Gelendzhik is comfortably located at the foot of the Markotkhsky ridge, which belongs to the mountain system between the Black and Caspian seas called the Greater Caucasus. The maximum height of the ridge in the Gelendzhik region is about 600 meters. Two cable cars lead from the city to its top, one of which bears the proud name “Olympus”.
- Length
– 1150 meters. - The height difference
is 420 meters. - Travel time by cable car
is 15 minutes. - 2 stations:
lower and upper stations. - Cabins:
60 open cabins, each accommodating 2 passengers. - Capacity:
750 people per hour.
Ticket prices
Children under 5 years old can ride the cable car for free. The cost of a child ticket (from 5 to 11 years old) is 500 rubles. For adults, travel will cost 900 rubles.
The ticket price includes not only a ride on the cable car, but also a visit to the petting zoo, exotarium, dolmens and a Ferris wheel.
The diameter of the attraction is 25 m. This Ferris wheel, which is located on the top of the Markotkhsky ridge, is the only one in Russia located at an altitude of 640 meters above sea level.
Lower level of Olympus Park
First of all, from the free parking we approach the ticket office and the beginning of the park along a rather high staircase:
Entrance to Olympus Park. Gelendzhik
After the ticket office (see prices here), you can not immediately take the cable car, but take a walk along the lower level.
Dolmen Valley
If you go left along the path from the ticket office, you will come to a complex of several dolmens. The dolmens are artificially created and placed here solely for atmosphere. But they look quite beautiful and attractive. They are located at different heights relative to each other, and a stone staircase leads to them along a shady alley.
Wildlife Park "Call of the Jungle"
At the Call of the Jungle petting zoo, children and adults can observe and interact with animals up close. Most of the pets can be touched, fed and photographed as a souvenir. Treats for animals and birds can be purchased at the entrance.
There is a contact area “Aviary with Birds” with various species of birds and parrots. Among them are cranes, peacocks, pelicans, pheasants, emus, parrots and many others.
In addition to birds, in the zoo you can see and feed: Himalayan bear, goats, rabbits, nutria, monkeys, Indian Zebu cow, raccoons, guinea pigs, lemurs, chinchillas.
Exotarium
There is a wide variety of reptiles in the exotarium. Here you will see different types of snakes (anacondas, boa constrictors, 8m long reticulated python), iguanas, Nile crocodile, lizards, chameleons and several types of turtles. The highlight of the exotarium is the giant spurred turtles weighing up to 100 kg, which wander right among people around the territory and sometimes even give rides to small children.
Rope park
Between the exotarium and the petting zoo there is a small ropes course for children. There are bridges, ropes, swings and many other entertainments for children. Meanwhile, parents can relax on the benches located nearby.
Rope park in Olympus Park
Cable car "Olympus"
The chairlift will take you leisurely in 30 minutes to a height of 540 meters above sea level. The length of the cable car is 1150 meters. The climb up is a memorable flight over the picturesque mountains of the Markotkhsky ridge with gorgeous views of the lower level of the park, the lake and Gelendzhik Bay.
Olympus cable car in Gelendzhik
And after sunset, when descending on the cable car, romantic views of the city sparkling with lights open up.
Olympus cable car in Gelendzhik
Holidaymakers should take note - at Olympus, for guests who climb the cable car to its top, during the summer, free beer show parties and children's entertainment programs are held.
Be prepared for the fact that it may be noticeably cooler at the top than at the bottom. The cable car operates even in winter.
How to get there
The lower cable car station is located just 600 meters from the central (upper) bus station of the city. You can even walk to the entrance to the ski lift. This walk will not take even ten minutes. During the tourist season, free buses run from the city center, and you can ride them from 10:00 to 20:00. On the map, the stop of these buses is marked with an orange mark from No. 1. A passenger's pass to the vehicle is a ticket for a ride on the cable car, which can be purchased at a special kiosk near the stop.
Upper level of Olympus Park
Ferris wheel and amusement park
We take the cable car up to a height of 540 meters and here an amusement park awaits us, as well as a large Ferris wheel, which you can ride for free as part of your purchased cable car ticket. The wheel is located at the very top of the mountain, its diameter is 25 meters. The booths are open, so children need to be closely supervised. In the evening, the Ferris wheel is illuminated, lit with multi-colored lights and can be seen from any part of the city.
