Top 5 sights of Georgia’s Protected Areas
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Summer is the high season for travelling all over the country to see the most interesting and beautiful places of Georgia. There are a lot of choices depending on what you want to explore; from the sea in the west to the mountains in the north and the lush grapevines in the east.
It is easy to understand the preferences of local and international travellers if you look at the visitors’ statistics by Georgia’s Agency of Protected Areas of the past month.
N1. Prometheus Caves
Prometheus Caves, discovered in Imereti region in 1984 and opened to the public in 2012, is the most visited site with 35,816 visitors last month.
Prometheus Caves is one of the natural wonders of Georgia. Photo by Agency of Protected Areas.
Prometheus Caves is one of Georgia’s natural wonders providing visitors with breathtaking examples of stalactites, stalagmites, curtains, petrified waterfalls, cave pearls, underground rivers and lakes.
Just 20km northwest of Kutaisi, it is easy to get to the cave from Tskaltubo or Kutaisi. The name of the cave is connected with the ancient myth of Prometheus who brought fair to the people from the Gods. The legend says the hero was chained to Khvamli Mountain, which is visible from Prometheus Cave.
N2. Martvili Canyon
Martvili Canyon in west Georgia was the second most popular place visited last month, with 26,000 guests.
Martvili Canyon now has all necessary tourism infrastructure. Photo by Agency of Protected Areas.
Martvili Canyon is located in the Martvili Municipality of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region and spans a distance of 2.4km but only 5-10m wide.
A $582,000 USD governmental project to install and renovate tracks, bridges, lookout sites and docking areas for boats finished about a month ago. The site is about five hours drive from capital Tbilisi.
3.Borjomi – Kharagauli National Park
Borjomi – Kharagauli National Park was the third most visited site in Georgia’s Protected Areas with 17382 visitors.
The view from the 'Panoramas Trail' at Norjomi-Kjaragauli National Park. Photo by BKNP Archive.
Located in the central part of Georgia, the Borjomi – Kharagauli National Park spanning an area of 85,083ha, is known for its diversity of flora and fauna and boasts one of the most beautiful landscapes all over the country.
The tourist route network in the area allows hiking for one or several days with all paths clearly marked and well arranged. Tourist shelters, picnic spots and camping sites are also located along the routes. The National Park offers hiking, horse riding, biking, cultural and educational tours.
N4. Sataplia
Sataplia Nature Reserve was the fourth most visited sight, as 16,051 travellers were there last month.
Dinosaur footprints displayed at Sataplia Nature Reserve. Photo by Agency of Protected Areas.
At this Protected Area in western Georgia, located 9km northwest of Kutaisi you can see a lot of different types of sights in one place. The area boasts more than a dozen of fossilized dinosaur footprints dating back 120 million years. You can also venture into a 300m-long underground cave and see plenty of stalactites and stalagmites or an underground river.
The tourist path goes through the subtropical Colchic Forest and also an amazing glass panoramic viewpoint. The name Sataplia is connected with the word ‘tapli’ (honey) in Georgian. It can be translated as ‘the place of honey’, as the rocks found on site were home to wild bees. The remains of ancient bee colonies can be found at Sataplia Nature Reserve.
N5. Okatse Canyon
And the fifth most visited site in Georgia’s Protected Areas was Okatse Canyon with 16,266 visitors.
The view of Okatse Canyon. Photo by Agency of Protected Areas.
Okatse Canyon is located in the Khoni Municipality of the Imereti region, 50km north-east of Martvili. Hugging the 14km-long Okatse River, the canyon's width ranges from 3-20m and its height varies from 20-100m. Exiting views can be observed from the platform at the edge of a 100m deep gap.
See images of the picturesque Martvili and Okatse Canyons in a video by the Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia below:
The picturesque sights of the western Georgia's Martvili and Okatse Canyons are the focus of a new viral video, captured by drone footage of the unique waterfalls and boat passages found at the popular tourist sites.
he Government of Georgia has allocated more than half million dollars to install tourist tracks, bridges, lookout points and more to rejuvenate and restore the Martvili Canyon in west Georgia.
A camera trap in one of Georgia’s protected areas has proven that roe deer are very photogenic animals. This curious roe deer was spotted at the Lagodekhi Protected Area in eastern Georgia earlier in May.
New protected territories are being established in two regions of Georgia in a bid to protect and maintain the natural flora and fauna.
One of the most beautiful landscapes of Georgia which presents remarkable cliffs and canyons and a variety of animals, has been granted with a prestigious award from the European Council.
The days are getting shorter and the temperatures are dropping, meaning autumn is here, bringing with it colourful leaves, fresh air and renewed opportunities to get outside and enjoy nature.
Georgia’s efforts to make the country’s protected areas popular tourist spots appears to be paying off – 489,909 tourists visited Georgia’s protected areas so far this year.
Georgia's most-visited natural monument now features a brand-new exhibition space, making the Prometheus Caves in the country's west more accessible than ever for visitors.
A zip line zone will be arranged in Martvili Canyon and in the village of Kinchkha, which is located near the Okatse waterfall, in western Georgia.
Okatse Canyon, located in the Khoni Municipality of the Imereti region, is now open for visitors after it underwent renovation work.
Navenakhevi Cave located in the Terjola region of western Georgia has been reopened on 25 November with the support of the Agency of Protected Areas and Terjola City Hall.
A new protected area will be created in western Georgia’s Imereti region to protect biodiversity and endangered species in the locality, the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture announced on Tuesday.