Georgia. North of the village of Martvili, the water has carved a narrow canyon into the limestone. The steep, densely vegetated slopes and the winding, turquoise river are reminiscent of a fairytale world. Let yourself be enchanted and read here some practical tips for your trip to the Martvili Canyon in Georgia.

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Tip: Are you traveling with a four-wheel camper or, like us, with Lada Niva and roof tent? Then I have a tip for a great place for the night near the Martvili Canyon at the end of the article.

Walk on historical Paths

In the 19th century the princely family Dadiani had discovered the Martvili Canyon in Georgia for themselves. They laid out a walking path along the river. Already at that time the path led over several limestone stairs and two small bridges to several viewpoints. This historic path has now been made into a walking trail about 700 meters long and starts directly at the visitor center.

The path runs parallel to the river through a shady forest. The slopes are lush with trees, bushes and ferns. The moisture allows lichens and mosses to thrive on the trees and everything is lush and green. A welcome change on the sunny and rather dusty day. Again and again we stop and soak up the beauty of Martvili Canyon. I was amazed at how different it is from the nearby Okatse Canyon, which we had visited in the morning. If you have the time, I would recommend you to just visit both canyons.

You can get to several viewing platforms via historic limestone stairs and two small bridges. At the end of the path is the largest platform with the best view. From here you look directly into the narrow canyon with its winding rock walls.

You are planning a road trip?

Travel Guide Book – Georgia – Caucasus*

Dieses Buch von OunTravela lädt euch ein, die wildesten Ecken Georgiens zu erkunden. Entlang von 24 Routen werdet ihr selbst zu Entdeckern von malerischen Landschaften, rauhen Bergwelten sowie von Klöstern, Festungen und jahrhundertealten Wehrtürmen. Neben detailierten Beschreibungen der 4×4-Tracks findet ihr in diesem Buch eine Vielzahl weiterführender Informationen über Land und Leute sowie Tipps für eure Planungen. Letztere reichen von Vorschlägen für Stellplätze für die Nacht über Vermieter von expeditionsfertigen 4×4-Fahrzeugen bis hin zu lohnenswerten Fotospots. Zu dem Buch könnt ihr außerdem eine Karte sowie die GPS-Tracks zur Navigation erwerben.

Boat Ride over the turquoise Waters of Martvili Canyon

In the past, Martvili Canyon was the bathing place of the Dadianis. How great it must have been to refresh oneself in the clear turquoise green water. However, due to accidents, bathing in the canyon is forbidden today.

On a boat tour, however, you can get almost as close to the waters of the Abasha River. The perspective from the water surface to the steep 40 to 70 meter high walls of the canyon is hard to beat.

After our walk to the viewing platform, we return the same way and continue a little further to the boat dock. There, we are equipped with life jackets, get a paddle in the hand and one minute later, we sit in a yellow rubber boat with captain. Bootsanleger. Wir werden mit Schwimmwesten ausgerüstet, bekommen ein Paddel in die Hand gedrückt und schon sitzen wir in einem gelben Gummiboot mit Kapitän.

We were lucky and got a boat with skipper for us alone (maybe because of Covid). A total of six people would fit inside. To see well then, you would have to fight for the front seat first.

During the boat tour, we tried to paddle along diligently. But I was so distracted by the natural beauty around us that I mostly put the paddle down again after three paddles and grabbed the camera. Fortunately, our captain was patient and probably did better without our interference anyway.

How to get Martvili Canyon in Georgia?

From Kutaisi, Martvili Canyon is just a stone's throw away. With your own car you will reach the visitor center after about one hour drive (47 km) from Kutaissi. It is a perfect stopover if you are on your way to Svanetia.

If you don't have a car, you can also book a day tour to Martvili Canyon from Kutaisi* . This is available in combination with Okatse Canyon and the popular Prometheus Cave, which alone are worth a visit.

Arriving at the parking lot, we were a bit disoriented at first. The visitor center is not immediately visible, instead there are a lot of providers for rafting tours. Since we only wanted to do the simple short boat ride at the bottom of the canyon, we walked past the other tour providers and the numerous souvenir stands and restaurants. Then, at the end of the trail, one can't miss the visitor center.

Tip: Check the weather forecast before visiting. In case of rain and snow, the boat tours will not take place.

Opening hours: daily from 10 am to 7 pm.
Entrance fee: for adults 17,25 GEL
Boat tour: 15 GEL
Location: At Inchkhuri village, 5 kilometers north of Martvili in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region.

What else is there in the Area?

Martvili Canyon is well signposted and is the biggest tourist attraction in the area. Not far from the canyon there is also the Martvili Monastery and the Martvili-Chkondidi Cathedral. However, since we were more interested in nature and largely stayed away from interiors due to exploding covid numbers, we did not visit either.

Kutaisi is a good starting point for many great tours. Nearby are Prometheus Cave, Okatse Canyon and exciting Lost Places and Soviet architecture at Tsakaltubo.

If you want to continue from Kutaisi to Svanetia, be sure to check out my article about our Road Trip on the Svaneti Loop. By the way, you can rent this cool Lada Niva with roof tent in Kutaisi at Overlando. What better way to discover Georgia?

Trekking sandals, waterproof bags, sun hats and everything else you might need for your trip to the Martvili Canyon in Georgia you can find at Bergzeit.

Pitch for the Night

For us, one of the highlights of the region was our campsite for the night.

We were on the road with a Lada Niva and roof tent. I had previously searched on Google Maps for a possible camping site in the quite sprawling area at Martvili Canyon. At the bank of the river Abasha I finally found it (GPS: 42°28'42.3″N 42°22'47.5″E). Here you can stand (depending on the water level of the river and the weather) in the half-dried riverbed. A gravel road initially runs parallel along the eastern bank of the river. After about 1.5 kilometers, another dirt road branches off to the left in a hairpin bend toward the river. If the river would have even less water or with a vehicle with appropriate fording depth, the river can be forded here. Here is a lot of space and we had fresh water for cooking and for a cool bath. Since no rain was predicted (not even for the upstream regions) we were also not worried that the river would rise.

Read more Articles about Georgia

Okatse Canyon: Panoramic View and Stomach Tingling at the Hanging Cliff Trail

Yesterday's Visions of the Future: Soviet Architecture in Tbilisi

Road trip Georgia: in 4×4 Lada Niva from Kutaisi through Svanetia

Chiatura - Legendary Cable Cars, Lost Places, Soviet Architecture and More

Book Recommendations for Georgia

Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you.

You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission, and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. The product will not be more expensive for you, and you will do me a huge favor.

Have you ever been to Georgia, maybe even to the picturesque Martvili Canyon? How did you like it? Do you have any questions about my article? If yes, then write me a comment!

Do you want to know when there are new articles on my blog? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends.

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Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love Eastern Europe as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about a Road Trip in Albania or about a Road Trip around the Baltic Sea.

