About Georgia
Georgia – A Safe and Hospitable
Adventure Place for the Adventurous!
Georgia is situated amidst the
magnificent Lesser and Greater Caucasus, between the Black and
Caspian Seas in one of the world’s richest ecological regions. It is
no wonder that it has become a sought-after “frontier” destination
for vacationers and adventurers – all hoping to experience a land
and culture unlike any other. The recent leaps towards political
stability have opened very safe and unique travel opportunities
throughout Georgia, to some of the most remote mountain
civilizations and pristine wild nature.
The Caucasus is a complex system of mountains, with
majestic peaks rising above 5000 meters, harboring truly wild
country, where the fauna and flora of Europe meets that of the
Middle East. Astoundingly, Georgia’s small size (about 70,000 sq km)
offers a great variety of adventure destinations, ranging from high
alpine meadows to semi-arid deserts; from moist subtropical forests
to highland steppes scattered with volcanoes.
The rich traditions of the Georgian people, with a
set of languages and a script of ancient roots, have been modeled through the
ages by the very mountains that nestle their nation. Since antiquity, Georgians
have received a constant flow of travelers crossing their ‘land-bridge’ between
the East and the West. Renowned for their hospitality, Georgians are proud to
host visitors. Even in the most inaccessible mountain villages, travelers will
quickly find themselves amidst new friends, sharing in the delicious Georgian
food and wine. Below the backdrop of perpetual white peaks, ancient villages
welcome new friends to a journey beyond time, where the song of the highlands is
heard at every table.
Wild Georgia!
are the adventure specialists in these Georgian mountain
regions:
 Khevsureti
Khesureti is a mountainous region, where
natural wonders of rock and shale conceal ancient marvels, the
fortresses built by Khesurians long ago. At the northern limits of
Georgia, where the mountains rise above 3000 meters, the Khevsurians
settled in fortified villages composed of hundreds of towers, from
which the mountain passes could be observed and defend from
invaders.
Khevsureti is located about 90 km north
of the Tbilisi capital, high on the southern slopes of the Greater
Caucasus where deep gorges make way for the course of rivers and
mist, where the adventurer discovers ancient towers and wild nature
within the cloudy peaks. The Ancient citadels of Shatili and Mutso
still stand in Khevsureti, and are inhabited by hospitable Khevsurs.
These spectacular highlands offer great opportunities to see
wildlife such as Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis), White-throated
Dippers (Cinclus cinclus), Caucasian Turs and other wild-goat
species.
Khesureti is a mountainous region, where natural wonders of rock and shale conceal ancient marvels, the fortresses built by Khesurians long ago. At the northern limits of Georgia, where the mountains rise above 3000 meters, the Khevsurians settled in fortified villages composed of hundreds of towers, from which the mountain passes could be observed and defend from invaders.
Khevsureti is located about 90 km north of the Tbilisi capital, high on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus where deep gorges make way for the course of rivers and mist, where the adventurer discovers ancient towers and wild nature within the cloudy peaks. The Ancient citadels of Shatili and Mutso still stand in Khevsureti, and are inhabited by hospitable Khevsurs.
These spectacular highlands offer great opportunities to see wildlife such as Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis), White-throated Dippers (Cinclus cinclus), Caucasian Turs and other wild-goat species.
Lagodekhi
The Lagodekhi Reserve offers a fantastic opportunity to
experience the great variety of landscapes found in this isolated
natural treasure of eastern Georgia, bordering Azerbaijan.
Lush subtropical forests at lower altitudes reveal beautiful
waterfalls from glaciers above. Many rare and protected plant
species make their home here. At higher altitudes within the
reserve, deciduous forests give way to vast tundra and icy lakes.
This is the ideal place to experience nature’s intimate beauty in
a number of adventurous trails that take you from a moist secretive
world, to a vast and dry expanse above 3000 meters. In Lagodekhi,
visitors will discover owls and woodpeckers, martens and wildcats,
as well as key endemic species of the Caucasus such as the Caucasian
Grouse (Tetrao mlokosieviczi).
Kazbegi
Kazbegi is the famed mountainous landscape of Georgia, where the
grand peak of the same name rises above 5000 meters amidst
snow-covered ranges, glaciers, and breathtaking gorges. Being only a
day’s drive from Tbilisi, the region offers many trails of varying
elevation towards the Kazbegi peak and its vicinity. Here, ancient
castles and churches perch above the world, reminding the traveler
that no matter how great humanity’s feats, we are always humbled by
nature’s magnificence.
At Kazbegi, the nature of the Caucasus offers its best, and while
standing on colorful slopes of wild flowers travelers may get an
opportunity to watch soaring vultures and eagles, to hear the song
of the noble Snowcock cascade down the precipice, and discover
mountain goats daringly scampering up the crags.
Tusheti
Tushetiis one of the most beautiful mountain regions of Georgia,
with it’s amaizing alpine meadows, snowy mountains, glaciers, and a
variety of forests that are important ecosystems for rare and
endangered plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.
Located on the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains,
Tusheti is about 270 km northwest of the Tbilisi capital, and it is
home to a unique population of ethnic Georgians, the Tushs. This
remote highlands regions is inhabited by four ancient communities:
Pirikiti, Gometsari, Chaghma, Tsova.
Adventurers travelling to this unspoilt mountains are likely to
see such rarities as wild mountain goats (Capra aegagrus/
cylindricornis, Rupicapra r.), Lynx, Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus),
Golden Eagle (Chrysaetos barbatus), and many endemic flowers.
Ancient Christian traditions took root in the Tushetian mountains
long ago, and since then they have been practiced and celebrated
unlike anywhere else in Georgia. Tushetian holidays and festivals
are famed for their wild horse races, mountain pilgrimages,
beer-brewing, and outdoor feasts.
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