Tickets
Hotels
Tours
Insurance
Trains
RussiaWhat to Expect and Is It Worth Visiting
Dolmens and waterfalls of Janet is a complex of natural and man–made attractions located along the Janet River. It includes several dolmens, mounds and waterfalls with natural swimming pools, and for visiting them there is a hiking tourist scenic route of medium difficulty along the river gorge. You can overcome it completely without hiking experience, you only need time and effort.
After entering the route, you will almost immediately get to a small waterfall, and further along the way you will meet: a complex of several dolmens on a round dance glade; then a group of burial mounds; dolmen "Fortitude", where local "shamans" and believers in places of power and the power of the earth like to hold rituals; destroyed dolmen; emerald waterfall; waterfalls of Hercules and Aphrodite. In general, there are much more waterfalls here, someone even counted as many as 14 of them, but only those that we named are really large and worthy of attention, and the rest are either upstream after the equipped route, or are small unnamed river rapids. If you are lucky, then at the height of the tourist season you can see shamanic rituals or groups of meditating people next to the "Power of the Spirit", and a street musician sometimes arranges performances on the trail.
Dolmens are ancient megalithic structures, the purpose of which has not yet been established for certain. There are many versions, the most common of which are: a religious building for conducting rituals, a burial place, a farm building for storing crops, a shelter. The age of the dolmens is different, about 2-6 thousand years.
The most interesting places and in fact the culmination of the route are the waterfalls "Bath of Hercules" and "Bath of Aphrodite". There is a cafe Aphrodite next to them and a recreation area is equipped. For reference, a barbecue there costs from 200 rubles to 100 grams, tea from 50 rubles, a portion of salad from 150 rubles. There is also a tray with souvenirs from 100 rubles. Well, the most interesting thing is that there are natural swimming pools for swimming and diving. Horseback riding is also offered in the clearing shortly before Aphrodite.
However, it is worth warning that waterfalls can be spectacular only in the season of heavy rains in winter or spring, but in the second half of summer their appearance may disappoint. But in the pools formed on the river and at the foot of the waterfalls you can swim at any time, so do not forget the bathing suit.
The tourist route along the river Jean is paid, and the fee is quite high. Considering this, as well as its length, because from the entrance to Aphrodite's Bath you will have to walk three and a half kilometers, we advise you to poison yourself here for at least half a day, and even better for the whole day. You can take food with you to have a picnic in one of the sunny glades along the way, or you can eat in a cafe. Drinking water on the road will not hurt either, and at the end of the route you can get it from the spring next to the Hercules Bathroom. As an alternative to walking, you can use a jeep, they cost 2500 rubles and will take you almost to the very end point of the route at the bath and cafe Aphrodite. But if you want to see the dolmens, you still have to walk to them.
🕐 Working hours
From 08:00 to 19:00, it is better to start the route in the morning and choose good weather to visit.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket price
Access to the route from the main road through the entrance is paid, 400 rubles for adults, 250 for children under 15 years old, parking a car next to the entrance costs 300 rubles. You can also easily get on the route for free using one of the trails that start from the dirt road leading to Thunder Gate. There is no entrance fee in low season.
🚶 How to get there
The beginning of the walking route to the Zhane waterfalls is located in the village of Vozrozhdenie along the M4-Don highway, 15 kilometers from Gelendzhik (waterfalls on the Jane River on the map). Excursions from the resorts of Greater Gelendzhik are offered here, the cost starts from 800 rubles.
- 📷 Excursions to the Jean waterfalls on Tripster.ru
- 📷 Excursions to the Jean waterfalls on Sputnik8.com
But it's easy to visit the Jean waterfalls on your own. All buses go here from the new Gelendzhik bus station towards Dzhubga, and suburban buses No. 106, 107, 112, 117/1 from the old bus station to the village of Vozrozhdenie. Here, ask the driver to drop you off at the stop next to the Jean Waterfalls, and continue along the route on foot.
If you decide to go here by your own transport, then there is a parking lot in front of the entrance that costs 300 rubles, or you can park the car for free on the side of the road before turning or on the streets of the village.
Also see the options for excursions from Gelendzhik with reviews available for online booking: