One of the resort pearls scattered along the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus is the city of Gelendzhik. Its geographical position is such that the resort is located in the middle between the most famous tourist centers of the Krasnodar Territory. Arriving by car in the resort town, tourists have a unique opportunity during their vacation to visit a lot of attractions surrounding the famous Black Sea town from all sides.

Abrau-Durso

Who does not know sparkling wine under the brand name Abrau-Durso? This rhetorical question is known to many champagne lovers. The famous center of winemaking is located north of Novorossiysk. You should not miss such an opportunity as staying with your own vehicle and not visiting the village with such a beautiful name.

In general, these are two villages: the first Abrau – the center of winemaking is located in the mountains on the shores of the lake of the same name, and the second Durso – a beach resort located below on the seashore. It will be possible to drive to Abrau-Dyurso only through Novorossiysk (more on this city below). Travel time will take a couple of hours. The ascent to the village passes along the road through a dense forest.

In the summer, you can hear the buzzing of cicadas here, and you can find lakes between the trees. It is worth stopping here for an amazing photo session. After a short drive from below, a panorama of the village of Abrau will open on the shore of the lake of the same name. What is interesting is that the wine storages are under the lake.

It is this position of the storage facilities that creates conditions of constant temperature, which has a beneficial effect on the ripening of grape juice. Visitors to the museum complex of the Russian Wine House “Abrau-Durso” under the guidance of a guide will learn the history of winemaking, dating back to the reign of Alexander II.

A great merit in the development of champagne winemaking belongs to Count Golitsyn, who initiated the appearance of the first batch of Russian sparkling wine at the end of the 19th century. After seeing such sights as the “Bottle” fountain on Alexander II Square, the Abrau art park, you can visit the cultural and tourist complex “Russia”.

On its territory it is interesting to admire the art object “Upside Down House“. This is a model of a two-story mansion, placed on the roof. After a long excursion, it will be nice to splash in the waves of the Black Sea, going down by car to the village of Durso. The pebbly beach is hemmed in on both sides by two high cliffs.

Divnomorskoe

A small village at the mouth of the Mezyb River on the seashore is located 12 kilometers south of Gelendzhik. So, traveling there by car will not take much time. The sea water here is amazingly clear. The village is literally buried in lush vegetation away from noisy highways and industrial facilities.

The rocks surrounding the resort form a cozy bay, where there are no strong winds and a peaceful atmosphere of bliss reigns under the bright Caucasian sun. All this attracts a lot of people who want a calm measured beach holiday. Already in the first days of June, the air temperature here rises to +28 – 30°C. Sea water warms up to +22°С.

The beach infrastructure allows you to comfortably stay on the pebbly shore. There are bars and small restaurants here. In the evenings, hectic life does not stop almost until dawn. Pleased with the prices of local fruits and vegetables, they are much lower than in Gelendzhik.

Vacationers are attracted by the cozy atmosphere, the benevolent attitude of the local population. Here you can find an inexpensive hotel or rent a room with all amenities. There are no problems with parking.

Kabardinka

You can go to Kabardinka by car along the M-4 road to the north of the resort. Before reaching Novorossiysk, tourists will see a resort village in the middle of a juniper reserve. The village occupies the northern part of the Tsemess Bay. The former Alexandria fortified area was renamed in 1836 into the village of Kabarda. Today there are 40 sanatoriums, 15 children's camps. There are many mini-hotels, hotels and rented rooms in the private sector.

On the coast of Kabardinka there are sandy, sandy-pebble beaches and areas with large pebbles. The beach strip stretches from Cape Doob to Cape Penat. The central beach, 300 meters long and 30 meters deep, is filled with modern infrastructure. A lot of pleasure boats moor here, on which those who wish make boat trips.

Of the entertainment, parachuting over the sea, jet ski racing, catamaran sailing, beach volleyball and tennis are popular. In the evening, when the heat of the day subsides and coolness sets in, you can get great pleasure from walking in the Old Park. Here, among the bizarre model buildings of amazing architecture, antique sculptures and various art objects “lurk”.

Mount Nexis

Until now, in the scientific world, disputes about the appointment of megaliths – ancient buildings made of stone slabs – have not stopped. They are found almost throughout Europe. They bear the same name – dolmens. Two such dolmens were discovered in ancient times on Mount Neksis. The name of the hill sounds unusual against the background of its own local names of Turkic, Adyghe and Russian origin.

The word “Nexis” is translated from Latin as “connection”. The silhouette of the mountain resembles a two-humped camel. The saddle is a consequence of the extraction of minerals – the main raw material for the production of Portland cement. Leaving the car at the bottom, people climb to the top on foot. Here, in the area of the village of Svetly, you can see two dolmens called Solnechny and Lunar.

Climbing the mountain is better to start from the M-4 highway from the Lukoil gas station. Depending on the preparation of travelers, the ascent can take from half an hour to an hour. On the trail you need to move with extreme caution.

