.

The next stop was at the very beautiful Blue Lake. It is small, but, they say, very deep, no one has yet been able to reach the bottom. The water in the lake is about 10 degrees. I decided to splash my feet there, it turned out to be very cold, it was impossible to stay for more than a minute. The legend about the origin of the lake is as follows:
“Where the Blue Lake is now, in ancient times there was a cave in which a hundred-year-old elder lived - a priest. His snow-white beard hung almost to the ground, and his unusually blue eyes radiated wisdom and kindness. This wise man was a famous hunter in the past. Having grown old, he moved away from people in order to be closer to nature, and settled in a cave. Local hunters often came to him for advice, for his knowledge of mountain paths, the habits of animals and the possibilities of shooting them. For his useful advice, the hunters considered it their duty, returning home, to leave him one skin of a dead animal and part of the meat.

Once, in inclement weather, strangers found themselves in these places and asked for an overnight stay in a cave with an old man. He hospitably received them. Having treated them, the hermit showed them a place to sleep, laying out the skins of dead animals for them. Seeing a large number of skins of bison, bears, deer, roe deer, martens, the greedy guests decided to take possession of them. After killing the owner, they hastily began to put the skins in bags. Almost all the skins had already been collected when an unexpectedly powerful flow of water blocked the exit from the cave. The perpetrators were trapped.
This is how the Blue Lake, or the Lake of the Abkhazian Elder, was formed, the waters of which resemble the blueness of the eyes of an old man, whose body remained at the bottom, and open eyes gave an unusual color to the waters of the lake.

Also, according to popular beliefs, if you wash yourself in the lake, you become younger, but, most importantly, do not overdo it.

The next attraction on the way to Lake Ritsa is Yupsharsky Canyon. I would also like to say that the entire road to Lake Ritsa runs along the very beautiful Bzyb River, into which its tributary, the Gega River, flows into the Yupshar Canyon. The canyon is 8 kilometers long. The narrowest part of the canyon is called the Yupshar Gate. Here, two rocks practically converge, and between them only a narrow strip of sky peeps through, and ribbons of mosses and ivy branches hang down from high sheer cornices. This natural wonder is located at an altitude of 400 m above sea level.
Here, near the road, lies a huge stone - the so-called Kissing Stone. According to popular beliefs, you need to make a wish and kiss the stone, then it will definitely come true.

The next attraction is the Men's Tears waterfall. According to legend, these are the tears of Adgur's beloved Amra.

Further, bypassing Lake Ritsa, we were taken to the Bird's Beak waterfall, there are observation decks right there that offer a magnificent view of Lake Ritsa from a bird's eye view, but I will talk about the lake in the next part of my story, but for now let me introduce the Bird's Beak waterfall.

And finally, the profile of Stalin in the rock.

P.S.

Hi all! Today I will talk about a classic Abkhazian excursion, namely a trip to Lake Ritsa. If you have not seen Ritsu, then you have not been to Abkhazia.
Perhaps it is worth immediately revealing all the cards and telling that this is not the first time I have been in Abkhazia. About 7-8 years ago, two years in a row, we quite consciously chose "light" abroad instead of the cramped beaches of the Black Sea coast of Russia. Then Abkhazia simply fascinated and conquered me.

In 2006, we went to Lake Ritsa first of all. This year I acted as a guide, because one way or another I knew the most interesting points of the route. Of course, you can always choose a standard tour and not particularly bother. But we are not looking for easy ways, besides, we were in Abkhazia.

Especially for independent travelers, I threw in an approximate map of the main attractions. If you think that a trip to Ritsa is limited only to viewing the beautiful mountain lake, then you are deeply mistaken. Feel free to book a whole day for the trip.
All points on the map are shown schematically, only in order not to miss different interesting things. I see no point in leaving the exact coordinates, because in Abkhazia there is a rule - if you see a crowd of people, then you should stop and look around. There is definitely something here!

