VASHLOVANI PROTECTED AREAS

Vashlovani State Nature Reserve, located in the Eastern part of Georgia, was established in 1935 to preserve its unique, arid shallow forests. In April of 2003 the Reserve's area was expanded to 8,480 ha and Vashlovani National Park (25,114 ha) was created. The area is characterized by its dry climate sitting only 150-50 meters above sea level.

The National Park is notable for its unique, bad-land-like landscapes of desert and semi-desert steppe vegetation and arid and deciduous forests. It is also a home to the remarkable cliffs-of-the-canyons, locally called the "Sharp Walls" and the magnificent Alazani flood plains and forests. The pistachio and juniper trees are unique to the place.

Vashlovani supports a variety of incredible animals such as leopard, striped hyena, brown bear, wolf, lynx, wild boar, as well as a variety of rare birds including the griffon vulture, black vulture, Egyptian vulture, little bustard and the rare black stork.

The river Alazani running along the eastern part of the National Park offers visitors a great opportunity for year-around boating. However, visitors are also welcome to explore the park by foot, horse or vehicle on designated tourist trails.

TOURIST ROUTE “TAKHTI TEFA"

ROUTE ON FOOT

Duration 1 day

Total route length: 450 km

Total route on foot: 3 km

Route Direction: Tbilisi – Dedoplistskaro – Vashlovani – Tbilisi

Departure early in the morning from Tbilisi.

The route to Vashlovani lays through Kakheti region.

Arrival to Vashlovani.

The route starts from the Administration Centre. The visitors will be informed about the territory of the park and the safety measures. The visitors should pass through registration control. During this route the visitors will have the possibility to see the following sightseeing of the park: Takhti Tefa mud volcanos – a real marvel of Vashlovani Protected Areas. They are situated near the Dali Mountain, actually not on the territory of the park. This natural monument is remarkable not only for its mud, which is believed to be therapeutic, but for the sight, that creates the feeling of being on another planet. The diameter of the biggest one is 3-4 m; Dali Reservoir, which attracts the visitors with its gorgeous sights and panoramas; ruins of the medieval Khornabuji Fortress. Picnic on the open air near Khornabuji. Free time.

Departure to Tbilisi.

TOURIST ROUTE “MIJNIS KURE"

JEEP TOUR

Duration 1 day

Total route length: 590 km

Total route on foot: 6 km

Route Direction: Tbilisi – Dedoplistskaro – Vashlovani – Tbilisi

Departure early in the morning from Tbilisi.

The route to Vashlovani lays through Kakheti region.

Arrival to Vashlovani.

En route visit to St. Elia Church (named in honor to Elia, a person who  was adored by the locals from the times immemorial.  It is situated on the Elia Mountain (near Dedoplistskharo).

Arrival to the Administration Centre. The visitors will be informed about the territory of the park and the safety measures. The visitors should pass through registration control.

Departure to “Mijnis Kure”. The visitors will pass through the natural salt lake “Kochebi”.

Mijnis Kure is a favourite place for fishing lovers, as the visitors will have the possibility to fish on Alazani River and to stay there for a picnic.

En route back to Dedoplistskharo, visitors will see the open-air cage for gazelles, that was built in Buga Moedani area, on the Vashlovani Protected Areas, according to the project “Reintroducing the Gazelle species to its historic habit of the Vashlovani Protected Areas”. Looks very amusing!

Departure to Tbilisi.

TOURIST ROUTE “EAGLES CANYON"

ROUTE ON FOOT

Duration 1 day

Total route length: 350 km

Total route on foot: 6 km

Route Direction: Tbilisi – Dedoplistskaro – Vashlovani – Tbilisi

Departure early in the morning from Tbilisi.

The route to Vashlovani lays through Kakheti region.

Arrival to Vashlovani.

Visit to the ruins of the medieval Khornabuji Fortress - a big fortified city built on the top of a cliff in the 3rd-4th centuries. St. Elia Church (named in honor to Elia, a person who  was adored by the locals from the times immemorial.  It is situated on the Elia Mountain (near Dedoplistskharo).

