birtvisi canyons

1 day

duration

below average

difficulty

8 km

distance

↑↓550 m

elevation gain / loss

This route is just an hour's drive from the city.
First, we arrive at a small village where friendly local dogs usually greet our guests. They might even join us for the whole hike. 

The trail kicks off with a short climb to the first viewpoint, where you'll get breathtaking panoramas of the Birtvisi canyons. This is a true natural wonder of Georgia. Long ago, volcanoes erupted here, and then water and wind carved the frozen lava into deep, narrow gorges with bizarre jagged rock teeth. Rivers have washed out countless canyons over time.

Once we've soaked in the views, it's time to head down. We'll carefully navigate a narrow stony gorge and find ourselves at the canyon floor. Everything here is draped in green climbing plants, with massive boulders piled up here and there. You'll spot climbing routes bolted onto some of the cliffs, and in spring or early summer, there's a pretty waterfall to see.

Next, we head up a narrow riverbed. This is where the first pieces of the fortress appear. First up are the ruins of a small tower, standing right by the river in the lowlands. It was likely one of the gateways into the fortress grounds. Soon we reach the source, where the river emerges from underground springs. We leave the riverbed, scramble up through a narrow canyon, and find ourselves at the walls of ancient fortress. There are step-like notches carved right into the rock there.
We'll climb to the highest point (1200 m). Get ready for a little adrenaline rush—we'll be using a rope for this ascent.

On the way back, we'll take a small detour to check out the tall Sheupovari watchtower (which translates to "Unyielding" or "Stubborn"). The trail to the base of the cliff isn't too tough, but the climb itself is super steep. Local rangers have installed chains there to help us up.

what to wear?
what to bring?

Proper gear is key to making sure your trip is all about good vibes. Check out this quick guide on clothes and footwear.

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