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Once upon a time in Tula...

Three people were running along the deserted street of the night city. The windows in the houses were not yet lit; people were sleeping off after celebrating the New Year. Only in the distance did it sparkle with a scattering of lights. d. station, which was the target of the night runners. They needed to get there as soon as possible; they were late for the train. But running was hampered by the snow underfoot and heavy bags in my hands. Their hearts were beating wildly, their eyes were covered with sweat, but the thought that the train would show them its tail forced their bodies to produce new portions of adrenaline.
Here is the platform. The train is already standing. A little more and we are already in the compartment. Literally a minute and the station outside the window began to float away. The brain was no longer capable of formulating swear words addressed to the taxi service.
This is how ours began New Year's trip to Adygea.

How to get to Adygea and where to live

On this trip we were again horseless and at the mercy of Russian Railways. Honestly, it’s very convenient to travel to Adygea in your own car. In this case, you will have almost unlimited opportunities to explore local attractions. If in Sochi we did not feel the lack of a car due to the well-developed infrastructure, then in Adygea this is completely sad. That's why taxi drivers can help us.

As a place of residence Kamennomostsky village fits perfectly. Many beauties can be easily reached on foot, and most tourist routes start from here. But the train goes to Krasnodar, so you need to think about the transfer in advance. You can negotiate with taxi drivers or go with transfers to Maykop, and from there to Kamennomostsky. Thanks to our friend from Krasnodar, we “teleported” very comfortably in both directions.

There are no problems with housing in the village. Here you can find something for every taste and budget, from luxury hotels to authentic huts of local residents. We stayed in a guest house a 10-minute walk from the Khadzhokh Gorge.

There were certain household disadvantages in our housing, but the undeniable advantage was very good location and friendly hosts.

Main attractions of Adygea in winter

1. Khadzhokh Gorge

On the outskirts of the village of Kamennomostsky there is one of the most popular attractions of Adygea - Khadzhokhskaya Gorge.

Today, this section of the Belaya River gorge has become an equipped route. Entrance fee is 300 rubles for adults and 150 rubles for children. According to our subjective feelings, the price is not entirely adequate. In addition, according to old-timers who visited these places before these innovations, the canyon has clearly lost its natural charm.

Due to the fact that we lived literally a stone's throw from the gorge, we put off visiting it until later. As a result, we had to walk in the rain, and the water at the bottom of the gorge lost its blue tint, turning into a dirty brown stream.

The route is quite long, crossing the bridges you can explore the Khadzhokh Gorge from all sides. Along the way, you will definitely meet local residents: the bear Timofey, who for some reason did not hibernate, but cheerfully waddled around the territory, she-wolves, foxes, chickens, and a raccoon.

In some places, the high stone walls were decorated with hanging icicles. The icy fringe added elegance to the gorge.

Once you reach the last observation deck, you will be greeted by a quaint stone bridge and arches. Finally, having overcome all obstacles, Belaya breaks free at breakneck speed.

Next to the gorge there is a small but very worthy cafe of the same name. They cook excellent kebabs and meat. There are not so many food outlets in the area, so from time to time we enjoyed a snack at Tesnin.

2. Rufabgo Falls

The Rufabgo River gorge is unusually picturesque and very popular among travelers not only for its beautiful scenery, but mainly because you can find a considerable number of waterfalls here. Each of them is good in its own way and different from the others. The names are so sonorous that they immediately involuntarily arise vivid images: Noise, Cup of Love, Heart of Rufabgo, Maiden's Braid, Cascade.
We were lucky enough to walk to the waterfalls in twenty-degree frost along the hiking trail along the Belaya River. Everything inside was trembling snow fairy tale which surrounded us. I had to overcome steep ascents and descents, climb up, clinging to a ghostly support, find myself on the edge of an abyss, almost turn back, but not give up. And the reward was frozen ice waterfalls, inside of which crystal water beat like an artery.

A delightful, unforgettable sight. I will definitely tell you in detail about our adventures and how to get to Rufabgo waterfalls in a separate post.

3. Lago-Naki plateau

Coming to Adygea at any time of the year and not visiting Lago-Naki means not seeing Adygea. This place is the center of gravity of the republic. Everyone comes here to see the endless expanses, majestic mountains and beautiful nature of this region.
In winter, Lago-Naki welcomes guests no less than in summer. Here you can enjoy stunning scenery from various viewpoints.

Visit the equipped Azishskaya and Nezhnaya caves. And also many smaller “wild” caves.

Fall back into childhood and heartily enjoy all possible winter activities from cheesecakes to snow bananas.

Leaving the soulless equipment, transfer to a live horse and gallop across the Adyghe expanses. And after all, drink hot tea with mountain herbs with a bite of mountain honey.

4. Extreme parks

In the vicinity of Kamennomostsky there are two parks with extreme entertainment: the Mishoko extreme park and the TETIS rope adventure park.

Pointer to "Mishoko" stood almost next to our guest house. Therefore, you can get to them without any problems on foot, walking along an abandoned quarry. And God himself ordered us to experience exciting rides, because... Literally on New Year's Eve, in an extreme park group, I won a flight over the gorge.
This day caused a fantastic storm of emotions in our mortal bodies. In addition to the extreme flight and unforgettable via ferrata, we walked around the Mishoko gorge itself and enjoyed the horseback ride. Of course, all these adventures require a separate story.

To the rope park "THETYS" a little more difficult to get to. They are located at the top of the Una-Koz ridge. There are several options to go upstairs:

• Walk along the tourist trail from the old bridge in the village of Dakhovskaya. If the weather is good, I think the walk will be quite enjoyable.
• You can order a transfer on one of the park's SUVs. You will be taken on a breeze along the mountain trails.
• And we chose the last one possible, we went up on the only Savran cable car in the Republic of Adygea.

Ticket prices for January 2016: adults – 500 rubles, children – 200 rubles.

Having climbed the cable car, you will immediately be greeted by a bunch of signs. Having decided on the direction, you may encounter:
a site of a primitive man with picturesque holes in the rock and a fairly well-equipped hearth.

