VASHLOVANI AND DAVID GAREJA 7 DAY 4X4 ITINERARY
GEORGIA ROAD TRIP
Looking for an adventure? Look no further. Our 7 day Vashlovani and David Gareja 4×4 road trip itinerary will have you off-roading through a wild and remote part of Georgia. You’ll explore the diverse landscapes of Vashlovani National Park, the Chachuna and Iori Managed Reserves, and the David Gareja cave monasteries.
Our route combines an existing network of off-road tracks into an adventurous 4×4 itinerary, starting and ending in Tbilisi. With limited tourist infrastructure in the region, it’s been designed primarily as a wild camping trip, best suited to those who don’t mind roughing it a bit and have some off-road driving experience.
Sound like your kind of fun? Read on for a detailed itinerary, route map, practical tips, 4×4 car and campervan rental options, and everything else you need to know to get out and explore this unique corner of Georgia.
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WATCH OUR FILMS
This Vashlovani and David Gareja road trip itinerary is based on our own explorations of the region in a rented 4×4 campervan. Almost everywhere in this itinerary is featured in Part One and Part Two of our UAZ Buhanka Campervan Road Trip Series. Check them out if you want a preview of what to expect on this trip!
Watch behind the scenes videos of our Vashlovani and David Gareja 4×4 road trip on Instagram Stories
Watch behind the scenes videos
of our Vashlovani and David
Gareja 4×4 road trip on
Instagram Stories
VASHLOVANI AND DAVID GAREJA ITINERARY ROUTE MAP
VASHLOVANI AND DAVID GAREJA ITINERARY
ROUTE MAP
We have created an accompanying map for this Vashlovani and David Gareja 4×4 road trip itinerary, which you can use online or offline to easily navigate the route. All of the driving and hiking routes are marked, along with the key sights, suggested camp spots, and accommodation options for each day of the itinerary. This allows you to quickly pinpoint places and navigate to them.
VASHLOVANI AND DAVID GAREJA 4X4 ROAD TRIP ITINERARY OUTLINE
Day 1 | Tbilisi → Dedoplistskaro → Eagle Gorge/Khornabuji Fortress → Pantishara Canyon | 198 km
5 hours driving |
---|---|---|
Day 2 | Pantishara Canyon → Bear Canyon → Mijniskure | 45 km
3.5 hours driving |
Day 3 | Mijniskure → Takhistskali → Shavi Mta/Black Mountain | 28 km
3 hours driving |
Day 4 | Shavi Mta → Dedoplistskaro → Dali Mta Reservoir → Takhti-Tepha Mud Volcanoes | 105 km
4 hours driving |
Day 5 | Takhti-Tepha Mud Volcanoes → Kilakupra Mud Volcanoes → Chachuna and Iori Managed Reserves → Sabereebi Cave Monastery | 58 km
3 hours driving |
Day 6 | Sabereebi Cave Monastery → David Gareja Main Complex → Mravaltskaro Reservoir | 56 km
2.5 hours driving |
Day 7 | Mravaltskaro Reservoir → Rustavi → Tbilisi | 60 km
1.5 hours driving |
Day 1 | Tbilisi → Dedoplistskaro → Eagle Gorge/Khornabuji Fortress → Pantishara Canyon | 198 km 5 hours driving |
---|---|---|
Day 2 | Pantishara Canyon → Bear Canyon → Mijniskure | 45 km 3.5 hours driving |
Day 3 | Mijniskure → Takhistskali → Shavi Mta/Black Mountain | 28 km 3 hours driving |
Day 4 | Shavi Mta → Dedoplistskaro → Dali Mta Reservoir → Takhti-Tepha Mud Volcanoes | 105 km 4 hours driving |
Day 5 | Takhti-Tepha Mud Volcanoes → Kilakupra Mud Volcanoes → Chachuna and Iori Managed Reserves → Sabereebi Cave Monastery | 58 km 3 hours driving |
Day 6 | Sabereebi Cave Monastery → David Gareja Main Complex → Mravaltskaro Reservoir | 56 km 2.5 hours driving |
Day 7 | Mravaltskaro Reservoir → Rustavi → Tbilisi | 60 km 1.5 hours driving |
DETAILED ITINERARY BREAKDOWN
VASHLOVANI AND DAVID GAREJA 4X4 ROAD TRIP
ITINERARY BREAKDOWN
DAY 1 | TBILISI → DEDOPLISTSKARO → EAGLE GORGE → PANTISHARA CANYON
198 KM | 5 HOURS DRIVING
DAY 1
TBILISI
→ DEDOPLISTSKARO
→ EAGLE GORGE
→ PANTISHARA CANYON
198 KM | 5 HOURS DRIVING
SUGGESTED CAMP: PANTISHARA CANYON
SUGGESTED CAMP //
PANTISHARA CANYON
First up on your Georgia road trip is a stop in Dedoplistskaro to pick up permits. This is followed by a couple of short hikes at scenic spots on the outskirts of town, before you end the day at a stunning canyon camp spot deep in Vashlovani NP.
TBILISI TO DEDOPLISTSKARO
The first 130 km stretch of this Vashlovani and David Gareja 4×4 road trip itinerary is uncharacteristically, on-road, and therefore best tackled in 2WD mode. From Tbilisi, head east on the Kakheti Highway and continue all the way to Dedoplistskaro. It takes about 2 hours to cover the distance, a speedy timeframe that won’t be possible again until the last day of this week-long itinerary. Exciting, right?
DEDOPLISTSKARO
In Dedoplistskaro you need to go first to the Vashlovani Visitor Centre (41.4625, 46.1036) and then to the Border Police building (41.4723, 46.0854), to collect permits and pay your NP and camping fees. You need to have your passport and car passport, plus your entry and exit dates for Vashlovani NP and Chachuna Managed Reserve. You also need to make sure you have cash for the payment.
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