Tsandripsh rest. Tsandripsh, Abkhazia
At the mouth of the Haupshe River. Previously, this place was not very popular with tourists, but now this village has become a favorite place for travelers.
Here you can enjoy the magnificent nature and natural silence, which will fill the soul and fill the body with vital energy. We will tell you further about the features of a holiday in the wonderful Abkhazian town of Tsandripsha, attractions, entertainment and prices in 2020.
Very often Tsandripshe is compared to a piece of paradise and they are absolutely right, it is so! The resort village itself is located a couple of kilometers from the Russian border. By visiting Tsandripshe, you can see the whole race of Abkhazia, its color, cuisine, nature.
This is the best place for a quiet and relaxing holiday. Cheerful young people will be bored here, since there are no usual entertainment venues such as nightclubs and discos.
Most tourists come here to completely relax and unwind in harmony with nature and healing air.
Story
This area has been inhabited since ancient times. Once the village was even the capital of the principality. The convenient location made it possible to create a trading port that prospered for a long time.
At the end of the 18th century, the first Russian settlement was organized here. It owes its name to the Abkhaz princes Tsanba. Many people know this place under the name Gantiadi.
Nature
The richness of green colors here is simply amazing. The town is literally surrounded by greenery. Lush subtropical vegetation saturates the air with oxygen and a special aroma that makes your head spin.
Evergreen eucalyptus trees grow here; hundreds of cypresses and Pitsunda pines are planted for vacationers.
Climate
All of Abkhazia is influenced by a subtropical climate. Therefore, there are no low temperatures in the village. It is almost always sunny in Tsandripsha. The hills and the Black Sea create a special comfort zone.
Winters here are warm and short, summers are hot and long.
The village is an ideal holiday destination for families with children. The swimming season opens in early May and ends in mid-October.
Visa
Russian tourists are very captivated by the absence of the requirement to obtain any permits to enter Abkhazia. They don’t even need a foreign passport. Crossing the border will not take much time. Check your passport, sign up for medical insurance, and your way is clear.
Russian tourists can stay in the country for 90 days.
The visa-free regime is valid only when entering the country through the checkpoint on the Psou River.
Currency
The Russian ruble is in circulation throughout the country. You shouldn’t take bank cards on vacation; it’s better to cash them out in advance. Banking services are not very well developed in the republic, so it can take a whole day to find a full ATM.
In this case, the tourist will not be able to withdraw the entire desired amount. Almost everywhere there is a limit of 3,000 rubles.
Holidays in Tsandripsh will be pleasant if you think through everything in advance.
- In addition to booking a vacation spot, be sure to arm yourself with all the necessary beach accessories - an umbrella, a sun lounger and a mattress. Otherwise you will have to buy or rent them.
- Do not use local water for drinking. It is better to buy bottled in the village stores.
- No matter how appetizing the food offered by merchants moving quickly along the beach may look, it is better not to try it. The quality and freshness of the products do not meet any sanitary standards.
How to get there?
Tsandripsh is located only 5 kilometers from the Russian border. Before you go to the resort yourself, you need to think about the best route. In many ways it depends on the original location.
Residents can take advantage of the railway connection. The Moscow-Sukhumi train departs once a day and makes a stop in Tsandripsha. If a tourist is ready to spend 36 hours on the road and pay about 3,500 thousand rubles for a reserved seat, then the train is what he needs.
There is an international airport and a railway station. From both of these points public transport is constantly sent to the resort town. For those who like comfortable travel, a taxi is more suitable. But it’s better to order a car in advance. Under no circumstances agree to offers from local car enthusiasts. Such movement will not be safe and comfortable, especially for young passengers.
A comfortable transfer for 4 passengers will cost about 3,500 rubles, a minivan for seven seats will cost 4,000 rubles.
Where to stay?