Der Beitrag Martvili Canyon – Ausflug zu dem schönsten Canyon in Georgien erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Georgia. During the Soviet times, many impressive buildings were built in the former Soviet Union. Especially the bizarre, futuristic-looking buildings in the style of Soviet Modernism and Brutalism attract attention. And if you look closely, you can even discover large-scale mosaics or reliefs on some of the buildings. Also in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, unique icons of Soviet architecture and Brutalism were created during this time.

Non-solicited, unpaid advertising. This article contains affiliate links*, marked with an asterisk.

If you are interested in Soviet architecture, you will love Tbilisi!

We took a guided tour of Tbilisi's Soviet architecture and Brutalism with expert Nini Palavandishvili. This was comfortably by car through the city center as well as to the outskirts of Tbilisi. If you have a little more time, it is also possible to visit the buildings by public transport.

Other worthwhile day trips from Tbilisi include a visit to the Vardsia Cave Monastery*or a tour of the legendary Cable Cars of Chiatura*.

Yesterday's Visions of the Future: Soviet Architecture in Tbilisi

When one hears the term "Soviet architecture", one has in mind either the monumental buildings in the Zuckerbäcker style or the futuristic buildings of Soviet Modernism. Both architectural styles are very different. Here is a brief overview:

Soviet Realism (Classicism) 1950-55

In Stalin's time, architecture was not only a question of functionality and aesthetics, but rather a question of attitude. The general happiness promised by the communist worldview included people living in magnificent palaces. Urban planning was subject to certain rules and development plans, and architects planned according to strict specifications. Public buildings in particular were supposed to impress with their architecture and were seen as signposts to the future. Soviet Realism is also often called Zuckerbäckerstil "wedding cake style". This is because the often monumental buildings with their lavish decorations quickly make one think of the form and decoration of wedding cakes. The death of Stalin was also the end of this architectural style.

By the way, you can also see beautiful examples of the Zuckerbäckerstil during a walk along Karl-Marx-Allee (formerly Stalinallee) in Berlin .

Soviet Modernism from 1955 to 1991 and Brutalism

While Soviet Realism can still be seen as a signpost to the future, Soviet Modernism has arrived in the future. The buildings seem futuristic, stand out and somehow fall out of concept.

Soviet Modernism and Brutalism, unlike Soviet Realism, seem to dispense with any guidelines. Each building is different and unique. Sometimes the beauty of the buildings is only apparent at second glance, often they are scorned as an ugly legacy from the Soviet era. But those who take a closer look are quickly taken in by the architecture, which seems to follow no rules whatsoever. Unfortunately, many of these buildings were abandoned after the collapse of the Soviet Union, fell into disrepair and were demolished.

The roots of Soviet Modernism were laid by the French architect Le Corbusier. Particularly impressive are the buildings created in the late Soviet phase from the 1960s to the beginning of the 1980s. They are classified as "Soviet Brutalism". The term brutalism does not stand for brutality but for "béton brut". This is French and means "raw concrete" in German. This architectural style was significantly influenced by the architect Le Corbusier. Characteristic features are simple geometric shapes, emphasis on the construction itself and the use of exposed concrete.

In the buildings in the style of Soviet Modernism, instead of the raw concrete also often used cladding materials, such as marble, sandstone, shell limestone or cheaper substitute material.

Mosaics and reliefs of the Soviet period

As early as the 1930s, art was used to spread communist propaganda. Numerous large-scale mosaics were created, decorating the facades of buildings or even bus stops. They depicted scenes from the world of work, science, technology, as well as family and sports. In the Soviet republics further away from Moscow, national and folkloric motifs were also mixed in.

The commissions for the mosaics were given centrally to mosaic workshops. As a result, the artists who created the mosaics are often not even known. Only since the last years a systematic documentation of the still existing mosaics takes place. Just like many buildings of Soviet architecture and Brutalism, many of the works of art in Tbilisi are unfortunately already lost, dilapidated or built over.

Bank of Georgia (former Ministry of Road Construction)

The former Ministry of Road Construction is a timeless appearance of floating blocks stacked on top of each other à la Tetris. It is one of the most important buildings of Soviet architecture in Tbilisi and even in all of Georgia. Even today, the building is a real eye-catcher.

When planning the building, the architects followed the concept of the "space city", which is patented in Georgia. The idea is to use less floor space by building a house on columns. Nature should be less affected and light open spaces should be created, as between the tree trunk (the supports of the house) and the tree crown (the building's beams). In the end, everything should benefit the psychological well-being of the residents.

Since 2006, the building has belonged to the Bank of Georgia, which has used it as its headquarters since 2010. In 2007, the complex was listed as a National Monument.

Architects: Giorgi Chakhava, Zurab Jalagonia
Completion date: 1975
Address: 29a Iuri Gagarini St, Tbilisi, Gruzja

Tbilisi Skybridge

The skyscrapers on the outskirts of Tbilisi were among the most impressive pieces of Soviet architecture we visited. These three tall apartment buildings were built on the slopes in Nutsubidze Street. All three are connected by a skybridge. You can reach the bridge by taking the elevator to the 14th floor in the first block. For this you need a 20 Tetri coin, which you put into a slot machine in the elevator. I would not recommend the staircase, because it is mostly locked at the top. From the elevator you can walk over the bridge through the buildings. You will pass a small bench and a tiny store on the 14th floor. From the skybridge you also have a great view of the surrounding living quarters. At the end of the bridge you come out at the top of the slope on the street.

Architect: Otar Kalandarishvili, Gizo Potskhishvili
Construction period: 1974-1976
Address: Shalva Nutsubidze St, Tbilisi, Gruzja

You are planning a road trip?

Travel Guide Book – Georgia – Caucasus*

This book by OunTravela invites you to explore the wildest corners of Georgia. Along 24 routes you will discover picturesque landscapes, rugged mountains, monasteries, fortresses, and centuries-old fortified towers. In addition to detailed descriptions of the 4x4 routes, you will find a wealth of additional information about the country and its people as well as tips for your planning. The latter range from suggestions for overnight campsites to rental companies of expedition-ready 4x4 vehicles and worthwhile photo spots. You can also purchase a map and GPS tracks for navigation.

Museum of Archaeology

The Museum of Archaeology is reminiscent of an Egyptian temple. It is perched on a hill right next to the Saint Nino Monument. Unfortunately, the museum has never been opened. Nevertheless, it houses an archaeological collection inside and is therefore locked and closely guarded.

Architects: Sh. Kavlashvili and Sh. Gwantseladze
Completion date: 1988
Address: 9, Motsikulta Stsori Nino St

Mosaic at Saburtalo Fire Station

The huge mosaic on the facade of the fire station focuses on a fireman. Around him, several well-known buildings of Tbilisi can be seen. Among them is the medieval Metekhi Church, the Circus, as well as the Sports Palace and the former Iveria Hotel in the style of Soviet Modernism. In addition, the mosaic depicts buildings with Persian and Byzantine architecture. This juxtaposition is intended to illustrate that in Tbilisi East and West meet.