Cave "Dakhovskaya" and "Dusty". And if you strictly follow the signs, you will go straight to TETIS Park.

Having covered about 1.5 kilometers from the park along the tourist trail, you can see another popular panoramic point - the Devil's Finger rock.
And we returned to the signs and tried our luck in the Grotto of Desires, entrusting our most cherished treasures to the stone vaults.

The descent from the cable car is very picturesque. All the way you will enjoy the panorama of the Dakhovskaya valley and the road to Lago-Naki running away like a snake.

5. St. Michael's Monastery of Athos

Just 14 kilometers from Kamennomostsky, in the village of Pobeda, at the foot of Mount Fiziabgo, there is a special place - God’s destiny on earth.

St. Michael's Monastery is a must-visit on any day, but when that day is the Nativity of Christ, a trip here will take on a special blissful connotation.
It was this kind of blissful, peaceful state that I experienced the entire time we were within the walls of the monastery, listening to Christmas stories, eating monastery pancakes, drinking aromatic herbal tea, deep underground, touching the miraculous cross, drinking healing water from the spring and ringing the bells three times.

Coming out of the locker room, however, is not at all hot. Fortunately, on this day the thermometer already showed +6 °C. But what a bliss it is to plunge into hot thirty-seven-degree mineral water with a plus sign.
They write that water has a healing effect and is indicated for many diseases. Having plunged into the warm waters with a specific smell, I felt an indescribable relaxation, every cell of my body was completely relaxed.

It was so nice that I didn’t want to get out at all. Jets of water were turned on periodically, standing under which one could feel all the delights of hydromassage.
But you shouldn’t get carried away with swimming either. As they say, everything is good in moderation. As soon as you get out of the water, the effect of thermal springs will not take long to appear, that is, the relaxation continues.

But this is far from full list what you can see in Adygea in winter. At the entrance to Kamennomostsky there is Museum "Rock Garden". They took me there interesting finds, including the ancients ammonites. One of them lies on the road to the Khadzhokh dolmen.

Khadzhokh dolmen located near the highway in an orchard. These ancient structures are quite common in these parts. Mysterious megaliths still excite the minds of scientists. They are believed to be of a ritual nature. And here is the victim from visiting tourists.

There is also a beautiful suspension bridge. But our search was not crowned with success; instead we found the picturesque bank of the Belaya River.

Cossack stone, which you definitely won’t pass by when going to Lago-Naki.

And they also live here wonderful people who sincerely love their native land. Local residents are happy to talk about the sights and beauties of Adygea, about extraordinary places and natural monuments republics.

This is what Adygea is like: hospitable and amazingly beautiful.

Adygea is a tiny republic of the Northwestern Caucasus in the Laba, Kuban and Belaya river basins. Despite its small size, it has a large and ancient history. The first written mentions of the Circassians date back to the 5th century BC, and their ancient religious buildings - dolmens - are scattered throughout the region.

Sights of the Republic of Adygea with photos and descriptions

In Adygea, the tourist infrastructure is not very developed and there are very few traditional attractions. This is due to the fact that there are only two cities in this region: Adygeisk and the capital of the republic, Maykop. But, nevertheless, the rich nature of this region and its low cost attract thousands of travelers here every year.

Natural attractions

The nature of the Republic of Adygea is unusually rich and diverse, and its mountains are included in the list of attractions World Heritage UNESCO. More than 30% of the territory of this region are historical, cultural, tourist and natural recreational resources and are protected by the state.

Lago-Naki plateau

Lago-Naki plateau

This unique monument nature, one of the most popular places among tourists visiting the Republic of Adygea. The 2000 m high plateau is located between Mount Abadzesh and the Stone Sea ridge. The height of the surrounding hills reaches 3500 meters.
The Lago-Naki plateau is unusually rich in attractions. Here tourists will encounter the hanging valley Zhelob, many caves and ski slopes, as well as the beautiful flora of alpine meadows.

Caucasian Reserve

State Natural Biosphere Reserve named after. Kh. G. Shaposhnikova is one of the oldest protected areas in the Western Caucasus. It was founded back in 1924 and occupies the territory of three regions of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Adygea, the Krasnodar Territory and the Karachay-Cherkess Republic.
The proximity to the warm Black Sea has created several different climatic zones in this biosphere reserve, in which about 3,000 plant species grow. More than 30 flora specimens are included in the Red Book. In addition, up to 400 representatives of the animal world live here, many of which are also on the verge of extinction.

Dakhovskaya Cave

Of significant interest to guests of Adygea is the main attraction of the village of Dakhovskaya - a cave in the Una-Koz mountain range. It was studied by the famous archaeologist A. A. Formozov, who discovered traces of human settlement in it during the Paleolithic era.
The entrance to the cave is quite small, only 70 cm in size. But inside it is divided into several huge halls, the cultural layer of which suggests that people lived here before the beginning of the Middle Ages.

Kamennomostsky village

The center of mountain tourism in the Republic of Adygea is definitely the village of Kamennomostsky. The name of this settlement comes from the stone crossings across the Belaya River that once existed here. Among local residents, the old name of the village Khadzhokh is more common, which is reflected in the toponyms of most local objects.

Khadzhok Gorge

Khadzhok Gorge

Khadzhokh Canyon is a forested gorge through which the Belaya River flows rapidly. In 1979, this attraction was included in the list of natural monuments of regional significance.
The best way to admire the Khadzhok Gorge and its roaring waters is from a height on a suspended pedestrian bridge. This place is also extremely popular with rafters, and in the village of Kamennomostsky you can find all the necessary equipment and instructors for rafting in the canyon.

Rufabgo Falls

One of the best attractions of Adygea is located in the gorge of the Rufagbo stream. In total, there are more than ten waterfalls along its course, five of which: Cascade, Three Brothers, Heart of Rufabgo, Lace and Noise, are available to all tourists, and to explore the remaining objects you will need special equipment and mountaineering skills.
This place is especially beautiful during heavy rains, when a calm stream turns into a huge roaring stream. Actually, Rufabgo translated from the Adyghe language means “fierce.”
Other attractions of the village of Kamennomostsky in the Republic of Adygea:

• Aminovka River gorge;
• Mishoko River gorge;
• doo-doo-Gushi ridge;

• Khadzhokh dolmen;
• Mount Big Thach.