Waypoints:
Green - Maiden's Tears Waterfall
Brown - Blue Lake
Blue - Confluence of the Bzyb and Yupshara rivers
Blue - Geg waterfall
Yellow - Yupsharsky Canyon
Gray - waterfall "Men's tears"
Orange - Lake Ritsa
Red - Milk Falls
Violet - Birdfall
And one more map, but closer to Ritsa Park.

There is only one road to Ritsu, so it's hard to miss. It doesn’t matter where you are coming from, from Gagra or New Athos, you reach the big interchange of the E97 highway (on Google maps) and rush to the mountains.

The mountain kingdom begins almost immediately. Breathtaking views of the Caucasus Mountains open from the road, on the right we will be constantly accompanied by the mountain river Bzyb, which originates among the snowy slopes of the Main Caucasus. Along the way, here and there there are announcements about the possibility of rafting on the river. That's where the adrenaline and extreme. Of course with a quiet and smooth can not be compared. By the way, for those who are rather tired of the sea (and there are some!) I recommend diversifying your vacation and just coming to the Bzyb shore to cool off a bit and swim in the cool water.

First stop - Waterfall "Girl's Tears". On the left side of the road, a motley rock immediately attracts attention. Upon closer inspection, it is clear that these are ribbons that tourists tie as a keepsake, making their simple and not simple desires. It is hard to see in the photo - small droplets flow down the mountain like tears and fall down, forming a waterfall.

Abkhazia is the Country of the Soul, so my photo essay will be incomplete without tales and legends of the local people. This is its own special and slightly quivering part of the culture of the Republic.

“A long time ago, the beautiful Amra lived in these places. She herded goats high in the mountains and sang beautiful songs. And she had a lover - Adgur, who reciprocated her love. The evil mermaid envied the lovers and she decided to destroy Amra by throwing her off a cliff. The poor girl called Adgur for help, but he was far away and could not help her. But the cry of the girl was heard by the god of water, came to her aid and turned the mermaid into stone. Along with the mermaid, Amra was also petrified. Since then, in the place where the beautiful Amra cried and called for help, the streams of the Maiden's Tears waterfall now run.

The site offers beautiful views of the mountains and the Bzyb River.

And we're moving on. I did not mark the next point on the route. If you wish, you can stop near the hanging bridge and take a walk along it. A little further there is another bridge, more extreme and not so pretty.

Another stop in front of Blue Lake. Well, we could not resist the temptation to go down to the river. Here it is - a popular water tourism route. The color of the water in Bzyb is amazing - milky blue.

I found on the Internet two translations of the name of the river: “river bank / river gorge” and furious. Personally, I prefer the second option.
We drive up to blue lake. This is the second (after Maiden's Tears) tourist stop, so people are apparently invisible at a small lake. The lake fully justifies its name.

A haze rises over the lake. It's hot outside, and the water is piercingly cold. Not suitable for swimming at all, about +10°C At first glance, it may seem that the water in the lake is cloudy. In fact, it is very deep and the sun's rays do not penetrate to the very bottom. Some sources claim that the depth of the lake is 76 meters. It's hard for me to even imagine such depth. This is neither more nor less than 3 nine-story houses. Ahem….. The lake is fed by an underground river. An interesting fact is that fish do not live here, aquatic plants do not grow, and even plankton does not live here.
Of course, there is a legend associated with the lake among the people. This is Abkhazia! I'll give you a short recap - A long time ago, a kind old man lived in a cave, a well-known hunter in the past. People respected him and came to him for advice. One day, strangers came to him and, coveting the beautiful skins of animals, killed the old man. But before they even took a step, a powerful stream of water flooded the cave. Since then, the lake has existed, resembling the blue eyes of a good old man with its color.

They all have some sad legends, already longing rolls over. My personal recommendation is to stop by the lake on the way back. Toward evening there will be fewer tourist people and it will be possible to approach the lake in a more relaxed atmosphere.
In theory, the next tourist stop is the Yupshar Gorge or "Stone Bag". However, we accidentally decided to stop at an old bridge and then such an amazing sight opened up to us - the Yupshara River flows into the Bzyb. The water line clearly divides the flows.

It is impossible to observe all this from afar and we go down to the water. Yupshara got very dirty somewhere in the mountains J.