Artist: Givi Kervalishvili
Completion date: 1979
Address: Gorgasali St 34, behind Ortachala Bus Station

Ortachala Central Bus Station

Between 1964 and 1973, a new central bus station was built in Ortachala. This was designed to handle around 18,500 passengers per day. In addition to the actual bus stops, the station also includes restaurants, cafes, stores and a hotel. The facades of the building are clad with natural stone and in large part also glazed. Next to the staircase, the mosaic "History of Transport" by Zurab Tsereteli is placed on the facade.

Architects: Ramaz Kiknadze, Vladimir Kurtishvili and Shota Kavlashvili
Artist: Zurab Tsereteli
Completion date: 1973
Address: Ortachala Bus Station

Book recommendations for architecture fans

Can't get enough of Soviet architecture and mosaics either? Then take a closer look at these three books*. You will love them.

Technical Library

Completed in 1986, the Technical Library is another prestigious object of Soviet Modernism and Brutalism in Tbilisi. The structure is an elongated bar surrounded by a dark concrete ring. The windows are framed by a seemingly endless repetition of fan-like concrete swords.

Architect: G. Bichiashvili
Completion date: 1986
Address: 47 Merab Kostava St

Laguna Vere Water and Sports Complex

The swimming complex with three pools, slide, a sports hall and a tribune for 5,500 spectators was completed in 1978. It hosted not only national but also international events. However, the complex became less and less profitable over time and finally closed in 2014. Today, the facility serves car dealers as a workshop and warehouse. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to enter the complex. However, we were able to sneak onto the grandstand from the back and look down on the now overgrown pool from above.

There is also a monumental mosaic preserved above the entrance area on the street. It is one of the longest mosaics in all of Georgia.

Architects and artists: Shota Kavlashvili, Guram Abuladze, Ramaz Kiknadze, Koka Ignatov
Completion date : 1978
Address: M. Kostava St 34

Mother Georgia

Twenty meters high "Mother Georgia" was erected to celebrate the 1500th anniversary of Tbilisi. In one hand she holds a bowl of wine with which she welcomes guests. But in the other hand she carries a sword with which she fights off enemies. The statue, originally made of wood and later covered with aluminum, was replaced by a new one in 1997.

Sculptor: Elguja Amashukeli
Completion date: 1958
Address: Sololaki St

Radio Computing Centre

The Radio Computing Centre belongs to the Radio Fortuna Holding. It was formerly also known as Transcaucasia Power Control Centre or Managing Computing Centre of the United Board of Energy System of Transcaucasia.

Architects:: S. Kavlashvili, G. Djanebirdze and S. Katsitadze
Completion date: 1973

Other Buildings

Unfortunately, our time in Tbilisi was very limited. But since I immediately took the city into my heart, I hope to return soon. Because there are many more impressive buildings of Soviet architecture and in the style of Brutalism waiting, such as the campus of the University of Tbilisi.

Book Recommendations for Georgia

Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you.

You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission, and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. The product will not be more expensive for you, and you will do me a huge favor.

Did you like the Soviet Architecture and Brutalism in Tbilisi? Do you have any questions about my article? If yes, then write me a comment!

Do you want to know when there are new articles on my blog? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends.

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Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love Soviet architecture and lost places as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about Eisenhüttenstadt or about the GDR Architecture in Berlin.

Der Beitrag Zukunftsvisionen von Gestern: Sowjetische Architektur in Tiflis erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links.

In this article you will find a lot of practical information for a road trip through Svaneti in Georgia:

The Classic - Lada Niva with Roof Tent as Rental Car
Die Route “Svaneti Loop” – von Kutaissi durch Swanetien
Places of Interest on our Road Trip in Svaneti
Tips for Campsites for the Night
Shopping, Food, Money and Refueling
Condition of the Roads on the Svaneti Loop
Conclusion - is the Svaneti Loop worth it?

The Classic - Lada Niva with Roof Tent as Rental Car

The best way to explore Svaneti is on a road trip with your own 4×4 vehicle. Then you can choose your route and travel pace according to your wishes. If you travel with a camper or a roof tent, you can spend the night where it is most beautiful. What could be better for such a tour than a Lada Niva with roof tent? The small, handy Lada Niva is a classic from Russia. It has been produced in the Russian city of Togliatti since 1976 and its simple technology makes it almost indestructible. It is also an extremely popular vehicle in Georgia, you can see it on every corner.

Another classic from Russia is the UAZ Buchanka. Some also call it "toast bread". Not without reason. It doesn't take much imagination to see the resemblance. But you don't see the UAZ in Georgia quite as often as the Lada Niva.

Where does one find such a car?

Wondering where you can rent one of those ready-to-go Lada's? Have a look at Overlando.Here you can choose between Lada Niva, UAZ Buchanka or Toyota Land Cruiser. Tbilisi and Kutaisi are offered as pick-up locations.

Die Route “Svaneti Loop” – von Kutaissi durch Swanetien

Svaneti is located in the north of Georgia, near the Russian border. The wild mountainous landscape of the Great Caucasus attracts many nature and hiking lovers every year. Besides, Svaneti is famous for its charming mountain villages with their special architecture and fortified towers. In particular, the village of Ushguli, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is often depicted in pictures as well as in travel brochures. 

But the romantic places and colorful mountain meadows in summer look different in winter: up to six months a year Ushguli is cut off from the rest of the world. Heavy snowfalls, avalanches, heavy rains and landslides are not rare events here. Since the 1980s, many inhabitants have migrated from the villages. Today, about 23,600 people live in Svanetia.

The Svaneti Loop is a particularly scenic, but also challenging route. It leads through the mountainous region from Mestia via Ushguli to Sasaschi. If you include the journey to and from Kutaisi, the route covers about 445 kilometers.

The individual sections of our Lada Niva road trip in Svaneti:

• Kutaisi - Mestia: 221 to 251 kilometers (about 5-6 hours), depending on the route chosen.
• Mestia - Ushguli: 46,5 kilometers (about 2-3 hours)
• Ushguli - Zagari Pass - Sasaschi: 46 kilometers (about 3 hours)
• Sasaschi - Lentechi: 28 kilometers (about 45 minutes)
• Lentechi - Kutaisi: 90 kilometers (about 2 hours)

Places of Interest on our Road Trip in Svaneti

The first three destinations on our road trip are not in Svaneti. But they are worthwhile stops on the way from Kutaisi to Mestia. It would be too bad to miss them.

Zqaltubo - Thermal Spa with Lost Places

Zqaltubo (Tskaltubo) is a thermal resort about 15 kilometers northwest of Kutaisi. Once Zqaltubo was one of the most important health resorts of the Soviet Union. Numerous sanatoriums offered cures for rheumatism and other joint diseases using the slightly radioactive water. In order to maintain the socialist work force, the Soviet spa policy promoted the development of the spa. Thus, numerous spa hotels were built in the style of neo-classicism and later in the style of classical Soviet modernism. However, the sanatoriums were not only for physical recreation. Cultural education and ideological training were also of great importance.

However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the beginning of the war, fewer and fewer guests came. The spa hotels remained empty and fell into disrepair. Some of the sanatoriums became the new homes for internally displaced persons (IDPs) instead.

