Mount Akhun in Sochi and how to visit it (with a description of the routes)

What to Expect and Is It Worth Visiting

Mount Akhun – this is a natural and architectural landmark at the same time, and the highest observation deck in Sochi. The height of the summit is 663 meters. At the top is an observation tower with a height of 30.5 meters, built in 1936 and recognized as an architectural monument of federal significance. The tower can be climbed for a fee of 100 rubles, there is a panoramic observation deck. Also near the top there are the ruins of a chic restaurant of the Soviet period, which can be viewed for free. For the entertainment of tourists, a ferris wheel "peak 701" was installed here (300 USD); a tourist zone was organized with cafes and stalls selling leisure goods, souvenirs, honey, etc.; a rope park (400 USD) and a husky Center (400 USD) work; in winter, the southern residence of Santa Claus receives visitors (450 USD).

Akhun mountain with a tower is a traditional "tourist trap" for luring money from tourists who are brought to the top by large excursion buses. Although the decision whether to pay money to climb the tower or use the ferris wheel is up to you, in fact, if you do not climb the observation deck of the tower or the ferris wheel, then you will only contemplate the trees around and the buildings of the cafe.

How to visit Mount Ahun

Separate excursions to Akhun are not carried out, but include a stop here as one of the points of sightseeing tours. But, in our opinion, it is much more interesting to visit it yourself in the form of an easy hiking route. This route can be done within one day from any resort, having previously reached here by public or private transport. We recommend using a public one.

There are several options for hiking routes to Akhun. Simple roads run along unpaved and asphalt roads from the shore. As starting points for these routes, it is convenient to use the bus stops "Red Storm" or "Sputnik". You will have to overcome about 5 kilometers and 640 meters in height, which in one direction will take 2-4 hours, depending on your physical form. The road throughout is good and gentle, it is impossible to get lost on it.

But in our opinion, climbing the mountain on the side of the asphalt road is not very interesting, so we recommend the option of the route through the Agur gorge. Agur Gorge is a paid route of the Sochi nature reserve with waterfalls and water slides (more information about it Agur Gorge here). At the end of the Agur gorge, you can go back the same way, go along the ring route through the Eagle Rocks, or go to Akhun. The trail to Akhun is not equipped, it is not an official route, but it is well developed by local enthusiasts. It will not be difficult to pass it even for tourists without experience of mountain hiking, but you definitely need good shoes, drinking water, trekking poles will not interfere. You will have to go about 7 kilometers in one line and 650 meters in height. On the way you can look into the Akhun cave. You can use open Street (OSM) or Yandex map editor apps for navigation. Organic Maps there all the trails are marked. You can also join other experienced tourists, there is always someone walking here.

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