10 Best Natural Sights To See In Georgia
Escape to Georgia’s Most Beautiful Landscapes
Exploring the best natural sights in the country of Georgia unveils a land with remarkably diverse topography. Despite its small size, comparable to Kentucky, the country boasts alpine landscapes as well as limestone canyons and arid deserts like those of the American Southwest.
From the snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus Mountains to verdant forests and waterfalls, Georgia boasts an array of beautiful sights. Many of these areas remain largely untouched by tourism and industry, preserving their wild character. What are the most beautiful natural sights in Georgia?
1. Martvili Canyon
Journeys downstream through a limestone canyon
Ideal para: Aventura, Foto
The deep gorges that characterize the Martvili Canyon were carved by the Abasha, a turquoise river that winds through layered limestone rock. The 1.5-mile (2.4-km) canyon is populated with vibrant vegetation and moss-covered stones and offers a cool reprieve from the sweltering summer heat.
Boat trips are a popular way to explore the upper canyon. Tours take visitors on a section of the river that flows gently beneath canyon walls, which rise as high as 130 ft (40 meters). A short hiking loop provides the best views of the middle and lower canyon, passing near 3 dynamic waterfalls and 2 limestone bridges.
Abre: Tuesday–Saturday from 10 am to 11 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 11.30 pm, Monday from 10 am to 10.30 pm
Martvili Canyon
2. Sataplia Nature Reserve
Ancient woodlands and karst caves
Ideal para: Aventura, Famílias
The Sataplia Nature Reserve comprises a swath of ancient broadleaf forest and an impressive karst cave system. Located just 6 miles from Kutaisi city, the reserve is part of the larger UNESCO-recognized Colchian Rainforests and Wetlands. The site protects woodlands that survived ice ages and the hundreds of plant and animal species that inhabit them, including vulnerable species like the Caucasian salamander and the booted eagle.
Join a tour to explore the karst caves, carved out by the Oghaskura River over millions of years and characterized by striking displays of stalactites and stalagmites. Sataplia is also known for its cluster of well-preserved dinosaur footprints that date back to the Cretaceous period, left by a smaller relative of the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Abre: Daily from 10 am to 5 pm
Telefone: +995 595 08 60 59
Sataplia Nature Reserve
3. Katskhi Pillar
A towering limestone pillar with a spiritual histo
Ideal para: Aventura, Foto
The Katskhi Pillar is a natural limestone monolith rising more than 100 ft (30 meters) from the green Katskhura valley. The pillar has been a spiritual site for millennia. In early pagan spiritualism, it was worshiped as the “Pillar of Life.” Later, it served as an ascetic monastery for nearly a thousand years, with 2 churches, 3 hermit cells, and a small wine cellar built atop its narrow peak.
Climbing the pillar is not permitted due to its dangerous vertical ascent (except for the few monks that inhabit the now-restored monastery). Instead, admire the stunning natural monument from the heights of nearby hiking paths or journey to its base, where you’ll find a tiny chapel painted with colorful murals.
Localização: 76P8+X8X, Katskhi, Georgia
Abre: Daily from 9 am to 8 pm
Katskhi Pillar
4. Tobavarchkhili Lake
A remote alpine lake
Ideal para: Aventura, Foto, Econômico
Nestled high in the Egrisi Mountains at an altitude of 8,700 ft (2,600 meters) is Tobavarchkhili Lake, a serene lake encircled by rugged peaks that reflect in its glassy surface. Reaching this remote spot is an adventure in itself: hiking routes take 3 to 5 days and cross several treacherous mountain passes. These trails, while spectacular, should be attempted only by experienced, well-prepared hikers.
The route passes through diverse landscapes, including high passes, alpine meadows, and rocky terrain. Arriving at Tobavarchkhili, you find yourself in a mystical landscape of unspoiled wilderness, often shrouded in a dense mist. Set up camp lakeside and prepare yourself for a dazzling starry night.
Tobavarchkhili Lake
5. Makhuntseti Waterfall
One of Georgia’s most idyllic scenes
Ideal para: Aventura, Foto
Makhuntseti Waterfall is located just one hour’s drive northwest of Batumi and makes for a great day trip out of the city. The drive takes you meandering through the Georgian countryside, passing by mountains and through villages, arriving at last at one of the country’s most popular natural landmarks.
