Beautiful places of Adygea. Journey to the mountainous Adygea

This format is new to me, so I decided to practice, so to speak, on my own🙂. My guests today are the Bondarenko family from Taganrog, Rita and Sergey, my sister and my son-in-law. Just like us, they don't like very much beach holiday. They prefer to be active. Recently they visited Adygea - an amazing place in terms of the variety of natural attractions: mountains, lakes, rivers, waterfalls. Here is a real paradise for lovers of one-day and multi-day trips. And for those who just love nature.

Why exactly Adygea?

Rita: Because Adygea is mountains, beautiful landscapes, fresh air, space, not a tiring road, and because we have never been there, and new places are always tempting and interesting!

How, where did you choose and book accommodation? Was there any disappointment?

Rita: On the Internet, they looked at guest houses in the village. Kamennomostsky, since it is from here that all popular tourist routes begin. Stopped at guest house "Terem by the river" where we booked a room with a river view. Upon arrival, they were not disappointed, as the interiors completely coincided with the photo on their official website. The only downside was that there was a little water leaking in the shower. But, this did not upset us at all - two light movements with a cloth and ... everything is wonderful 🙂.

How did you get there?

Rita: From Rostov by train about 10 hours to Belorechensk, and from there about two hours by train to the village itself. By the way, it is a big plus that the village has a railway station. You can walk from it, but it’s hard to get up with things, so we took a private taxi.

Did you plan ahead for places to visit?

Sergey: We wanted to see as much as possible. They dreamed of seeing the Lago-Naki plateau, the Rufabgo waterfalls, the Khadzhokh gorge, and the Skvoznaya cave. Climb the Una-Koz mountain range to the famous Devil's Finger rock.

What did you end up seeing, where did you go? Do you need some kind of physical preparation for such trips?

Sergey: In principle, almost everyone saw what was planned for the time that we had. Yes, some hikes require a person to be a little friendly with sports. Most of these people come because they go specifically for hiking in the mountains. But all sorts of tourists come across. Our guide Ruslan told us a funny story. He brought a group of vacationers, and they had to walk to the observation deck. Very little. But they refused and preferred to go back. He was somewhat puzzled by this behavior, he had never had such a case before.

Do I need to take a guide or can I see everything myself?

Rita: Our guest house was geographically well located, therefore, we visited many places on our own using the map and signs.

But there are quite remote and difficult routes. It is better to get to such places with a guide. The administrator of our guest house told us how to contact Ruslan. We were very lucky with him, he turned out to be a very pleasant and positive person. On his jeep, we reached the base, and from there on foot.

So we climbed to the rock Devil's finger. We got there about six hours. First by car, then on foot. The road through the forest is very beautiful, but not easy. Because it's always uphill.

But it's worth it. The views are magnificent. Photos do not convey this beauty and feeling of spaciousness.

Mount Devil's finger height 1900 m

Also, the guide willingly gave us advice for independent routes. For example, you can get to the Rufabgo waterfalls through a toll bridge, or you can follow the path along the banks of the Belaya River from the Khadzhokh gorge. Which is what we did.

It was easy and pleasant to walk, the sun was shining, the birds were singing. When we had already seen four waterfalls, it turned out that the rest can only be reached through a mountain stream. Let's go wade. The water is ice cold. On the way back, I couldn't bring myself to do it again. We began to look for a crossing, found a log. Despite the fact that it was quite large, but it is round. Scary😧. So I sat on my ass and crawled, crawled. And so I moved on.

Sergey: But it is difficult to get to some waterfalls on our own, so we went there with a guide. We drove to the parking lot by car, and then walked. By the way, some sections of the path were quite dangerous, just narrow paths over the abyss.

Rita: An excursion train runs to the Guam Gorge. But you can't see everything from the train. Therefore, we chose a day when the train rested from excursions, and went there with a conductor. We left the car and went to explore the gorge on foot. It is beautiful there! You walk, rocks are above you, narrow crevices stretch far into the distance, the sun shines, reflecting in the river and on the trees, silence ... It’s easy to go, not uphill. You can go down to the forest, have a picnic there.

What is the attitude of locals towards tourists?

Rita: Quite rosy. The people there are hospitable.

How do you like Adyghe cuisine? Did you like it?

Rita: We had a great cafe nearby. Very tasty baked in the village Ossetian pies. We also tried cheese dishes (they fried it), I love cheese. In general, everything we tried was very tasty.

What would you change in your planning if you went now?

Rita: Yes, nothing special. We would like to go where we have not been. And there are still many such places in Adygea. Unfortunately, we could not get to the Fisht pass, as the road was heavily iced over. So there is a reason to come here again.

And what can you advise to those who are going to Adygea for the first time?