Architecture

Most of the historical and architectural attractions of the republic are located in two major cities Maikop and Adygeisk. In addition to traditional buildings, ancient dolmens scattered throughout this region are of particular interest to tourists in Adygea.

Cathedral Mosque of Maykop

Cathedral Mosque of Maykop

Definitely one of the best architectural sights of Adygea is the main mosque in its capital. A huge building with an azure dome and four minarets was erected in 2000 at the expense of the Arab Sheikh Khalid bin Saqr al-Qasimi. The prince’s main condition for financing was a strict deadline for completing the work - one and a half years.

Did you know? This mosque is very popular among guests of the republic, since entry is free for tourists of other religions.

Mikhail-Athos Trans-Kuban Hermitage

An Orthodox communal monastery on the outskirts of the village of Pobeda, near the city of Maykop. It was built by Hieromonk Martyriy in 1877 with voluntary donations from the Cossacks. IN Soviet years the monastery was closed and its churches were destroyed. Since 2001, the deserts have been transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church, and today the Trinity Church has been completely restored.

Monument "Unity and Harmony"

Memorial complex with an area of ​​more than 100 square meters. m, was opened in 2013. The monument is made in the shape of a classic Adyghe hearth, and it depicts various scenes from the history and legends of this region.

Khadzhokh dolmen

One of the most mysterious architectural monuments in the republic. Scientists still put forward various hypotheses about the origin of dolmens on the territory of Adygea and their purpose.
The Khadzhokh dolmen was founded around III millennium BC, most likely for religious ceremonies. Today it is a cultural monument of Federal significance, and next to it is a museum of paleontology.

Museums

A fairly large number of different museums are open in Adygea that will introduce tourists to the ancient history of this republic.

Giaginsky Museum of Local Lore

This municipal institution in the village of Giaginskaya was founded in 1989, and Polina Petrovna Tynchenko was appointed its director. The first exhibition of the museum was the “Room of Labor and Military Glory”, created with the active participation of WWII veterans.
Today the Giaginsky Museum owns a collection of more than 11,000 items, which are presented in five exhibition halls. In addition to exhibits, there is also a cinema hall and a local archive.

National Museum of the Republic of Adygea

National Museum Republic of Adygea

The main historical and ethnographic museum of the republic is located in its capital - the city of Maykop. Its funds contain more than 270,000 items that introduce tourists to the culture and customs of the peoples who inhabited Adygea.
The most interesting for visitors is the ethnographic collection “Culture and Life of the Circassians late XVIII –early XIX century." It presents a variety of paintings, sculptures, jewelry, weapons, clothing and household items, as well as banners of the Adyghe tribes - Natukhais, Shapsugs, Ubykhs.

Museum of Stones

One of the main attractions of the dendrological park in the village of Goncharka. The museum was founded by the chairman of the collective farm in the 1980s, and its basis was the stones left over from the construction of the road.

Did you know? The village of Goncharka is located just thirty kilometers from Maykop and is very convenient for visiting by tourists staying in the capital.

What to see in Adygea with children

The Republic of Adygea, in addition to traditional attractions, offers a lot of opportunities for family entertainment for every taste. The best solution for tourists visiting this mountainous region with children would be active recreation in one of the natural parks:

• Khadzhokhskaya Gorge on the outskirts of the village of Kamennomostsky;
• Khadzhokh dolmen;
• waterfalls of the Rufabgo River;
• Lago-Naki plateau;

• extreme park "Mishoko";
• rope park "Tethys";
• climbing wall "Sorcerer";
• Big Thach Mountain Park.

Rope park "Tethys"

Fans of quieter entertainment will love it City Park of Culture and Recreation in Maykop or trampoline arena "Freestyle" in New Adygea.

Video review of the sights of the Republic of Adygea

The Republic of Adygea will certainly appeal to fans. And after watching the promotional video we specially selected for you, you will be convinced that Adygea is quite an interesting place.

Perhaps our readers would like to add their favorite places to the list of attractions of the Republic of Adygea? Be sure to share them in the comments!

Do you love mountains? If yes, then you have probably heard about the wonderful mountainous corner of our country called Adygea. On the Black Sea coast they offer excursions to this marvelous region, but still a one-day trip does not give a complete picture of Adygea. After watching beautiful photos After reading the reviews of other tourists, I decided to organize an independent trip to Adygea by car.

A little about Adygea

Adygea is a year-round region, a close neighbor to the Krasnodar region. There is no sea here, but the mountains and mountain rivers delight the eye, which you can study and admire for a very long time. In winter, skiers and lovers of sledding come here; hiking routes, by the way, are also available in winter: waterfalls frozen in ice, observation decks with views of the mountain ranges, and so on. Warm thermal pools are open all year round, so even in winter you can lie in the pool and catch snowflakes in your mouth.

We decided to go to Adygea for the May holidays, since 10 days are just right for driving so far from Moscow by car. Spring in Adygea great time to enjoy the newly awakened nature, flowers and greenery so bright that it’s hard to believe your eyes. Numerous orchards, especially apple ones, had already bloomed before our arrival, so all we could do was imagine how beautiful Adygea is during the flowering period.

Why go to Adygea?

• Enjoy the beauty of the mountains, breathe in the fresh air, take a break from city life, bustle and dust.
• Spend active time covering hiking trails and climbing mountains; find beautiful waterfalls and swimming pools. Or maybe go rafting down a mountain river? Or go off-road on an ATV?
• Improve your health in numerous thermal springs, the mineral water of which is beneficial for the body. In winter it is great to swim in the outdoor hot pool.
• Learn something new about Adyghe people Thanks to the Local History Museum, you can see ancient ammonite mollusks and visit the site of primitive people. There are many dolmens preserved in Adygea, which have kept the secret of their appearance for many centuries.
• And, of course, eat delicious organic food from local farms. Adyghe cuisine is not only famous cheese.