The towering waterfall cascades 118 ft (36 meters) down a steep rock face surrounded by greenery and collects in a small pool. Visiting in the early spring, you’ll see the waterfall at its most gushing and powerful, full of mountain snowmelt. Visiting in the summertime means competing with other visitors for parking and elbow room, but it also affords the perfect opportunity to take a dip in the waterfall’s enticing pool.
Localização: HVF5+V9P, Zeda Makhuntseti, Georgia
Makhuntseti Waterfall
6. Shkhara Massif
The country’s highest peak
Ideal para: Foto, Aventura
The third-highest peak in all of Europe, Shkhara Massif is a mountain of staggering proportion. It’s located in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range, a lesser-known but spectacular mountain range along the Russian border, at the eastern end of a 7-mile (11-km) ridge named the Bezengi Wall. The massive Shkhara has a total of 9 peaks, the tallest of which soars more than 17,000 ft (5,000 meters).
The best place to view the grand, snow-capped peaks is from the mountain village of Ushguli. Perched on the lower slopes of Shkhara itself, this UNESCO-listed town is the highest-altitude settlement in Europe and provides a glimpse into the country’s past.
Localização: 2426+6V Ushguli, Georgia
Shkhara Massif
7. Birtvisi Rocks
Volcanic cliffs and canyons
Ideal para: Aventura, Foto, História
The Birtvisi Natural Monument, just over an hour from Tbilisi, is a landscape of volcanic rocks jutting out of a sloping green gorge. It was once the site of a medieval fortress, now in ruins, that was carved out of the limestone itself and made use of the cliffs and canyons as natural defensive obstacles.
Trails into the canyon begin east of the village of Partskhisi. The most leisurely trek takes visitors between the boulders and offers views of the surrounding wilderness. For a shorter, more challenging hike, take the Canyon Viewpoint and Ruins Trail which leads to the site of the fortress, the highest vantage point in the hills.
Localização: JG6M+2H3, Tbisi, Georgia
Birtvisi Rocks
8. Vashlovani National Park
Off-road adventuring through desert and badlands
Ideal para: Aventura
As a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Vashlovani National Park offers some of Georgia’s most unique natural landscapes. Most tourists don’t make it to this part of the country near the eastern border with Azerbaijan, likely because it is extremely challenging to navigate. It’s best practice to go together with a local guide in a vehicle that can handle the rough terrain.
The park is characterized by its dry climate, with landscapes reminiscent of the American southwest: rocky badlands, arid semi-desert plateaus, and tall canyon cliffs. There are many surprises to be found here like the gazelles bounding across the Samukhi Valley and the groves of wild pistachio and apple trees.
Vashlovani National Park
9. Mravaltskaro Reservoir and the Red Hills
The wonders of the Georgian Mars
Ideal para: Foto, Viagens alternativas
The Mravaltskaro Reservoir and the Red Hills that surround it appear suddenly in the middle of the Gareja Desert, a colorful and serene oasis. The Red Hills ripple the otherwise flat terrain, and their stripes of color create a dazzling effect when reflected against in the still waters of the reservoir.
The unusual coloring of the hills results from mineral deposits in the rock: yellow sandstone, white sea salt, and clay in shades of brown, red, and gray. Visitors also report seeing hues of orange, green, and even purple in the hills. Visit in the latter half of the day to view this unique landscape under the colors of the sunset.
Localização: G6MX+MG, Lemshveniera, Georgia
Mravaltskaro Reservoir and the Red Hills
10. Abudelauri Lakes
Three unusual alpine lakes
Ideal para: Foto, Aventura
Travelers have only a narrow window to visit the Abudelauri lakes, which are either frozen or dried up for many months of the year. If you make the journey to this northeastern area of the Caucasus Mountains between mid-June and late July, you’ll discover the trio of alpine pools.
Each lake has a different hue, but all are perfectly still, reflecting snowcapped mountain peaks at more than 8,000 ft (2,400 meters) above sea level. A 2-mile (3.2-km) trail from the village of Roshka leads you first to the Blue and Green Lakes, which take their colors from varied glacier sediment. Trek another hour to the bottom of Chaukhi to see the most striking of the 3, the milky-hued White Lake.
Localização: GRVP+RV, Blo, Georgia
Abudelauri Lakes
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