The “Guamskoe ushchelye” (Guamka Gorge) natural monument runs along the Kurdzhips River from Guamka to Mezmay and lies within the rural settlements of Nizhegorodskoye and Mezmay. The gorge is 3 km long and about 400 m deep. In its lower reaches it is 15 to 30 m wide, and in its upper reaches 100 to 200 m wide; its walls are steep and vertical in places.

Routes to the waterfall and viewpoints

One route starts at the southern edge of Mezmay and leads through the Kurdzhips Gorge to Isichenko Waterfall and a viewpoint in the gorge. The 5 km route is listed as taking three hours to walk, with a maximum elevation gain of 110 m.

Another route starts at the Mezmay village council and covers 9 km to the “Mezmay kamen” (Mezmay Kamen) viewpoint. Its maximum elevation gain is 270 m. From the route, you can see the lowland settlements of Chernigovskaya and Samurskaya, the city of Apsheronsk, and Orlina Rock.

The two routes can be compared by distance and maximum elevation gain: the gorge route is five kilometres with 110 m of elevation gain, while the route to Mezmay Kamen is nine kilometres with 270 m of elevation gain.

Shestimetrovka, at the southern edge of Mezmay, is also given as the starting point for the walk to Isichenko Waterfall. From there, it is no more than a 30-minute walk. Mezmay is also described as having 15 radial routes of varying difficulty; leisurely hikes are listed as taking three to twelve hours, depending on the route. The stated times therefore range from no more than 30 minutes to hikes lasting several hours, helping you gauge different walking-time budgets.

Route conditions and access rules may change, so check them before setting out.

Museum and other activities

The “Kuznechnoe delo Kubani” Museum preserves a collection of more than 2,000 historical objects and photographs from the 19th and 20th centuries. Routes in Mezmay lead to the museum. There, visitors can experience the atmosphere of a traditional workshop, try the role of an apprentice and take part in the creative process of making various objects. If you are planning a visit, check the current visiting options in advance.

Other active recreation options mentioned for Mezmay include climbing, jeep excursions, horseback riding and cycling excursions. The choices are therefore not limited to hiking routes; these activities offer other ways to plan your stay.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Mezmay, you can use your preferred activities and the time they require as a starting point for planning your day. This makes it easier to decide first whether a gorge route, a viewpoint or the museum should be the main focus.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Blagoveshchenskaya, Golubitskaya, Molchanovka, Perevalka, Goryachy Klyuch, Dagomys, Novomikhaylovskiy, Zavetnyy.

Back to the main travel overview: Krasnodar Krai.