In this review, I will try to systematize all the information collected that helped me prepare for the trip, and I will add my conclusions that I made after visiting Adygea.

Selecting a resort and hotel

To be honest, I knew very little about Adygea. Beautiful nature, Adyghe cheese, waterfalls, Lago-Naki, the capital of the Maikov Republic - that’s all. I started preparing for the trip by finding out which towns there are in Adygea, where it is more profitable to book a hotel.

I would divide the main tourist villages according to the main idea of ​​relaxation in them.

Kamennomostsky or Hadzhokh in the old way can be called the most popular and promoted. There are many guest houses, several hotels, as well as the beautiful mountain river Belaya, Khodzhokh Gorge and Rufabgo waterfalls. A trip to Lago-Naki and Azish Cave also does not take much time. Therefore, for our first trip to Adygea, we chose it so that it would be close to the most popular attractions of the republic.

Close neighbor of Kamennomostsky Tula village. It is also not far from it to get to attractions, but the main feature of the village is the thermal springs. So, if you want a spa holiday, then you can safely choose a hotel with a thermal pool in Tula. By the way, even if you do not live in one of these hotels, you can come to the pool for a fee. Not far from Tula there is the village of Red Bridge, there is a nice hotel with a thermal pool Health resort hotel Lago-Naki .

Another famous tourist village is Guamka. The Guam Gorge made him famous extraordinary beauty, where you can ride a tourist mountain train. We really enjoyed this attraction, despite the wild creaking of the train. There are also waterfalls and observation decks, so you won’t be bored.

Guzeripl and Khamyshki suitable for rafting lovers. It doesn’t matter to beginners; there are plenty of offers for rafting for entertainment purposes - on every pole there is an advertisement with an offer to go through a couple of rapids on a mountain river. But if you are an experienced rafter, I recommend paying attention to these villages, because in their vicinity there is the most dangerous and difficult rapid in all of Adygea, formed at the confluence of two mountain rivers, including the Belaya. Driving past, we were lucky enough to see how two rafts passed this threshold, a fascinating sight!

I especially liked Khamyshki - a picturesque and well-kept village in the mountains, at the foot of the majestic Monk Mountain. There are many neat houses, fields where horses graze, and cafes and restaurants. Very nice place.

IN Dakhovskaya you can stay in a comfortable hotel, Lago-Naki, the cave and the attractions of Kamennomostsky are just a stone's throw away. Dakhovskaya is also famous for its ancient bridge and observation platforms in the mountains, which we, unfortunately, did not get to because the weather, to put it mildly, was not kind and did not encourage us to go to places remote from the road.

In my opinion, staying in Maykop is not particularly interesting, because it is located a bit far from the attractions, and you don’t really want to go to Adygea to live in the city. You can come here to a restaurant (we really liked Aquarius) or to the Local History Museum.

I have listed the main villages, there are even smaller ones, we did not visit them.

So, I chose Kamennomostsky, namely hotel Terem by the river. I liked the photos of the territory, wooden houses, the bank of a mountain river, barbecue gazebos, a swimming pool, a sauna. In my opinion, this is what you need for atmospheric living in the mountains. Overall I liked the hotel, although there are some nuances that, fortunately, did not spoil the holiday; you can read more in my review. -> Review of the Terem Hotel by the River

Hotels with a similar concept in Kamennomostsky.

Rowan beads

Hajok Park

Mountain lavender

Barskaya estate

Belovodye

To diversify my vacation, I decided to choose another hotel. At first I booked Aquathermo, on the territory of which there are houses and a thermal pool, but then I accidentally came across Spa Resort Svyatograd (hotel description) and couldn’t resist. Large new hotel complex, charming houses, large swimming pool, spa center, food, beautiful photos restaurant and territory and, oddly enough, affordable price, about 4 thousand rubles. per house including breakfast and lunch.

This hotel is located at the junction of Adygea and the Krasnodar Territory, so it is better to choose it for recreation, fishing and relaxation, and it is more convenient to travel to attractions, for example, from Kamennomostsky.

Half the job is done, the resort has been chosen, the hotels have been booked, it’s time to move on to exploring the sights of Adygea.

Sights of Adygea

There are a great many attractions in Adygea, so all that remains is to choose and plan a route. Khadzhokh Gorge- a natural miracle, over which observation platforms with a transparent floor were made. The route is about 400 meters, but this is not a road along the river, but several tiers of platforms, on which it is very exciting to stand. I’m not afraid of heights, but the transparent one is always a test for the nerves - on it you feel the power of the river flowing under you and the height at which you stand more than ever. But needless to say, the Khadzhokh testina is very beautiful.

-> Review of visiting the Khadzhokh Gorge

Rufabgo Falls– a pleasant walking route that does not require special physical training. It is easy to walk even with small children. The first four waterfalls are easy to reach; you follow the path, stairs and bridges along the mountain river, enjoying the view. Just take care of closed clothing and tick repellents; we removed one stowaway from his jacket. If you have the strength, you can go further along the unimproved route and find several more waterfalls. We were driven off the path by a thunderstorm and rain, so we turned back. The entrance to the waterfall route is formed by a bridge with another transparent floor across a wide mountain river.
-> Feedback about visiting Rufabgo

Azish Cave– a giant cave that can only be entered as part of a group with a guide. There are a lot of people, so groups gather quickly; for example, we only waited 4 minutes. Dress warmly and get ready to go down to underground kingdom stalactites and other rocks to a depth approximately equal to nine-story building. Near the cave you can ride ATVs, fly along a zip line on a paraglider, or go through an obstacle course in the rope park.
-> Review of the descent into the cave

Parking ancient man – is a museum and a cafe.

Former factory– driving along the road, it seems that you see a castle in the mountains. But this is a former lime burning plant that is now abandoned and left to tourists for photo ops.

Rock garden and dolmen– a museum of ammonites or fossilized mollusks that lived 65 million years ago. There is also a well-preserved dolmen here.
-> More information about visiting the museum and park

Cossack stone– a huge boulder, striking in size alone.