Slippery pebbles fall under your feet. But all the difficulties of climbing will be forgotten in front of the stunning panorama of the Black Sea coast with a view of the village of Divnomorskoye and Cape Doob. Tourists organize beautiful photo shoots here.

Waterfalls of the Zhane River

The village of Vozrozhdenie is located 16 kilometers east of the resort. It is known for the fact that next to it, in the valley of the Zhane riverbed and its tributaries, you can admire the picturesque waterfalls and see the dolmens. The whole area is declared a protected area and the entrance to its territory is paid. During the off-season, you can visit the reserve for free.

Unique water cascades here follow one after another. The pacifying atmosphere against the background of the rhythmic noise of falling water, the play of light in the spray of waterfalls attracts many tourists here. Leaving their car on the side of the M4 highway, after a hundred meters, travelers will come to the first water cascade.

The waterfall formed a kind of font in which you can swim for free in the summer. But with a further passage, travelers will be charged a fee. After walking along a good dirt road for about 700 meters, guests will come to a small town consisting of stalls, playgrounds and several cafes.

After crossing the bridge over the river, tourists can pitch a tent in a large clearing, of which there are a large number in the summer season. The campsite has a plumbing service. Traveling along the valley of the Zhane River, you can find several dolmens. Most of them are in ruins. Those who can go beyond the second waterfall will see landscapes of extraordinary beauty.

Mount Big Afips

Mount Afips is located between the rivers Shebsh, Left Shchel and Afips. The hill is part of the great Dividing Range of the South Caucasus. Its height above sea level is 737 meters. The name of the mountain was formed from two parts – this is the name of the Abkhazian god of thunder Afa and the Adyghe “ps”, which means water.

Travelers are attracted by the mountain because from its top of the mountain, grandiose in beauty panoramas of the Black Sea waters, the Lysaya and Papai mountains open up. The summit is covered with alpine meadows. Beech and oak grow in abundance here, and on the northern slope you can find a berry yew.

There are two ways to get here, leaving the car at the bottom. You can start a hiking route 12 kilometers long from Romashkova Polyana. In a different way, you will have to go along the 10-kilometer trail starting behind Arkhipo-Osipovka. Fans of traveling through the mountains of the Caucasus go here with backpacks and tents for several nights.

Guam Gorge

This is a narrow space between the ridges of Guama and Lago-Naki, 400 meters deep, which stretches for 5 kilometers, forming a valley in the upper reaches of the Kurdzhips River. You can get here by your car.
In order not to strain when driving on a rather difficult road, you can leave the car in Tuapse and buy a train ticket.

Local residents revere the Guam Gorge as one of the most beautiful sights of the Kuban. Travelers who come here are immediately surrounded by unique landscapes of relic forests filled with the purest mountain air. The natural harmony of fabulously beautiful places attracts thousands and thousands of tourists every year, regardless of age and physical fitness.

Once in the gorge, people feel the grandeur of the surrounding steep cliffs, covered with boxwood thickets and yews. The railway, laid in the unusually cramped conditions of the gorge, is surprising. Here you can rent a house or a room in it. Developed infrastructure has canteens, saunas, etc.

Mount Popeye

The Papai mountain range is a ridge with seven peaked peaks, which is why it is called the Papai Saw. In the summer season, hundreds of mountain hikers flock here. For those who came to Gelendzhik by car, you can get to the place by driving to the village of Novosadovy, and then the hiking route begins.

Travelers will walk along the banks of three rivers at once and through thickets of hornbeam and beech. Here from the animal world you can meet wild boars, roe deer and chamois. Climbing a sharp peak, tourists enjoy admiring the amazing panorama of the Caucasus Mountains. Here you can organize a unique beauty photo session. After spending the night on Mount Papai, tourists, charged with positive emotions, go down in a great mood.

Rock Sail

A unique monument of nature – the Parus rock is located on the Black Sea coast, 17 kilometers southeast of Gelendzhik. The landmark from the point of view of geology is a remnant. This is a layer of sandstone, separated from the main rock mass. The natural wall resembles a quadrangular sail 25 meters high, 30 meters wide and about a meter thick.

Pshad waterfalls

They are considered one of the most popular tourist routes in the Krasnodar Territory. The resort is a group of 13 waterfalls located in the upper reaches of the Pshad River. Of these, 8 of the most famous waterfalls are located on the Red River. The Big Pshad waterfall is located below all other waterfalls at an altitude of 245 meters above sea level.

Streams of water fall from a height of 9 meters, which is an amazing picture of such an interesting natural phenomenon. If the guests of Gelendzhik have a car that is not a jeep or SUV, then it is better to go to the Pshad waterfalls by hired car, leaving the car in the parking lot.

You can also get to the beginning of the hiking route by a regular bus following through Pshada. To get to the first waterfalls, you need to overcome the ascent to the mountains several kilometers long. Because of this, it is not recommended to take children to excursion groups. Having overcome all the difficulties of a difficult hike, travelers will be rewarded with grandiose panoramas of majestic waterfalls.