If you want to experience the fullness of Abkhaz hospitality, then you should give preference. The owners treat all vacationers as dear guests. Such kind-hearted attitude towards strangers is probably in the blood of local residents. Therefore, if a tourist stays in one of the rooms in the private sector, he will feel better than at home.
Accommodation prices largely depend on the range of services. For example, does the room have air conditioning or a TV. On average it is 300 rubles per person per day. You will have to organize your own meals. Usually, summer kitchens with all the necessary utensils are provided for this purpose.
Vacationers have access to entire guest houses, which can very comfortably accommodate large groups of 7 people or more. Such a room will cost from 6,000 rubles per day.
Tsandripshe has several boarding houses that offer accommodation, three meals a day and medical procedures. In the summer season, prices are significantly higher than in early spring or winter. They largely depend on the room class and the selected procedures.
The most famous are 2 boarding houses:
- Boarding house "Bagripsh" This is a 9-story building with a capacity of 450 beds. The price of a standard room for two starts from 2,500 rubles per day in low season.
- Boarding house "Cold River". Consists of several buildings. Designed for 150 seats. Accommodation in a standard double room in July costs about 3,700 rubles.
The boarding house area is equipped with swimming pools and parking is available. There are excursion programs and various entertainment for children and adults.
Check-in must be planned in advance. Upon arrival, it will not be possible to find comfortable accommodation at a good price. Therefore, a room in a boarding house or a room in the private sector must be booked in advance.
Beaches
It is not possible to find a single sandy beach on the coast of Abkhazia. Tsandripsh resort is no exception. There is almost a 5-kilometer pebble beach with a very wide coastal strip, in some places reaching up to 200 meters.
Walking along the shore you can find shells. The entrance to the sea is very convenient. There are no sudden changes in depth, which is especially comfortable when relaxing with children.
The central beaches are equipped with showers, toilets and changing rooms. All beach equipment can be rented. Tourists can rent umbrellas, sun loungers, mattresses and vests for a day or several hours.
The sea water is lightly salted, which adds another plus to the total number of advantages of the resort.
The beach is very spacious, so vacationers can easily accommodate themselves here without disturbing each other at all.
Under the bright rays of the sun, the pebbles heat up well and do not have time to cool down overnight, so water treatments can begin at sunrise.
The sea is so smooth that sitting on the shore you can watch schools of dolphins jumping.
The only drawback is the garbage left by vacationers. Local utilities do not do their job very responsibly, so the coast can hardly be called clean.
Beach activities
The range of entertainment is varied. You can rent an ATV or have a fun ride on a banana or tablet. Water slides, boat rides and much more will help you have fun.
Tourists especially enjoy paragliding or parachuting. There are practically no age restrictions. Even five-year-olds are allowed on the attraction. The only exception is people whose weight is close to 135 kilograms or more.
Attractions
The town is interesting in itself. Beautiful landscapes, a delightful cypress grove, and a wonderful embankment always remain the center of attention among tourists.
The place has several special attractions that you should definitely find time to explore.
Tsandripsha Basilica
The temple was built back in the 7th century, and it has survived to this day almost in its original form. The building is classified as a historical heritage and is under state protection.
The temple was once very revered. Pilgrims came to it, the first Christians were baptized and buried here. This is evidenced by numerous objects found during excavations.
Khashup fortress
Climbing to the top of the cliff, you can observe a fascinating picture - indescribable nature and a view of the Gagra ridge, which is very rich in fir forests, alpine meadows and white snow peaks.
White Rocks
This is a local landmark that can be approached while walking along the shore. Some special composition of the stones prevents them from warming up in the sun. Even on the hottest day they will keep you cool. There are practically no vacationers here, so you can enjoy your time in complete solitude. The cleanliness of the coast is especially captivating. On the central beaches, the shore is overflowing with garbage.
Stalin's Dacha
Stalin's dacha is located a half-hour walk from the White Rocks. This is a very picturesque place. A majestic building, erected on a steep slope of 350 meters, surrounded by a pine forest. Tours take place on the premises. From the windows facing the sea there is a panorama of incredible beauty.
