Dzharylgach rest with tents. Farewell to summer: Dzharylgach island. Sights and excursions

July was already coming to an end, and we still hadn’t planned our summer vacation. Somehow things aren't working out that way this year. At first we couldn’t take a vacation at the same time, and then we languished for hours looking for a more or less uncrowded place. And yet they found paradise on the Black Sea: Cape Dzharylgach.

Dzharylgach is the largest island in Ukraine. It is also famous for its uninhabited nature. When we arrived and saw that there were really almost no vacationers there, my soul rejoiced. And now more about how we got there.

Dzharylgach Island is located in the Kherson region, about an hour by boat from the city of Skadovsk. Since there are no trains to Skadovsk, we bought bus tickets. 10 hours on the road and now we are looking for the central beach, from where boats depart to the island.

Words are superfluous when unearthly beauty opens before your eyes. Having disembarked from the boat, we simply threw our bags on the sand and admired the sea, sky and white sand. Having recovered a little from the initial delight, we began to slowly settle in. The sea was calm, so we settled down on the very shore. Need I mention that we took a lot of things with us, from tents, umbrellas, tiles, to mosquito repellents, which were very useful.

The next day we immediately went swimming. The sea was so warm and the water clean that I didn’t want to get out of it. The downside was the huge jellyfish, but we got used to them too. A huge surprise for us were the dolphins, who frolicked near the shore and delighted our eyes. It was truly excellent.
After breakfast with fruit and bread brought from Skadovsk, we went to the towers for water. They say they were designed by Eiffel himself, so this place also has a French spirit. And although they no longer look so good, in our memory they remain an integral part of the island.

We were very lucky, as the weather was simply wonderful all days, and the sea was warm and calm. The following days of rest, we walked around the island, from time to time meeting knurs and raccoons (mostly in the evening). And when we wandered deeper into the island, we discovered a real savannah with deer, fallow deer and mouflon. I admit, I saw the latter for the first time, so my emotions simply went off scale.

I almost forgot to tell you about the lagoon with swans, which we also discovered on an island not far from the lakes. I admit, the last thing I expected was to see these proud birds here. Dzharylgach was created by nature to surprise.

We entertained ourselves with volleyball, football, playing cards and evening conversations by the sea. No internet for 7 days. And I’ll tell you, this is real happiness.
While on vacation, we enjoyed the most beautiful sunsets every evening. Pink, white, rich yellow, all these colors intertwined into one whole and created real masterpieces against the backdrop of the endless sea.

Dolphins on Dzharylgach Island (Black Sea, Ukraine)

I didn’t want to go home at all. We became so attached to this place that returning to the bustling metropolis became a real hard labor. We walked from the island by boat in complete silence and eagerly photographed every corner of this place with our eyes.

Bottom line

The island of Dzharylgach is a great place for those who love a relaxing holiday. There is no entertainment on the island. You definitely need to take a tile with you, since there is nowhere to collect wood for the fire. Also take an umbrella, because you can get seriously sunburned in the sun. I also recommend that you take a good mood with you and boldly go to meet dolphins, gorgeous nature and unforgettable sunsets.

How to get there by car

The highest quality road is Kyiv-Odessa-Nikolaev-Kherson-Skadovsk. Distance 780 km. There are bad sections of the road, but mostly the road is good. Travel time is 8-9 hours.

How to get there by public transport

By night train to Kherson. From the railway station there are private minibuses that will take you to Skadovsk for 100 hryvnia and 1.5 hours.

We love hiking so much that we even go to the sea to relax with a tent. This year we swam in the waves on the Kinburn Peninsula, but it wasn’t enough for us, and we went to the uninhabited island of Dzharylgach, which was just nearby.

Although over the past few years many have learned about the wild island in the Kherson region, most people are still surprised when they hear about a huge uninhabited island in Ukraine. We ourselves only found out about it a year ago. It's surprising that such an interesting place remains so unknown. We would like to tell you a little about him.

Dzharylgach is the largest island in Ukraine by area, 42 kilometers long. It is all covered in sand, which means beautiful clean beaches and no significant vegetation (only sucker can grow here). Of course, like in any other natural park, there are many plants listed in the Red Book, but they are unlikely to arouse interest in anyone other than professional ones.

But the fauna is much more impressive: wild boars, fallow deer, mouflons, raccoon dogs, and dolphins live on Dzharylgach. In addition, the island is home to 250 species of birds. All these living creatures roam around the territory without any restrictions and, having settled in a tent, you will have the opportunity to join the life of unbridled game.

The island may be of interest to those who like to swim with dolphins in the open sea - they swim literally within arm's reach of people. In the clear sea there are many mussels and rapana. They are widely eaten by local robinsons.

A rather unique phenomenon is the winding of seaweed balls by waves. They look like felt, and there is often some kind of surprise inside: a shell or a claw. In the Kherson region, such balls are found almost along the entire coast, but there are especially many of them on the island.

Well, of course, it’s quite interesting even just to live on a desert island. Holidays on Dzharylgach are an unforgettable adventure!

How to get to Dzharylgach Island

If the island seemed attractive to you, then you probably have a question about how to get to Dzharylgach. In the summer, there are three routes: two from Skadovsk and one from Lazurny.

In Skadovsk, a popular boat excursion goes to the lighthouse or the Glubokaya spit. The first option is preferable for a wild holiday, and the second for those who like to relax in a more civilized manner. Boats leave from the large pier early in the morning and return in the evening. At the height of the season, you will have to book in advance, because even at the end of August the transport was completely full.

In addition, it is possible to find a private boat on the small pier in Skadovsk. Last year, 2014, the cost of travel for four people was only one and a half times more than on a large boat. And in 2015, an excursion trip to the lighthouse cost 120 UAH. per person.

The distance from the village of Lazurnoye to the island is about a hundred meters, and without things you can easily swim there on your own. But besides this, the boatman offers his services. The price of transportation one way is 15 UAH. in 2015 per person.

Dzharylgach Island - Lighthouse

Since we were going to stay in a tent, our point of arrival was the pier near the lighthouse. We chose this place not by chance, but because there is a source of fresh water here. It is not difficult to find - it is located right next to the lighthouse.

Holidays on Dzharylgach are becoming increasingly popular. This year, in addition to the crowd of people who arrived by boat, there were many tent campers. Almost everyone settles near the water. If you want privacy, you can walk away a little and find yourself on a completely deserted beach. We left for just over half an hour and didn't see anyone for days.

Compared to Tarkhankut, there is a huge advantage here - the presence of small trees. They protect the tent from the morning sun and allow you to get a good night's sleep. Our tree also attracted the attention of a herd of fallow deer, which at night came to graze near us and bleated like domestic goats. It’s a pity that we couldn’t take a photo: in the light of a flashlight, the animals scattered, and we could only see their white butts.

The steppe viper became a more unpleasant guest. She crawled up unexpectedly when we were lying on a sleeping bag in the shade. We felt it through the fabric under our feet. The fact that we lifted the sleeping bag did not puzzle the snake in any way - it angrily hissed in our direction and had no intention of hiding. Throwing it into the grass with a stick, we quickly retreated, because the place no longer seemed fabulous and cozy to us. You need to be careful on the island with these creeping reptiles.

On the beach we constantly crossed paths with wild boars - they, however, did not want to be friends with us and ran away at the first sight of us. We liked the wildness of the desert island. But the jellyfish spoiled the rest. This year there were an unreal number of them. By the way, on Dzharylgach it is possible to get away from jellyfish, because you can cross the island and swim in the bay, and not in the open sea - jellyfish do not swim there.

Although the availability of firewood here is better than on Tarkhankut, it is still not abundant: there are wet thin branches of bushes and firewood carried out by the sea. It would have been difficult to make a full-fledged fire, but we were prepared and took a wood chip stove. She performed well in island conditions. If you go to Dzharylgach, then take something similar or gas with you.

It was in the lighthouse area that we thought it would be the best place to set up a tent for a long time: there is water, wild beaches and a lot of funny animals - if you’re lucky, you can feed a raccoon with sausage!

Dzharylgach Island - Glubokaya Spit

As we have already said, mattress tourists prefer to relax on the Glubokaya Spit. And we went there on reconnaissance to diversify our pastime and find out what was what. To begin with, we decided to cross the island, and then walk along the shore.

It’s better not to break into anything, because karakurts, vipers, and who knows what else live here. It's worth finding one of the roads that crosses the island. We chose the most obvious one: near the forester’s house (that’s what they call it here). By the way, we were located right next to it.

