Lake Ritsa in Abkhazia: complete guide for independent travelers

Description and is it worth visiting

Lake Ritsa is the most famous and most visited attraction in Abkhazia, which you absolutely shouldn't miss. This beautiful turquoise lake is surrounded by mountains and stunning nature at an altitude of 950 meters above sea level on the territory of the Ritsa National Park. Tourists visit the lake to breathe in the mountain air, admire the beauty of the lake, ride pedal boats, and you can even go fishing for an additional fee.

The lake is quite large – 2500 by 600 meters. Back in Soviet times, a kind of tourist entertainment infrastructure formed around it, with an embankment with cafes, restaurants, shashlik spots, souvenir shops, and even a pier for pleasure boats and pedal boats. One of the main tourist activities here is renting a pedal boat, though the rental price is simply staggering – from 500 rubles per person for 30 minutes. However, there's a small trick: if you walk further to the end of the embankment, you can rent a pedal boat slightly cheaper after some bargaining.

Unfortunately, the infrastructure level has remained somewhere around Soviet-era standards. By the way, prices for souvenirs and other goods here are quite high. In the surrounding area, there are also two waterfalls, and on the opposite shore is the Stalin's dacha museum. A little higher and 2500 meters away is another lake – Little Ritsa, which is no less picturesque and much less trodden by tourists. During a group tour, tourists are given a few hours at the lake, which can be used for walks around the lake, boat rides, buying souvenirs, or having lunch at a local cafe.

Legend, history and origin of Lake Ritsa

The Abkhazians call Lake Ritsa sacred. A poetic legend says that a young beauty named Ritsa lived in the gorge – the only sister of three hunter brothers: Agepsta, Atsetuka and Pshegishkha. One day, when the brothers went into the distant mountains, the girl stayed by the hearth. Her enchanting singing was heard by the evil robbers Yupshara and Gega, who decided to kidnap Ritsa. The sister called for help, and the brothers rushed to her, but it was already too late. In desperation, one of the brothers threw his shield, blocking the turbulent river flow, but water rushed into the gorge, swallowing both the robbers and the beautiful Ritsa. Petrified with grief, the brothers turned into mountain peaks. Since then, they have towered over the water where their sister forever rests.

This tragic story also has a real, no less amazing basis. Lake Ritsa was formed as a result of a powerful earthquake. Massive rock formations from one of the peaks (Mount Pshegishkhva or Atsetuk) collapsed into the turbulent bed of the Lashipse River, creating a natural dam over 100 meters high. Water gradually filled the valley, and so at an altitude of 950 meters above sea level, one of the most beautiful lakes of the Caucasus appeared.

By the way, the water color in Lake Ritsa is not constant: in spring and summer, emerald-yellow tones predominate, while in autumn and winter it takes on a cold blue color due to changes in the transparency of the inflowing rivers and the development of microscopic algae.

What to see at Lake Ritsa

Excursions and independent trips to Lake Ritsa are the most popular route for holidaymakers, not only from Abkhazian resorts but also from Sochi. During such excursions, they visit not only the lake but also include some other attractions of the Ritsa National Park. Here are the places you'll encounter on the way to the lake:

• Bzyb Temple
• Maiden's Tears Waterfall
• Blue Lake
• Gegsky Waterfall (to get there you need a separate jeep trip)
• Yupshara Canyon
• Men's Tears Waterfall
• Mineral spring
• Chabgar Cornice or "Farewell, Motherland!" viewpoint

And here are the attractions near the lake, which you can walk to or drive to (all detailed information and coordinates in the links):

• Bird's Beak Waterfall
• Milk Waterfall
• Stalin's Dacha
• Little Ritsa Lake

All these places are located along the only road leading to the lake and near it, but of course it's impossible to see them all in one excursion, so various options are offered, in which Lake Ritsa remains unchanged. Along the way, there are also points offering rafting, rope swings, and zip lines.

Further up in the mountains beyond the lake, there are several more very attractive tourist spots: Valley of Seven Lakes, Lake Mzy, the resort village of Auadhara and the Auadhara mineral spring, but they are usually visited as separate excursions or independent hikes, and the road there is very bad.

On the way to the lake, group tourists are taken to mountain honey apiaries, wine tastings, and overpriced cafes where everything is offered at inflated prices, wasting a lot of time. So if you want to see more rather than waste time on unnecessary shopping, it's best to go on this route in your own transport, or hire a private guide with their own transport for your group.

What you need to know before visiting the lake and useful tips

• Can you swim? The water in the lake is very cold – even in summer it only warms up to +17 °C, on average staying around +10 °C. Additionally, the lake is in a protected area, and swimming is officially prohibited. So it's better to just admire the beauty and ride pedal boats.
• When is the best time to go? The best time for a trip is from May to October, when the weather is most stable. However, peak season (July–August) can be crowded, and the lake water can become murky. In spring and autumn, there are noticeably fewer tourists, but there may be rain. In winter, roads are sometimes closed due to snowfall, although the lake itself almost never freezes – this only happens in the harshest winters.
• What to bring? It's always cooler in the mountains than on the coast, so a warm jacket/windbreaker, comfortable waterproof shoes (the asphalt ends, then gravel and stones), a hat, and sunscreen are essential. Even in summer, bring spare socks and a long-sleeve sweater. If you plan to hike above the lake or along trails, trekking poles will come in handy. And definitely cash – cards aren't accepted everywhere.
• How much time do you need? Just for visiting the lake and walking along the embankment, 1.5–2 hours is enough. But taking into account the road from Gagra (1.5–2 hours one way) and stops at Blue Lake, waterfalls, and Yupshara Canyon, it's better to allow a full day (8–10 hours). If you add a tour of Stalin's dacha (another 40–60 minutes) and a climb to Little Ritsa (an additional hour), you'll need even more time.
• Is it worth buying honey and products at the markets along the way? On the way to the lake (in the Bzyb Gorge), there are many apiaries and "honey courtyards" with tastings. Prices there are noticeably higher than the average in Abkhazia, but the selection is large. Many tourists note that the quality is good, although sometimes the hives stand empty, which raises questions. If you want to bring home real Abkhazian honey, it's better to look at the markets in Gagra or Pitsunda – the prices are lower there and the selection is decent.
• Where to eat at the lake and how much does it cost? On the embankment, there are several cafes and shashlik places operating in season. Approximate prices: hot dish 500–700 USD, )tea/coffee 150–200 USD, )shashlik 400–600 rub. per portion. The cafe at the "Eco House Ritsa" campsite also serves Caucasian and European cuisine. Those who want to save money should bring snacks with them – there are no full-fledged canteens or budget establishments at the lake.
• Is there a hotel or can you stay near the lake? There are no hotels right by the water, but a few minutes' drive away is the "Eco House Ritsa" campsite with eco-houses and a place for tents. Tent accommodation – from 500 rub./night, guest house – from 10,000 rub. for a house (up to 5 people).
• Can you stay in a tent? You can also stay in a tent on your own, but since this is a protected area, you can only pitch a tent in officially designated spots. Unfortunately, the national park administration doesn't publish this information, and by phone (we called) they refer you to the forestry department, whose office is near the lake. Based on personal experience and reviews from other tourists, tents are set up in two main locations: at the end of the road near Lake Mzy and in the Auadhara recreation area, but these spots are far beyond the lake, higher in the mountains.
• Where are the toilets, are they paid? We didn't see any public toilets here. You can use the toilet at a cafe on the embankment, or as a last resort, just find a secluded spot in the forest.

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