Tsalka Canyon Tour from Tbilisi with Poka Nunnery, Gorelovka and Asureti
Description
Private full day tour includes visiting Manglisi Cathedral built in 6th-7th centuries, Poka Nunnery of St. Nino well-known with its organic products, village Gorelovka near Georgia - Armenia border to visit Ethnographic Museum of Dukhabors - Christian spiritual religious group of Russian origin, former German colony of Asureti (Elizabettal) and Tsalka (Dashbashi) canyon complex that includes a 1800-metre path to the canyon with the cascade of small waterfalls and unique 240-meter long glass bridge with a diamond-shaped café in the middle. Tour includes exploring lakes: Tsalka, Paravani, Saghamo, Bugdasheni and Madatapa. Two options are available for the tour. Tour with Lunch & Wine Tasting option includes tasting the best meals from local cuisine and tasting local endemic wines. Private tour to Tsalka Canyon is suitable for people who enjoy exploring unique nature and stunning lake views and tasting organic food and endemic wines. Total drive 385 km (235 miles).
Tour Options
Itinerary
You will visit Manglisi Sioni Cathedral that was constructed in 6th-7th century. The first church was built in 4th century during the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion. Byzantine Imperor Constantine gifted to King Mirian abundant treasures and parts of the Holy Cross of Christ and sent Bishop John (Ioanne) to build churches in Georgia. Before he arrived in Mtskheta, he stopped in Manglisi and started building a temple.
You will visit Paravani Lake (2 073 m) is the largest lake with 38 sq.km area with depth of 3 meters. From mid-autumn to mid-spring it is covered with ice.
You will vist Phoka Nunnery of St. Nino where St. Nino stayed for two days after she entered Georgia via crossing the mountains of Javakheti. She started preaching the Christian faith, followed river Mtkvari and reached Mtskheta. The monastery has a missionary role, representing for years the only Georgian-speaking island in an alienated environment. The nunnery produces cheese, candles, cloisonne enamel and confectionery products.
You will visit village Gorelovka to visit Ethnographic Museum. The village was founded by Dukhabors, Christian spiritual religious group of Russian origin. They rejected the secular government, priesthood, the use of icons, and all church rituals. They do not follow any customs other than marriage. Women are equal to men in the family. They were relocated from Russia during the reign of Emperor Nicholas I and 5,000 Doukhobors were resettled to Georgia between 1841 and 1845.
You will visit Tsalka Canyon (Dashbashi Canyon) that has astounding cascading waterfalls that take exotic emerald colour and form dozens of small waterfalls. The canyon complex includes a 1800-meter path to the canyon river with stunning views and unique 240-meter long glass bridge over the canyon with a diamond-shaped café in the middle.
You will visit village Asureti where 7,000 German colonists settled in 1817. After living for almost 125 years, in 1941 Stalin deported Germans from Georgia to Central Asia. Only those who were married to Georgians were allowed to stay. The durability of the houses built without cement and nails, oak balconies, sulfur bath and wine cellar still amaze people. In Asureti there is an old Georgian vine variety "Shala" found in the forest by a German farmer Shalma. The village has a Lutheran church built in 1871 and a cemetery.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Tsalka Canyon is closed during bad weather and the height of the visitor in the canyon must exceed 1.2 m. To reach the canyon guest need to hike around 30 minutes.
- Ladies need to wear head scarves and dresses in Georgian orthodox churches. Short trousers for men are also forbidden. Scarves and dresses can also be found near church entrances for men and women to enter churches.
- Standard Tour does not include lunch, but you will stop in a restaurant for lunch.
Reviews(4)
Giorgi was a great guide and host, spending the whole day driving us to to each part of the tour. It was great to see the less touristy areas of Georgia and learn more about Georgia's history Would highly recommend this tour to anyone that wants to escape the tourist crowds! We accidently left one of our pieces of luggage in his car after the tour ended and he kindly drove all the way back to our hotel accomodation the next day to return it to us in his free time. A very caring guide
Thanks a lot for your review. Your honest feedback means a lot for us. We really enjoyed organizing Tsalka Canyon Tour for you. Thanks again. Hope to see you again soon.
We heard about the new diamond-shaped glass viewing platform across Tsalka canyon as we were planning our trip to Georgia - [it was opened just in June 2022], and we knew we had to go there! Tsalka canyon by itself is gorgeous, but the new viewing platform makes it a unique and almost magical experience. You can walk across the bridge [partially made of glass], to the diamond-shaped platform in the middle which is entirely made of glass and affords amazing views of the canyon below. Once you've taken all of the instagramable pics from the viewing platform, the walk down into the canyon and back is equally gorgeous. At the bottom there is a series of waterfalls which are peaceful, and you can see the diamond platform from the bottom. Our guide from Select Georgia tours had excellent English, and was extremely patient as we kept stopping to take pictures [and rest!] on the hike down and back from the canyon. I highly recommend Tsalka canyon and Select Georgia tours is the best!
Thank you for your review. We enjoyed organizing Tsalka Canyon Tour for you. Thanks again. Hope to see you again soon.
What a terrific tour! I was personally hosted by Giorgi, who was a charming and knowledgeable guide. He picked me up promptly in an impeccable tour van and we jumped right into a wonderful all-day overview of a very special part of Georgia off the main tourist paths. Giorgi always knew the best spots to get extraordinary views and photos and gave me fascinating information on the local culture, history and especially the music! He found a wonderful restaurant for lunch run by an amazing and welcoming family serving all organic and local products. The work being done at Phoka Nunnery is so impressive and the incredible range of products they produce were elegantly wrapped and delicious! I have been wanting to see Phoka since it was written up in the NYT earlier this year, and am so glad I chose to go with SelectGeorgia!
Thanks a lot for your kind words. It means a lot for us. We are glad that you have enjoyed the tour. Thank you.
It was one of the best holidays ever ... breath taking landscape .. rich culture .. delicious food .. and above all George our guid who took us to the most fascinating places
Thanks a lot for your review. Dashbashi Canyon is a truly magical place to visit. We enjoyed doing a tour with your lovely family. Thanks.