To our surprise, we found ourselves near the bay very soon. The entire shore was covered with algae, the path was not visible. Sometimes my feet fell into a terrible hot slurry, and in some places I just walked on water, since there was no other way.

Still, we didn’t regret choosing this route. There were many bays there: big and not so big. It is in this part of Dzharylgach that a variety of birds live. Even the air is saturated with the smell of fish - this is paradise for birds.

On the spit itself we found a cultivated beach, a crowd of vacationers, a pier, a cafe-shop and a bungalow. Everything is quite artisanal, but nice. If anyone is used to spending their holidays in a five-star hotel, they are unlikely to like it here. But compared to the sea in the Kherson region, it is undoubtedly much better here: clean, the water is not knee-deep (you can swim), there are no jellyfish. We heard out loud that an overnight stay in a three-bed bungalow costs 200 UAH. per person, but they didn’t know for sure.

The cafe here is a little unique, but it offers a large selection of fish dishes. For example, we tried stingray for the first time - very tasty! The prices are quite low, especially considering that it's not on the mainland. For a large portion of fish we paid 30 UAH. You can easily live here for a week, eating in this establishment.

One landmark was found on the Glubokaya Spit - a monument to Soviet soldiers who died on the island during the war. They didn’t even know that the war had even reached here.

From the spit to the sea we walked along a different road. We left in about half an hour. You can stay in a bungalow and go to the sea beach.

Hike along the island

It seemed to us that the most intriguing idea was to go through the entire island. The end of the trip was selected for its implementation.

There are not very many sources of drinking water on Dzharylgach: a lighthouse, a forestry, a Glubokaya spit and a house of a monk who lives in the middle of the island.

We had to take water with us, which did not lighten our backpacks, but the walk was not difficult, because we were used to walking in the mountains, and here it is very smooth, and even the cool breeze blows pleasantly.

It is very important to choose the right trajectory when walking along the beach. The surf strip is best suited - here the sand is compacted and smooth, your feet won’t sink through.

We assumed that it would even be possible to ride a bicycle here (our thoughts agreed with many travelers who did just that). In fact, it is almost impossible to implement such a plan, because you will not guess where exactly the strip of pressed sand is located. The photo clearly shows how the bikes and hogs fall through. We ourselves have changed our minds, and we do not advise others to take a bicycle to the island.

The hike along the island turned out to be monotonous and there is nothing to tell about it. But the walk was fun and meditative - we didn’t meet anyone except fallow deer. Probably, if the sea had been clear, the hike would have been even more awesome, but we walked right during a storm, and we didn’t even want to dip our feet in the water!

After the first night we reached the monk. His house is where the wide part of the island ends. We thought that we would quickly get water near him and leave, but the monk thought differently:) First he treated us to hot bread, then he made us pray 100 times, despite the fact that we immediately admitted our irreligion, then he showed us his coffin, a mini-church ...In general, we stayed there for more than an hour.

We liked the monk - a very nice person. If you are in these wild lands, then go see him and brighten up his loneliness. You can even treat him to something, the main thing is to tear off the barcodes. For some reason he is convinced that they are from the devil.

The water in the pump is not clean. Therefore, it is better to take more with you initially and not count on replenishing your supplies.

On the narrow part of Dzharylgach, surprisingly, there are many wonderful parking spots in the shade. It seems that people often camp here, but it is not clear where they get their water from. Otherwise, the narrow part is exactly the same as the wide one.

Although we walked monotonously, and our walk was not particularly interesting, when we got to Lazurnoye, we immediately felt sorry that the island was left behind. Polluted beaches with a crowd of screaming people cannot compare with a deserted corner of untouched nature.

We would love to walk like this again! We recommend Dzharylgach Island to everyone for a wild holiday!

Route: Dzharylgach Island (lighthouse, Glubokaya spit, monk's house, Lazurnoe)
Mileage:~45km (along the island)
Number of nights: 2 (to walk along)
Good places to stay overnight: everywhere:)
Water on the route: lighthouse, forester's house, Glubokaya spit, monk's house
Mobile connection: not great, but you can catch it
What else: Bring repellent, water bottles, a gas burner or wood chip stove; store food in bags on trees, because wild boars are not indifferent to it; Beware of vipers and karakurts.

