Shakuransky waterfall in Abkhazia

In the article we talk about our favorite Shakuransky waterfall in Abkhazia. You will find out why it is interesting and why it is worth visiting, how to get to it on your own or with excursions in all details, as well as how much it costs to visit it and excursions and when it is best to go here. In the article we share our experience, and also you can chat yourself, clarify something and learn more about visiting this place 💬 in a chat in Abkhazia.

What to Expect and Is It Worth Visiting

Shakuransky waterfall is one of the most inaccessible, but at the same time one of the most impressive waterfalls in Abkhazia. In our opinion, this is generally the "coolest" waterfall in the country, and we recommend that you definitely visit it. It's not the biggest and probably not the most beautiful, although this is, of course, a matter of taste, but it's definitely the most interesting. The fact is that this is not just and not only a waterfall, but a whole group of natural attractions in one place in a beautiful canyon formed by the Shakuran River. In addition to Shakuransky itself, here you will also see the Bridal Veil waterfall and several small unnamed waterfalls and water slides; two caves Lower and Upper Shakuransky; take a walk through the mystical boxwood forest. However, to do this, you will have to overcome a small tourist route of medium difficulty along steep trails, stones, rocks and stairs. Let's tell you more:

How to visit Shakuransky waterfall

• Shakuransky waterfall with a guided tour

  You can visit Shakuransky waterfall with an excursion and a guide, and this is the most reliable and easiest option, since the route along the gorge is difficult. In our opinion, it is not very difficult in terms of the necessary physical training, but there will be difficulties with orientation. For example, when we visited it, we met several groups of vacationers who came here on their own but never found the trail, i.e. in fact just got lost and turned back. So if you have no experience of hiking in difficult terrain and orientation, we advise you not to take risks and go here with a guide.

  Ready-made excursions with transport and a guide can be purchased from distributors at resorts. For example, in Sukhum we met offers from 2500 rubles, and there is no discount for children. From Gagra, such an excursion is likely to cost from 3,000 rubles. Usually it includes not only this waterfall, but also visits to other places along the way on the Military-Sukhumi Road, so it will be a very eventful and interesting trip that is definitely worth the money.

  There is another active way to visit Shakuransky waterfall – canyoning. This is a passage through the rapids and gorges of waterfalls on the water with special equipment, a very cool adventure for active travelers. Such activity is organized by the local outdoor activities club, you can find information in search engines for the query "Shakuransky Waterfall Canyoning". You can book a ready-made tour with a transfer from Sukhum or other places, or come on your own to the campsite next to the waterfall (as described below). The passage takes up to 9 hours, i.e. it is a whole light day. Cost from 8500 rubles/person.

• Shakuransky waterfall on its own

  As we mentioned above, we do not recommend going here on your own if you have no experience of hiking and orienteering, otherwise you may just get lost or even get injured. If you are confident in your abilities, then here's how to do it:

  First you have to get to the waterfall. It is located 40 kilometers from Sukhum along the Sukhumi Military Road. The first 30 kilometers along it to the village of Tsabal or Tsebelda passes along a less normal asphalt road. But the last 10 kilometers are terrible, and not every car and driver will pass through it. This is a rocky primer with very deep pits, which was formed on the site of an old asphalt road. We strongly advise you not to drive a regular car, at least you need a crossover. On Russian cars with a high landing, you can also drive, for example, as we have seen, Lada Largus is passing here. But it still depends on the skill of the driver, so decide for yourself, and we have warned you.

  There are two turning points before entering the waterfall from the Military-Sukhumi Road: first turn on the map, second turn on the map.

  After the first turn, the road is almost impassable for cars without all-wheel drive. But you can leave the car right there near the turn and then walk less than a kilometer. But there is not enough space to stop here, and if there are already one or two cars, then drive until the second turn.

  Through the second turn, the road is better and you can drive a little closer to the waterfall up to the Shakuran campsite. Here they charge 100 rubles for parking.

  Whichever turn you choose, you will have to go further and navigate by maps, there are no signs. Ideally, you need to download maps to your smartphone maps.me , organic maps and other similar apps with Yandex Map Editor, upload points from our map there, and navigate by them. Also, at the beginning of the trail in high season, guides are sometimes "on duty" here. For example, a local boy offered us an escort for 500 rubles. And here again we repeat that if there is no experience of orientation, then it is better to hire him and calmly go to the waterfalls, it's worth it.

  From the first turn on the maps there is a short path that leads directly to the waterfall. But there is no need to follow it, it will lead you to its top, where you will not see anything. The actual entry point to the trail and route is right here on the map. At this point there is a safe descent into the gorge by stairs. And further from here you can already follow down to the river and to the bottom of the gorge along the trails and to the points marked on the maps in the applications.

Important information to visit

• There are difficult and dangerous places on the route, the trails are very slippery after the rain. Walk carefully and take your time, hold on to the cables in equipped places.
• If you have trekking poles, we advise you to take them for insurance in difficult areas.
• Be sure to wear sports or trekking shoes, no sneakers and sandals.
• For women, trousers or shorts are mandatory, preferably sports.
• The intensity of the Shakuran waterfall is highly dependent on precipitation. It is full-flowing in spring and in the first half of summer, and in the second half of summer and autumn it completely dries up and appears only after heavy rains.
• It took us about 2 hours to visit all the waterfalls and a cursory inspection of the entrance to the caves here (excluding the road). If you decide to go deeper into the caves, then you should plan at least 4 hours.
• If time and opportunity allow, we advise you to leave here as early as possible in the morning, and then in one day you will be able to visit many attractions along the Sukhumi Military Road at once. That, at least: Merheuli mineral spring, Old watchtower or lime tower, Olginsky waterfalls, Small Baryal Waterfall, The Great Baryal or Machar waterfall, Descent to the Great Baryal Waterfall, Tsebeldinsky spring and cave, Shakuransky waterfall, Chernigov Gorge

💥 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:

• 📷 Search for excursions in Abkhazia on Sputnik8.com
• 📷 Search for excursions in Abkhazia on Tripster.ru