Agur Gorge and waterfalls in Sochi, and how to visit it yourself

What to Expect and Is It Worth Visiting

Agur Gorge and waterfalls it is formed on the river Agurchik (Agura), which, winding, passes between the rocks of the gorge, forming several waterfalls and water slides along the way. Along the river there is a picturesque hiking route related to Sochi National Park, and accordingly, the entrance to it is paid (200+50 USD). In front of the entrance (ticket offices) on the left there is an abandoned hot spring, and 800 meters from the ticket office along the street Agur Gorge and waterfalls there is another remarkable place - Vysotsky glade with a statue of a musician. If you like easy hiking trips in natural places, then we definitely recommend the gorge to visit. You can visit it from anywhere in Greater Sochi, having previously reached the beginning of the route by private or public transport.

Mountain hiking skills and special equipment for its passage are not required, the route is easy. You only need time, physical strength, drinking water and good shoes, ideally trekking shoes or sneakers. You can take trekking poles with you, but in some places they will interfere, so make sure that there is somewhere to temporarily put them.

How to visit Agur Gorge and waterfalls and route options

There are several options for passing the gorge:

• Round-trip route. This is the easiest route, its length is about 2.5 kilometers, in time it will take 2-4 hours, depending on your preparation and stops. From the main ticket office you just need to go along the equipped path along the river and gorge to the end, and then turn back. Along the way you will see several waterfalls and water slides; you will have a view of the Eagle Rocks (they will be on the left above); meet several natural fonts in the rocks.

• Beltway through Eagle Rocks. The length is about 6 kilometers, the time is 3-5 hours. Start the route also from the main ticket office and go through it to the end (2.5 kilometers). At the end of the route, at the fork of the river and the trails, you need to go sharply to the left, the trail will lead up. Follow it to Eagle Rocks and cafe with Prometheus statue. The cafe offers a small tourist attraction - a visit to the cave from the entrances on a steep cliff for a fee of 150 rubles. After the cafe on the descent begins a dirt road, which gradually turns into asphalt, and will take you almost to the beginning of the route. There is a variant of this route: after the cafe, return not to the main ticket office, but go through the SNT to dacha-Museum of Stalin and from there go to the main road to the bus stop.

  You can do this way in the opposite direction, starting with cafes and Eagle Rocks. At the entrance from this side, you will also have to pay 250 rubles, but no longer at the cash desk, but simply" in the pocket" of a private money collector who is on duty on the road to the cafe at the barrier in the form of a cable. If you do not want to pay, you can safely bypass the Collector along the trails through the forest.

• Through the gorge and Mount Akhun. From the ticket office to the exit to the bus stop 12 kilometers with height differences of 600 meters. Of course, it can be cut in half if you climb to the top of Akhun and leave from there by taxi or hitchhiking. From the main ticket office, reach the end of the gorge, and at the fork turn onto the path to the right. It will take you up to the top Ahun mountains and on the way you can visit the unfurnished Akhun cave.

Whichever option you choose, we recommend that you use a navigator or smartphone with track maps like OSM or Organic Maps. These maps mark the main trails in the area. In general, these places are quite crowded, there are always tourists and lovers of walks, ready to suggest the direction.

We also advise you to see interesting options for individual and group tours of Sochi on these proven sites:

• 📷 search for excursions in Sochi on Sputnik8.com
• 📷 excursions from the tour operator TEZ Tour
• 📷 search for excursions in Sochi on Tripster.ru