Driving (Highway): Tbilisi – Dedoplistskaro – 130 km, approx. 2 hours.

7:00 AM pick- up from Tbilisi and drive to Dedoplistskaro (approx. 2 hours’ drive) to register in Administration of Vashlovani Protected Areas and obtain our permits at local border police department (the whole procedure takes about 1 hour). After registering we will head out to explore the nearby area.

First, we drive to Eagles Canyon and take a short walk (approx. 4 km, 1 hour) enjoy the views and if we are lucky spot some wildlife. This canyon is a famous stopover for Birdwatchers, as it’s a natural habitat of Griffon Vultures and at least 9 other species of other birds of prey, along with Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) and Black Stork.

The next stop is Khornabuji Fortress (aka "Queen Tamar's Fortress"), a 5th-century historical monument, located approximately 3 kilometers north of Dedoplistskaro. The castle's ruins are sited on the imposing Tsiv-Gombori Range – offering great panoramic views of Caucasus mountains an Alazani valley. Take a short hike to reach the top viewpoint and return back to continue our way towards the heart of Vashlovani Protected Areas.

Driving (Part Highway/Dirt Road, 4x4): Dedoplistskaro – Kasristskali – Mijniskure – 73 km, approx.. 3 hours. 30 min

After visiting the canyon and fortress, we will continue driving east – towards the border with Azerbaijan. Make a stop at Usakhelo viewpoint for a panoramic view of the valley and descend into Minjiskure bay area for overnight at park cottages near the Alazani river.

Hike: Mijniskure viewpoint – 2.2 km (two-way) 40 meters up/down, approx. 1 hour.

We start this day with a short hike to nearby hills to observe Sunrise (around 6:00 AM, depending on a month), that opens up spectacular views of the Mijniskure and surroundings. After the sunrise, we return to cottages for a quick breakfast and head out further into Vashlovani Protected Area.

Driving (Dirt road, 4x4): Mijniskure – Bears Gorge – Pantishara, 40 km, approx. 2 hr 45 min

One of the wonders of Pantishara Canyon is a “Town” of Swallows (Delichon urbica), built on a negative wall of the rock in the middle of the canyon. It includes several thousand nests. This so-called town was built by the swallows and it shows the manner of their colOnial life. In early spring this town is occupied by swallows. Later, the swallows, returning from warm countries, are furiously fighting to get back their town. As a rule, the fight is ended with driving the swallows out.

Site of Alesilebi at Datvis Khevi ('brown bear gorge') has one more surprise for visitors – meeting with pre-historical fauna. In the deposited layers of exposed rocks, a good observer can easily notice the mollusk chitins that are well preserved. These mollusks are the oldest habitants of Vashlovani; they belong to the time when the local territories were covered with sea.

In the same Datvis Khevi you can see one more comparatively “young” pre-historical animal: in clay, hill extrudes the hardened shoulder bone of the southern elephant.

Driving (Dirt road, 4x4WD): Pantishara – Keseman – Dali Reservoir, 55 km approx. 4 hr

This relatively long ride will take you upstream of Iori River Valley and its Gallery Forests and Grasslands.

The Iori River, and the gallery forest which stretches along the valley, are integral parts of Georgia’s steppe ecosystem – vast, biodiversity-rich grasslands, with scrub-covered ridges, dominate the landscape. As it is the region’s only permanent water source, most large mammals of the steppe including Lynx, Wolf, Brown Bear, and Persian gazelle make their habitat in nearby areas.

Finally, after a long day, we will reach Dedoplistskaro village, where you’ll have overnight in the local guesthouse Savanna. 

Overnight in Guesthouse Savanna.

We start this day by visiting Dali Reservoir, which is located on the way from Dedoplistskaro to the Mud Vulcanos. Take a break and look at the beautiful view of the lake. 

Driving (Dirt road, 4x4): Dali Reservoir – Mud Volcanoes – Takhti-Tepa – 14 km approx. 20 min

After Dali Reservoir, continue driving to we will drive back to Dali Reservoir for an optional swim and head back to Dedoplistskaro.

Driving (Dirt road, 4x4): Mud Volcanoes – Takhti-Tepa – Mt. Elia (Dedoplistskaro) – 52 km, approx. 2 hours.

Our next stop, Church of the Saint Ilia Tezbiteli, dating back to the 6th Century is located on a steep slope of mount Elia overlooking the town of Dedoplsitskaro. Famous French writer, Alexandre Dumas who visited the area during his travels to Caucuses region in 1858,

left a note: “There is another mountain, which is located about six miles from the castles of Queen Tamar (Khornabudji) and there is a legend as well. This mountain is called Elias Mta (Geo: “Mount of Elia”) and at the bottom, there is a salt lake. Inside the wide cave in the middle of the mountain there is a bell tower. According to the legend, the crow brought food for the prophet Ilia. He left his cave to his student Elise and raised to the sky from the top of the mountain.”

Driving (Highway): Dedoplistskaro – Tbilisi 130 km, approx. 2 hours.

After exploring the church – we will head back to Tbilisi, with an optional stop for a lunch.

Arrive in Tbilisi – end of the program.