We attach to the article a map of Darylgach Island with the main points marked so that you can navigate more easily.

Dzharylgach Island in the Black Sea is an untouched corner of nature. Its value lies in the fact that most of the animals and plants of this island can be found on the pages of the Red Book. Perhaps it is thanks to its rebellious nature that the island has managed to remain so pristine, given the fact that the resort shore inhabited by tourists is located just an hour's drive by sea (see photo below).

There are practically no people on the island of Dzharylgach, and especially in its southern part. But here you can meet wild horses and deer, which look very friendly. Horses are happy to interact with tourists and even let themselves be fed.

Marvelous Dzharylgach Island- just a paradise for windsurfers who cover the shore with their sails. Quite often, windsurfers manage to watch dolphin games while on the move. However, to practice this sport here, you must obtain special permission, since the island is a border island.

In summer, the island serves as a place of pilgrimage for savage tourists.

The endless sandy beaches are an excellent platform for going out to sea, the open spaces of which are simply mesmerizing. As for the material part, you can forget about it here. There are no problems with drinking water in Dzharylgach, as there is a spring with crystal clear water. There are no problems with food either; the fish here simply jump into your hands. In addition, shrimp, crabs and mussels live here in abundance.

Photo of Dzharylgach Island

The name of the island “Dzharylgach” translated from Turkic means burnt trees

The length of Dzharylgach Island is 42 kilometers

Endless sandy beaches are an excellent platform for going out to sea, the open spaces of which are simply mesmerizing.

Holidays in Dzharylgach are a most interesting journey! Having reached here by boat or boat, you will be enchanted by the strip of picturesque beaches. There is a prospect that a National Park will soon be created on the island. Once on the island, you will plunge into the pristine nature, while losing the sense of space and time.

Regarding the political location of the island of Dzharylgach, it is worth noting that it belongs to Ukraine and is located in the north-west of the Black Sea. Its length of almost forty kilometers makes it look like a spindle. The narrowest part of which is only one hundred meters, and the widest part, directed towards the Crimean Peninsula, reaches several kilometers.

Get to Dzharylgach Island It is possible either by boat or by personal car, since in the summer the island is connected to the mainland by a small isthmus located near the city of Skadovsk. There is no population living on the island all year round. However, during the hunt, several rangers settle on the island and serve at a hunting base that appeared on the island relatively recently.

In addition to office premises and a hunting base, in the southeastern part of Dzharylgach Island there are two lighthouses, one of which is operational, and the other is ancient and long out of order. In the summer, it serves as a place of pilgrimage for savage tourists. Climbing to the top of the lighthouse you can enjoy an amazing view of the sand spit receding far into the sea.

Ancient literature

The name of the island “Dzharylgach” translated from Turkic means burnt trees. Ancient authors such as Ptolemy and Herodotus write that the island was previously completely covered with dense forest.

The history of the island is connected with the names of such ancient Greek heroes as Achilles and Hercules. Once on the island, it is worth remembering that you are walking on historical lands, consecrated in ancient literature.

In the southeastern part of the island there are two lighthouses, one of which is active, and the other is ancient and long out of order.

Fauna of the island

The surface of Dzharylgach Island can be classified as a sandy plain, this is clearly visible in the photo, but its wide part is densely overgrown with olive trees. It is there that red deer hide from human eyes. The island is also densely populated with mouflons, which attract hunters even from abroad. These unique animals live mainly in coastal thickets of reeds and cattails.

Here sheep gather in large herds. In addition, the island of Dzharylgach is densely populated by foxes, which run freely even during the day, since no one specifically hunts them. Local residents come to the island mainly to hunt ducks, of which there are quite a lot on the coast.

As for foreign tourists, a holiday in Dzharylgach is a tourist trip for them. When thinking about the Black Sea coast, one sees crowded, sultry beaches, markets with a sea of ​​peaches and cherry plums, vacationers walking in the shade of cypress trees, evening lights of discos, and so on. And this whole picture suggests that today there is no room left for wild nature. Most of us do not even imagine that on the Black Sea coast, in the Caucasus and in the Crimea, huge herds of mouflons, deer, wild boars, llamas and even bison live in the wild. And we are not talking about special reserves and nature reserves at all, but about hunting grounds where you can enjoy hunting and simply enjoy natural beauty.

