Gelendzhik

Gelendzhik is a well-known popular Russian resort with a peculiar history. Whatever delights the southern seafront nature has to offer, can be found here – sunny beaches, sea and waterfalls, mountains and forests, vine yards and fruit gardens. Gelendzhik is not only a sea resort but a climatological balneological health centre. The local climate provides healing effects on humans. Besides, the place is rich in mineral water, therefore many people come here to improve their health while on holidays. Gelendzhik is proud of its magnificent nature and wonderful climate, nice weather practically all the year round, advanced infrastructure, an abundance of historical and architectural landmarks. All this cannot but lure herds of tourists from all over the world to this blessed destination on the Black Sea coast.

Gelendzhik is located in the dry subtropical zone. Climate of this resort region is similar to the Mediterranean type. Geographically it is divided into two areas separated by Mikhailovski ridge: the southern-eastern and the northern-western ones. Summer is hot, with peak temperatures in July-August averaging 25◦C. Yet the heat is quite nice, because the air is humid. The most popular swimming season is from May till October, when the coastal water temperature is 18-24◦C. Rains are rare and never spoil holidays, as on the average there are 250 sunny days in the year. Precipitation mostly occurs in the autumn-winter season, mostly as rain, but sometimes as melting snow.

Gelendzhik resort zone stretches along the Black Sea coast for nearly 100 km. Practically everywhere the shoreline is cut by deep and shallow ravines, with fast mountain rivers and streams running to the sea. Many of them form gorgeous cascades of roaring waterfalls. Local beaches are of various types: mostly sandy and a little pebbly at the Blue bay and Kabardinka resorts, with the gradually descending sandy seabed. Between Djanhot and Gelendzhik, the shoreline is steep and rocky, with a narrow strip of beach, or no beach at all. In the resort settlements, this drawback was resolved by installation of artificial sandy beaches that are as nice as the natural ones. In Djanhot and Divnomorskoye, the pebble beaches are natural, in Arkhipo-Osipovka there are pebble and sand beaches, in Betta – only a pebble beach.

More than 200 tourist complexes, hotels, guest houses, boarding houses and health resorts in Gelendzhik resort zone can accommodate simultaneously over 40 thousand guests. Roughly the same number can be accommodated in private houses and hotels. Most of the spa and health centres in Geledzhik are equipped with modern medical diagnostic and treatment facilities, therefore many vacationers grasp the opportunity to improve their health while on holidays here.

Gelendzhik is an excellent and convenient tourist destination: you can get there either by taking the federal highway M4, or by plane via Krasnodar (180 km) or Anapa (140 km), or by railway via Novorossiysk.