Ferris wheel and amusement park
The Ferris wheel offers magnificent panoramas in all directions. The mountains and sea with Gelendzhik Bay look especially beautiful.
Sea view from the Ferris wheel
View of the mountains from the Ferris wheel
During the summer, a variety of free activities for children and adults are held here. There is an opportunity to ride horses, bicycles and quad bikes. In addition, museum exhibitions are organized on the territory of the amusement park and there is a terrarium.
Observation deck
If you walk to the left along the Markotkh ridge, you can go to an observation deck located on one of the highest points of the area. The observation deck offers a view of the entire upper level of Olympus Park and the Worship Cross. The view is about the same as from a Ferris wheel, but you can take your time to look at everything.
Worship cross with viewing area. Gelendzhik
Olympus Park. Top level
Worship cross
From the upper level of Olympus Park, a concrete road has been laid to the Poklonny Cross. Many compare the Worship Cross with the statue in Rio de Janeiro and popularly call it “Rio de Gelendzhik”. The cross can be seen from almost anywhere in the city, especially at night when it is illuminated.
Worship cross in Gelendzhik
Worship cross in Gelendzhik
The height of the cross together with the base is 43 meters: the cross is about 34 meters, the base is 9 meters. It rises at an altitude of 580 meters above sea level. Approval for the construction of the Worship Cross was received in 2015, and construction was completed in 2020.
Worship cross in Gelendzhik
The design of the cross is made of metal. Its base is made in the shape of an octagonal truncated pyramid. Inside the pedestal there is a chapel of St. Seraphim of Sarov.
Chapel of Seraphim of Sarov
From the upper station of the cable car you can walk to the Poklonny Cross or take an excursion train running in its direction. One way distance is 800 meters.
Worship cross in Gelendzhik
Worship cross in Gelendzhik
This is where the main attractions of the Olympus Park in Gelendzhik end. As you can see, there are a lot of them here and it is better to allocate at least half a day for a visit. This is a good holiday destination for the whole family. The park is all-season, but some attractions operate depending on weather conditions.
Safety regulations
Cable car employees have the right to refuse to sell tickets to visitors if they violate one of the rules for using the lift:
- Are in a state of alcoholic intoxication.
- They violate public order.
- They try to ride in a swimsuit, dirty clothes or half naked.
- Carry weapons, drugs, explosives, food or alcoholic drinks with them. The exception is water, soda, tea in plastic containers.
Children under 12 years old are not allowed on the cable car unless accompanied by an adult. Those who take hand luggage with them or try to disembark without permission in places that are not intended for this will also not be able to ride. Although the Austrian equipment works like a charm, on a cable car it is better not to rock the cabin during the ride. You should also not smoke while driving, or throw garbage or flammable objects down.
The upper and lower stations are fenced for safety reasons. Boarding and disembarking can only be done in the presence of funicular employees who are on duty at the foot and top of the ridge. Before the trip, every tourist is required to undergo a short safety briefing. After landing, you need to lower the protective bracket, which is located above the passenger’s head, fix the safety belt and rest your feet on the stand.
Lower platform
Bowling Club
An excellent place for active recreation. 6 play tracks (with sides for children), sports cafe, bar, broadcasts of significant sporting events on the big screen, billiards, cinema hall.
Concert hall
The largest open-air hall on the Black Sea coast! At the same time, the hall, designed in the form of an amphitheater, can accommodate 3,500 spectators.
Call of the Jungle Petting Zoo
Museum of Paleontological Finds and Terrarium
The Golden Fish cafe is located on the shore of a trout lake. Here you can have a barbecue or rent fishing rods (the catch will be prepared right there!).
Cafe "Golden Fish"
Trout fishing
Excursion to ancient cultural monuments full of mysteries and mystical properties: the stone of love and fulfillment of desires, brought from the “Valley of Silence”, and a dolmen - the same age as the Egyptian pyramids.
Reconstruction of the dolmen
Springs with “living” and “dead” water - a real miracle of nature - form Lake Aya.
The ruins of the old fortress in the depths of the Kupriyanov Gorge will tell about the times of the Caucasian wars.
Life-size puppets greet all guests. Take a photo with them as a souvenir so you can come back here again and again!
Photo with tiger
History of construction
Tourists are attracted to the cable car primarily by its sonorous name. The name of the object was not given by chance. Olympus is a legendary mountain range in Greece. According to legend, the gods themselves chose it as their abode. The park's name alludes to the similarities between the Greek mountain range and the peak of the Markotkh Range, which offers equally stunning views.
The cable car was opened back in 2005. Initially, the complex included only a small amusement park on the upper platform and the ski lift itself, but in recent years the park has grown greatly. Every year new entertainment appears here for tourists and residents of Gelendzhik. The list of events currently taking place in Olympus Park can be found on the cable car’s official website.
Summary - which road is better suited for what, their comparison, pros and cons
The Gelendzhik cable cars are no different in their structure and appearance; they are both suspended and 2-chair, the only differences are in their length and lift height.
The Safari Park cable car is 450 meters longer and rises 80 meters higher than the Olympus Park cable car. At the same time, the view of the sea bay and the city from above in both parks is equally beautiful. But from the observation deck of the Safari Park, unlike the Olympus Park, a wonderful panorama of the Caucasus Mountains also opens up. Another advantage of the Safari Park is the zoo with a wide variety of exotic animals and birds.
The advantages of the park and the Olympus cable car include a lower price for visiting - 630 rubles per person cheaper, the opportunity to ride a Ferris wheel on the top of the mountain, see the evening panorama of the city in lights, since the cable car is open until 23-00, as well as easy to reach the Cross and the inscriptions "Gelendzhik".
Have a nice ride on the cable car and have a great experience!
Useful lifehacks
- It is better to visit the cable car twice. During the day, you will have an excellent opportunity to take luxurious panoramic photographs of local beauty, but at night the picture changes, and travelers will see a city buried in thousands of lights, which from a bird’s eye view will merge into a bright web under the starry sky.
- Passengers should take into account that the temperature at the top of the Markotkh ridge is lower than at its foot. Changes can reach 10 degrees, so you should take warm clothes with you just in case.
- When it’s cloudy outside and clouds are gathering, it makes sense to take raincoats with you so as not to get wet on the way. Don't forget that the cabins are open, so passengers will experience all the delights of capricious weather.
- To protect themselves from the scorching rays of the sun, tourists wear hats, but along the way a strong wind can arise, so all hats must be securely fixed with special elastic bands.
- When choosing between two cable cars in Gelendzhik, it is better to choose the “Olympus”, which has two advantages - close proximity to the 44-meter Orthodox Cross and the 110-meter inscription “Gelendzhik”. From the top station of the park you can reach them on foot.
- On the vast territory of the park there are several observation platforms, a concert hall, cafes, restaurants, a bowling club, tasting rooms, a children's playground, a planetarium, and a paleontological museum. It will easily take all day to see all the sights. In the park you can go fishing and ride jeeps, ATVs, and horses. There is also entertainment for romantics here. According to a beautiful legend, a stone of love, which is saturated with solar energy, was brought here from the Valley of Silence. According to legend, it is enough for lovers to touch it from the sunny side for the couple’s cherished wish to come true.
- At the foot of the ridge there is Lake Aya, into which two springs flow. In one, water is considered “living.” There is a special bowl from which you can scoop up water. In another source flows “dead” water, which, according to legend, heals people. There is a special font here where you can wash yourself.
Useful details
There are several cafes located in the park, so when going here with children, you don’t have to worry that they will go hungry. In the evening, it is quite cool in the upper park, so warm clothes will be useful. A photographer works at the top, and the pictures are printed right there or sent by email. The Olympus amusement and sports park is not known for its affordable prices - visitors note that the rides are expensive, but the ride time does not exceed 3 minutes. However, there are other places with attractions in the city, and getting to Olympus Park in Gelendzhik is worth it at least for visiting the cable car, the zoo and educational exhibitions.