Map of Dzharylgach

Video of Dzharylgach Island in the Black Sea

Dzharylgach Island is the largest uninhabited island in Ukraine with an area of ​​62 km².
Its shores are washed by the Dzharylgach and Karkinit bays.
The island is rich in healing mud, salt lakes and fresh water springs.
In order to protect the local flora and fauna, in 2009 it was decided to assign this unique place the status of “Dzharylgach National Natural Park”.

In recent years, more and more Ukrainians have chosen to vacation on the island of Dzharylgach.
And this is not at all surprising; it is incredibly beautiful, calm and cozy here.
The island is washed by the unusually clear and bright azure waters of the warm sea, over which snow-white noisy seagulls soar.
From the shore you can watch playful and inquisitive dolphins frolic or enjoy a breathtaking sunset.

The 100-year-old lighthouse, which proudly rises to the skies decades later, is rightfully considered the hallmark of the island.
There are incredible stories and legends around this structure, as well as about the island itself.
Today it is reliably known that the lighthouse was made to order and at the personal expense of S. Skadovsky in Paris. The work was carried out by the French engineer G. Eiffel, he is known as the creator of the Eiffel Tower.

Nobody knows why Skadovsky ordered this 24-meter structure from the legendary architect and installed it on a deserted island, just assumptions and conjectures.
Some people who study paranormal phenomena claim that the lighthouse serves as a kind of castle between the other world and our world.
If you believe the legend, the structure was installed on the site of a tectonic fault, which, by order of Skadovsky, was filled up and sealed with a lighthouse. Since then, terrible creatures could no longer get into our world; the deserted island became calm, cozy and safe.

People inclined towards mysticism willingly believe in this incredible theory and try in every possible way to find convincing evidence that creatures unknown to science really existed and exist on the island today.
Sometimes it is very difficult to determine what is the truth and what is a banal tourist PR stunt, but no matter how it happens, it cannot be denied that even in legends there is some truth.
In these parts, local residents from the area around the island and guides willingly tell tourists the legend that the island was once used for hunting strange creatures.
Only very rich people could afford to hunt here.
In support of this story, I would like to note that on a deserted island there is a small church where a hermit monk lives today.
It is here that anyone can see an old map; it shows the island in sections with signs of strange creatures.

Against the background of mysticism associated with the mysterious island, I want to tell you about a very interesting incident that happened in our time.
More recently, a skeleton of a dragon was found on Dzharylgach near the lighthouse.
Its dimensions reached: 42 m in length and 7 m in width.
The publication of photos of the incredible find caused a lot of discussion in society, and as a result, the found skeleton disappeared without a trace.

By nature, I am a realist and always try to find a logical explanation for any situation that is incomprehensible to me. It’s very difficult for me to believe the fantastic stories associated with the island, including the one about a skeleton found on the shore. It’s hard to believe in such incredible finds, especially in our modern times. Initially, I assumed that this was photoshop, but after studying similar cases around the world, I came to the conclusion that this may well be true. Today, many cases of discoveries of human skeletons, giants, sea creatures, dragons and animals have been documented in the world. If we assume that it is reliably known about the giant people who inhabited our Earth, then perhaps we should not categorically deny the fact of the existence of dragons in the distant past.

Interesting facts about Dzharylgach Island:
1. At one time, Dzharylgach Island was part of a biosphere reserve.

2. Dzharylgach is the largest uninhabited island in the Black Sea.

3. Dzharylgach is considered an island, but there is a period when it can be reached by land by fording from the village of Lazurnoe.

Flora and fauna of. Dzharylgach
On the island you can see steppe, meadow, swamp, and salt marsh vegetation.
The most common plants found here are: sedge, wormwood, reed, fescue, spurge, etc.
There are also rare plant species on the island, such as cycad goldenbeard, kendyr rusanova, Dnieper feather grass, as well as about 7 species of orchids.
In total, about 500 species of vegetation grow on Dzharylgach, among which there are over 50 species of endemic plants, that is, they grow only on this island.

Every year, in the eastern and central parts of the uninhabited island, Skadovskoe forestry plants a bush tree. Black poplar, angustifolia oleaster, white acacia, willow and tamarix have taken root here best.

