Temple-fortress of the IX century and eco-trail "Abaski" in Sochi

What to Expect and Is It Worth Visiting

Paid Eco-Trail "Abaski" it runs between the popular Glubokiy Yar waterfall and the Akhtsu Recreation Center, its length is 1200 meters. Therefore, we highly recommend passing it in conjunction with a visit to the waterfall, and especially just for a walk along the trail, we would not recommend going here.

The trail is fairly easy to visit, with no sharp ascents or descents. There is a very steep climb only from the waterfall to the fortress, but more on that below. All 1200 meters can be easily walked in 20-30 minutes with stops. You will pass a rocky site, an ancient burial of ubykhs (in fact, just stones), an aspen grove, monakhovo Lake and several other notable places. At the end of the trail on the territory of the recreation center you can see a small waterfall "Magic". On the route there are signs with the designations of notable places.

As for the temple-fortress of the IX century, its ruins are not included in the route and do not require payment for inspection, but are located at one of the ends of the route from the side of the deep Yar waterfall. And in this regard there is some peculiarity. The fact is that the ruins are located on the top of the mountain, which is not so easy to climb from the waterfall. And if you go up, then you probably do not want to go back down, and will have to go through a paid Eco-Trail. From the side of the Recreation Center, the ascent through the Eco-Trail is gentle and safe, but it is obvious that you will also have to pay to pass along it to the ruins.

Temple-fortress of IX century and eco-trail Abaski — Ruins of the temple-fortress

And now more about how to pass the route. It is not circular, and it can be passed both from the side of the deep Yar waterfall and from the Ahtsu Recreation Center. But, as we mentioned, to start it from the side of the waterfall, you will have to overcome a very steep climb up the mountainside, in some places you need to climb ropes. The path to the ascent begins with a platform where there is a booth with a ticket office for paying for the entrance to the waterfall. Honestly, we would not recommend climbing here with children and the elderly, it is dangerous. On the way up there will be an observation deck with a view of the gorge, then the ruins of the temple-fortress, and then the equipped eco-trail begins, which goes downhill and ends at the Recreation Center. You can walk back from the recreation center to the waterfall and the waterfall parking lot along the river, or you can climb the overpass of the road (it passes above) and walk along the dedicated shoulder.

If you start the route from the side of the recreation center, then after seeing the ruins at the end of the trail, we would recommend going back along the trail as well. If you still decide to go down here to the waterfall, be very careful: it is more difficult and dangerous to descend than to climb.

🕐 Working hours

working hours are not set, but should be visited during daylight hours in dry weather.

💵Entrance fee / ticket price

a fee of 100 rubles is charged for entering the trail at the Recreation Center. If you pass it from the side of the waterfall and go to the recreation center, then here you will be met by a local caretaker and will require payment. Tickets are not issued, since charging is a traditional private initiative for Sochi to replenish the personal budget.

🚶 How to get there

located near the village monastery on the way to Krasnaya Polyana 50 kilometers from the center of Sochi and 22 kilometers from Adler (trail and ruins on the map. You can get here by bus, but you have to walk a lot, so the recommended way is by your own transport. You need to focus on the entrance to the waterfall deep Yar or the mouth of the Dragon, and from here start the climb to the ruins of the temple-fortress and then continue along the path (see about the passage of the route above).

Own transport

You can get to the entrance to the waterfall and the beginning of the trail along the new Adler-Krasnaya Polyana highway or along the old a-148 road, which passes through the village of Monastery. If you go through the village of Monastery, then when driving from Sochi/Adler, it is important not to miss the branch of the road to the right in front of the observation deck with the statue. Then you need to go along the winding road down to the river, leave the car there on a spacious platform, and walk along the bridge over the river and then to the entrance to the waterfall 1 kilometer.

By bus

On buses No. 105, 105C and 535 you need to go to the stop in the center of the village monastery. From the stop to the entrance will have to go a little more than 2 kilometers downhill, back up accordingly.

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

Panorama of the temple-fortress

🕒 8 April, 2026

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