Trekking in Georgia, and Other Ways to Enjoy Georgia’s Great Outdoors

Jump to pictures

Georgia is blessed with an incredibly diverse nature. Within the span of just a few hundred kilometers stand the lofty Greater Caucasus mountains, the green and rolling Lower Caucasus, the austere Javakheti volcanoes, the mysterious and ancient Trialeti Range, and many more subranges and ridges perfect for clambering over, getting fantastic views, and reconnecting to the wilderness. Besides Georgia’s mountains, there are also mighty rivers, dense and jungly forests, open windswept steppes, seacoasts, swamps, and semi–deserts to explore. I’ve been everywhere and I love going back.

Roaming the Caucasus by Foot, Horse, or Vehicle

Georgia’s great outdoors can be explored in a wide variety of ways. On day trips, there are spectacular day hikes to be made a short distance from Tbilisi or any of the major cities. Longer, overnight treks can be undertaken, either camping in tents or staying in local villages, combining all kinds of different difficulty levels, distances, terrains, and regions. In many places, half–forgotten local summer camps offer a chance to stay overnight in primitive cottages and wander freely for days. If hiking is not your thing, it’s possible to arrange horseback trekking or fishing trips with locals, or just simply drive up somewhere with a great view and let the beautiful landscapes sink in. And if you don’t mind a bit of cold, it’s even possible to go on all kinds of beautiful low-altitude treks in the winter and early spring seasons.

Come with Me to the Mountains

Georgian nature offers endless possibilities and getting out there is one of my favorite things to do. I’m certain that the Georgian countryside will capture your heart and imagination. If there’s any sort of sight or activity that strikes your fancy, I’d love to hear from you; it would be my pleasure to help you design your trip to the places which will be most interesting for you. Have a look through these photos – all taken by me – to get just a taste of the variety of places that you can explore while trekking in Georgia.

• • • • • • •

Wildflowers glow in the golden backlight on a grassy mountain slope overlooking distant hazy valleys.

A little-known ridgeline in Kvemo Kartli, a moderate day’s hike from Khrami Canyon.

Narrow river cascades through a deep Gudamakari mountain gorge under a cloudy sky.

Near Bursachiri Waterfall in Gudamakari.

Small houses nested on a hillside covered in vibrant autumn foliage under a cloudy sky in Gudamakari.

Bursachiri village in Gudamakari.

Dense clouds blanket the deep valley floor beneath rolling green mountains in Guria at sunset.

Trekking in the highlands of Guria near Meriakeli.

Reflective waters of Jaji Lake nestled within vast, grassy highland meadows beneath a hazy, expansive mountain horizon.

Jaji Lake in the highlands of Imereti.

Bright rainbow arches over verdant mountain slopes partially obscured by drifting low-hanging mist in Imereti.

Near Mepistskaro, the highest mountain in Imereti.

Brown horse standing in a grassy meadow overlooking Tabatskuri Lake and a village beneath distant mountain peaks.

Tabatskuri village, Javakheti.

Small white vehicle traverses a dirt path through a vast, hilly landscape under a dramatic, cloudy sky.

On the slopes of Danakhvisi Mountain, Kartli.

Verdant Gombori range hills rise above a blanket of dense morning clouds under a pale, overcast sky.

The Gombori Range near Tsivi Mountain, Kakheti.

Arid, undulating hills with muted brown, green, and gray tones stretch across the Kakheti desert landscape.

Colored desert near Shavi Senaki, Kakheti.

Sunlight rays pierce through dramatic clouds over a vast, golden mountain meadow and dark, forested ridges.

Algeti National Park, Kartli.

Jagged rock formations of Birtvisi canyons rise under a clear, bright blue sky with patches of lingering winter snow.

Birtvisi Canyons, Kartli.

Weathered sandstone rock formations overlook a wide, murky river winding through the plains of Kartli.

Grakali cliffs, Kartli.

Flock of sheep grazing on a green hillside in the Ksilisi mountains under a cloudy sky.

Oboli-Klde (Orphan’s Cliff) Mountain, Kartli.