The entire decoration of the room was carried out with special chic by decorating the walls with valuable wood species. And the windows in the building are made of crystal.
Shopping
There is a local market in the center of the village. There is only one paved road leading to it. Trading begins at sunrise. Usually by 10-11 am it is already winding down.
Therefore, if you want fresh homemade milk or fruit, you need to come earlier. Product prices are not high. Only meat is more expensive.
It is better to agree on the purchase of fruit in advance. Local residents have a lot of such goods, so resellers from nearby areas come to the market. The price of Tsandripsh fruits and vegetables is purely symbolic.
You should definitely try honey. You can find many items on the market. Local tea, sweets and homemade wines are very tasty.
The village has several shops stocked with all the necessary goods. Unlike the market, they are open until late in the evening.
What to try?
There are many decent establishments in the village that serve delicious national dishes. Restaurants and cafes at boarding houses usually serve European dishes.
In Tsandripsha, the cuisine is more similar to Georgian, so don’t deny yourself barbecue. Local cafes prepare chebureki and mamalyga especially deliciously. The first course is, of course, kharcho soup, and the second course is khachapuri.
The small urban village of Tsandripsh is located in the Gagra region of Abkhazia. The population is about 10 thousand people. I would call it an Armenian village, because I didn’t have a chance to see Abkhazians.
I asked our hostess:
Where are the Abkhazians?
She explained:
Abkhazians live high in the mountains, and there are only two of them left in the village.
The village of Tsandripsh is sandwiched between the federal highway leading from Adler to Sukhumi and the old neglected Sukhumi railway running along the seashore. So there is no way to avoid the railway on the way to the beach. You can get through: either by overcoming the embankment with the railway track, or from below - through a tunnel.
We noticed two tunnels in the village: one closer to the center, the other on the outskirts - in the White Rocks area. We were able to see the train going to Sukhum a couple of times - the train was very short, only a few cars.
And now I would like to talk about the warmest and nicest place in the village - the White Rocks. This is perhaps the main attraction of Tsandripsh. The White Rocks are located at the exit from the village towards the Cold River. You can reach them in about an hour in two ways: either by the seashore or along the main street towards Gagra.
The rocks are really absolutely white and smooth, lying right at the water's edge. They were created by nature itself - and the sea waves have painstakingly worked for centuries to polish them.
The central street, Oktyabrskaya, pierces the entire village and merges beyond its borders with the federal highway. This street is a very pitiful sight - most of the houses are in gaping ruins, so it is better not to look around.
At the foot of the destroyed buildings there are open kiosks under bright umbrellas - these are retail outlets selling some souvenirs, beach accessories and small items. Trade brightens up the feeling of devastation a little.
In the fragments of the first floors of houses that have been preserved in some places, there are small shops selling groceries or pharmacies. There are several cafes in the village and even a canteen on the corner of Lenin Street - but the very appearance of these establishments is repulsive. At the beginning of the main street, near the bus station, there is a small and scarce fruit and vegetable market.
I note that there has been no post office in the village since the war. We asked the hostess many times: how could this be? There was only one answer: there is no post office in the village. We also learned from her stories that in past years Tsandripsh was quite comfortable and prosperous.
Several successful enterprises operated - a winery, canning and crushed stone factories, and a tobacco factory. Wine and tobacco were produced under the mark of quality and were mainly exported. Now none of this is there - everything is destroyed and looted.
If you walk a little deeper from the main street into the residential area, the eye immediately catches the contrasts. Houses are clearly divided into three main types: miserable, dilapidated shacks, solid, newly rebuilt houses, and unfinished huge mansions, long abandoned by their owners - most likely during the war.
The only food market, where the population actually buys food, is open only three times a week: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Active trading begins at 6 am, and after 11 there is nothing to do there - you can’t buy food. Prices are very high, much higher than in Moscow. I'll write about them a little later.