Lago-Naki and observation decks– starting from Dakhovskaya, the road goes up into the mountains and leads to the Lago-Naki plateau. This is a natural ensemble, the main feature of which is the stone sea, on which snow lies almost all year round, drying off the impressions of lambs from the sea waves. Along the road there are observation platforms, which sellers of honey, wine, souvenirs and tea will not allow you to pass. If you see a crowd of merchants, it means there is an observation deck here. I advise you to go in the afternoon, when the sun is behind you, and not to expose your photos.

Mikhalo-Athos Monastery- a man-made landmark, one of the few.

-> Feedback about the visit

Guam Gorge– a picturesque and powerful canyon along which a tourist train runs. The length of the path is 1.7 km one way; along the way, an audio guide tells about the gorge and the history associated with these places. You can walk along the gorge on foot outside of train times. For example, you can arrive late in the evening (around 16-00), ride the last train one way, and walk back, watching the last departing train returning tourists.
-> Impressions from the gorge and mountain train

Guzeripl and the Caucasus Nature Reserve– just a beautiful place with a nature museum, which for some reason reminded me of a biology classroom at school.

Marble Canyon– a gorgeous observation deck on the way to Guzeripl. The Belaya River in all its glory. By the way, on the way to Guzeripl there are several observation platforms, thanks to the honey sellers, you won’t pass by.

Of course, these are not all the attractions of Adygea, just in my opinion, the most interesting.

Excursions and other entertainment in Adygea

The main entertainment for tourists in Adygea are ATV rides, horseback riding, visiting thermal pools, jeeping and rafting. Similar entertainment is offered in more or less large hotels and in all tourist places. There are also numerous billboards along the road.

Rope parks with obstacle courses are also popular in Adygea; they are open in almost all parks and canyons.

We traveled in our jeep, so we somehow avoided such entertainment. But next time we’ll definitely go for a ride on quads. We didn’t dare to go rafting because in May the water in the rivers is icy and the current is very strong due to the rains.

Traveling around Adygea without a car is not particularly convenient, but organized excursions can help out. We have never seen large buses; private excursions in UAZs and other cars are more popular here.

Thermal springs, as I already said, are convenient to visit in Tula, as well as in the village of Yaroslavskaya. The water in them is rich in silicon and other useful microelements that heal the body. Of course, to obtain a therapeutic effect, you need to undergo a course of procedures, and as entertainment, it’s just nice to relax in warm water. Hotel Aquathermo (hotel description) pampers tourists foam parties, however, I myself was not there.

How much time should be allocated for a trip to Adygea?

In general, you can come to Adygea for one day. True, you won’t be able to see much, but you can get by train to Khadzhokh from Krasnodar and visit the Khadzhokh Gorge, Rufabgo waterfalls, Cossack Stone and even go to Lago-Naki.

In 2-3 days you can ride to Guzeripl and Guamka, stopping at observation platforms.

We were in Adygea from May 1 to May 5, of which we spent one day at the hotel, just relaxing fresh air, and the rest of the days we drove along the roads. Rainy weather deprived us of some walking routes, but we still had enough impressions. We spent another 2 days in the village of Yaroslavskaya, which is located at the junction with Adygea, enjoying the hot thermal pool, home-made farm food, frog concerts and the silence between them.

Weather in Adygea in May

The weather in May in Adygea is unpredictable. As local residents said, sometimes in May it is hot, and sometimes it rains. We weren't particularly lucky with the weather; it was hot and sunny only for the first two days. The rest of the time we moved in short bursts when the rain stopped. The air was cool, an average of 15 degrees Celsius. And after our departure, Adygea was covered with a thick layer of hail. So, depending on your luck. One good thing is that even such bad weather could not spoil the impressions of the sights of Adygea; nevertheless, it is beautiful in any weather.

Food in Adygea

Of course, Adyghe cheese! It is tasty and fresh, costs about 700 rubles per kilogram. We bought cheese in Kamennomostsky near the Magnit store there is a tent with good choice cheeses Here at the mini market they took ripe and delicious tomatoes, excellent bread in the store and enjoyed it.

In May you can buy delicious strawberries for 250-350 rubles per basket.

In all the cafes and restaurants we visited, you will definitely be fed with freshly prepared kebab. In general, it seems to me that the whole republic smells of it.

Among the local dishes, we tried fried Adyghe cheese with herbs, beef and lamb soup, and incredibly delicious stewed chicken in sour cream.

Prices depend on the level of the establishment. For example, in the hotel restaurant the prices are almost Moscow. In Belovodye there is a hotel with restaurants in a hunting style with a real fireplace, you also leave the same amount as in an average restaurant in Moscow. But less popular cafes are pleasing with their prices. For example, one day we stopped near a cafe we ​​liked in the mountains and had lunch together for 700 rubles: hot dishes, pancakes, shish kebab and soup. Everything was simply amazing!

In Maykop we were in the Aquarius restaurant, apparently not the cheapest in the city. Huge portions and incredibly delicious food, and the bill came out to only 1,200 rubles, taking into account that we ate hot dishes, soup and fried cheese for two.

So, prices for food in Adygea are different, and, paradoxically, the simpler the place, the tastier the food.

Pancakes with honey and herbal tea are popular as a snack here. This delicious snack can be had at the observation decks, after a painful selection of souvenirs.

There are restaurants and cafes at hotels, in villages, and also along the mountain road. We never even grilled shish kebab ourselves, although the hotels had well-equipped gazebos; it’s too tasty and inexpensive to eat in a cafe.

What to buy and bring?

In addition to standard magnets, plates, figurines of horsemen and similar souvenirs, you can buy more useful and pleasant things in Adygea. We chose a whole package of herbal teas: bath, vitamin, mountain, thyme. I just love these herbs; I drink hot tea in winter and chilled tea in summer.

Of course, at every step you can buy honey from the most different colors and tastes. We took linden and walnuts in honey.

Parents bought socks from sheep wool and warm dog belts.

If you like oriental things, you can find cool souvenir daggers, lamps and jugs.

They also sell sheep rugs, skins, and fur vests. Wine and mead are also available at every turn, but somehow it didn’t suit us.