Green grassy fields stretch toward dark, mist-covered mountain ridges under a heavy, overcast gray sky in Kartli.

Saorbisi village, Kartli.

Small wooden cabins nestled in a lush green valley beneath the steep slopes of the Upper Ateni mountains in Kartli.

Upper Ateni valley, Kartli.

Steep rocky slopes and lush green hills of the Upper Tedzami valley under a brooding, overcast sky.

Looking out towards Ateni Valley, Kartli. Akhalchala village clusters of small rustic cabins nestle into a wide, verdant mountain valley beneath towering slopes.

Akhalchala, Lechkhumi, with Sazamtra and Tsikuri mountains in the background.

Rolling alpine meadows and sparse tree copses of Akhalchala nestled beneath a soft, pale twilight sky in Lechkhumi.

Akhalchala, Lechkhumi, with Khvamli and Askhi mountains in the background.

Vibrant wildflowers blanket a high-altitude meadow in Lechkhumi below rocky outcrops and distant blue mountain peaks.

Looking towards the Samegrelo mountains on the way up to Akhalchala.

Warm golden light illuminates the jagged crest of Khvamli mountain at dawn with distant layers of hazy ridges.

Sunrise from Khvamli mountain, Lechkhumi.

Horses trek along a narrow mountain hiking trail between giant weathered rock formations in the Meskheti highlands.

Horses near Sametskhvario Peak, Borjomi National Park, Meskheti.

Thin waterfall streams descend from a dark cliff cave above leafless trees in a Samegrelo forest.

Toba Waterfall, Samegrelo.

Jagged rocky peaks with patches of melting snow tower over a deep blue alpine lake in the Samegrelo highlands.

Tobavarchkhili Lake and Chitagvalashi Mountain, Samegrelo, one of the most spectacular destinations for trekking in Georgia.

Vibrant purple and yellow wildflowers bloom along a rocky hiking trail overlooking lush green Samegrelo mountains.

On the trail to Tobavarchkhili, Samegrelo.

Narrow glacial stream winds through a verdant Svaneti mountain pass beneath distant snow-capped peaks.

Looking down towards Svaneti from Kelida Pass.

Vibrant green rolling hills of Tbilisi National Park under a bright blue sky with scattered white clouds.

The Ialno Ridge just north of Tbilisi.

Lush meadow leading toward dense evergreen forests and rugged, partially snow-dusted peaks under a clear blue sky.

En route to Udziro Lake from Glola, Racha.

Brown cattle graze and rest on a dusty trail beneath the rugged Askhi mountain slopes in Samegrelo.

En route to Askhi Massif from Balda village, Samegrelo.

Patches of melting snow cling to high-altitude slopes overlooking a vast, rolling alpine terrain under a hazy sky.

Tamar’s Cliffs near Shkmeri village, Racha.

Katistsveri peak looms over snow-streaked slopes beneath a heavy, dark cloud layer obscuring the high Racha ridges.

Katistsvera mountain, Racha.

Satsalike cliff edge overlooking a vast valley and distant, snow-capped Caucasus peaks under a bright, cloudy sky.

At the summit of Satsalike mountain, Racha.

Wildflowers bloom across a sunlit Kartli meadow with distant forested ridges fading into a hazy horizon.

En route to Karta mountain, Kartli.

Winding dirt road ascends through a narrow mountain pass in the Kldekari ridge under a clear blue sky.

The trail to Kldekari fortress, Kartli.

Winding dirt path leads toward the ancient Tmogvi fortress ruins perched on a rocky Meskheti canyon cliff.

The trail up from Tmogvi fortress to the plateau, Meskheti.

Dense clouds drift over the forest-covered slopes of the Tori mountains in the Meskheti region.

Somewhere in the Tori forests between Tsikhisjvari and the Mtkvari river, Meskheti.

Steep valley carved into verdant slopes, flanked by dark forests and culminating in jagged, snow-capped alpine peaks.

The main ridge of the Caucasus near Ghurshevi, Racha.

Sunlight illuminates rolling green ridges and evergreen forests beneath a sprawling sky of fluffy white clouds.

The “Panorama Trail” of the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, Meskheti.