Today, Zqaltubo is a place that many blogs describe as a great Lost Place. And yes, it is true that there are many Lost Places. But the town is making efforts to become an attractive resort again. For example, investors have already been found for the Iveria and Meshakhtiori sanatoriums. The two sanatoriums are fenced in and can only be seen over the fence. On the other hand, we were able to take a closer look at bathhouse 8 in the spa park. We visited the other sanatoriums from the Soviet era only from the outside. Their architecture is beautiful and I would have loved to go inside. But I didn't want to intrude too much on the privacy of the people who have made their homes here in the abandoned hotels.

Today, the Tsqaltubo SPA Resort is the only Soviet-era spa hotel still operating as such. Bathhouse 6 in the central spa park also still offers medical treatments.

Prometheus Cave

Prometheus Cave is only about a 10-minute drive north of Zqaltubo. If you are in the area, you should not miss a visit to the impressive stalactite cave. You can visit the 1.8 km long cave during a one hour guided tour. For a small extra price, you can even leave the cave at the end of the tour in a boat on the underground river Kumi.

Martvili Canyon

Martvili Canyon is also a worthwhile destination on the road trip to Svaneti. You can explore the canyon on a 700 meter long hiking trail and look down on the water from two bridges and several viewing platforms. The highlight of Martvili Canyon, however, is the boat ride. Equipped with a life jacket and a paddle, the boat goes about 300 meters along the Abasha River. Here, the canyon walls seem a bit steeper and the river with its overgrown banks a bit more enchanted.

Check out my separate article about Martvili Canyon to find out more about it.

Mestia Village Walk

Mestia is the main village in Svaneti region and has about 9300 inhabitants. The village is located at an altitude of about 1500 meters. It is the starting point of various day hikes or the popular multi-day trekking tour to Ushguli. Mestia is the tourist center of Svaneti and easily accessible. Between 2009 and 2012 the village was extensively modernized. In the process, many old houses, which were still built in the original Svanetian style, were demolished. In their place now stand chalets, reminiscent of the Swiss mountains.

Many criticize that Mestia has lost its Swanetian character due to the renovation measures and new buildings. In some parts, especially in the city center, this may be true. But there are still side streets in Mestia where everything is as it used to be. The town is particularly atmospheric when the numerous fortified towers are beautifully illuminated in the evening.

What is there to see in the city? Near the entrance to the town is the Ethnographic Museum. In the center of town you can climb the Kergiani fortified tower and walk through the winding streets of Lagami.

Tip: Mestia is the last place where you can get cash and gas for your car on the Svaneti Loop. It is best to buy some provisions, because in Ushguli there are only the most necessary things.

Hike to the Chalaati Glacier near Mestia

On this hike you can get very close to the ice masses of the Chalaati Glacier. The tongue of the mighty glacier reaches down to 1890 meters at this point and can be easily hiked during a half-day excursion. The starting point is the suspension bridge 9 kilometers north of Mestia. The trail first leads through an enchanting coniferous forest. Then it goes past the raging river, where the meltwater of the Chalaati flows off. Later, the path winds through sparse birch forest and over a boulder field. Surefootedness is required at the end. Just before the ice tongue there are many larger boulders where you can sit comfortably and have a picnic.

Length: 4.3 kilometers
Duration: approx. 2 hours plus breaks and photo stops
Height difference: 240 meters

You are planning a road trip?

Travel Guide Book – Georgia – Caucasus*

This book by OunTravela invites you to explore the wildest corners of Georgia. Along 24 routes you will discover picturesque landscapes, rugged mountains, monasteries, fortresses, and centuries-old fortified towers. In addition to detailed descriptions of the 4x4 routes, you will find a wealth of additional information about the country and its people as well as tips for your planning. The latter range from suggestions for overnight campsites to rental companies of expedition-ready 4x4 vehicles and worthwhile photo spots. You can also purchase a map and GPS tracks for navigation.

Tower of Love - Caucasian Defense Towers and the Blood Revenge

It's usually the tragic stories that stick. This is also the case here: The Tower of Love was the setting for a tragic Romeo and Juliet story.The two lovers were not allowed to marry, whereupon he committed suicide. The left girl retreated to the tower and mourned her beloved. She is said to have stayed there for the rest of her life.

You can visit the tower and also climb inside. The ladders are steep and narrow, but it is a great opportunity to see such a classic Caucasian fortified tower from the inside.

The medieval Caucasian defense towers are very common in Svaneti, especially in Mestia and Ushguli and the surrounding mountain villages. Sometimes each family unit or even each family has its own defense tower, which was visited as a defensive structure in case of conflicts, feuds or threatening blood revenge. The blood revenge works according to the principle: "what you do to me, I will do to you". So murder for murder or also murder for injury of the honor. Often the only rescue was the defense tower, where the endangered person locked himself up and let his family take care of him.  

Church of Kala "Lagurka" - Steeply up to the Place of Pilgrimage

The Kala Church of Saints Cyricus and Julitta is the most important Christian sanctuary in the Svanetian region. The medieval church is also known by the name Lagurka.

But if you want to visit the important sanctuary near the village of Khe, you first have to work for it: it's a steep climb of about 110 meters up to 1875 meters. After about 30 minutes you will reach the small church and get a bit closer to heaven. And from up here you also have a heavenly view of the surrounding mountains.

The small hall church was built at the end of the 10th or beginning of the 12th century and is an important example of Georgian medieval monumental art. Inside it is decorated with frescoes by Tevdore from 1111 and 1112. Besides, there are many other church objects from different periods, such as manuscripts, crosses and icons.

Ushguli Village Walk with Fortified Towers and Museums

Ushguli is probably the most famous mountain village in Svanetia. The village is characterized by fortified towers, traditional Svanetian architecture, narrow bumpy streets and the white peak of the Shchara glacier (5201 m). You feel as if you are immersed in a time long gone. And because of that, the place is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

Facts about Ushguli:
Elevation: about 2150 m
Distance from Mestia: 44 kilometers
Population: about 200  

The tranquil mountain village is inhabited only by about 70 to 80 families all year round. Anyone who does not leave Ushguli in the fall is snowed in there for the winter. The road to Mestia does not open again until next spring. In summer, the number of inhabitants doubles. In addition, there are n many tourists, because Ushguli is a popular destination for nature lovers and hikers. There are numerous inns where you can stay overnight, eat, and organize mountain guides and horseback rides.

How to get to Ushguli?

We drove from Mestia to Ushguli as self-drivers with our rented Lada Niva. However, many visitors hire a driver in Mestia and are dropped off and picked up. This is a practical solution for those who do not have a four-wheel drive vehicle or for whom the mountain road is too narrow.

Another option is to hike from Mestia to Ushguli. The five-day tour is the most popular multi-day hike in Georgia. You can return from Ushguli with a driver, which you can easily arrange at a local inn.

What else is there to see in Ushguli besides breathtaking nature and mountain panoramas?