Once again, I note for myself that a trip by car gives a certain freedom of action. Impressed by the two rivers, we once again stop on the banks of the Bzyb (slightly higher from the confluence) and now we see a slightly fabulous picture - rocks, lush greenery, incredible-colored water and a light “smoke” rising above the river.

Well, we arrived at the Yupshar Gorge. It is quite long, about 8 km. The narrowest place is the Yupshar Gate. Two powerful rocks rise high up and very clearly make it clear what kind of insect you really are.

I don't have any good photos from this trip that can capture the full power of the gorge, so I'll do a little trick and attach photos from my first trip. Believe me, nothing has changed there.

The Yupshara River makes its way along the bottom of the gorge. Please note that it is blue, not gray-brown at all.
If you don’t rush headlong and make the right stops, then you can capture just such a beautiful panorama from the observation deck. Down there is the Stone Bag.

If you are planning a trip to Geg waterfall, then, it is important not to miss the landmark. As soon as you meet a tunnel on your way, this means only one thing - you are at the beginning of the path to Gega. To the left of the road there are UAZs with Abkhaz guys who, for 1,700 rubles. (back and forth) will take you to the Gegsky waterfall. But here, on the contrary, I advise you to first go to the waterfall, and then continue your route to Ritsa. On the way back, you can already get tired and just lazy. Do not even think about climbing among the rocks and stones in your own car. Feel free to load into the UAZ, just do not forget to close your eyes. You will be driven at incredible speed right along the edge of the cliff. And if you are a thrill seeker, then be sure to look down. There, far below, along the gorge, another mountain river with a difficult character rushes - the Gega. Beauties!

Just next to the UAZ parking lot, it flows into the Yupshara and again we can observe the confluence of two streams - the dirty brown Yupshara and the sky-blue Gega.
We must admit that this year we did not reach the Gegsky waterfall. However, I have a great opportunity to go back 8 years and show the waterfall in all its glory.

To estimate the size of a natural miracle, it is probably worth attaching such a photo. The water flow seems to cut the rock and breaks out. In the foreground - me, in the background - small figures of people. The height of the waterfall is about 55 meters. The water is ice cold even in summer.

It was here, at the Gegsky Falls, that the scene from the movie “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson” was filmed, or rather, the fight between Holmes and Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls.

On the way to Ritsu we come across another waterfall - Men's Tears. Here it is a mean man's tear.

The legend of this waterfall brings us back to the beautiful Amra and her beloved Adgur:
“... And Amra's beloved Adgur, while hunting in the mountains at that time, suddenly felt pain in his heart. He realized that some kind of misfortune threatened his beloved and that he could not help her .... Mean tears fell on the stone .... "

Well, everything, then only Ritsa! At the entrance to the Ritsa Reserve, you need to pay an environmental fee or simply buy a ticket for 350 rubles. You can leave your car in the parking lot, although it is located quite far on the right bank of the lake.
A moment ... and before us opens a calm, greenish expanse of the lake, bordered on all sides by mountain slopes. The tops of the mountains are hidden in the clouds.

Photos cannot convey the full scale of Ritsa, you need to see it with your own eyes.
The lake is quite young, about three hundred years old. If you do not pay attention to the legends and turn to science, then the origin of Ritsa is explained by a huge failure in the karst voids. As a result of the collapse, a huge dam was formed. The depth of the lake is 130 meters. The water is clean, flocks of fish hunt near the shore in search of a fishing hook. By the way, trout is found in Ritsa.

If you wish, you can rent a catamaran or a boat and sail away from the coast. Near the lake there are several cafes where you can have a barbecue or taste river trout.

It's too early to go back, so we go in search of the Milky Falls. The road leads us along the right bank of the Ritsa further into the mountains. Asphalt is present purely nominally, in some places it is badly broken. Basically, off-road vehicles drive along this route, which take tourists on excursions to the Seven Lakes or to alpine meadows. After a while there will be a fork, the road down and the sign "Stalin's Dacha". It is on this sign that you need to go to the Milky Waterfall. But we decided to take another look at Ritsu, only now from an excellent observation deck. We move on without turning anywhere. As soon as you see a waterfall on the right side, then you have arrived. This is Birdfall. Eight years ago it was possible to get closer to him. This year, the waterfall is surrounded by a net and traces of collapse are visible. Apparently unsafe.

