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Geotour
Eroded pale badlands and scrub seen from the Usakhelo viewpoint in Vashlovani National Park
Tour photo

Photos: Jelger Groeneveld (CC BY 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons

Vashlovani National Park by 4x4 — 2-Day Private Tour

Vashlovani National Park

  • 2 days
  • Private, 1–8 travellers
  • Moderate
  • April–May and October–November

Overview

A private 2-day 4x4 trip from Tbilisi into Vashlovani National Park, Georgia's semi-desert in the far south-east by the Azerbaijan border: the Pantishara canyon, the badlands below the Usakhelo viewpoint and a night in the park bungalows at Mijniskure on the Alazani river. The park has no paved roads, so from Dedoplistskaro everything is by 4x4 on slow tracks. We stop there for the free Border Police permit and to pay the park fees. On day one you walk in Pantishara canyon, have a picnic lunch, look over the badlands from Usakhelo and watch for goitered gazelles on the steppe. Day two is about 3 hours on tracks out of the park past the old Shiraki airfield, then a short walk in Eagle canyon near Dedoplistskaro before the 130 km (about 2 h) drive back to Tbilisi. The Takhti-Tepa mud volcanoes lie at the other end of the protected areas and need an extra day. We run this trip in spring and autumn only: summer is too hot, and after rain the tracks can become impassable.

Itinerary

1

Day 1Dedoplistskaro, Pantishara and Mijniskure

Tbilisi to Dedoplistskaro is about 130 km (2 h); inside the park the tracks are slow and unpaved.

    • Vashlovani National ParkBy 4x4 through Vashlovani: Pantishara canyon and the Usakhelo viewpoint on day 1, a night in the Mijniskure park bungalows, then out past the old Shiraki airfield to Eagle canyon on day 2.

      By 4x4 through Vashlovani: Pantishara canyon and the Usakhelo viewpoint on day 1, a night in the Mijniskure park bungalows, then out past the old Shiraki airfield to Eagle canyon on day 2.

      Vashlovani is Georgia's semi-desert national park in the far south-east of Kakheti, on the Azerbaijan border, reached on slow dirt tracks from Dedoplistskaro. It has pale badland canyons, the Takhti-Tepa mud volcanoes, open pistachio and juniper woodland and the Alazani river at Mijniskure. With luck you see reintroduced goitered gazelles, vultures and eagles. There are no paved roads inside, so it is a 4x4 trip, best with a night in the park bungalows.

      View destination details

  2. Pickup in Tbilisi in our 4x4

  3. Dedoplistskaro: park fees and the free Border Police permit for Mijniskure

  4. Pantishara canyon and its eroded badlands; picnic lunch in the canyon (included)

  5. Usakhelo viewpoint over the badlands; watch for gazelles on the steppe

  6. Mijniskure bungalows by the Alazani river; simple dinner (included)

  7. Overnight: Mijniskure park bungalow (basic)

2

Day 2Shiraki and Eagle canyon

About 3 hours on park tracks out to Dedoplistskaro, then 130 km (2 h) to Tbilisi.

  1. Early wildlife watching near the river

  2. Drive out of the park (about 3 h on tracks), past the old Shiraki airfield and steppe

  3. Lunch in Dedoplistskaro (not included)

  4. Eagle canyon walk (about 1 h)

  5. Drive back; 17:00–17:30 in Tbilisi

Make this tour your own:Build your own tour

What's Included

  • Private 4x4 with fuel (up to 6 travellers per vehicle)
  • English-speaking driver-guide throughout
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tbilisi
  • Park fees and the Border Police permit
  • 1 night in a park bungalow at Mijniskure, simple dinner and breakfast included
  • Picnic lunch on day 1 and bottled water

  • Lunch on day 2 (about 25–40 GEL per person)
  • Drinks
  • Tips (optional)
  • Travel insurance (mandatory for visitors to Georgia from 1 January 2026)

Map

Good to know

Best Time to Visit
April–May and October–November (dry weather only)
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.
Documents
bring your passport; the Border Police permit for the Alazani river area is issued in Dedoplistskaro against it.
Road
about 6–7 hours on rough, unpaved tracks over the two days. Not a good choice if you have back problems.
Accommodation
the Mijniskure bungalows are basic park huts with simple facilities; bring a head torch.
Season
April–May brings green steppe and flowers; October–November is cooler and usually dry. After heavy rain we may need to reschedule.
What to bring
sun hat, sunscreen, closed shoes for the canyon walks and binoculars.
Categories:
Short trip (2–5 days)
Nature & wildlife

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