Sergey: Bring comfortable hiking clothes, especially shoes. And, probably, it is better to go in May or summer. Because in early April it is still cold and there are rains and snow. On Lago-Naki, we were almost blown into the abyss from the top. The wind was furious.

Rita: Well, take it with you good mood! It is most important!

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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 on fire, people slept off after the New Year's Eve. Only in the distance it sparkled with a scattering of lights. station, which was the goal of the night runners. They needed to get there as soon as possible, they were late for the train. But the snow underfoot and heavy bags in the hands prevented the run. Their hearts were pounding, their eyes were sweating, but the thought that the train would show them the tail forced the body 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 to the taxi service.
This is how our New Year's trip to Adygea.

How to get to Adygea and where to live

On this trip, we were again horseless and surrendered to the mercy of Russian Railways. To be honest, in Adygea, in a good way, it is very convenient to drive your own car. In this case, you will find almost unlimited opportunities for exploring local attractions. If in Sochi we did not feel the absence of a car due to the well-developed infrastructure, then in Adygea this is a complete sadness. Therefore, taxi drivers help us.

As a place of residence village of Kamennomostsky 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 10 minutes walk from the Khadzhokh gorge.

In our housing there were certain disadvantages of a domestic nature, but the undeniable advantage was a very good location and friendly hosts.

The main attractions of Adygea in winter

1. Khadzhokh gorge

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

To date, 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 quite adequate. In addition, according to the 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, her visit was postponed until later. As a result, we had a chance to walk in the rain, and the water at the bottom of the gorge lost its blue hue, turning into a dirty brown stream.

The route is quite long, crossing the bridges you can see the Khadzhokh gorge from all sides. Along the way you will definitely meet locals: bear Timofey, who for some reason did not hibernate, but cheerfully waddled around the territory, she-wolves, fox, chickens, raccoon.

In places, the high stone walls were adorned with hanging icicles. The icy fringe gave elegance to the gorge.

Upon reaching the last observation deck, you will see a bizarre stone bridge and arches. Finally, having overcome all obstacles, Belaya breaks free at breakneck speed.

Near the gorge there is a small but very worthy cafe of the same name. They cook excellent kebabs and meat. There are not so hot with eateries in the area, so from time to time we had a bite to eat at Tesnin with pleasure.

2. Rufabgo Falls

The gorge of the Rufabgo River is unusually picturesque and very popular with travelers not only for its beautiful landscapes, but mainly for the fact that a considerable number of waterfalls can be found here. Each of them is good in its own way and not like the others. The names are so sonorous that they immediately involuntarily arise vivid images: Noise, Cup of Love, Heart of Rufabgo, Maiden Scythe, Cascading.
We were lucky enough to walk to the waterfalls in a twenty-degree frost along the hiking trail along the Belaya River. Everything inside was trembling snow fairy tale that 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 icy waterfalls, inside which crystal water beat like an artery.

An amazing, unforgettable sight. About our adventures and how to get to the Rufabgo waterfalls, I will definitely tell you in detail in a separate post.

3. Lago-Naki Plateau

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

Visit the equipped caves Azishskaya and Nezhnaya. As well as many "wild" smaller caves.

Fall into childhood and enjoy from the heart all possible winter entertainment from cheesecakes to snow bananas.

Leaving the soulless technique, transfer to a live horse and ride through the Adyghe expanses. And after all, drink hot tea with mountain herbs mixed with mountain honey.

4. Extreme parks

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

Pointer to "Mishoko" It was right next to our guest house. Therefore, you can easily get to them on foot, walking along an abandoned quarry. And God himself ordered us to experience exciting rides for ourselves, because. literally on New Year's Eve in the 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 an unforgettable via ferrata, we walked along the Mishoko gorge itself, and enjoyed the horseback ride. Of course, all these adventures require a separate story.

To rope park "TETIS" getting a little harder. They are located on the top of the Una-Koz ridge. There are several options to go up:

• Walking along the tourist trail from the old bridge in the village of Dakhovskaya. With good weather, I think the walk will be quite a pleasure.
• You can order a transfer on one of the SUVs of the park itself. You will be taken with the breeze along the mountain paths.
• And we chose the last of the possible ones, climbed the only Savran cable car in the Republic of Adygea.

Ticket price for January 2016: adult - 500 rubles, children - 200 rubles.

Having risen on the cable car, you will immediately be met by a bunch of signs. Having decided on the direction, you can meet:
the site of a primitive man with picturesque holes in the rock and a well-equipped hearth.

Cave "Dakhovskaya" and "Dusty". And strictly following the signs, you will go straight to the TETIS park.

Having overcome about 1.5 kilometers from the park along the hiking 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 vaults 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 Athos Monastery

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 this day is Christmas, a trip here will acquire a special blissful coloration.
It was this blissful, peaceful state that I experienced all the time while we were within the walls of the monastery, listening to Christmas stories, eating monastery pancakes, drinking fragrant herbal tea, deep underground, touching the miraculous cross, drinking healing water from the source and ringing the bells three times.

Coming out of the locker room, however, is not hot at all. Luckily, the thermometer already showed +6 °C that day. But what bliss 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 warm waters with a specific smell, I felt an indescribable relaxation, every cell of the body was completely relaxed.

It's so nice that I didn't want to get out at all. From time to time, jets of water were turned on, standing under which one could feel all the delights of hydromassage.
But don't go 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 keep you waiting, 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 "Garden of Stones". Interesting finds were brought there, including ancient ammonites. One of them lies on the road to the Hadzhokh dolmen.

Khadzhokhsky 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 unsuccessful, instead we found the picturesque bank of the Belaya River.

Cossack stone, which you definitely will not pass by when going to Lago-Naki.

And they live here wonderful people who sincerely love their motherland. Local residents are happy to talk about the sights and beauties of Adygea, about unusual places and natural monuments of the republic.

This is how Adygea is: hospitable and surprisingly beautiful.

Do you love mountains? If yes, then you have probably heard about a wonderful mountainous corner of our country called Adygea. On Black Sea coast offer excursions to this marvelous land, but still a day trip does not give a complete picture of Adygea. After looking beautiful pictures 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 of the Krasnodar Territory. There is no sea here, but mountains and mountain rivers delight the eye, which can be studied and admired for a very long time. In winter, skiers and sledding enthusiasts come here, hiking trails, by the way, are also available in winter: waterfalls frozen in ice, viewing platforms overlooking mountain ranges, and so on. Warm thermal pools 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 May holidays, since 10 days is just right for driving so far from Moscow by car. Spring in Adygea is a great time to enjoy the freshly awakened nature, flowers and greenery so bright that it's hard to believe your eyes. Numerous orchards, especially apple ones, had already blossomed by our arrival, so we only had to imagine how beautiful Adygea was 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.
• Actively spend time overcoming hiking trails, climbing mountains; find beautiful waterfalls and fonts. Or maybe rafting down a mountain river? Or go on a quad bike on mountain off-road?
• Improve your health in numerous thermal springs, mineral water which are beneficial to the body. In winter it is very cool to swim in the outdoor hot pool.
• Learn something new about the Adyghe people thanks to the Museum of Local Lore, see the ancient ammonite mollusks and visit the site of the primitive people. A lot of dolmens have been preserved in Adygea, which have kept the secret of their appearance for many centuries.
• And, of course, 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 add my conclusions that I made while visiting Adygea.

Choosing 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 what 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 ​​\u200b\u200brest in them.

Kamennomostsky or Khadzhokh in the old way can be called the most popular and promoted. There are many guest houses, several hotels, as well as the beautiful Belaya mountain river, the Khodzhokh gorge and the Rufabgo waterfalls. A trip to Lago-Naki and the Azish cave will also not take long. Therefore, for a trip to Adygea for the first time, we chose it to be close to the most popular sights of the republic.

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

Another well-known tourist village - Guamka. The Guam Gorge glorified him extraordinary beauty, where you can ride on a tourist mountain train. We really liked this attraction, despite the wild creak of the train. There are also waterfalls, viewing platforms, so you won’t be bored.

Guzeripl and Khamyshki suitable for rafting enthusiasts. For beginners, it doesn’t matter, there are a lot of offers of alloys for entertainment purposes - an advertisement hangs on each pole with a proposal to pass a couple of rapids on a mountain river. But if you are an experienced rafter, then I recommend paying attention to these villages, because in their vicinity there is the most dangerous and difficult threshold in all of Adygea, formed at the confluence of two mountain rivers, including the Belaya. Passing by, we were lucky to see how two rafts passed this threshold, a mesmerizing sight!

I especially liked Khamyshki - a picturesque and well-groomed village in the mountains, at the foot of the majestic Mount Monk. There are many neat houses, fields where horses graze, there are cafes and restaurants. A very pleasant place.

IN Dakhovskaya you can stay in a comfortable hotel, Lago-Naki, the cave and the sights of Kamennomostsky are within easy reach. Dakhovskaya is also famous for its ancient bridge and observation decks in the mountains, which, unfortunately, we did not reach, because the weather, to put it mildly, did not indulge and did not encourage us to go to places remote from the road.

In Maykop, in my opinion, it is not particularly interesting to stay, because it is far from the sights, and I don’t feel like going to Adygea to live in the city. You can come here to a restaurant (we really liked Aquarius) or to the Museum of Local Lore.