Well, this is perhaps the best panorama overlooking the mountain lake.

Our workhorse 🙂

Now we go back and turn to Stalin's dacha. The Milky Waterfall gets its name from its purely visual effect. The water is highly mineralized, this foams and turns white.

If you wish, you can look at Stalin's dacha and see how our political leader rested.

I hope my short photo report will be useful for travelers who want to visit Ritsa.

Are you planning a big trip to the Land of the Soul? Then I recommend a big

Everyone who has ever been to Abkhazia knows about its pearl -. But today I want to talk about the sights that you can see on the way to the lake.

The road to Lake Ritsa begins with the so-called Ritsa turn 15 km from Gagra. The road, about 40 km long, runs along the Bzyb River. It is completely paved and can be easily driven by a car. There is no public transport on this route, only taxis.

Wine cellar in Abkhazia

Wine tasting in Abkhazia is not uncommon, but it is on the popular Ritsa route that the largest number of Abkhaz wine cellars is concentrated. As a rule, these cellars are named after the name of the winemaker's family.

Of all, I liked the wine cellar of the Ashuba family the most. I definitely recommend trying the Alexandra wine, named after the youngest granddaughter of the head of the family.

Buying wine on tap or in sealed bottles is everyone's business. But, I want to note that it is not always possible to bring draft wine to the house. It may sour or deteriorate.

Honey yard in Abkhazia

The next stop on the way to Lake Ritsa is Honey Yard. As well as wine cellars, there are several honey yards.

You will be given a short tour, told about the bees and allowed to try local products (which include not only honey, royal jelly and honeycombs, but also chacha with mead). Also, there is often a "plate trick", the so-called "genetic code of honey". I will not reveal its essence to you - it is better to see in reality.

I can’t say anything about the quality of honey at the Honey Yard - I have never purchased it. But, in my opinion, it is better to purchase such products not on popular tourist routes, but from local residents. I can advise a family that has been engaged in honey for several years and keeps its apiary in the mountains.

Waterfall Maiden's Tears in Abkhazia

The next stop on the route to Lake Ritsa is Maiden's Tears waterfall. It is impossible to pass by without noticing it. From afar you can see a rock motley with multi-colored ribbons from which small streams of crystal clear water flow down.

It is difficult to call it a waterfall in the usual sense for us. Mountain waters from alpine meadows make their way through the rocks, forming thin streams of water that look like tears. In summer, the waterfall becomes completely shallow - you can see rare drops that, shimmering in the sun, form a rainbow.

A beautiful but sad legend is associated with the waterfall.

Once upon a time, a young shepherd girl named Amra was in love with the mountain spirit Adgur. The Wicked Witch envied the pure love of young people, lured the girl to a rock and over the cliff demanded her to give up her love. Amra called for help Adgur, but he was too far away and did not hear the cries of his beloved. Then the Witch threw the girl off the cliff, and since then her tears have been dripping in that place: as a sign of strong and tragic love.

In addition, it is believed that if you tie a ribbon here and make a wish, it will surely come true. Ribbons can be purchased here, from local merchants. Whether a wish will come true or not depends only on the faith of the guesser.

They also say: if an unmarried girl washes herself with water from a waterfall, then there will be a wedding soon.

I washed. The wedding took place three months later - though not mine.))

Suspension bridge across the river Bzyb, Abkhazia

Near the Maiden's Tears waterfall, there is another attraction - a suspension bridge over the Bzyb River.

Bzyb is a mountain river in Abkhazia, about 110 km long. The suspension bridge has a rather flimsy appearance and causes concern among many tourists. However, this is in vain: it is built of metal and boards, and is very strong. On the bridge you can make beautiful romantic photos.

There is also a hanging bungee over the river.

Immediately after entering the territory of the Ritsa Reserve (at the checkpoint you will need to pay an environmental fee - 350 ₽), you drive up to the Blue Lake.