Roads in Adygea

Surprisingly, the roads in Adygea are almost everywhere of good quality. Firstly, we never got onto the scary serpentine road - all the areas are fenced off, so we don’t have to drive along the cliff and not have to shake.

In some places the roads run along steep cliffs; there is even one place that people called “God Bring It Away” because of the menacing cliff hanging over the road.

In some places there are areas with broken surfaces, but this did not bother us; we passed them at cruising speed.

There are often traffic police cars on the roads who get caught for speeding, so I advise you not to break them.

In general, traveling around Adygea by car is extremely pleasant and safe.

Our journey turned out to be beautiful and eventful, but how could it be otherwise when there is such beauty around?

Let's look at the sights of Adygea. In the neighboring republic they are collected mainly in the Maykop region. There are adventures here for every taste: waterfalls, canyons, mountains, caves. The list of Adygea attractions presented below is only a pitiful part of the variety of beauties that can be seen here.

For convenience, we have divided the attractions of Adygea into several zones. So let's get started.

Interesting places near the village of Kamennomostsky (190 km from Krasnodar):

1. – probably the most famous excursion site in the village of Kamennomostsky. The gorge is a deep picturesque canyon of the Belaya River. The length of the gorge is about 400 meters, the width of the canyon is 6-7 meters, in some places it reaches two meters. Entrance to the excursion site is paid (150 rubles); inside the path is equipped with stairs and handrails, which allows you to safely explore the canyon. There is a zoo on site.

How to get there: The Khadzhokhskaya Gorge is located on the southwestern outskirts of the village. If you drive from Krasnodar, the gorge will be on the right near the end of the village.

Coordinates: N44 17.262 E40 10.47 ().

2. is another beautiful place visited by tourists, but not yet as popular as other attractions of Kamennomostsky. The Aminovka River and the gorge itself were named after the Circassian leader Muhammad Amin, who fought against the tsarist troops during the Caucasian War. There is a legend that before Amin had to retreat, he hid gold in the gorge of the river, which was named by his descendants in his honor. The river has several large and small waterfalls, the most famous among tourists are five of them. The Aminovka River flows from two caves - Dukhan and Saxophone.

How to get there: The path to the gorge begins in the village of Kamennomostsky, where Prirechensky Lane ends. The trail first goes along the Aminovka River, and then it gets lost - then you have to go straight along the riverbed. It is better to wear boots when hiking.

Estimated coordinates(WGS 84): N 44 17.1604; E 40 06.6565 ().

3.Caves Dukhan and Saxophone – the Aminovka River originates in these caves, and streams flow at the bottom of both caves. There is difficulty in determining which cave is Dukhan and which is Saxophone; this question often confuses even experienced tourists. However, the differences between the two caves are clear. Unlike the Saxophone Cave, the Dukhan Cave has a through passage along the underground bed of the river flowing here. There is a waterfall inside the Dukhan cave, which is difficult to overcome during the snowmelt period or during rains. The Saxophone Cave does not have a through passage, although upon entering it you can feel a through flow of air. It got its name from the peculiar sounds emanating from the cave.

How to get there: It is best to get to the caves along the Aminovka riverbed in order to see the waterfalls and the river canyon at the same time. The length of Aminovka is 9.5 km. To visit the cave, you should wear boots and protective suits, as the inside is damp and dirty.

Coordinates: Saxophone 44°15.170’, 40°05.776’, Dukhan 44°15.387’, 40°05.505’ ().

4. Meshoko Gorge (Mishoko) – translated from Adyghe “Bear Corner”. Here, along the bed of the Mishoko River, there are several waterfalls. This place is also known for its ancient human sites.

How to get there: The path to the Meshoko gorge is not difficult to find. We need to get to the place where the Meshoko River flows into the Belaya. This happens under a highway, so you have to be very careful when crossing the highway. In front of the river there is a small pine forest, in the spring it is not difficult to notice; it stands out perfectly green against the background of bald trees. I think in the summer you can also tell the difference. A small path leads into this forest. A little higher the path splits, one path leads down to the river, the other up to the rocks. To get to the grottoes of ancient man and get onto the path, you need to go up. However, there are many waterfalls down the riverbed.

Coordinates: N44 16.62 E40 11.634 ().

5. Khadzhok quarry – Selenite, yellow-white gypsum, limestone, and small calcite crystals were once mined here. At the bottom of the Khadzhokhsky quarry, Lake Krasnoye was formed from spring springs. They called it that for the specific pinkish glow from the rock. Not far from the Khadzhokhsky quarry there are old lime kilns, located at the exit from the village of Kamennomostsky in the direction of Guzeripl. Once limestone was burned in the factory's kilns; now all that remains of the factory are ruins and a few pipes. Now enterprising restaurateurs have turned the remains of the plant into a café in the shape of a castle.

How to get there: The quarry with the lake is located immediately at the exit from the village of Kamennomostsky behind the “castle”.

Coordinates: N44 17.016 E40 10.716 ().

6. – a very popular place among tourists. Vacationers are brought here by bus. Entrance to the territory of the Rufabgo park is paid - 150 rubles. There are about 10 waterfalls on the river, but most tourists can only see the first 4; the rest are reached by an unequipped trail.

How to get there: the beginning of the route to the waterfalls can be seen on the way from Kamennomostsky to Dakhovskaya. There are several advertising banners hanging here, so it’s hard to miss.

Coordinates: N44 16.152 E40 11.052 ().

7. Devil's finger rock – a popular place among tourists on the Una-Koz ridge, located near the village of Dakhovskaya.

How to get there: The route to the Devil's Finger rock starts from the old bridge of the village of Dakhovskaya. The path leads up along the Dakh stream. There is only one fork on the way; here you need to take a left. Gradually, the ascent of the path becomes steeper, and the boulders found on it become larger and larger. Through the dense crowns of trees you can see the rock, which means that half of the path has already been covered. Going around a gigantic boulder, the path leads directly to a rock formation, in the recesses of which you can take a break, look around and relax. Then the path winds along the rock and soon leads to the Devil's Arch. Not far from the arch there is a cave where children and small adults can freely go. There are several more caves along the way. Studying them, archaeologists found sites of ancient man. Further, the path, going around the grotto-dip, leads to the very top of the rock, to the Devil's finger. Under the Devil's Finger rock there is a clearing where tourists stop.