The many fortified towers and the beautiful Swanetian architecture can best be explored during a short walk through the village. Let yourself drift and you will discover many exciting details. Don't miss the Ethnographic Museum and the Museum of Maria on the way. From here, I recommend you visit the Lamaria Church on the outskirts of town (don't forget your headscarf). It dates from the 10th century and is decorated inside with medieval frescoes. Back on the main road, the tower of Tamar overlooks all the surrounding buildings. It stands on a small hill. You can climb up a ladder and take a look inside.

With Traildogs to the Shchara Glacier

A really nice hike starting in Ushguli is the tour to the Shchara glacier. With 5.201 meters the Shchara is the highest mountain in Georgia and the third highest in the whole Caucasus. You can already see the glacier from the village of Ushguli in the distance. It is the perfect background for a photo of the historical village with its fortified towers (the light is best in the late afternoon).

To get to the glacier, follow the Enguri River uphill through the river valley. On the way there (about 9 kilometers) you will have the glacier in view the whole time. Super beautiful, especially when the valley is covered with colorful wildflowers in summer. But what makes a good hike even better is good company: Trail dogs! Even before I traveled to Georgia, I heard about the dogs that accompany hikers on the trails. I wished soooo much that some dogs would find us, too. And suddenly they were there! They accompanied us the whole hike. With that they not only earned themselves a good half of our food but also a name. And since they kept us company in the camp after the hike, Mr. Spock and Dali also had dinner and breakfast.

Tip: Take some extra food with you (for the dogs) and pack some cash (for a snack at Alpine Camp if the dogs have devoured all your food).

Here are the facts about the hike:

Start: bridge over the Enguri River just past the monastery.
Length: about 18,4 kilometers
Height difference: about 500 meters
Difficulty: Easy hike over a gravel road. Behind the alpine camp the path becomes narrower and is quite overgrown in places. Only shortly before the glacier a scree slope has to be crossed. Surefootedness is required here. The Pakvlashi stream crosses the path and is either to be crossed or can be bypassed laterally. Later you can return to the gravel path via two small improvised bridges.
Refreshments: At the end of the gravel road the Alpin Camp invites you for a refreshment.

Tip: Horses can be rented in town to take you to the Alpin Camp.

Colorful Mountain Meadows - Hike to Gvinari Pass south of Ushguli

Most people who visit Ushguli hike to the Shchara Glacier. But what actually lies in the opposite direction, south of Ushguli? Here we found the most beautiful wildflower meadow we have seen in Georgia. So many different plants and insects really amazed us. The trail starts south of the village of Murkmeli and goes continuously uphill. It is also the trail to the Gvinari Pass at 2972 meters. We didn't make it all the way to the pass because we made so many photo stops due to the many beautiful plants and we started too late anyway.

The round trip from Murkmeli to the pass and back is about 9 kilometers long with an elevation gain of about 920 meters. On the way you can make a stop at the castle ruins of Ushguli. Since the paths are often narrow and / or somewhat overgrown, a GPS is useful.

Drive from Ushguli over Zagari Pass to Sasaschi

The road from Mestia to Ushguli was already breathtakingly beautiful. But the road up to the 2623 meter high Zagari Pass puts everything in the shade again. Definitely the most beautiful section of our road trip in Swanetia. The unpaved road leads further and further uphill and you feel like in the cinema: mountain panoramas, glaciers, lush meadows. We had to stop again and again on the way to enjoy the view.

After the pass, we descend in several switchbacks and we are quickly back in forested terrain. We follow the river valley of the Zcheniszchali. After the mountain idyll and the absolute seclusion at the pass we now landed on a long construction site. Here the road is being expanded and we had to share the narrow path with excavators, dump trucks and other construction site vehicles. But in return we were rewarded again and again with shorter paved road sections. At some point, the route is then paved throughout and we come through several small villages.

Surprise in the Front Garden - Statue of Stalin near Sasaschi

Georgia is full of surprises. During our road trip in Georgia we saw so many remarkable things, we couldn't stop so fast and so often. Among them were many small details, especially beautiful architecture, lost places, old village entrance signs, monuments and statues. So it was here, on the Svaneti Loop just behind the village of Sasaschi. We didn't believe our eyes when suddenly an oversized statue of Stalin focused on us. It stands fenced in on a private property. The somewhat dilapidated looking building behind it looks tiny compared to the statue.

Incredulous, I grab my camera and look for the best perspective in front of the fence. An UAZ comes by and honks at me. The driver waves at me and gives me a thumbs up. Thumbs up for Stalin? This seems more than strange to me, but it is actually not unusual in Georgia. After all, Stalin was born in Georgia. And many Georgians are proud that one of their countrymen took over the leadership of the Soviet Union.

Tip: Not far from Tbilisi is the city of Gori, where Stalin was born. The Stalin Museum was opened here in 1957 in his honor. Don't expect a detailed rehash of the atrocities the dictator committed during his reign here. It's more like a big cult palace, even souvenirs like coffee mugs, fridge magnets, baseball caps or backgammon games with Stalin's portrait are available here. was opened here in 1957 in his honor. Don't expect a detailed rehash of the atrocities the dictator committed during his reign here. It's more like a big cult palace, even souvenirs like coffee mugs, fridge magnets, baseball caps or backgammon games with Stalin's portrait are available here.

Lentechi - Refueling please!

After the remote mountain villages in Upper Svaneti, Lentechi seemed almost like a big city to us. Here we treated ourselves to the luxury of a spacious hotel room with a hot shower at Hotel Svaneti. We also refueled our Lada for the first time after Mestia.

Lentechi is located in Lower Svaneti and has about 947 inhabitants. Most of them (felt) gathered on Saturday evening on the central square directly in front of our hotel window. Here they were chatting, playing and dancing. However, we did not mingle with the crowds because of the rather high covid numbers in Georgia.  

What is there to see here in Lentechi? First of all, the promenade on the median strip of the main street is something special. To the left and right of the road there are many beautiful metal gates to admire. A statue of a shepherd boy reaching for the stars decorates the central square. At the end of the village, on the central island of the traffic circle, there is a typical stele from the Soviet period. There is also a small local museum a castle and a number of Georgian Orthodox church buildings from the 9th to 11th centuries.

Goodbye, Svaneti!

From Lentechi our road trip continues along a conveniently passable national road through the valley of the Zcheniszqali. The big city of Kutaisi is about 90 kilometers away. However, we continue in the direction of Tbilisi. The capital is about 350 kilometers away. On the route there are several places worth seeing, so we divide the trip into several days. First we visit Kazchi Pillar with the tiny monastery on the rocky peak, then Chiatura with the legendary cable cars and finally the Stalin Museum in Gori.

Tips for Campsites for the Night

In Georgia "wild camping" is allowed. So you don't have to stay at a campsite during your Georgia road trip, but you are allowed to look for your own campsite.

Please note:

• Keep your distance from houses.
• Do not camp on private land or agricultural land.
• Respect nature, wildlife and grazing animals.
• Do not drive cross-country to get to a campsite. Instead, use existing tracks.
• Do not leave trash or food scraps behind.
• Bury your "organic trash" after your morning toilet.