This lake of karst origin has become famous for its unusual blue color, regardless of the season and weather conditions. The area of ​​the lake is 180 square meters, the water temperature here is constantly kept at around 9 degrees. Scientists and locals often argue about the depth of the lake. The numbers differ, from 40 to 70 meters - and many even believe that the lake is bottomless.

As with other natural attractions, a folk legend is associated with the Blue Lake in Abkhazia.

Once upon a time, a wise old man with a long white beard and sky-blue eyes lived on the site of the lake. And everyone who came to him was met with hospitality inherent in Abkhazia. In gratitude for the Soviets and lodging for the night, people brought meat and skins of dead animals as a gift to the elder. One day strangers came to the elder. He met them, fed them and put them to bed. The wanderers envied the richness of the old man's skins and killed him for profit. When they began to collect the loot, streams of water suddenly collapsed from everywhere and flooded the cave. And somewhere at the bottom of the blue lake, the murdered old man rests and illuminates the lake with the color of his eyes.

The area around the lake is ennobled for tourists: there is a small market with homemade wine, souvenirs and other products. Various statues, information boards. And the Abkhaz "entrepreneurs" will gladly offer you to take memorable photos with animals and in national clothes.

Yupsharsky canyon or stone bag

Yupsharsky Canyon in Abkhazia is another famous natural attraction. The canyon got its name in honor of the Yupshara River, which flows nearby. The Yupshar Gorge was formed in ancient times: during earthquakes, the rock cracked, forming a narrow passage. The length of the canyon is about 8 km, but the place called the Yupsharsky Gate or the Stone Bag attracts tourists the most.

A small section of the canyon where the rocks approach each other at a distance of 20 meters. From below, only a narrow strip of sky is visible, and even in July the sun's rays do not reach the bottom of the canyon (hence the name "Stone Bag"). Due to the shade and cool slopes of the mountain, this place is overgrown with boxwood and moss, which makes the canyon even more charming. we will make a stop at the Man's Tears waterfall. Cascades of water begin their fall from the cliff so high that if you stand under the waterfall, it is impossible to see its beginning.

According to legend, after the death of Amra, Adgur wept from grief - and in the place where his tears fell, a waterfall of Men's Tears formed.

It is also customary to tie ribbons for love and good luck. Near the waterfall there is a bridge from which you can reach the water tufts.

Cliff and observation deck "Farewell, Motherland"

The road to Lake Ritsa in this place is very narrow, on the one hand there are high rocks, and on the other there is the famous cliff "Farewell, Motherland". The height of the cliff is about 300 meters. There is also an observation deck of the same name, which is a small platform.

Many legends are connected with the origin of the name of this place.

According to one version, a bus with captured Germans who were building a road to Ritsu fell off this cliff. And one of the prisoners of war managed to shout "Farewell, Motherland."

This legend seems unbelievable to me. After all, no matter how beautiful Abkhazia was, it was not a homeland for captured Germans. According to another version, a bus with the military fell off this cliff, which was leaving at night from the shelling. Whether this is true or not, no one knows. But we can definitely say that the view from the cliff "farewell, Motherland" is fascinating. However, in recent years, fewer sightseeing buses stop at this place for security reasons and negligent tourists.

Bird's Beak Waterfall

The last attraction on the territory of the Ritsa National Park today is the Bird's Beak waterfall. It is located just above Lake Ritsa and, as a rule, is not included in the excursion tour to the lake itself. If you wish, you can climb to it from the lake on your own.

The water here is clean, drinkable and slightly mineralized. Many tourists collect it in bottles. Near the waterfall there is a small observation deck, which offers a gorgeous view of Lake Ritsa.

The road to Lake Ritsa and the sights of the Ritsa Reserve on the map of Abkhazia

Below you will find a map and the road to Lake Ritsa, starting from the Ritsa turn, as well as all the sights that we talked about in today's article.

I want to remind you that all the sights, starting with the Blue Lake, are located on the territory of the Ritsa National Park, entry to the territory is paid - 350 rubles. If you are traveling with a guided tour, the entrance ticket is usually included in the price.