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

So, I opted for Kamennomostsky, namely hotel Terem near the river. I liked the photos of the territory, wooden houses, the bank of a mountain river, barbecue pavilions, a swimming pool, a sauna. In my opinion, what you need for atmospheric living in the mountains. I liked the hotel as a whole, although there are nuances that, fortunately, did not spoil the rest, you can read more in my review. -> Review of Terem by the river

Similar in concept hotels in Kamennomostsky.

rowan beads

Hajok Park

mountain lavender

manor estate

Belovodie

To diversify the rest, 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 stumbled upon Spa Resort Svyatograd (hotel description) and could not resist. Large new hotel complex, charming houses, large swimming pool, spa, catering, beautiful photos restaurant and territory and, oddly enough, an affordable price, about 4 thousand rubles. per cabin with breakfast and lunch.

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

Half the work is done, the resort is selected, the hotels are booked, it's time to move on to exploring the sights of Adygea.

Sights of Adygea

There are a lot of sights in Adygea, so it remains only to choose and plan a route. Khadzhokh gorge – natural wonder, over which they made viewing platforms with a transparent floor. The route is about 400 meters, but this is not a road along the river, but several tiers of platforms, which are very exciting to stand on. I'm not afraid of heights, but the transparent one is always a test for the nerves - it feels like never before the power of the river flowing under you and the height at which you stand. But what can I say, Khadzhokh testina is very beautiful.

-> Feedback on visiting the Khadzhokh gorge

Rufabgo waterfalls- 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 walk along the path, ladders and bridges along the mountain stream, enjoy the view. Just take care of closed clothes and ticks, we took one stowaway out of his jacket. If you have the strength, you can go further along the unennobled route and find a few more waterfalls. We were driven out of the way by thunder and rain, so we turned back. The entrance to the waterfall route is decorated with a bridge with another transparent floor across a wide mountain river.
-> Feedback about visiting Rufabgo

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

An ancient man's site- 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, which is now abandoned and provided to tourists for photo shoots.

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

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

Lago-Naki and viewing platforms- 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, giving the impression of a lamb from the sea waves. Along the way, there are observation platforms, which sellers of honey, wine, souvenirs and tea will not allow you to drive through. If you see a cluster of merchants, then there is an observation deck here. I advise you to go in the afternoon, when the sun is behind you, and not to light up the photos.

Michael Athos Monastery- man-made attraction, one of the few.

-> Review of 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 the audio guide tells about the gorge and the history associated with these places. You can walk along the gorge outside the time of the train. For example, you can arrive in the late afternoon (at about 4:00 pm), ride the last train one way, and go back on foot, watching the last departing train returning tourists.
-> Gorge and mountain train impressions

marble canyon- a chic observation deck on the way to Guzeripl. The White River in all its glory. By the way, on the way to Guzeripl there are several viewing platforms, thanks to the honey sellers, you will not pass by.

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

Excursions and other entertainment in Adygea

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

Also popular in Adygea are rope parks with an obstacle course; they are open in almost all parks and canyons.

We traveled in our jeep, so somehow such entertainment was bypassed. But next time we will definitely ride on quadrics. They did not dare to raft, because in May the water in the rivers is icy, and the current is very strong due to rains.

It is not very convenient to travel around Adygea without a car, but organized excursions can help out. We have never met large buses; private excursions on UAZs and other cars are more popular here.

Thermal springs, as I 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 trace elements that heal the body. Of course, to obtain a therapeutic effect, you need to undergo a course of procedures, and as an entertainment, it’s just nice to relax in warm water. Hotel Aquathermo (hotel description) pampers tourists with foam parties, however, I myself have not been to them.

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

In general, you can come to Adygea for one day. True, you can’t 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 the observation decks.

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

Weather in Adygea for May

The weather in May in Adygea is unpredictable. As the locals said, sometimes it is hot in May, and sometimes it rains. We were not particularly lucky with the weather, the heat and the sun were only the first two days. The rest of the time we moved in short dashes at the moments when the rain stopped. The air was cool, averaging 15 degrees. And after our departure, Adygea was covered with a thick layer of hail. So, how lucky. One thing pleases, that even such bad weather could not spoil the impressions of the sights of Adygea, yet 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 a good selection of cheeses. Here, in the mini market, they took ripe and tasty tomatoes, excellent bread in the store and enjoyed it.

In May, you can buy delicious strawberries at a price of 250-350 rubles per basket.

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

Of the local dishes, we tried fried Adyghe cheese with greens, beef and lamb soup, as well as insanely delicious stewed chicken in sour cream.