How we found our pitches? We searched the free app Maps.Me for dashed lines that disappeared into nowhere. Most of the time, that's where we found our pitches. Sometimes there were also hints of possible campsites on the map. We also used the app iOverlando. Well, you don't need much space for camping with the small Lada Niva anyway.

Possible sites at Martvili Canyon:

Before the ford on the half-dried riverbed of the Abasha (if the water level of the river allows it and no big rain events are expected in the higher mountains). GPS: 42°28'41.6″N 42°22'46.4″E

Possible pitches at the Svaneti Loop in Mestia:

• At the old Soviet lodge overlooking the town. GPS: 43°03'10.8″N 42°45'32.3″E
• At the river Mestiachala in the direction of Chalaadi glacier. Here you even have a fresh water source nearby.

Possible pitches at Svaneti Loop in Ushguli:

• Campsite behind the monastery. GPS: 42°55'18.2″N 43°01'26.6″E
• On the bank of the Enguri River behind the campsite
• On the bank of the Enguri River in the direction of the Shchara Glacier.

Shopping, Food, Money and Refueling

I always like to do my grocery shopping in the places I visit. That way, the locals also get something out of my stay. However, the supply in Mestia and Ushguli is very limited. If you don't want to do without certain products, it's best to buy them in advance in a larger supermarket in Kutaisi.

You can buy fruits, vegetables and bread in Mestia opposite the central square Seti Square in the main street Zugdidi Jvari Mestia Lasdili.

If you walk down the main street a bit further into the town, you will come to some restaurants overlooking the Mestiachala River. Here it is nice to sit.

In Ushguli some inns have small stores where you can buy pasta, chips, cookies and bread. The offer is very limited. However, you can order food in most of the inns. We liked to eat at the Café Koshki and buy some cakes for the hikes.

In Mestia you should withdraw enough cash and fill up your carfor the Svaneti Loop. Especially if your car has such a small tank like the Lada Niva (42 liters). In Ushguli there is neither an ATM nor a gas station. The next gas station is in Lentechi (as of 07/2021).

Condition of the Roads on the Svaneti Loop

The road between Mestia and Ushguli is snow-covered and impassable for up to six months of the year. If you want to drive the Svaneti Loop at the beginning of the season, ask the locals if the road is already open again. But even if you go in the middle or at the end of the season, you should ask in advance if the route is passable. Due to its location, the Svaneti Loop is particularly vulnerable to landslides or slope failures, especially during the rainy months from October to May.

Don't miss it! I put together a little video from our road trip in Georgia. Among other things, it shows the roads in Kura Valley and Swaneti. It is soooo fun to watch. Have a look right now.

Kutaisi - Mestia:

Route via Zqaltubo and Martvili Canyon (221 km): Scenic, mostly paved road. Often the road leads through villages and is difficult to overlook. After about 115 kilometers you reach the larger road, which is curvy and leads steadily uphill, but can be driven quickly. Tip: plan an extra day and visit the former spa town of Zqaltubo, the Prometheus Cave and the Martvili Canyon on the way.

Route via Sugdidi (251 km): You will drive on the well-maintained roads E60 and E97. The route is longer, but easier to drive.

Mestia – Ushguli (46,5 km): The drive to Ushguli takes about two hours. At first, it goes quite quickly on an asphalt road. The last kilometers are unpaved. The route runs parallel to the Enguri River. On the left side the mountains rise steeply and on the right side the road descends steeply. Some sections are so narrow that no two cars can pass each other. However, we always had an alternate spot nearby and did not have to back up. However, the route can quickly become a challenge in rain and fog. Therefore, it is best to plan a reserve day so that you can wait for better weather in Mestia.

Ushguli – Zagari Pass – Lentechi (46 km): Dirt road over Zagari Pass with descent in switchbacks. In the Zseskho river valley, road works were carried out over a long stretch in the summer of 2021 and some sections were already paved.

Sasaschi – Lentechi – Kutaisi (118 km): Here you drive on a paved road. The closer you get to Kutaisi, the better it gets. Tip: if you didn't make a stop in Zqaltubo on the way there, you have the opportunity to do so now.

Conclusion - is the Svaneti Loop worth it?

A clear YES! We liked it so much in Svaneti that we even changed our travel plans and extended our road trip in Svaneti. Besides, the weather there was much better than in the Kazbek region, where we actually wanted to go. We postponed the latter to our next trip to Georgia. It was clear to us that we would come back and do another road trip in Georgia. And definitely again with one of the cool Lada Niva from Overlando.

Anyone who likes nature, hiking, remoteness and bumpy roads will love the Svaneti Loop. However, a four-wheel drive vehicle is a must have here. But that's what makes the route so appealing. The Lada Niva mastered all routes without any problems. Of course it is important to catch a time window with good weather. Therefore, it would be optimal if your schedule is somewhat flexible. Because when it rains, driving on the tracks is no fun and, depending on the intensity, can be a bit risky.

And how was the Lada Niva with Roof Tent?

The little Lada Niva handled all the tracks great. With all our luggage, everything was a bit cramped at the beginning. But we quickly got used to it and distributed our things optimally in the car. The roof tent was spacious and easy to put up and take down. Perfect were the windows in the roof tent. From these we could see the mountains right after waking up or the dogs that slept next to our Lada Niva. Overlando also equipped the Lada Niva with a kitchen box including a gas stove as well as camping chairs and a small table. What more does one need?

Book Recommendations for Georgia

Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you.

You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission, and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. The product will not be more expensive for you, and you will do me a huge favor.

Have you ever been on a road trip in Svaneti or any other region in Georgia? How did you like it? Do you have any questions about my article? If yes, then write me a comment!

Do you want to know when there are new articles on my blog? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love road trips as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about a Road Trip in Albania or about the einen weitern Road Trip around the Baltic Sea.

Der Beitrag Roadtrip Georgien: im 4×4 Lada Niva von Kutaissi durch Swanetien erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Georgia. For more than 60 years, the "hanging coffins" transported the inhabitants of the industrial city of Chiatura to windy heights. But since summer 2019, the legendary cable cars of Chiatura have been at a standstill. In the end, the gondolas were a bit too rusty and the technology too outdated. But the cable car stations from the 1950s and 60s are still there and are witnesses to the history and the former glory of the city. And usually one or the other gondola still hangs in the air very close to the stations.

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links.

When we visited Chiatura in July 2021, we were overwhelmed by the impressions. However, we were also a bit disoriented. There are indeed numerous blog articles on the Internet with great photos when the cable cars of Chiatura were still in operation. But where the photos were taken remained unclear. To make your search for Tschiatura's treasures a little easier, I have therefore compiled my favorite photo motifs in a map. So you can explore the city on your own and know immediately what awaits you where.

But first, let's go back to a time when Chiatura still looked into a rosy future.

In this Article you will find

Short History of Chiatura and the Cable Cars
Cable Cars, Buildings, Pioneer Palace and more
What's next for Chiatura?
How to get to Chiatura
What is the best way to get around the City?
What else is there in the Area?
Book Recommendations for Georgia

Short History of Tschiatura and the Cable Cars

Tschiatura was founded at the end of the 19th century and before the First World War possessed the largest manganese ore deposit in the world. Manganese mining at that time amounted to 60% of the world production. Even during the Soviet era, the city remained an important center of manganese mining. Investments were made, including the construction of ropeways.