You can buy an excursion to Lake Ritsa

We will talk about other places near Lake Ritsa (Geksky waterfall, Molochny waterfall, Stalin's dacha) separately in the following articles.

Yes, I returned from Abkhazia. Yes, I'm alive. Full of strength and energy, and even skated down the mountain in Krasnaya Polyana yesterday and today. Therefore, what is this a trip to Lake Ritsa in winter has become such an energy cocktail for all of us that, after our arrival from Abkhazia, we walk like we are stoned. And the queue of those who have already seen my photos of winter Ritsa on Instagram and now also want to get there is growing every hour.

All last winter I tortured drivers who take people to Abkhazia - is it possible to drive to Ritsa in winter? They answered evasively - sometimes yes, sometimes no ... There were also conflicting reviews on the Internet: someone wrote that it was dangerous, someone assured that the road to Ritsa was blocked in winter. Still others silently posted amazing photos of a snow-covered lake ... And I made up my mind: I have a car, I know the way. Must go.

If you are without a car, but also dream of seeing the winter Ritsa, then contact these guys: +79384600693

But first, read, watch photos and videos and decide whether you can master such a winter quest.

By car to Abkhazia in winter: what you should know

In principle, it is even easier to get to Abkhazia by car in winter than in summer - there are no endless traffic jams at the border. We arrived at the beginning of the ninth and after 20 minutes we had already completed the entire procedure. As a driver, I stay in the car and present it for inspection: I open the trunk and all the doors, as well as the glove box in the cabin and the top case on the roof, where I transport the skis. And then I go to the passport control window with a passport for me and a technical passport for the car. My passengers go to the building and go through passport control there.

If you want to get to Ritsa, then you can't do without studded tires. High ground clearance and all-wheel drive are welcome.

As I wrote in previous articles about Abkhazia, it is most likely impossible to drive along its roads with Russian numbers and never say hello to traffic police representatives. Signs "40" are apparently given to Abkhaz traffic cops for their birthday. There are many of them, and it is not always possible to determine the zone of action of the sign: either that narrow path that crosses the main road meant a crossroads, or not ... In short, prepare a friendly smile and banknotes of various denominations. Maybe you will return with the rights from Abkhazia ...

Road to Ritsa: don't forget to pray before leaving home

Leaving Krasnaya Polyana early in the morning, it was as if we were praying that the snow that fell from the sky in large flakes would end ... Ritsa, after all, it is in the mountains, at an altitude of 950 meters above sea level. So, if there is snow in Polyana, then there is also snow there ...

At the exit from the mountains, the snow turned into rain. After crossing the border, the rain began to subside: Abkhazia, you really are hospitable! How many times have I left Polyana on an excursion to Abkhazia in the pouring rain! And every time at the border it began to subside, and the first sun was already showing towards Gagra ...

So it was this time. A couple of minutes on the Colonnade, a greeting to the Black Sea - and we go further.

By unanimous decision, we also approved the arrival at the food market in Gagra. Tangerines, cucumbers, greens, smoked cheeses, nuts, fig and feijoa jam - a standard Abkhazian "grocery basket" was purchased in 15 minutes. We leave Gagra. Less than 10 km left before the turn to Ritsu.

The weather has improved, there are few cars on the road. After 10 minutes, we turn to the village of Bzypta, it is through it that the road to Ritsa goes. We drive into a picturesque gorge. And then my passengers start begging me to stop for a snack. The intoxicating smells from the delicacies bought on the market, hovering in the car, did their job - everyone had a brutal appetite!

We call in honey yard , attracted the sign "hot pancakes with honey." And there were pancakes, and there was honey. Portion of pancakes 6 pieces - 100 rubles. Herbal tea - 100 rubles per teapot. Honey — free of charge, unlimited))) After such a breakfast, we were all determined to get to Ritsa.

At the entrance to the Ritsa National Park, we were assured: yes, you will drive to Ritsa, we have cleaned the road. Oh really?!? I just can't help but gasp in surprise. But the employee at the box office sells us tickets with an unwavering hand. And we're going through the barrier.