I would like to note an important detail: there is no embankment in the village - there is only a long pebble beach. There is nowhere to walk in the evening - no park, no square - just vacant lots. That’s why vacationing young people like to hang out on the beach at night: guitars, music and beer brought with them - everything is there...
Abkhazia has very short daylight hours - it gets dark early. Absolute darkness sets in around eight o'clock in the evening. And in the evening, only one central street in the village is illuminated - and that’s in the place where the 24-hour store is located...
There is nowhere to go. Therefore, during the long Abkhaz evenings, vacationing people are doomed to either watch TV, or stupidly drink beer, or try to sleep after nine in the evening... True, this is problematic - pop music thunders from the only restaurant in the village until four in the morning. By the way, in the evening you can only get to this establishment with a flashlight in your hand, otherwise you will break your legs; only the main street in the village is paved.
Closer to the morning, when the restaurant rhythms fall silent and you try to fall asleep, another story begins: packs of stray dogs start battles on a huge garbage heap rising right in the center of Lenin Street.
Since we are talking about the animal world, we should also mention other representatives of the fauna. Chickens roam freely on the streets, finding their food in the same street mountains of garbage.
Here, not only stray cats walk on their own, but you can also suddenly meet a cow. One morning I headed to the grocery store and on the street I met a lonely horned cow, who accompanied me on the way there and back.
If we talk about small animals, I saw real scorpions for the first time. They constantly lived on the walls of our toilet, coexisting peacefully with huge fat snails. And at night, evil mosquitoes attacked - but these are trifles.
I have already said about the global mountain of garbage on the street named after the proletarian leader, which was shared by dogs at night and chickens during the day. Imagine another picture like this. In front of the tunnel leading to the beach, I had to watch Russian resort ladies in hats and multi-colored pareos parading in the direction of the beach.
And the old woman’s daily fashion show took place against the backdrop of three unchanged scenery: a huge garbage dump, an old abandoned cafe and a local peasant sitting by the road. This little guy was selling some kind of red wine bottled in plastic bottles, as well as a local delicacy - dead sea rays, spread out at the bottom of an old zinc trough...
Just beyond the tunnel there is a pebble beach. However, getting closer to the blue sea is not so easy. To begin with, we had to go around the beach garbage heaps, consisting of the results of the vital activity of vacationers during the holiday season. A ridge of garbage mountains stretched along the entire beach - all the way to the White Rocks.
There was not a single place for swimming on the entire shore - there were no small pebbles to enter the sea. So there was only one opportunity to swim - to swim in special shoes or directly in flip-flops.
There weren’t many people on the beach, but it was still not possible to swim calmly in the sea. Hot horsemen on their jet skis and motorboats rushed right over the heads of the bathing public - trying to attract the attention of vacationers and earn as much money as possible at the end of the fading season...
I forgot to mention the theft of money by local telecom operators. In Moscow, we prudently put a decent amount of money on our phones - just in case there is a fireman. We did not have information that when crossing the border it is necessary to manually select an operator.
Three days after our arrival, four thousand rubles disappeared. We spoke with Moscow only a few times, and very briefly.
And when we went to find out the reasons for the outage at the local communications office, they popularly explained to us old fools that there was nothing unusual here. As soon as visitors get within the coverage area of the local network, their money is like that...
Continued in part five
Tsandripsh is a very small settlement. Even if we take into account the neighboring village of Gyachrypsh, which, in fact, forms one whole with the village, the total housing stock will be much less than in other resorts on the coast. Therefore, it is better to decide on a place to stay in advance by booking it before arriving. There are no large hotels, sanatoriums or recreation centers in the village. All areas are provided by private individuals. These are purpose-built guest houses or rental of standard living quarters for local residents. But the level of service here, oddly enough, is higher than in Gagra. Most likely, this is due to the influence of nearby Russian resorts, which force them to “keep their mark.” Prices in 2020 allow us to classify Tsandripsh as an inexpensive resort. All rental housing is located along the coastline, so this can also be called an advantage of the village.