Gebius waterfalls

If travelers come from Gelendzhik to Arkhipo-Osipovka, then it will be just right to drive to the Gebius waterfalls. There is an attraction not far from the village of Teshebs, from where the second name came from – Tesheb waterfalls. The river of the same name originates on Mount Gebiuss, whose height is 740 m above sea level.

To get to the beginning of the hiking route, you will have to overcome 60 km along the M 4 highway towards Tuapse and stop at a huge cross. There is a large parking lot where you can leave your car. Parking is free, but you will have to pay an environmental fee to enter the protected area.

Tesheb waterfalls are considered the most visited by tourists in the South Caucasus. You will have to climb the trail for about a kilometer. Waterfalls follow one after another – rapid (17 m), Belt (20 m) and Starik (7 m) rapids.

Novorossiysk

The legendary hero city is located, by the standards of motorists, almost next to Gelendzhik (35 km). The ride will take about an hour. The history of the city is closely connected with the Great Patriotic War. There were fierce battles with the Nazi horde. This is evidenced by the Malaya Zemlya memorial on the Admiral Serebryakov embankment.

Here, for 225 days, Soviet troops held the line, repulsing the attacks of the Germans, who were eager to capture the Tsemess Bay and the port. Nearby is a monument-ship, the bow of which depicts a landing craft that crashed into the embankment. Inside the ship is the Battle Glory Gallery. Nearby you can see trenches and trenches that keep the memory of the events of that time.

The decoration of the city is one of the large and beautiful embankments of the Krasnodar Territory, bearing the name of Admiral Serebryakov. This is a favorite place for walks of local residents and guests of the city. Forumnaya Square is spread here, which impresses with its size. It is closely adjacent to the embankment. Here you can see a monument dedicated to the founders of the city Raevsky, Lazarev and Serebryakov. Their sculptures rise on a 4-meter pedestal.

Impressive in the port part of the square is a fountain with a stele in the center “Marine Glory of Russia”. At the end of the embankment, you can take pictures against the backdrop of the Tsemess Bay, surrounded by ancient cannons and anchors. In addition, there are 6 museums, 3 parks and many other interesting places.

If there is free space in the car, then you can invite a guide who will show you all the significant places in Novorossiysk and tell you a lot of interesting things related to the history of the city. There is one not very pleasant circumstance. The city is regularly blown by a strong northeast wind – “north-ostik”, as the locals affectionately call it. It blows 3-4 days. It is better not to visit the city at this time.

Plesetsk waterfalls

The attraction is located 25 kilometers south of Gelendzhik. You can get on the highway M 4 to the village of Mikhailovsky Pass. There is a large area where you can park your car. Further, you can only move on foot. The route passes along a suspension bridge over the Thab River, then along a dirt road along the riverbed.

Half of this path can be covered by car if it is an SUV. In the campaign, you will have to cross the river ford in six places. In summer, this can be done barefoot or in light rubber shoes. Along the way you can see signs with the inscription “Apiary”. This is a roadside cafe where tourists will be offered tea with honey and pancakes.

Here you can visit the bathhouse and stay overnight, renting a modest room. After Apiary, the path will pass through the thicket of the forest and lead to a forest cafe. Here you can see a dolmen – a remake assembled by a local craftsman. Further, after a 5-minute walk, a large bathing bowl will appear before the travelers, where 5 small waterfalls dump their waters.

In the “bath” you can swim and take a waterfall shower. Going further, travelers will see weeping rocks, quench their thirst with spring water, admire the Two Brothers waterfall and the highest of them, Fata waterfall (15 meters). The journey will keep in mind the amazing landscapes against the backdrop of waterfalls for a long time.

Arkhipo-Osipovka

The Black Sea settlement is located in the basin of the rivers Teshebs and Vulan. Highway M 4 passes nearby. So, getting to the village by car from Gelendzhik is quite simple. Developed recreation infrastructure, wonderful beaches attract tourists from all over Russia. It offers a large number of entertainment for both adults and children. Many museums, a dolphinarium, an oceanarium, an amusement park and a water park make the rest especially rich in positive emotions.

Judging by the organization of recreation in Arkhipo-Osipovka, we can conclude that this is an ideal place for families with small children to relax. This is facilitated by the coastal shallow zone, in which it is comfortable and safe for babies to splash around. In the evening, vacationers fill restaurants and nightclubs, of which there are a large number. Local guides offer hiking trails in the picturesque surroundings.

Wild beach “Krucha”

In the southern part of the suburbs of the resort behind Cape Tolstoy of the Gelendzhik Bay, there is a wild beach “Krucha”. This free beach area is covered with large pebbles. Peace and quiet reign far from the noise of the city. The descent to the beach is quite inconvenient and risky, not for nothing that it was called that. People come and come here with their own supplies of water and food.

Beautiful views of the Black Sea, the surrounding nature, along with warm crystal clear sea water, are a little overshadowed by the complete absence of any beach infrastructure. The level of sanitation depends on the cleanliness of the vacationers themselves. The lack of toilets is depressing. There is hope that things will change for the better soon.