Excursions to Ritsa in winter - only for extreme people

Right behind us, a Mercedes-Sprinter with Abkhaz license plates drives up to the barrier. On such summer we drove tourists from Krasnaya Polyana to Abkhazia. Is someone really desperate taking tourists to Ritsu now? Well, well, it will be interesting to see how they manage.

And my passengers just start to squeal with delight, looking out the windows of the car. The views really open up fabulous: moss-wrapped trees, steep cliffs, snow-covered edges, crystal-clear mountain streams ...

It seems to me that my love for Abkhazia is getting stronger with each trip ... And how could it be otherwise, when there is such beauty around?

Immediately after the canyon, the road turns from a narrow, but still asphalt pavement into a rolled snow rut. The traction control system in the car is periodically turned on. And to part with an oncoming car is not an easy task. Someone has to back up to the nearest "pocket".

On the Chabgar cornice we pull over to the side of the road and go out to admire the panorama of the mountains. Soon three young Abkhaz guys join us. Their Mercedes jeep somehow parked next to our car. There is no room for a third car...

From this point, our ride turns into an adventure that tickles your nerves: the road is getting worse, it shakes pretty much, but it is undesirable to slow down the speed - there is enough snow under the wheels to skid. We let the dashing Abkhazians go ahead in the Mercedes - so as not to put pressure on the psyche)))

But soon we are still forced to slow down, because. ran into a small traffic jam: the traffic was temporarily blocked - in front of the tractor clearing snow blockages. Our familiar Mercedes Sprinter is also in this traffic jam, from which curious tourists poured onto the road. And our friends in the Mercedes-jeep are also here. In total, there are seven cars on our side, and from the opposite side, five pieces can be seen. All are jeeps.

The tractor, by the way, is also very modern (see VIDEO) and very smartly wields a bucket, raking snow from the road. While we wait, we get to know the other participants in the movement. I really didn't expect that there are so many people who want it, like me, see Ritsu in winter!

The last fight is the hardest...

More precisely, the last kilometer. Namely, we did not reach Ritsa for so long, getting stuck in a traffic jam due to a tractor clearing the road. Finally, you can go. The first to miss were those cars that descended from above to meet us. Then, one by one, our motorcade also starts moving.

Although the tractor worked, the layer of snow on the road was still decent. At this stage, all cars without winter tires were forced to leave the route. Including that trinity in a jeep-Merce. But we were on spikes and were not going to retreat.

The road is uphill. Gas-gas-gas ... The main thing is not to slow down and not throw gas! Do not make sudden movements with the steering wheel so as not to fly out of the snow rut! Along the edge of the track - two-meter snowdrifts ... Through thorns to the stars, in a word.

Here is the sign "Lake Ritsa". We shout "hooray!" at the top of our voices! And the next moment we fall through four wheels into melted loose snow. Neither forward nor backward. The car hung on its belly. The wheels simply do not reach the hard surface, and even five men cannot push it out.

The owners of the Niva came to the rescue. A cable is tied to the towbar of our car. A minute later we were pulled out of the snow captivity.

And two minutes later we forgot about all the difficulties of the road and enjoyed the beautiful views of the winter Ritsa ... No photographs can convey that fabulous atmosphere and feeling of unity with nature, our childish delight from contemplating the unreal reality of this winter landscape.

Our CV

It is as simple as three pennies. Amazing impressions and unrealistically beautiful photos - this is what you will have left from a winter voyage to Lake Ritsa.

Yes, there will also be enough thrills for you - in a couple of places we saw avalanches that descended directly onto the road, which the workers of the national park had already managed to clear up. This suggests that the road is still being watched. And in case of some threat to your safety (the same avalanche danger), they simply will not let you in there. So now I have at least begun to understand why we give 350 rubles at the entrance to the Ritsa National Park.

Perhaps, over time, the road to Ritsa will become as safe and comfortable as the road to Krasnaya Polyana. But for now, it's a real challenge. An adventure that many of us miss so much in everyday life ...

All exciting roads and see you on the blog!