2-Day Vashlovani Jeep Tour from Tbilisi

Day 1: Vashlovani Jeep Tour from Tbilisi to Mijniskure

Early departure from Tbilisi

Your private Vashlovani jeep tour begins with an early pickup from your accommodation in Tbilisi. We travel southeast through Kakheti towards Dedoplistskaro, the gateway to Vashlovani National Park.

The agricultural fields around Dedoplistskaro provide hunting territory for kestrels, harriers, buzzards and other birds of prey. Depending on the season, the first wildlife observations may begin before we enter the protected area.

Park registration and border permit

We stop in Dedoplistskaro to complete the necessary park and border-zone procedures. Because the route reaches Mijniskure near the Azerbaijani border, passport details must be submitted in advance.

Every traveler must carry the original passport used for the permit application. After registration, we leave the paved road and begin the off-road section of the journey.

Entering Vashlovani National Park

The landscape changes as we approach the park. Agricultural fields gradually give way to open plains, dry woodland and eroded hills. From this point, progress becomes slower as the jeep follows unpaved tracks and seasonal riverbeds.

Leopard Viewpoint

Our first major viewpoint stands above the Pantishara area. Despite its name, visitors should not expect to see a leopard. These animals are exceptionally rare and secretive. The stop is included for its landscape and for an introduction to Vashlovani’s ecosystems and conservation history.

Pantishara Gorge

We descend into Pantishara Gorge and follow its dry riverbed between weathered cliffs. Short walks allow us to examine unusual rock formations, fossils and signs left by animals moving through the canyon.

The exposed layers preserve evidence of the ancient marine environment that once existed here. More recent traces may include footprints, burrows, feathers and feeding signs.

Picnic lunch

We stop at a suitable place inside the gorge for a picnic. There are no shops, cafés or restaurants in the national park, so guests should order a lunch box in advance or bring sufficient food.

Alesilebi cliffs

The Vashlovani jeep route continues beneath dramatic eroded cliffs associated with the park’s large birds of prey. Using binoculars and a spotting scope, we search for griffon vultures, black vultures, eagles and other birds while maintaining a responsible distance.

Observation depends on the season and natural wildlife activity. No individual species can be guaranteed.

Eldari Lowland

We continue into the open lowland habitat used by goitered gazelles. These elegant animals blend into the dry grass and can be difficult to locate without a trained eye.

If gazelles are found, we observe quietly from a distance. The jeep will not chase, surround or deliberately disturb animals for photography.

Usakhelo Viewpoint

After crossing savanna-like woodland, the track climbs towards Usakhelo Viewpoint. From here, the dry ridges and valleys of Vashlovani stretch towards the borderlands.

This is one of the finest landscape stops on the tour and an excellent place for wide-angle photography.

Off-road descent to Mijniskure

We descend from Usakhelo towards the Alazani River on a steep and demanding 4×4 track. This section demonstrates why a capable vehicle and a driver familiar with Vashlovani are essential.

Overnight at Mijniskure

We spend the night in one or more basic park cabins at Mijniskure, depending on group size and confirmed availability. The cabins stand near the Alazani River, which forms Georgia’s natural border with Azerbaijan in this area.

Mijniskure is genuine wilderness accommodation. The cabins do not have air-conditioning, electricity may be limited and bathroom facilities are basic. Summer nights can remain hot, while nights outside the summer season may be cold.

After sunset, there is almost no artificial light. Depending on the season, guests may hear nightingales, frogs and other nocturnal wildlife around the river.

Day 2: Mijniskure – Ghoristskali – Shavi Mta – Tbilisi

Optional sunrise walk

We wake before sunrise for a short walk to an elevated viewpoint. The first light gradually reveals the layered ridges, clay formations and river valley surrounding Mijniskure.

The walk is particularly rewarding for photographers, although guests who prefer additional rest can remain near the cabins.

Searching for wildlife tracks

Before the heat increases, we examine the riverbed and soft ground for tracks left during the night. Depending on recent activity, we may find signs of jackals, wolves, porcupines, wild boar or other animals.

The guide explains how the shape, direction and freshness of tracks help us understand wildlife movement even when the animals themselves remain hidden.

Ghoristskali badlands

After leaving Mijniskure, the jeep follows the dry valley through a landscape of narrow ridges and sculpted clay hills. Wind and seasonal water have created some of Vashlovani’s most distinctive geological formations here.

From the Ghoristskali viewpoint, we look back over the remote terrain crossed since the previous afternoon.

Shavi Mta

The landscape changes once again as we climb towards Shavi Mta, or Black Mountain. Dry badlands give way to broadleaf woodland, grass-covered slopes and cooler upland scenery.

In spring, wildflowers may cover parts of the ridge. The rare fern-leaf peony sometimes blooms here, although flowering dates vary according to temperature and rainfall.

Shiraki Plain and former airfield

On the way back towards Dedoplistskaro, we cross the broad Shiraki Plain. When current access rules allow, we stop near the remains of a former Soviet military airfield.

Some sections of the airfield are privately controlled or unsafe. The tour visits only areas that are legally accessible on the day.

Return to Tbilisi

After leaving the off-road tracks, we continue from Dedoplistskaro to Tbilisi. A refreshment or meal stop can be made along the way.

The two-day Vashlovani jeep tour finishes with evening drop-off at your Tbilisi accommodation. Arrival time depends on road conditions, weather, wildlife observations, checkpoints and city traffic.