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AbkhaziaWhat to Expect and Is It Worth Visiting
The region of Abkhazia between Sukhum and Ochamchira is known for the paid equipped hot springs of Kyndig, but not everyone knows that it is possible to swim in natural hot hydrogen sulfide water here and completely free of charge. Moreover, you do not have to go somewhere far away and get along the trails to some secret sources, everything is much easier. Right next to the main highway at the entrance to Ochamchira there is an open-air geyser, at the base of which there is a pool of "folk" springs, where you can take wellness baths for free.
These springs are a great opportunity to bathe in hot natural water for free, but do not forget to take the garbage with you and do not pollute this place. Have respect for the work of the locals who take care of this place, and for the tourists who will come here after you. Leave behind a clean!!!
A stream of hot natural water with a faint smell of hydrogen sulfide here bursts out of the bowels of the earth through an old rusty pipe, which, as the locals told us, has remained here since the USSR, when they planned to build a hospital here. The pipe was not silenced, and a powerful stream constantly escapes from it, raising the spray to a height of about 3 floors. The bathing place is located next to the pipe, and although it is not equipped, it is quite comfortable to swim here. The swimming pool is small and can comfortably accommodate 20 people. By the way, a lot of people rarely gather here, and according to our experience of visiting this source on weekdays, you can generally be alone here. In addition to bathing from the bottom of the pool or from the streams that flow out of it, you can collect some dirt, which is also considered curative. But do not forget that everything should be in moderation, and it is not recommended to stay in the water of hot springs for more than 20 minutes.
There are no changing booths and places to relax, because the place is wild and not equipped. Therefore, take towels or bedspreads with you to cover up, or you can change clothes in the bushes nearby or in the car. After bathing, you can rinse in the cool water of the stream, it is a short walk along the path towards the highway, and it is also interesting to use this stream for contrasting baths: sit for a few minutes in the hot pool, cool off in the stream, and so on several times. There is also the Mokva River nearby, where you can go fishing. You can even come here for a few days and put a tent next to it in a clearing.
🕐 Working hours
Around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket price
Free of charge.
🚶 How to get there
The free hot spring is located next to the main highway from Sukhum in Ochamchira almost at the entrance to Ochamchira (source and geyser on the map). It is clearly visible from the road Abzhuiskoe highway, so if you drive your car, you will definitely not pass by. The car can be parked right on the side of the road, and go to the source along the path that starts on the left of the road, walk for a few minutes. You will have to cross the stream along the path, for which you need to take off your shoes. If you want to drive directly to the clearing to the source, then this is also possible: you need to get off the highway onto a small bypass road, and from it to the dirt road, the navigator will lead you to the point without any problems. After the rains, there are large puddles on the primer, you can get stuck, in which case it is better to leave the car on the highway and walk, especially since from the source you will have a good view of the highway and your parked car on the side of the road.
If you do not have your own transport, then it is also easy to get from Sukhum or Ochamchira to the springs by any bus that runs between these cities. Buses and minibuses run approximately every hour according to the schedule. From Sukhum they depart from the bus station next to the railway station and go through the whole city, and from Ochamchira from the stop at the intersection of Bagrat Shinkuba and Jonua streets, and also pass through the whole city. The driver needs to be told that you need a geyser source, he will drop you off next to him.
💥 We remind you that it is much more interesting to get acquainted with the sights with the help of excursions, and therefore we advise you to look at online booking options on these proven search and price comparison sites: