Tours around Tbilisi (9): Birtvisi Canyonland

Tours around Tbilisi
Tbilisi offers a wide range of 1- day tours.
Georgian Tourism Association (GTA) has tested some of them.

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Tour 9: Birtvisi Canyon & Fortress

Hike with optional Canyoning in a true Lord-of-the-rings’- setting!

Description
Hundreds of rocks, some more than hundred meters high and crowned with remains of an old fortress peak through a forested Canyonland, that you’d never expect to find yourself in at the beginning of the walk.

The walk options from the Canyon base are whether on the left side (following the dried out creek upstream) or on the right (just left from the big wall dominating the Canyon base) and then up. If you don’t feel like searching your way, take a local guide.

Adventure option
If you take the complete right and follow the river downstream, a small Canyoning experience awaits you, with nice toboggans and pools once the water reappears. (Good boots and a small rope may prove useful here). Follow the river to find yourself back on the road near village Tbisi (2-3 hours).

Camping
The Canyon base is an ideal place to pitch your tent and stay for a night or two. Bring all equipment.

The place is quite popular with locals (a chance for unforgettable evenings!) but if you want your tranquility it is easy to find a nice campspot a few hundred meters up the Canyon.

The Canyonland of Birtvisi is definitely one of the most spectacular hikes in the vicinity of Tbilisi.

How to get there
With own transport or Taxi, via Asureti and Jorgiashvili, to Tbisi (60km, 1h 10min drive). When you see the earthen dam of Algeti Reservoir follow the road that goes up and after approx. 200m turn right on small track and drive up to the houses and park your car there. At the end of the forth house a path goes up at the end of a fence. Cross a meadow and enter the woodland, follow the clearly marked path along the ridge.

Best season
Possible almost the whole year.
In summer: start your walk early!

Difficulty
Moderate (good sense of orientation is required)

Duration
approx 1 hour to reach the Canyon Base, 1,5-2 hours for left top (return), 30min-1hour for right top (return), 2-3 hours for Canyoning

More information
see Peter Nasmyth: “Walking in the Caucasus”