How to get there
The village is located in the westernmost part of Abkhazia on the border with the Russian Federation. It was built in a valley formed around the bed of the Haushpse River, which flows into the Black Sea here. Another river flows between the village and the neighboring village of Gyachrypsh - Lapsy, and on the border with Russia the Psou River. Thus, the water off the coast of the village is very much renewed by mountain rivers and is therefore quite clean.
The Sukhumi Highway passes through the village - the main transport corridor to get to Tsandripsh. The most convenient way to get here is by car. There is also a railway connection in the village, but there are not many trains, and they do not run all year round, from May to October. From the Russian side, the best way to get to the village is through Adler. Both from the railway station and from Sochi airport you can get to the village by minibus or taxi. Only 5 km from the border. Moreover, when choosing a taxi, it is better to take one with Abkhaz license plates, it will be cheaper.
General information, history
Officially, Tsandripsh is today an urban-type settlement. In various sources, the name can be written as “Tsandrypsh”; in fact, it is the same thing. In Soviet times, the village was called Gantiadi, and many still use this name. Currently, about 5,000 people permanently live in the village.
The territory of the village was inhabited in ancient times. It is considered the historical center of Little Abkhazia. This is confirmed by the many ruins of ancient buildings that can still be seen in the village today. The first official settlement appeared here in 1867. It was founded by the Russians. The name of the village comes from the Abkhaz family Tsanba.
Today, holidays in Tsandripsha are considered to be family holidays. Life here is more measured and calm. From the point of view of the entertainment industry, it is difficult for the village to compete with Adler or Sochi, but this is not necessary. The local nature and the sea will attract their vacationers. To this you can add the Abkhazian flavor and low prices.
Things to do
Holidays in Tsandripsha can also be compared to an excursion tour through the history of Abkhazia. The key attraction that is a must-see is the Khashup fortress. This is a fortification structure of the 8th century, which has been well preserved to this day. It is located in the bed of the Khashupse River a couple of kilometers from the village. And right on the territory of the settlement there is the Tsandripshsky temple or basilica of the 4th century. This is an ancient baptismal church with tombs of the relics of martyrs.
For those for whom active recreation is more important, we can recommend trying your hand at rafting - rafting down mountain rivers, of which there are three in the village. And of course the very nature of the Caucasian coast, with its riot of colors and strange flora. Just wandering around the outskirts of the village will not only be exciting, but also very useful.
Climate in Tsandripsha
Average monthly air temperature by month
Average monthly water temperature by month
Beaches
Local beaches can be called the widest on the entire Caucasian coast. They can reach depths of up to 200m. This is due to the fact that the mountain range is somewhat removed from the coastline. The beaches are mostly covered with large and small pebbles, so slippers are highly recommended. The total length along the sea is about 6 km, i.e. the entire built-up residential area of the village overlooks one or another section of the beach. All beaches are equipped with a well-developed service industry. The bottom is quite flat, although there is no particularly shallow water. Near the village there is a wild beach, which locals call “White Rocks” because of the white rock formations that formed this place.
Latest reviews about holidays in Tsandripsha
We've been vacationing here for more than a year. We liked everything very much, we plan to come again. Homely atmosphere, comfortable like home. The hosts are very good-natured and did not ignore our requests and wishes. It was cool in the summer of 2019, so they brought us blankets)))
Thank you for the warm welcome, we will definitely come to you again
Very late, but still, finally, I am fulfilling my duty to this wonderful family and their new guests - I am writing a review about an unforgettable vacation in this house! I couldn’t get myself together because I was completely immersed in the children and work, immediately upon returning home. This was such a period in my life. Now, during the holidays, I sincerely want to make up for my shortcomings on this issue)
A year and a half has already passed, and the three-week vacation with Aunt Valya and Uncle Garik still warms my heart with memories!