Prices depend on the level of the institution. For example, in a restaurant at a hotel, prices are almost Moscow. In Belovodie - a hotel with hunting-style restaurants with a real fireplace, you also leave the amount as in an average restaurant in Moscow. But less hyped cafes please with prices. For example, once we stopped near a cafe in the mountains that we liked and had lunch together for 700 rubles: hot, pancakes, shish kebab and soup. Everything was just amazing!

In Maykop, we were in the Aquarius restaurant, apparently not the cheapest in the city. Giant portions and crazy tasty food, and the bill came out for only 1200 rubles, given that we ate hot, soup and fried cheese for two.

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

As a snack, pancakes with honey and herbal tea are popular here. Such a delicious snack can be made on the observation decks, after a painful choice of souvenirs.

There are restaurants and cafes at hotels, in villages, as well as along the mountain road. We never even fried a shish kebab ourselves, although the hotels had comfortable pavilions, it was painfully 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, in Adygea you can buy more useful and pleasant things. We chose a whole package of herbal teas: bath, vitamin, mountain, thyme. I just adore such herbs, I drink hot tea in winter, and chilled in summer.

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

They bought socks made of sheep's wool and warm dog belts for their parents.

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

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

Roads in Adygea

Surprisingly, roads in Adygea are almost everywhere of good quality. Firstly, we never got on a terrible serpentine - all sections are fenced, you won’t have to go along the cliff and shake.

In some places, the roads run along steep cliffs, there is even one place that the people called “God carry it” because of the menacingly overhanging rock above the road.

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

Traffic police cars are often found on the roads, they are caught for speeding, so I advise you not to violate.

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?

A report on a trip by car from Stavropol to Adygea - to the city of Maikop and to the Rufabgo waterfalls. Photos, impressions and prices.

Foreword

Exploring the beauty of our vast country, I visited its most diverse and remote corners. I myself live in the south of the country, so all nearby attractions, including seaside resorts, have been explored up and down. But many do not know that the south is not only the sea. The south of Russia is also the mountainous Caucasus, and this year I decided to explore the nature and landscapes of the highlands, and therefore went to Adygea.

I was inspired to travel by the reviews of friends and acquaintances about the majestic mountains, caves and waterfalls of Adygea. Since this is practically a neighboring region of Stavropol, offhand I figured that the road would not be long. Despite this, it was decided in advance on the website to calculate the mileage and the amount of fuel that will be spent on the road. I decided to stay in Maikop, the capital of Adygeya, so I booked a room on Booking.com in advance in one of the best hotels in the city (according to reviews) - "Bibe".

Road and accommodation

Having calculated the route and gas consumption in advance, I refueled the tank for 500 rubles and found a fellow traveler through who paid me these 500 rubles. As a result, the ride is not boring, and the money is saved. I planned my trip for two days, from June 21 to 23. I didn’t know exactly how much I would have to travel around the area, so I took 5 thousand rubles in reserve for the road and any problems associated with the car.

June 21 at 9 am I left Stavropol with my companion. The day was a weekday, so the track was almost empty. As planned, we arrived in 4 and a half hours. On the way we stopped for a bite to eat in Armavir, just half way to Maykop. Several times we were stopped by traffic police to check documents. The largest post is located on the border of the Stavropol Territory and Krasnodar, it is definitely not to be avoided, and the second time we encountered law enforcement officers on the border of the Krasnodar Territory and Adygea. Fortunately, no violations were noticed behind us, so there were no problems. We arrived at the place at half past two in the afternoon, I drove my fellow traveler to the desired address, and I myself went to the booked hotel.

Hotel "Biba" in the building of the Maykop brewery

"Biba" is located in an old pre-revolutionary building of the brewery, which is still functioning and produces the famous Maykop beer, known far beyond the borders of Adygea. On the territory of the hotel, in addition to the factory, there is a patio under an open roof and a beer restaurant "1882", where you can taste freshly brewed beer and branded snacks.

Usually I spend money quite economically when traveling, but this time I decided to allow myself a little chic - I booked a luxurious European-style room for 3,900 rubles a day in Beeba with a huge double bed. Although it is called "standard", any "suite" can give a head start: spacious, like an entire apartment, equipped with everything you need, including a refrigerator, hairdryer, bathrobe, wine glasses and other pleasant and necessary items. Meals were paid separately, you could even order breakfast in your room, but I preferred to explore local cafes, restaurants and canteens, so I refused the buffet at Biba.

Maykop city

Leaving the car in the internal hotel parking and unloading things, I began to explore the map of the city of Maykop and the sights of Adygea. First I had to have lunch, the choice fell on the pizzeria "Sicily", which was a 15-minute walk from the hotel. The interior of the cafe is made in pastel colors.

