Skip to main content
Geotour
Ananuri fortress and church above the Zhinvali reservoir on the Military Highway
The Gudamakari Aragvi river running between bare autumn mountains at Pasanauri
Tour photo

Photos: Yasuhiro Kojima (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons

White Aragvi Rafting & Ananuri Fortress — Private Day Trip from Tbilisi

Ananuri Fortress · Pasanauri

  • 1 day
  • Private, 1–8 travellers
  • Moderate
  • Starts in Tbilisi
  • Late April to early October

Overview

A private day trip from Tbilisi to raft the White Aragvi at Pasanauri, about 90 km north on the Georgian Military Highway, with a stop at Ananuri fortress above the Zhinvali reservoir on the way. The run from Pasanauri to Meneso is about 12 km, roughly 45–90 minutes on the water depending on the level. In May and June the river runs high (grade II–III) and suits confident adults who can swim. From July it drops to grade II and suits families with children from about 7. An experienced local rafting company provides the skipper, raft, helmet, life jacket and wetsuit. After a khinkali lunch in Pasanauri, a village known in Georgia for its khinkali, you can add a tandem paragliding flight at Gudauri if the wind allows. About 9 hours door to door.

Itinerary

2 stops: Ananuri Fortress, Pasanauri

Ananuri and the White Aragvi

About 9 hours door to door (10.5–11 hours with the optional paragliding flight).

  1. Pickup in Tbilisi; short stop at the Zhinvali viewpoint

  2. Ananuri fortress (45 min)

    • Ananuri FortressA 45-minute stop at the 17th-century Ananuri fortress on the way north: two churches inside the walls and a view over the Zhinvali reservoir from the tower.

      A 45-minute stop at the 17th-century Ananuri fortress on the way north: two churches inside the walls and a view over the Zhinvali reservoir from the tower.

      Ananuri is a 17th-century fortress of the Dukes of Aragvi above the turquoise Zhinvali reservoir, about 70 km (1–1.25 h) north of Tbilisi on the Georgian Military Highway. Inside its walls stand two churches, one with richly carved façades from 1689, and a square watchtower you can climb for a view down the reservoir. It is the usual first stop on the way to Kazbegi or Pasanauri, and 30–45 minutes is enough to see it.

      View destination details

  3. Drive to the Pasanauri rafting base (about 25 km, 30 min)

    • PasanauriRafting base at Pasanauri: safety briefing, kit and about 12 km of the White Aragvi to Meneso with your skipper. Khinkali lunch in Pasanauri afterwards (not included).

      Rafting base at Pasanauri: safety briefing, kit and about 12 km of the White Aragvi to Meneso with your skipper. Khinkali lunch in Pasanauri afterwards (not included).

      Pasanauri is a village at about 1,050 m on the Georgian Military Highway, where the White (Tetri) and Black (Shavi) Aragvi rivers meet, about 90 km (1.5 h) north of Tbilisi and 25 km above Ananuri. It is the main base for rafting on the White Aragvi from late spring to early autumn, and the classic lunch stop on the road to Kazbegi: Pasanauri is famous across Georgia for its khinkali, and roadside restaurants make them fresh all day.

      View destination details

  4. Safety briefing and kit

  5. Raft Pasanauri → Meneso (about 12 km, 45–90 min on the water)

  6. Khinkali lunch in Pasanauri (not included)

  7. Optional: tandem paragliding at Gudauri, weather permitting (about 40 min each way)

  8. Drive back (1.5–2 h); 17:30–18:00 at your hotel (about 19:30 with paragliding)

Make this tour your own:Build your own tour

What's Included

  • Private car or minivan with fuel and parking (sedan for 1–3 travellers, minivan for 4–8)
  • English-speaking driver-guide for the whole day
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tbilisi
  • Rafting run with an experienced local company: skipper, raft, paddle, helmet, life jacket and wetsuit
  • Bottled water

  • Lunch (about 25–40 GEL per person)
  • Photo and video package from the rafting company
  • Tandem paragliding at Gudauri (about 350–650 GEL depending on flight length; weight limits apply)
  • Drinks
  • Tips (optional)
  • Travel insurance that covers rafting (mandatory for visitors to Georgia from 1 January 2026)

Map

Good to know

Best Time to Visit
Late April to early October (high water May–June for adults; family level from July)
Physical Requirements
Moderate fitness level required. Includes longer walks, some uphill sections, and possibly uneven terrain.
Cancellation Policy
Nothing to pay now. Your quote includes the cancellation terms before you pay anything.
Water level
May–June is the bigger, colder water for confident adult swimmers; from July the river is calmer and fine for children from about 7.
What to bring
swimwear to wear under the wetsuit, a change of clothes and a towel, and shoes that can get wet (no flip-flops).
Heads-up
you will get wet; leave phones and valuables in the car or bring a waterproof pouch.
Paragliding
flights depend on wind on the day and are decided on the spot; if it is off, you are back in Tbilisi earlier.
Insurance
check that your policy covers rafting and, if you plan to fly, paragliding.
Categories:
Day trip from Tbilisi
Active & adventure

You Might Also Like

Guides for planning your trip

All travel guides

This page in other languages