The uninhabited island belongs to birds; there are a lot of them here; in the most active seasons, about 150 thousand live here.
Walking around its surroundings you can see: herring and black-headed gulls, razorback, swans, short-tailed skua, sea pigeon, black stork, pheasant, pelican, heron, geese and ducks.

On the salt marsh coasts of the island there are rare species of butterflies that are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.

iron satyr

When walking around the area you need to be very careful; many species of poisonous snakes and spiders live here, including even the Black Widow.

If you go deep into the island, a magnificent and diverse animal world will open up before you. Here, without human intervention, many rare species of animals live in the wild. Many representatives of cute creatures are very curious and approach vacationers without fear for a treat.
On the island there are: raccoons, roe deer, mouflons, hares, wild boars and horses, foxes, fallow deer, deer, bison

Mouflon

For those who like fishing, Dzharylgach is a paradise.
In the sea there are: stingrays, mullet, gobies, horse mackerel, flounder, herring, sprat, sprat, crabs, mussels, shrimp, oysters.
If you're very lucky, you can even see dolphins.
These cute and inquisitive creatures often swim to the shore.

How to get to Dzharylgach Island

The island is located in the Kherson region, near the resort town of Skadovsk.
You can easily get to the city itself in any way convenient for you, by car, train or bus. Then from the pier you go by water transport to the island itself.
During the holiday season, water transport regularly runs here, delivering tourists back and forth.

Note for tourists
There are three accommodation options on the island:
1. In your own tents, paying 50 UAH to the national park.
2. In eco-tents with a canopy made of reeds. In this case, do not forget to take rugs and sleeping bags with you. Price from 150 UAH.
3. Rent a bungalow on the Glubokaya pier. Price from 750 UAH.
There is a toilet, shower and cafe on site.

On the bay side of the pier there is a wonderful beach with shelters and a cafe. Anyone can rent a yacht, book excursions to Tendrovskaya or water skiing, diving, horse riding, and visit the botanical reserve.

After enjoying the magnificent nature on the island, you can visit modern resorts nearby: Skadovsk, Lazurnoye, Primorskoye, Zhelezny Port or Khorly.

Location

Address: Dzharylgach Island, Skadovsky district, Kherson region.

GPS coordinates: 46° 1′ 35″ N, 32° 56′ 35″ E

Holidays on the island of Dzharylgach are attractive, first of all, for their special tranquility, unusually clean and bright azure waters of the Black Sea, as well as remoteness from city resorts.

• Dzharylgach is the only uninhabited island not only in Ukraine, but throughout Central Europe.
• From the shore you can see dolphins frolicking in the sea.
• There are wild animals here that you can meet while walking around the island: deer, fallow deer, mouflon.
• - a real holiday in nature!

The healing mud and salt lakes of the island are known for their healing properties not only in Ukraine, but also abroad.
Not far from the lakes you can see a lagoon with swans.

Description

The protected island belongs to the Skadovsky district of the Kherson region, located in the southeast of Lazurnoe and is part of the Black Sea.
This is the largest island in Ukraine in terms of area, and is considered the second in length (after Tenderovskaya Spit). Its area is 62 km. sq., length – 42 km. From the north, the island of Dzharylgach is washed by the Karkinistsky Gulf, from the south - by the Dzharylgachsky Gulf.

Most of the territory is a flat steppe, only in the widest part of the island there are olive trees, thickets of cattails and reeds, as well as some other types of trees and shrubs. The island is also famous for its healing mud and salt lakes, of which there are more than 400. In the central part there are springs with fresh water, there are 4 salt and 2 artesian wells.

The island is considered uninhabited; the beaches here have been preserved in their original form. Rare plants are found everywhere, many of them endemic. The fauna is also diverse: in natural conditions they live here:

• hares and foxes
• raccoon dogs
• fallow deer
• wild horses
• mouflons

Some animal species are considered endangered and are listed in the Red Book.

Many tourists go on a hike to Dzharylgach Island precisely to take photos, improve their health and relax in solitude with pristine nature, away from noisy city traffic. On the southern coast of the island there is a “Reed Town”, where vacationers can have lunch in a cafe, sunbathe on sunbeds, use the changing rooms, or even stay overnight in small houses.

Story

The history of the island begins many millennia before the beginning of our era. This is evidenced by a number of facts. For example, archaeological finds: ancient mounds and remains of objects dating back to the Neolithic era, burials of the Bronze Age, as well as burial grounds of the Scythians and Sarmatians.