Chiatura is located in a deeply cut, long valley of the Kvirila River. The main means of transportation were cable cars with a total length of more than 6,000 meters. The first cableway was built in Chiatura in 1953. More lines followed in the 1950s and 1960s. In total, there were 70 ropeways for transporting people, materials and manganese ore. This made Chiatura the city with the most ropeways in the world. For a long time, the hand-operated gondolas were the only means of public transportation in the city.

The cable cars operated almost without interruption until the summer of 2019. But eventually, the last two remaining passenger cable cars stopped operating due to official orders. During our stay we could only see one cargo line for the transport of ore in operation.

Cable Cars, Buildings, Pioneer Palace and more

Map with Photo Motifs

In the following map I marked most of the motives I describe in this chapter with a camera pin. For each pin there is also a small photo. So you can orientate yourselves more easily. The map should be a little help for your own explorations. However, there is so much more to discover in Chiatura and I could have easily spent two or three days here.

Tip: In the free app Maps.me you can download an offline map of Georgia. The map shows the cable car stations and lines. So you can explore even more stations.

Monumental Welcome

We entered the city on the main road coming from the west. Shortly after the town entrance sign, Chiatura greets us with an overwhelming monument commemorating World War II. Next to it, several prefabricated buildings provide a great background.

In the City Center

We wind our way down the road into the Kvirila Valley. Soon we reach the center of town with a small market, numerous stores, and typical chaotic city traffic. After parking our Lada, we are off. We don't know exactly where to go and stroll through the city for the time being. Every few meters we discover something new that fascinates us. Soon we come to the first cable car station. Shortly before the station a red-yellow gondola is still hanging. Remnants of the advertising signage are still visible.

From the underpass under the railroad tracks we come to the bridge over the Kvirila. To the right and left are architectural gems such as City Hall and the Registry Office, as well as whimsical structures on the riverbank housing stores.

In the center of the city, the elongated row of stores on the main street is a real eye-catcher. We follow the main street to the traffic circle on Ninoshvili Street. Here we find a large mosaic on the facade of the school.

Back on the main road we go a little further uphill and come to a market. There is also an old cable car station here.

Highlight of Chiatura: the Stalin Ropeway and Peace Ropeway

From here we walk along the bank of the Kvirila back towards the car. Very close to our parking place one of the highlights of Chiatura is waiting for us: the station of the Peace Ropeway and the Stalin Ropeway. The station itself is meanwhile firmly closed, but also from the outside it is a great motive and one can peek in at several places. I quickly spotted the black and white graffiti on the wall. Unfortunately only a part of it is visible, but I recognize it from photos on the internet: it shows a kneeling miner with a shovel. On both lines there are still two gondolas hanging in the air.

From the station, the yellow gondolas of the Stalin Ropeway across the river to the opposite mountain. This line was the first cable car in the Soviet Union in 1953. Accordingly, the gondolas are now rusty and the windows are cloudy from dirt and scratches. One gondola could carry six passengers. In addition, a gondola lady rode in each gondola. Her job was to ensure safe operation and report any abnormalities in the gondola to the mechanic.

The Peace Line goes north from the station. It is the line with the blue gondolas and dates back to 1964. This line is also the steepest cable car in Chiatura with a 48 degree incline and is even one of the steepest in the world. In the small gondolas fit just 4 people. There are also no more windows, as in the Stalin cable car, but only small barred portholes.

Detour to the Pioneer Palace

South of the Kvirila River, high up on the slope, is the former Pioneer Palace. You can reach it either by cable car or by your own car. The palace still shows its former splendor. The wide entrance staircase is lined with a large semicircle of columns. Some of them have already collapsed. The entire building is badly dilapidated and it appears that it will collapse like a house of cards at the next slight breeze. I myself did not go inside. Cows are less fearful and use the empty building as a shelter.

Cargo Ropeway in Action

We leave the city along the river in the direction of Tbilisi. After a short ride we finally see one of Chiatura's cable cars in action. It is a freight line for transporting the mined ore. Several gondolas cross the track, which is covered with nets in places. The nets are a damn good idea, because there are actually several chunks of rock in them that have fallen out of the ore gondolas.

Not far behind the freight gondolas is another disused passenger ropeway. Here, too, a gondola hangs in the air just before the station. You will also find an adventurous narrow pedestrian bridge leading to an industrial building.

Photo Motifs at the Exit of Chiatura

At the town exit we see a large Tschiatura sign and a green stele with a wreath. To the right of the road there are tracks and behind a fence there is a railroad wagon. All four give each of them again great photo motifs to say goodbye.

You are planning a road trip?

Travel Guide Book – Georgia – Caucasus*

This book by OunTravela invites you to explore the wildest corners of Georgia. Along 24 routes you will discover picturesque landscapes, rugged mountains, monasteries, fortresses, and centuries-old fortified towers. In addition to detailed descriptions of the 4x4 routes, you will find a wealth of additional information about the country and its people as well as tips for your planning. The latter range from suggestions for overnight campsites to rental companies of expedition-ready 4x4 vehicles and worthwhile photo spots. You can also purchase a map and GPS tracks for navigation.

What's next for Chiatura?

The legendary "hanging coffins" of Chiatura are now hanging in the air. So is the town's application to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The rusty gondolas and Soviet-style cable car stations have long been the heartbeat of the city. So much of the city's history and individual stories are linked to the cable cars that, in my view, it would be unthinkable to abandon or even demolish the gondolas and stations. I wish so much for the city to be included in the industrial heritage list and would be happy if the shuttered sites were preserved and prepared for tourist visits. However, it is unclear whether this will succeed. After all, the new cable cars of Chiatura may be an obstacle for inclusion in the UNESCO list.

A little tourism would certainly do the city good. After all, the manganese reserves will not last forever. In about 15 years, the deposits in the area are expected to be exhausted. What will happen to the jobs and the inhabitants of the mining town then? The population has already shrunk by almost half since the early 1990s. The reason for this at the time was problems with electricity, water and gas supplies, as well as declining manganese mining. Today, around 13,000 people live in the city. How many of them then still see their future in a mining town without mining?

How to get to Chiatura

Chiatura is located about 60 kilometers from Kutaisi. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach the city by rental car or marshrutka. From Tbilisi it takes about 2-3 hours.

The city can also be reached by train. There are also guided tours from Tbilisi at GetYourGuide.

What is the best way to get around the City?

The center and some of the cable car stations in the valley can be explored very well on foot. Since the old cable cars of Tschiatura are no longer running, it is not so easy to reach the upper stations.

A new, modern cable car with four stations is currently under construction. Everything looked ready in July 2021. However, none was in operation yet. Possibly, the launch, like many other things, has been delayed by Covid-19. The main station of the new cable car is located in the center next to the river and near the stores.

How do you transport your camera equipment when traveling?