Arrival to the Administration Centre of Eagle’s Canyon Natural monument. The visitors will be informed about the territory of the park and the safety measures. The visitors should pass through registration control.

Natural monument - Eagles Canyon. The foot path leads to the western slope of the valley, where you will have spectacular panoramic views of the Protected Area. In the distance you can see soaring Griffon Vultures. Eagle’s Canyon is home for other exceptionally beautiful birds. The visitors will have the possibility to observe the birds through special binocular.

Departure to Tbilisi.

TOURIST ROUTE “VASHLOVANI"

JEEP TOUR

Duration 2 days

Total route length: 550 km

Total route on foot: 5 km

Route Direction:Tbilisi – Dedoplistskaro – Vashlovani – Tbilisi

DAY 1

Departure early in the morning from Tbilisi.

The route to Vashlovani lays through Kakheti region.

Arrival to Vashlovani.

The route starts from the Administration Centre. The visitors will be informed about the territory of the park and the safety measures. The visitors should pass through registration and security control. During this route the visitors will have the possibility to see the following sightseeing of the park: Takhti Tefa mud volcanos – a real marvel of Vashlovani Protected Areas. They are situated near the Dali Mountain, actually not on the territory of the park. This natural monument is remarkable not only for its mud, which is believed to be therapeutic, but for the sight, that creates the feeling of being on another planet. The diameter of the biggest one is 3-4 m; Dali Reservoir, which attracts the visitors with its gorgeous sights and panoramas; Picnic on the open air near Khornabuji; visit to ruins of the medieval Khornabuji Fortress - a big fortified city built on the top of a cliff in the 3rd-4th centuries.

Arrival to Visitors’ Center.

Overnight in the bungalows near the Visitors’ Center.

DAY 2

Breakfast at the bungalow.

Departure to Datvikhevi Gorge (The Gorge of the Bear). This is the place for just having a picnic and enjoying the scenery on the fresh air. There are many evidences (and you can see them with your own eyes!) to the fact that this Gorge was covered by the sea in the ancient times and one of them is the sea shells, which you can still see in the naked mountain rocks. Southern elephant’s hardened shoulder bone extrudes out from the clay hill – that is the other evidence of the giant mammals’ existence million years ago. Here one can come across the trails of bear, wolf, wild pig and lynx.

Picnic in Datviskhevi.

Pantishara Gorge – the grasping views appear before your sight.

St. Elia Church (named in honor to Elia, which was adored by the locals from the times immemorial.  It is situated on the Elia Mountain (near Dedoplistskharo).

Departure to Tbilisi.

SPECIAL NOTES FOR VISITORS:

NOTE 1:THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF THE GROUP IS 2 PEOPLE

THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF THE GROUP IS 30 PEOPLE

NOTE 2:During your trip it is PROHIBITED:

• carry any type of firearm or any type of weapon for hunting
• collect plants, rock minerals or other fossils
• catch, banish or cause any harm to animals
• climb trees, rocks, caves or stand at the edge of gorges
• cause any damage to historical monuments, collect remnants, undertake excavation without special permit
• light fires, except in the specially designated places.

NOTE 3:While visiting Vashlovani protected areas it’s necessary to hold your passport or ID            card with you.

 NOTE 4: How to dress while visiting Vashlovani Protected Areas? You are recommended to be casually dressed, suitable to the high region; you should wear a hat, sporting trousers, boots and raincoat.

NOTE 5:ACTIVITIES:

• hiking/ nature trails;
• Bird watching;
• Mountain biking;
• Fishing/ angling.

NOTE 6:DISTANCES

• The distance from Tbilisi to Vashlovani Protected Areas is 130 km.
• The distance from Batumil to Vashlovani Protected Areas is 500 km

 NOTE 7: DURATION FROM TBILISI TO VASHLOVANI (BY CAR) – 2 HOURS