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RussiaWhat to Expect and Is It Worth Visiting
Waterfalls on the Pshada River - one of the most famous and picturesque natural attractions in the Greater Gelendzhik area, but also one of the most inaccessible. The fact is that they are located on the Pshada River and its numerous tributaries, and you can only get to them by SUV during a group tour or on foot during multi-day hikes.
In some guidebooks and reviews there is a mention that the Pshad waterfalls and the waterfalls on the Zhane River are one and the same. This is completely wrong. They are located in different places and represent separate tourist routes.
In total, there are about 100 waterfalls and water slides in the valley of the Pshada River. Most of them are small, no more than 1 meter in height. But there are also "Giants" by local standards: Olyapkin or Bolshoy Pshadsky on a tributary of the Red River with a height of 9 to 18 meters according to various estimates, and several more unnamed waterfalls up to 7 meters high. Also in the river valley there are many well-preserved and dilapidated ancient structures of dolmens.
Sightseeing tours to Pshad waterfalls
During a standard tourist excursion, only a few of the most accessible off-road vehicles are visited. Most often it is a group of ten waterfalls on the tributary of the Red River, less often on the tributary in the Pine and Moldovanovskaya gap. But even when driving an SUV with an excursion, you will have to walk a couple of kilometers from the dirt road directly along the gorge.
Independent visit to the Pshad waterfalls
If you want to see the rest of the waterfalls, you will have to pass the river and its tributaries on foot, which will take more than one day of hiking through difficult coastal areas and wading. The total length of the walking route in one direction from the village of Pshada in this case will be more than 30 kilometers, and you need to pass it with trekking and Bivouac equipment. We do not advise you to go on the route yourself, it is better to join a group of experienced tourists or hire an individual guide with experience in hiking this area.
🕐 Working hours
Around the clock, it is better to visit during the day. Waterfalls are full in spring and early summer.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price
admission to the most popular waterfalls on the Red River – 200 rubles, the rest of the waterfalls on the river and tributaries-free. Jeep tours - from 1200 rubles / person.
🚶 How to get there
Pshada waterfalls are located on the Pshada River and its tributaries north of the village of Pshada (waterfalls on the map. In the area south of the village to the sea there are no waterfalls. The easiest way to visit them is a group tour on off-road vehicles, which are offered at the resorts Gelendzhik and in Arkhipo-Osipovka from 1200 rubles/person. "buy such a tour online. Also during the high season, off-road drivers are "on duty" in the village itself, so you can get here by your own car or bus, and here you can arrange a trip.
If you are ready for an independent hike, you must first get to the village of Pshada on passing intercity buses from The New Gelendzhik bus station, or on suburban No. 106, 107, 109 (depart approximately every hour).
You can drive a private car only if you have a high-passable car and experience traveling off-road, an ordinary crossover will not work. You will have to overcome the river Ford in several places by car, and pass dangerous rocky areas. Like the walking route, you need to start a trip by private car from the village of Pshada.
Also see the options for excursions from Gelendzhik with reviews, available for online booking:
- 📷 search for excursions in Gelendzhik on Tripster.ru
- 📷 search for excursions in Gelendzhik on Sputnik8.com