The modern name “Dzharylgach” (translated from the Turkic language as “burnt trees”) was first indicated on the map in 1800.

Already at the beginning of the 19th century, navigational signs were installed here. In 1902, at the expense of S. Skadovsky, the first lighthouse was installed on the cape, which was made in Paris by a student of Gustave Eiffel, the legendary French engineer who built the Eiffel Tower.

In 1997, a new one was built 50 meters from the old lighthouse, which is still in operation today. The old water tower, the ruins of a weather station and a border outpost are witnesses of the island's past events.

At one time, Dzharylgach Island was part of the Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve. In 1927, the Primorsky Nature Reserve was created, which lasted only a few years. After 82 years (in 2009), by order of the President of Ukraine, in order to preserve objects of health and aesthetic significance, as well as populations of rare species of animals and plants, a National Natural Park was created on the island.

Sights of the natural area

Endless beaches, hundreds of small lakes, sand dunes and swamps in composition with rare plants and wild animals create a harmonious picture and truly give a feeling of unity with nature. A trip to Dzharylgach Island is an excellent opportunity to walk along eco-friendly and educational paths.

Healing waters and swamps give this place even greater natural value and uniqueness. Bromide-iodide, sulfur compounds and microelements contained in the water of the Dzharylgach Bay not only improve immunity, but also have a beneficial effect on the entire body. Tourists come not only from Ukraine, but also from other countries to swim in the “healthy” water. The healing mud of the island is also popular among vacationers.

Similarly, deserted beaches and unique terrain attract lovers of “wild” tourism, as well as those who like to sunbathe naked.

The price of a holiday on the island of Dzharylgach will suit almost everyone, since there is practically nothing to pay for here: sunbathing on the beaches, swimming, walking and getting to know the local environment is completely free.

Vegetation

At first glance, it may seem that the vegetation of Dzharylgach Island is completely monotonous. But in fact, about 500 species of plants grow here and more than 50 of them are considered endemic, that is, they grow only within the island.

The most common are wormwood, reed, spurge, fescue, and sedge. There are also such rare plants as cicada goldenbeard (a plant that has the properties of holding quicksand), marsh swordgrass, Dnieper feather grass, about 7 species of orchid plants - almost all of them are listed in the Red Book.

Skadovsky forestry has been planting trees and shrubs on the island since 1960. To a greater or lesser extent, oleaster, tamarix, branched elm, black poplar, willow and white acacia have taken root.

Animal world

Wild boars, horses, fallow deer, mouflons are the permanent inhabitants of the island, which every tourist can meet. Lots of hares and foxes. Deer hide in the olive thickets, sheep graze in large herds, and mouflons can hide in the coastal thickets of reeds and cattails. There are even bison on the island.

Since Dzharylgach Island is located on the route of migratory birds, many flocks flock here in the fall and even stay for the winter. During the most active seasons, there can be about 150 thousand birds here. For the winter, black storks, pink pelicans, bustards, demoiselle cranes, and burnt birds nest.

There are partridges, pheasants, ducks, geese and even pelicans. On the beach you can often see gulls and cormorants, hunting for shrimp, crabs and small fish. The mute swan is also a valuable representative of the local fauna.

There are a lot of fish in the sea: mullet, horse mackerel, gobies, flounder, and most importantly, stingrays. There are many commercial species: herring, sprat, sprat. There is an abundance of crabs, mussels, shrimp, oysters, and brine. If you're lucky, you can see dolphins; they often swim quite close to the shore.

There are many insects on the island, including rare karakurt spiders. In the summer they lay eggs and become especially aggressive, so you should be careful and if bitten, immediately seek medical help.

Weather on Dzharylgach Island

The climate of Dzharylgach Island is moderate dry. The amount of precipitation does not exceed 400 mm per year. Winters are mild, with an average temperature of -1-2°C, summers are moderately hot.
In summer, the water temperature can reach +30°C, since the bay is quite shallow and warms up well.

At night, Dzharylgach is especially beautiful thanks to the lighthouse. Photo: Lisa Postol

How to get to Dzharylgach Island

The island is located in the Kherson region, directly opposite Skadovsk. On the Lazurny side, it is separated from the land by a narrow strait, which sometimes fills with sand, turning Dzharylgach Island into a peninsula.

During the summer season, water transport runs regularly from the pier, delivering everyone there and back.

Automobile

The highest quality road along which you can get to Skadovsk by car is considered to be Kyiv-Odessa-Nikolaev-Kherson-Skadovsk. The distance is 780 km, travel time is 8-9 hours.

Bus

Regular buses and minibuses run regularly to Skadovsk. The schedule for the 2017 summer season should be checked at the bus station ticket offices. Tell the driver that you need to get off near the center, since the bus station in Skadovsk is in the opposite direction. We also provide organized excursions to the island from nearby resorts: Lazurnoye, Primorskoye, Skadovsk, Zhelezny Port.

Train

The most convenient way to get to Kherson is by rail. Trains arrive here from almost all corners of Ukraine. You will be taken from the Kherson railway station to Skadovsk by a comfortable bus. The journey will take about 1.5 hours. You can get from Skadovsk to the island by boat or pleasure boat. Travel time by boat ranges from 20 minutes to an hour and a half (depending on which side you approach the island from). And if you want to make a long hike, you can take a walk: along the spit from Lazurny to the island is about 20 km.

How to get from Skadovsk to Dzharylgach

A holiday in Skadovsk will not be complete without visiting the island of Dja.

You can order a round-trip transfer to the island on a speedboat that meets all water transportation standards. A 15-seater comfortable boat is at your service. Specifications:

• length 7 m, width 2.5 m, side height 1.1 m;
• powerful Honda BF200 engine (20 minutes journey to the lighthouses);
• running awning, echo sounder, music.

Cost of ferry Skadovsk - Dzharylgach

Glubokaya Marina:

• 120 UAH round trip for 1 person;
• one way – 100 UAH;
• minimum order 800 UAH.

To the lighthouses:

• 200 UAH for 1 person one way or both ends (no difference);
• minimum order 2000 UAH.

Boat rental per hour from 500 UAH. in the water area of ​​the city with stops for swimming.

Order by phone 050 515-88-86. Prepayment is required.

How does this happen:

1. You choose the date and route according to your preferences.
2. Make an application with us.
3. We contact our reliable partners in Skadovsk and inform about the date of transportation.
4. We confirm the transfer and provide your details to the carrier.
5. We meet in Skadovsk at the pier where the boat is located and head to your destination.
6. In case of bad weather conditions, the transfer will be rescheduled for the near future.

It is on this boat that we transfer our guests to Dzharylgach Island

Independent holiday on the island of Dzharylgach

A tour of the island is an opportunity to see Dzharylgach in one day. For lovers of nature and green tourism, there is the opportunity to stay on the island for several days and take a break from the bustle of the city.

There are three accommodation options:

1. In your own tents, paying the national park about 50 UAH. In this case, the entire organization falls on you.
2. Eco-tents with a canopy made of reeds and bedding made of damask (algae). Additionally, mats and sleeping bags are needed. Price from 150 UAH. 2-3 guests per day.
3. Rent a bungalow on the Glubokaya pier for 2-3 guests from 750 UAH.

Living conditions fall under the definition of “savage”. There is a toilet, an outdoor shower and a cafe on site. Book in advance and subject to availability.

Tour program

We accept individual and group applications. A visit to the island can be combined with other excursions in the south of Ukraine.

If you are traveling from Kyiv, Dnepr, Kharkov or other cities, you can count on meeting in Kherson with our guide.

What is different about our tour to Dzharylgach:

• you will visit the island from the Skadovsky Bay and the Black Sea in one go;;
• the tour is conducted by a national park employee;
• the opportunity to spend the night on the island (agreed in advance);
• private transfer for our group.

If you are on vacation in Skadovsk, join our groups.

Standard trip schedule:

Be sure to take with you:

• hats and comfortable shoes;
• cameras, selfie cameras and monopods;
• swimsuits, swimming trunks;
• sunscreen;
• mosquito repellent;
• at least 1.5 liters of water;
• fins, mask and snorkel (if possible);
• mats and beach umbrellas.

Schedule

Standard trips operate on Saturdays from early May to mid-September. Select the desired date on the calendar and place your order online in 3 minutes.

An individual tour can be ordered by calling 050 515-88-86​.