Upon entering, I was greeted and promptly brought the menu. I ordered a couple of slices of a small pizza called "Farmer's", and to it a milkshake with raspberries, which was served not in the usual tall glass, but in a glass jar with a handle. The pizza was fresh, soft and juicy. I was satisfied with the lunch and the service, the prices were also pleasantly pleased: the entire order cost about 400 rubles (a slice of pizza: 90 rubles, 250 ml of a cocktail: 160 rubles + tip).

Maykop city park, top view

On the day of arrival, I decided to explore the city a little, so during lunch I began to monitor the Internet for the sights of the city of Maykop. I was in the very center, so for a start I decided to visit the city park and look at the mosque. IN big park there is a beautiful fountain with multi-colored illuminated jets, there is also an amusement park and a city pool.

Entrance to Maikop city park

Fountain in Maykop city park

A few years ago there were several pools here:

1. adult: the largest, deepest and only now;
2. sports: with lane markings for swimmers;
3. children: medium in size and relatively shallow.

However, the last two were overgrown with reeds and even small trees at the bottom. It is obvious that they have not been filled in for a long time. But the large pool looks very well-groomed, the water is constantly updated due to four fountains, which are evenly spaced in the center of the pool.

City pool

City park alleys

There is a sandy beach nearby, and sun loungers are available for rent. There is also a beach volleyball court and a small sports town nearby.

In general, there are all conditions for physical activity here, which certainly pleased. I didn’t swim, I wandered along the neat alleys for some more time and went to Friendship Square, where the next attraction of the city, the mosque, was located.

The square got its name because of the monument located on it - the Russian hero and the Adyghe sled (the same as the warrior) stand shoulder to shoulder and symbolize the friendship of peoples.

Monument "Friendship"

Under this monument is a fountain, and opposite it is a mosque with blue domes. In the morning and in the evening, the singing of the mullah is heard throughout the city, which announces the time to pray. In Adygea, this religious temple has rather a purely symbolic meaning, because the local indigenous people are not particularly committed to Islam, their own code of ethics called Khabze is much more significant for them.

mosque lights

Near Friendship Square there is a small square and the city Philharmonic, but it was evening time, the author of this story was a little tired and hungry, and therefore went in search of dinner. After looking at the map of the city on my smartphone, I found an XL cafe nearby. There were surprisingly many people there, and the reason for this became clear when the order was brought. This time I took my favorite California rolls and Mojito non-alcoholic cocktail. The service here was not as perfect as in "Sicily", as the waiters were simply overloaded with orders, but the quality of the food here was just highest level. I spent about 500 rubles for dinner, I was quite satisfied with it and went to rest at the hotel and think over a plan of action for tomorrow.

Beauty of Adygea: mountains, rocks, waterfalls and caves

I had plans to visit the famous Rufabgo waterfalls, so having previously studied the road and set up the navigator, on the morning of June 22, I set off. Driving through unfamiliar mountainous terrain was scary, but the distance is relatively short, so I decided to handle this task myself. According to tourists, the Rufabgo waterfalls are one of the brightest and most picturesque sights of Adygea, located 2 km from the village of Kamennomostsky.

View of the rocks

Mountains

The road was steep in every sense: unexpected turns, overhanging frightening rocks on one side and a bottomless abyss on the other terrified me, but the quality of the roads pleased me, so I got to my destination without much difficulty and spent only an hour on an unfamiliar route. I parked my car near the bridge that was supposed to take me across the seething river to the waterfalls, paid 500 rubles for the entrance and went on foot to explore the beauties of this region.

Mountain river, view from above

On the other side of the river, I was met by a whole tourist site with small cafes, a playground and a mini-museum of Adyghe culture. I was a little hungry, so I bought coffee and started exploring the area. At first, nothing here reminded of the wild beauty of the mountain landscapes: the paths are strewn with sand, there are railings everywhere, and there are no waterfalls to be seen. But that was only the beginning, and what I saw next was probably shown only in some fantasy films: a clean, transparent river stormy stream rustled right at my feet, all around the rocks, and then some impenetrable jungle forests.

Needless to say, nature is preserved here. And here I am at the first waterfall (by the way, there are seven of them, and each has its own name) - "Grand," although it is relatively small.

After it followed a waterfall under the strange name "Dry", winding rocky paths and natural growths of soil in the form of steps lead to it. The third is called "Deep".

Waterfall "Deep"

View of the waterfall

This is a real waterfall - stormy, sparkling and high. By the way, even in the intense heat near the mountain rivers it is cool, the water there is icy and clean. On the fourth waterfall, unfortunately, I no longer had the strength, the paths became more and more difficult, I had to climb higher and higher, so I turned back.