Coordinates: N44 14.352 E40 14.238 ().

Sights of Adygea near the village of Pobeda (200 km from Krasnodar):

1. - in late XIX was the largest monastery in the northern Caucasus. The monastery was founded by immigrants from Mount Athos and is the highest mountain monastery in Russia. The monastery has its own website - http://mihailov-monastir.narod.ru/.

How to get there: Republic of Adygea, Maykop district, village. Pobeda, p/o Vesely, st. Rodnikovaya, 5.

2. – they say that the Bogatyrskoye Polyana tract got its name from the Russians who settled here after the Caucasian War. They believed that the dolmens, located in large numbers in the clearing, were built by heroes, since only very strong people are capable of lifting such weights.

How to get there: Bogatyrskaya Polyana is located between the Belaya and Fars rivers, between the villages of Novosvobodnaya and Abadzekhskaya. Largest quantity Bogatyrsky dolmens are concentrated in the eastern part of the gentle ridge.

Coordinates: 44°25’2″N 40°20’44″E ().

3. - the left tributary of the Laba River, which flows through the Krasnodar Territory and Adygea. The length of the river is more than 190 kilometers. In the upper reaches of Fars, traces of the “Turkish Wall” have been preserved, where during the Caucasian War there was a line of defense of the Circassians. In the river valley there is the famous Bogatyrskaya glade, on which there are megalithic buildings - dolmens.

How to get there: A path leads from the Romantika camp site to the valley of the Fars River; it passes through glades where monastic vineyards once grew and there were vegetable greenhouses. The entrance to the Fars River canyon starts from two springs flowing from the rocky shore and continues along a monolithic stone bed to high white cliffs. The path along the river is soon blocked by the first waterfall. Having walked along the river bed to the second waterfall, we come out to giant boulders piled on top of each other. Directly above them is a large overhanging grotto, capable of sheltering an entire flock of sheep from the weather. (based on the works of I.V. Bormotov).

Coordinates of the camp site "Romantika": 44°17’27″N 40°19’3″E ().

4. - an excellent vantage point. From here there are views of the mountains of the Main Caucasus Range. The Skull Grotto really does look like a skull; you can spend the night in one of the “eye sockets”.

How to get there: The path to the Galkin rock starts from the monastery in the village of Pobeda. The track and route map can be viewed.

Coordinates: 44°14’56″N 40°21’32″E ().

Interesting places in the vicinity of Dakhovskaya and Novoprokhladny (about 200 km from Krasnodar):

1. - In 1906, a stone bridge was erected across the Dakh River by the Cossacks of the Second Urup Regiment. During the construction of the Dakhovsky Bridge, the Cossacks were helped by the local church and residents of the village of Dakhovskaya. To give strength to the bridge over the Dakh, egg white was added to the solution holding the stones together. Perhaps this is why the Dakhovsky Bridge has survived to this day and can even withstand the cars that drive across it. However, in order to preserve the landmark, a modern road bridge was built nearby.

How to get there: The bridge is clearly visible when entering the village.

Coordinates: N44 14.214 E40 12.324

2. - the entrance to the Dakhovskaya cave is low, only 70 centimeters; a long 20-meter corridor stretches from the entrance, behind which there is a hall about 50 meters long. It is followed by a second hall, where stalactites grow on the vaults of the cave.

How to get there: The path starts on the right behind the Dakhovsky Bridge, and almost immediately it goes up the mountain. Gradually it reaches a rocky wall, then you should go along the wall. You can watch a good video report.

Coordinates: N 44 14.3542; E 40 13.1572 ().

3. Valley and waterfalls of the Sakhray River - There are more than ten picturesque waterfalls and spillways on the Sakhray River. The most popular and visited waterfall of the Sakhray River is the Razlom waterfall, which is located 6 km from the village of Ust-Sakhray along the road going upstream of the Sakhray River. A little lower is the Troinoy waterfall. Height above sea level 533m. Particular places of attraction for tourists are the four canyons of the Sakhray River. Canyon "Bam", second canyon, canyon "Mayorshino", canyon "Mankin noise".

How to get there: Waterfalls and canyons of the Sakhray River are located south of the village of Ust-Sakhray in the gorge of the Sakhray River.

Coordinates: N44 10.476 E40 17.988 ().

4. - on the Syuk River, which flows into the Belaya, there are many large and small waterfalls.

How to get there: from the village of Nikel (the “Mountain Village” camp site) you need to move up the river. The most famous waterfall is located not far from the barite mine.

Nikel village coordinates:N44 10.692 E40 9.282 ().

Barite mine coordinates: 44°9’11″N 40°10’53″E ().

5. Adits in the village of Nikel - began to be developed in the 1960-1970s in two stages. Initially, the search for uranium began, and later for barite. After more convenient and promising deposits of these minerals were discovered in the USSR, the Nickel adits in Adygea were sealed, and mineral extraction ceased. According to various estimates, there are about 20 mines here.

How to get there: The route to the adits of Nikel begins behind the tourist base “Mountain Village” (part of it is located on the territory of the abandoned village of Nikel). A convenient trail begins immediately outside the camp site; it constantly gains altitude and traverses. During the climb, you can see a rather curious tree, located on a large 2-meter boulder. After a few kilometers the trail crosses the Syuk stream, next to which there is a small waterfall. The trail continues to climb and climbs steeply. Further, the trail goes along the edge of the ravine, as it moves its depth increases. As you climb, you should follow the main trail, because it has many small branches. The trail approaches a tourist site with fire pits. From the parking lot the movement continues upward. The most visited adit is located 10-15 minutes walk from the tourist parking lot. It is quite long and has many branches. A small stream flows out of it, which is why you feel very damp when entering the adit ().

Nikel village coordinates: N44 10.692 E40 9.282 ().

Barite mine coordinates: 44°9’11″N 40°10’53″E ().