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Click on the image to go to Amazon. If you buy a product through this affiliate link, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting content. The product will not be more expensive for you and you do me a huge favor.

What else is there in the Area?

Only about 10 kilometers west of Chiatura is Kazchi Pillar. This is a freestanding rock about 40 meters high, on which there is a tiny monastery.

About halfway in the direction of Tbilisi is the town of Gori, where Stalin was born. The Stalin Museum was opened here in 1957 in his honor. Don't expect a detailed rehash of the atrocities the dictator committed during his reign here. It's more like a big cult palace, even souvenirs like coffee mugs, fridge magnets, baseball caps or backgammon games with Stalin's portrait are available here. was opened here in 1957 in his honor. Don't expect a detailed rehash of the atrocities the dictator committed during his reign here. It's more like a big cult palace, even souvenirs like coffee mugs, fridge magnets, baseball caps or backgammon games with Stalin's portrait are available here.

Book Recommendations for Georgia

Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you.

You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission, and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. The product will not be more expensive for you, and you will do me a huge favor.

Have you ever been to Chiatura and maybe even used one of the cable cars? How did you like it? Do you have any questions about my article? If yes, then write me a comment!

Do you want to know when there are new articles on my blog? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love Soviet architecture and lost places as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about Eisenhüttenstadt or about the GDR Architecture in Berlin.

Der Beitrag Tschiatura – Legendäre Seilbahnen, Lost Places, Sowjetarchitektur und mehr erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links.

Adventurous Gravel Road to Okatse Canyon

Honestly: The view and the trail at Okatse Canyon are beautiful and worth a visit. But the approach over the gravel road was the real highlight for us.

That was not planned. Actually we wanted to go to the visitor center. But our route in the navi led us by mistake over a wild gravel road directly t the Okatse Canyon. The visitor center was just behind the turnoff to the gravel road. But we discovered it only on the way back.

The dirt road to the canyon doesn't look too bad at first. But soon the road becomes narrower, stonier and more challenging. Bumps, loose debris and larger stones require a lot of sensitivity when driving. I have linked you to my YouTube video of our road trip. You can see a part of the track to Okatse Canyon from minute 3:20 to 3:50. There you get a good idea how much we were shaken.

Our little Lada Niva mastered the 2,3 kilometers in an outstanding manner. When we arrived at Okatse Canyon we didn't have tickets, because they are only available at the visitor center. We didn't want to go back or walk, because we were happy that we arrived in one piece.

Where do you get a car like that? A Lada Niva with roof tent as rental car? Have a look at Overlando..

From the Visitor Center to the Hanging Cliff Trail

The visitor center in the village of Gordi is actually hard to miss (as long as you don't turn too early). The futuristic building is located right on the main road. Here you can get tickets and have a look at the miniature model of the canyon.

From here you have three options to get to the Hanging Cliff Trail:

1. You walk 2.2 kilometers of paved trail that takes you partly through the historic Dadiani Forest. The trail is said to be quite beautiful. The way back is on the same route.
2. In front of the visitor center, local drivers are waiting with their four-wheel drive vehicles, such as the Mitsubishi Delica. They will take you to the entrance of Okatse Canyon and back for about 50 Lari.
3. Or you can drive yourself, like we did. For this you should have a four-wheel drive vehicle with a lot of ground clearance and good nerves. The track is usually quite narrow and from time to time the canyon cabs come towards us. We made good time and oncoming drivers were kind enough to give way to us.

Here is an overview map for orientation. You can see the gravel road to Okatse Canyon as well as the Visitor Center, the entrance to the Hanging Cliff Trail and the viewing platform.

Canyon cabs are waiting at the parking lot at the entrance to the Hanging Cliff Trail at Okatse Canyon for the return trip. There is also a restroom and a small stand with drinks.

Tip: There are no signs pointing the way to the canyon. We got there using the free offline maps from the app Maps Me .

You are planning a road trip?

Travel Guide Book – Georgia – Caucasus*

Dieses Buch von OunTravela lädt euch ein, die wildesten Ecken Georgiens zu erkunden. Entlang von 24 Routen werdet ihr selbst zu Entdeckern von malerischen Landschaften, rauhen Bergwelten sowie von Klöstern, Festungen und jahrhundertealten Wehrtürmen. Neben detailierten Beschreibungen der 4×4-Tracks findet ihr in diesem Buch eine Vielzahl weiterführender Informationen über Land und Leute sowie Tipps für eure Planungen. Letztere reichen von Vorschlägen für Stellplätze für die Nacht über Vermieter von expeditionsfertigen 4×4-Fahrzeugen bis hin zu lohnenswerten Fotospots. Zu dem Buch könnt ihr außerdem eine Karte sowie die GPS-Tracks zur Navigation erwerben.

Hanging Cliff Trail and Viewing Platform at Okatse Canyon

With the help of the ticket inspector at the entrance to Okatse Canyon, we were able to book online tickets on the spot. To the Hanging Cliff Trail we went down 140 meters over a metal staircase.The trail itself consists of a footbridge and a metal railing and is about 780 meters long. It hangs on the steep side of the canyon between 80 and 120 meters high above the valley and is attached to the canyon wall with massive steel beams and guy ropes.

The highlight of the Hanging Cliff Trail is the viewing platform that extends 20 meters into the canyon. With the metal grating as the floor, the panoramic view even extends far into the depths, making you feel like you're floating in mid-air.

The Okatse River is about 14 kilometers in length. The gorge, formed by erosion, is about two kilometers long, between 3 and 20 meters wide and 20 to 200 meters deep. From the platform, the view over the river valley is particularly impressive. However, in summer, when everything is green and overgrown, you can't see very much of the long river valley. Only in some places you can see the valley floor of the white limestone and the river Okatse.

Had enough thrills? Then it will be a bit strenuous, because now you have to climb the stairs. Shortly after, you will come to a second paved path that will take you back to the parking lot.

Tip: Combine the tour with a trip to Martvili Caynon. This is about 24 km away and can be reached after about 30 minutes driving time.

Besides the Hanging Cliff Trail, there is supposed to be a second trail and a metal staircase down to the Okatse River. The canyon is said to be only four meters wide here. Unfortunately, we only learned about this trail after the fact, so we missed it.

Good to know

Opening hours: daily from 10 am to 6 pm
Location: Gordi village in Khoni municipality, Imereti region.
Tickets: vailable at the visitor center or online; adults 17,25 GEL (about 4,80 Euro)
Duration: if you go on foot you should allow 2 to 3 hours.
Directions to get there: From Kutaisi to Okatse Canyon: 50 km; about 70 min. driving time.

Tip: Check the weather forecast before you go. Visiting the Hanging Cliff Trail is not allowed during rain and snow.

Book Recommendations for Georgia

Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you.

You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission, and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. The product will not be more expensive for you, and you will do me a huge favor.

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Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love road trips as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about a Road Trip in Albania or about the einen weitern Road Trip around the Baltic Sea.

Der Beitrag Okatse Canyon: Panoramablick und Magenkribbeln am Hanging Cliff Trail erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.