Road to Rufabgo Falls

On the way to the city, I saw a small diner with local Adyghe cuisine, it was decorated antique, in the style of peasant Circassian huts. There I ordered hominy (corn porridge with milk) and real Kalmyk tea. I appreciated the cuisine of the Circassians, the only thing was that the price was biting - I paid almost 300 rubles for such a simple dinner.

By evening, I returned to the hotel tired, I wanted to relax, so I went down to the street and went to the Biba patio, where I ordered the famous Maykop beer and took some snacks. I didn’t drink much, because tomorrow I had to go home. The beer is excellent - I took a few bottles with me to treat my friends.

Results and finance

I want to note that the trip cost me quite a lot. About 3,000 rubles were spent on gasoline, about the same amount on food, given that I ate in cafes and pizzerias. A ticket for a tour of the Rufabgo waterfalls cost me 500 rubles and, of course, hotel accommodation took the lion's share of the costs: 7800 rubles for two days. But I have nothing to complain about, the room was really luxury.

In general, I was satisfied with the rest, it’s a pity I didn’t have time to explore all the picturesque places. The next year I have already planned to visit the Azish Cave, the Guam Gorge and the Lago-Naki Plateau, about which.

The mountains are covered with dense green thickets and crowned with snow caps. Waterfalls from afar attract with the noise of crashing streams. Here, flowers grow on stones, and lone eagles soar overhead.Simply put, Adygea is a land with amazing nature. It is worth going a little deeper into the forests, and you will find yourself in a real jungle, surrounded by butterflies and ferns. If it weren't for paved roads, this place could at times be confused with Narnia.

The depth of this winding gorge is about 40 meters. Standing on the equipped platform, you will see the Belaya River noisily rushing along the stone corridor, which either narrows or expands. Centuries-old boulders framed by lush greenery and foamy splashes are worth seeing. And on the territory there is a small zoo with wolves, bears and even an ostrich. It is best to start with a visit to the Khadzhokh gorge.

2. Lago-Naki Plateau

The high plateau stretches for tens of kilometers. Due to this, it is located in several climatic zones and you can pass from deciduous forests to the glaciers and observe how the nature around is changing. There are several panoramic points with dizzying views, which can be reached during.

3. Mountains Fisht, Oshten and Pshekho-Su

These peaks are located nearby. According to one of the Adyghe legends, the mountains bear the names of three warriors who died in battle with foreign invaders. But travelers are attracted by the grandiose views that open from the slopes. There are many hiking trails leading up to the peaks. On the way to the mountains you will meet endless plateaus, alpine meadows, herds of horses and dazzling snowfields on the emerald slopes.

4. Rufabgo Falls

Spilling through the gorge, the Rufabgo River forms 10 picturesque waterfalls. One of them breaks down in a swift stream from under a huge boulder resembling a human heart. This waterfall is called "Heart of Rufabgo". Passing through the waterfalls in time is a real adventure. The descent by rappel into the grotto, hidden in beech thickets and entwined with ivy, will be remembered for a long time. But you can also look at the waterfalls from the side, for example, during.

Along with Baikal and the volcanoes of Kamchatka, natural objects Adygea are included in the World Natural Heritage List.

5. Caves

There are many caves in Adygea. The most popular among tourists is Bolshaya Azishskaya. It is lit and equipped with stairs, so everyone can get into it. And those who are not looking for easy ways can go to - descend into wild caves, which now look the same as thousands of years ago.

Piketnaya Cave looks like a labyrinth about 65 meters long. Narrow and short manholes lead to halls full of stalactites, stalagmites and stalagnates. Nearby is the beautiful cave, which is almost three times larger. The entrance to it is a hole resembling a hole, which leads steeply down. You can go down here only with the help of special equipment used by speleologists. The list of wild caves in Adygea does not end there: Dry, Saxophone, Flute - choose any or visit all at once!

If after all these places you have time, there will still be something to see here. The Belaya River, flowing through a granite canyon 200 meters deep, forms high rapids and small waterfalls. This place is perfect for . You can get to the canyon, as well as to St. Michael's Athos Monastery. Several ancient dolmens have been preserved in Adygea, and you can visit them during. There are many picturesque rocks to which you can make radial exits. For example, .

What to do in Adygea

The landscape of Adygea is majestic mountains and swift waterfalls, blooming plains and seething rivers, sheer cliffs and deep gorges. Here you can do almost any kind of outdoor activity or.

Forest and dirt roads are ideal for jeeping, and along the way you can see more than one iconic place. A memorable alternative is, in an open body. The car will bounce and roll every now and then, like a real attraction, and you can even touch tree branches with your hands (or not with your hands, as you're lucky :)). Don't want to sit in the car? Try a quad or bike.