Sights of Adygea in the vicinity of the village of Khamyshki (about 220 km from Krasnodar):

1. Granite Gorge - the length of the gorge is approximately 4 km, depth – 200 meters. Special attention You will be attracted by the walls of the Granite Gorge, painted by nature itself in a fiery red color.

How to get there: The gorge is located on the way from the village of Dakhovskaya to Khamyshki, the road passes right through the gorge.

Coordinates of the middle of the gorge: N 44 09.7694; E 40 07.7960 ().

2. Mount Trident - located near the village of Khamyshki, in Adygea. The mountain consists of three peaks almost identical in height; its shape really resembles a trident. There are many beautiful legends about the mountain among the people. One of them says that in ancient times, when the mountains of Adygea were still washed by the waters of the Tethys Ocean, Neptune came ashore, sea ​​king, and he was struck by the beauty, wealth and grandeur of these places. The beauty of this region so struck the sea king that in delight he stuck his trident into the shore, confirming that this place was the most beautiful in his kingdom.

How to get there: The trail to Mount Trident begins from Blockhouse Glade, from the village of Khamyshki. Then it goes about two hundred meters deep, after which, barely noticeable, it rises to a spur. The climb to the top with an established triangulation point and an altitude of 1050 meters will take only about an hour, the path to the triangulation point is quite steep, so you should be careful when climbing. You can watch a good video report.

Coordinates: N 44 09.1498; E 40 07.6179 ().

3. Blockhouse Glade - during the Caucasian War, there was a redoubt in the clearing. This is where the name of the area came from, because the officers of the tsarist army called the blockhouse the fortified redoubt in which they lived and defended themselves.

How to get there: the clearing is located on left side of the Belaya River, not far from the spring, just behind the bridge that connects both banks of the Belaya River near the village of Khamyshki.

Coordinates: 44°8’43″N 40°7’27″E ().

4. Mount Monk- according to legend, real monks used to live in the caves and grottoes of Mount Monk. They lived aloofly and practically did not interact with people from the mountain village at the foot. But one monk fell in love with a girl from the village, and she reciprocated his love. As punishment for having an affair with their fellow villager, the highlanders punished the monk - they forced him to carve his face in the rock as an edification to his descendants. From the Khamyshek side, the rock really resembles a gloomy face.

How to get there: The mountain is located immediately at the entrance to the village of Khamyshki. The path to the top of the mountain is located immediately at its foot. The path climbs steeply and after an hour leads to the rocky ledges of the peak. Video report.

Coordinates: 44°7’6″N 40°6’45″E ().

5. Waterfalls of the Kutanki River and Martian Cave - the Kutanka River flows through the village of Khamyshki, it originates on Mount Monk. On the slopes of the ridge near the river there is an interesting cave; many tourists mistakenly call it the Jolas cave, although according to the descriptions of local historians, the cave of the doctor Jolas, who hid wounded soldiers in the forest during the war, is located in a completely different place.

How to get there: The path to the Kutanki waterfalls begins in the same place as the path to the top of Mount Monk, only it does not go up the mountain, but to the left into the forest. Then it goes along the riverbed, and soon the first waterfalls are encountered on the way. If you climb up the path, you can find an interesting sandy cave. Video report.

Coordinates: 44°7’10″N 40°6’3″E ().

6. - owes its name and popularity to a huge tectonic crack. For many thousands of years, the Bzdykha River exposed and polished the Raskol rock. But one day an earthquake occurred and a huge split formed in the mountain mass. The width of the crack is from 2 to 8 meters, the height of the sides reaches hundreds of meters. This is a kind of canyon, only of tectonic origin.

How to get there: The path starts from the village of Khamyshki. Here, over the Bzykha River, there is an old road that gradually turns into a path. The report on the trip to Raskoo can be viewed.

Coordinates: N 44 05.8775; E 40 04.1255 ().

Interesting places on the Lago-Naki plateau (about 230 km from Krasnodar):

1. - located in the southern part of the Azish-Tau mountain range at an altitude of 1600 meters. Geographically located in Krasnodar region, but not far from the border with Adygea.

How to get there: this is not difficult to do, the cave is located next to the road that leads from Kamennomostsky to the Lago-Naki plateau. There are many signs near the cave, and there are excursion buses parked here almost at any time.

Coordinates: N44 7.284 E40 1.734 ().

2. Small Azish Cave - Fifty meters from the Big Azish Cave there is the Small Azish Cave. It reaches 66 meters in length, its volume is 118 m3, and its amplitude is 14 meters.

3. Tender Cave - the cave got its name due to its relatively young vault. The age of the cave ranges from 2-2.5 million years, but the vault of the cave is much younger - it is only 20-30 thousand years old. How is this possible? It’s simple: movements of the earth’s crust are not uncommon in the cave, and as a result of one of them, the roof collapsed. Now in the cave, along with ancient stalactites reaching a height of 1.5 meters, and the equally ancient floor, delicate and fairly young stalactites are formed.

How to get there: 21 km of the Lago-Naki - Maykop highway.

Coordinates: N44 9.042 E40 4.062 ().

4. Ozernaya Cave - Due to its karst origin, the cave has many stalagmites and stalactites. The entrance to the cave is small, arched, which makes it seem that the cave is small, but it seems so only at first glance.

How to get there: The path leading to it starts at the Ministry of Emergency Situations base and runs along one of the ski lifts. The path along the right ski lift is much shorter, but if you go along the left one you can admire the panoramas of the mountains and the silhouettes of fancy trees growing on the edge of the cliff. Passing over a coniferous forest, the trail disappears below into a gap in the rock wall, and the upcoming turn of the trail is indicated by a red arrow drawn on a high piece of a stump. After the turn, the path returns back under the steep cliff and you are at the cave.

Coordinates: N44 4.986 E40 1.128 ().

5. Hiking routes to the reserve - from the Lago-Naki cardon at the very end highway routes to the Caucasian Nature Reserve begin. There are both one-day and multi-day options for walking around the reserve. The cost of visiting is 150 rubles for each day spent on the territory of the reserve. Read more about routes in next issues materials on the Wild Cat website.