Just 30 years ago, the rest in Novy Afon could be enjoyed by the elect. Today, this Abkhaz resort is ready to accept everyone. Here, tourists are waiting for the bright sun, warm sea and amazing landscapes.
How to get there
The civil airport of Abkhazia is not working today, so it’s impossible to get here by air. The only option to quickly get to New Athos is to fly to Sochi by plane, and from there, by bus, train or taxi to go to your destination. The cost of a ticket on the train from 150 rubles.
There is also a direct train from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Sukhum, which stops at Novy Afon. In this case, the cost of tickets will be lower than on the train to Adler.
There are no direct bus routes to Abkhazia from Russia. Choosing a trip by bus, you have to do a transfer in Adler or Krasnodar. And the road will have to spend more than 3 days.
Fans of travel by private car should drive along the M4 to Dzhubga, then turn onto the M27 and drive towards the Sukhum highway.
From May to September, the ship regularly goes from Sochi to Gagra. And getting from Gagra to New Athos by public transport will not be difficult. The price of the ticket is about 500 rubles.
Prices for accommodation in New Athos: private sector, hotels, hotels, guest houses
Accommodation options at the resort are many. This is the private sector, and boarding houses, built in Soviet times, and modern hotels, which, however, not so much. The level of service in them is not yet up to the European level, however, Abkhaz hospitality and good attitude to the guests are able to smooth out any domestic flaws.
The cost of living in them depends on the season and demand. A fairly comfortable room with all the amenities in a decent hotel can be rented for 1,500 rubles. Accommodation in a 3 star hotel, the price of which includes breakfast, will cost 2-3 thousand rubles.
Guest houses offer rooms for 750-2000 rubles per day, depending on the location and services offered.
The daily cost of an apartment here is in the range of 1500-2000 rubles.
Food prices
If you compare the cost of products in New Athos with the average for Abkhazia, they are about 3-4% higher, but a third lower than in Sochi.
Those who rent a room in the private sector, can significantly save on food and cook it yourself. In this case, the day they need about 300-400 rubles per person. For products it is best to go to the market or contact directly local farmers.
Dinner in one of the cafes of New Athos will cost about 300 rubles, and dinner at 250 rubles from the rest.
Such places are very popular among tourists:
- Located on the coast restaurant Camarite. Here guests are offered dishes of Russian, Ukrainian, Azerbaijani and Uzbek cuisines. On average, for dinner here will have to pay about 450 rubles.
- Cafe Bar Prime. In this institution, the average check is 350 rubles.
- Cafe Swan. Here the average amount in the check is about 300 rubles.
- Restaurant national cuisine Abkhazian courtyard. Dinner in this place can be only 250 rubles per tourist.
Holidays at sea in New Athos
Basically all of the resort’s beaches are pebbly, with the exception of the east coast. Turkish beach is completely sandy. Its difference is also a flat bottom and a gentle descent into the sea, which is very convenient for holidaymakers with children.
The beaches of New Athos are all free and mostly uncrowded, which favorably distinguishes them from other Black Sea resorts. But umbrellas and chaise lounges can be taken on those that are on the territory of boarding houses and sanatoriums.
Entertainment and Attractions
The main attraction of New Athos is its amazing nature. Hills covered with subtropical trees and other landscapes, leave no one indifferent. The air is saturated with aromas of citrus and cypress. However, there are other interesting sights here.
One of them is the New Athos Monastery, built in 1896 by monks from the monastery of St. Panteleimon. His main shrine was the cross, which contains a particle of the Tree of the Cross of the Lord. In 1924, this monastery was closed by representatives of the Soviet government, who fought against Christianity. The revival of the shrine began only 70 years later.
One of the natural wonders of Abkhazia is the cave located on the territory of New Athos. It represents a karst cavity and surpasses many famous caves of the world in size and beauty. Here are 9 unique halls that tourists can see. Each of them has a number of its own differences.
When traveling to New Athos, you definitely need to visit Iver Hill. On its summit are the remains of the Anacopia Fortress and the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, inside of which there is an inexhaustible well.
One of the wonders of new Athos is called Lake Riza, which is located in the middle of a forest gorge.
Pros and cons of rest in New Athos.Guest reviews
In the New Athos, as in fact and in all of Abkhazia, amazing nature attracts tourists. Mountains, tropical vegetation and exotic trees at every step, do not leave indifferent any traveler. Interesting will be a tour of local attractions.
Clear sea and deserted beaches will appeal to those who love a relaxing beach holiday. But fans of active pastime here will be boring, since almost no beach entertainment is not here.
Negative impression from visiting the resort leaves poorly developed infrastructure. The city has many dilapidated buildings and chaos on the roadway. The range in local stores is poor. Also, tourists note the absence of ATMs in the city. Therefore, you need to go here with cash.