Feeling unity with nature and enjoying panoramic views is best done during.

It's great to overcome stormy cascades of water during a rappelling descent. But if you are attracted only by mountains, but you don’t want to get wet at all, you can.

For lovers of heights, Adygea has a real adrenaline bomb in store - extreme parks and the Canyon. Here you will fly with a breeze on a trolley from one rock to another and pass the via ferrata. By the way, this entertainment, like canyoning, will cost much more abroad.

Those who love heights can go to one of the mountain peaks, and lovers of the depths can do speleotourism and explore the thousand-year-old formations inside wild caves.

- something that is definitely worth a try. If only because in different areas it has rapids of varying difficulty, which means that everyone can raft - the guide will select the right place.

Plants and animals of Adygea

Due to the heterogeneous landscape, the vegetation here is the most diverse. There are many relics and endemics, such as the Trautvetter maple or the Pontic rhododendron. Approximately 230 species of fungi and plants are rare and endangered.

You can meet fir and beech forests, meadow and cereal steppes, birch forests and alpine meadows - but what can you not find here :) And July is generally the height of flowering of herbs, when the earth turns into flower carpets. The zonality is pronounced here - which means that as the height above sea level changes, plant species change.

If you are going on a trip to Adygea in the summer, vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis will not hurt.

Cuisine of Adygea

Everyone knows what they do in Adygea delicious cheese. But if you have to visit here, be sure to try not only the cheese itself, but also the dishes with it. Here it is fried with vegetables and herbs, added to pies and pasties, soups, salads and cheesecakes.

As in other Caucasian regions, in Adygea there are many meat dishes. When cooking, the meat is sprinkled with garlic salt, which is prepared by the locals. Be sure to try the barbecue — the locals know a lot about dishes on fire.

The region is rich in cereals, so many dishes include cereals. For example, chips (sauce) are made from broth and wheat flour, butter, onions and spices. And it is served with corn or wheat porridge.

What to bring from the trip

First of all, cheese. It is made here from cow, goat and sheep milk, sold fresh and smoked. Adyghe cheese lovers of cheese, feta and mozzarella will like it. You may notice a characteristic ribbed pattern on the surface of the cheese. The fact is that during production, the cheese is poured into wicker baskets, where it then hardens with patterned dents.

Locals prepare wine and various liqueurs, which are sold in almost all tourist places. There are many fruits and berries in sunny Adygea, so there is a wide variety of jams and marmalades (it is even made from pine cones).

Here you can buy warm clothes made of natural wool, products made of stone or wood.

Weather in Adygea

Due to the proximity of the ice-free Black Sea, which accumulates heat, the climate here is moderate.

Winter is mild and with little snow. The coldest month is January. average temperature at this time - only -2-4 ° С. But sometimes there are real frosts down to -30°C.

Spring comes to the plains already at the end of February, and to the mountains - a month later. In mid-April, it is already + 10 ° C, and in May it is quite warm.

Summer is dry and hot in the plains, cooler in the foothills. The average temperature is around +25°C.

In autumn, the weather is also warm and dry, so traveling around Adygea in September is just as pleasant as in summer. Significant cooling begins only in the second half of October.

Accommodation in Adygea

Arriving in Adygea on vacation, you can stay in the village. Kamennomostsky, from which it is convenient to get to almost any place.

If you want to be closer to nature, you can stay in a tent camp. For example, accommodation in equipped tents overlooking the Lago-Naki plateau. Sometimes the clouds descending from the mountains can be literally touched here.

If you prefer more comfortable conditions, choose one of the many tourist bases.

In you can choose the guest house "Park Khadzhokh" in the center of Kamennomostsky or the base "Golden Deer" and "Green Guy" in the picturesque foothills.

On the territory of each base there are gazebos and barbecues, in rooms and houses there is a toilet and a shower with hot water.

How to get to Adygea

The regional center of the republic is Maikop. But you can not get there directly by plane or train. The most convenient way to go through Krasnodar.

A plane ticket to Krasnodar will cost about 10,000 rubles. in both directions, and the travel time will be about two hours. The train journey takes longer, about a day. But you can find a ticket from 2,909 rubles. one way.

From Krasnodar you will need a transfer to Kamennomostsky. The road will take about two more hours, and the cost will be about 3,000 rubles one way.

You don't have to worry about logistics. We will arrange a meeting at the station / airport and transfer and help with the purchase of tickets.

Where to look for inspiration

In summary: Adygea is a land of waterfalls and green mountains, steep cliffs and winding rivers, ancient caves and the brightest stars.

To better imagine the beauty of this place, be inspired by the photos of Andrey Vasiliskov and be sure to read about how our team spent the weekend in Adygea!