I was vacationing in Tsandripsha with my one-year-old daughter; my eldest daughter, 9 years old, was nearby at a sports camp. I was looking for housing specifically near the camp so that I could sometimes meet with my eldest daughter. In the middle of our vacation, my husband joined us and the three of us already lived with Valentina and Garik. All previous reviews are absolutely fair - the family welcomes guests like family! Valya has perfect cleanliness, order and comfort everywhere.
The owners warmly welcome guests and think every day that people will be filled with warmth and care during their vacation. I want to return to this house again and again.
For a modest fee, the owners provide guests with cozy, clean, bright rooms. All the amenities of the house, shower, washing machine. Comfortable outdoor kitchen with all the necessary utensils. With a one-year-old child, I never needed anything. When my home blender broke down, Valya immediately brought me hers! For example. There are a lot of little things like that. The owners, when necessary, took us to the market and to the children's store! They tried to help, advise and make our holiday carefree!
When we first arrived it was low season and there were few guests. Closer to July, the house was 100% full, but everyone felt comfortable together, thanks to the hospitable hosts, the guests made friends and communicated with each other in a way that was comfortable for each family.
The owners organize amazing evenings with dancing and conversation over dinner. They have wonderful grandchildren who sometimes dance national dances for guests. They also make excellent company for little guests. My baby was constantly surrounded by the attention and care of Milana and Emil, the grandchildren of Valya and Garik.
Thank you to the whole family for our wonderful vacation and your hospitality! If you go to Abkhazia again, then only to you!!!
Thank you for the rest, Comrade Anya, Seryozha and Gayana. All liked it. It was our first time in Abkhazia, it took us a long time to choose a place and didn’t regret it. Everything you need is there, hot water is always available, air conditioning in the rooms, photos correspond, close to the sea, and most importantly QUIET. There is a minibus to the center nearby. Many families have been coming here for decades. This says a lot. We'll definitely come again. I recommend you come.
Hello everybody!!! The whole family of 7 stayed with these wonderful and friendly people. Two children and five adults. The atmosphere is as if you grew up and were born there, everything is so homely and cozy. The rooms are very clean, there is air conditioning, shower and toilet right in the room, TV, WF, the tangerine garden was amazingly beautiful, a huge summer kitchen with gas stoves, refrigerators, TV. There is a lot of space for evening gatherings, barbecue, skewers, coal, everything is there, everything is so cozy and beautiful, just super. The hosts are very, very hospitable, just great guys. You get the impression that you have known them your whole life. As for the sea, it’s clean, no poisoning, the children drank in sea water and nothing happened, no one got poisoned or got sick. The sea is exactly 5 minutes walking distance. There are just a lot of shops, there is a wonderful canteen, you can order shish kebab and smoked trout directly to your home through the owners, very convenient. We booked a tour in a Mitsubishi jeep, absolutely great. The children are delighted. By the way, we booked the excursion from the owners, as they say, everything in one place. They have a family business. Well done. The most impressive trip is the Gegsky waterfall, I just recommend it’s very cool, it’s so huge when you look up at the waterfall it makes your head spin. Yes, as for the sea in September, it is warm, the beach is pebbly. We will definitely go there and to this guest house “Svetlana”. I really want to thank these wonderful and kind people for their hospitality, thank you. By the way, we were met at the border by car and driven back too, very convenient. There is even a dog named “Zeus” as if it were his own. My family and I can’t wait to go there again. We will definitely come in 2020. I recommend this guest house to everyone. Thanks for all!!!
This is not the first year we have been vacationing with Zhanna and Igor, but before we even leave, we want to go back (before reaching the border, by the way). The atmosphere is so cozy and homely that during the winter my niece constantly says that we should go and live with Aunt Zhanna and Uncle Igor. Thank you for our unforgettable vacation, we are looking forward to the summer and coming back to you again!
