Late summer is one of the best times to explore Georgia's diverse hiking trails. From easy day trips to demanding high-altitude treks, the country offers a wide range of nature experiences among the Caucasus Mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, and alpine meadows.
The trails pass through some of Georgia's most spectacular landscapes – along rushing rivers, deep gorges and high mountain passes – and many can be completed without advanced equipment or extensive planning.
From waterfalls to glaciers
I Lagodekhi National Park A path leads through dense forest to the approximately 40-meter-high Gurgeniani Waterfall, while a shorter hike from the village Kurzu goes to Ochkhomuri Waterfall. In Kazbegi can visitors reach both Gveleti Waterfalls via marked trails through alpine terrain.
Kazbegi is also one of Georgia's most well-known areas for mountain hiking. From the village Jute A trail about four kilometers long leads to the foot of Chaukhi Massif, with views of Lake Jutland and the dramatic mountain landscape of the Eastern Caucasus. For more experienced hikers, the trails continue further towards the peaks of the massif.
High alpine views and distant valleys
In the region Guria is the mountain area located Gomismta, just over 2,000 meters above sea level, where the clouds often spread out below the mountain plateau and the view in clear weather reaches all the way to the Black Sea. From here, trails depart to, among other things, Chinhao Lake, Kintrishi Nature Reserve and the mountainous areas Bakhmaro or Meriyakeli.
Further north in Svaneti exists Chalaati Glacier, the world's only glacier that extends down into a forest zone and can be reached via a half-day hike from Mestia.
For those looking for more untouched nature, Arkhoti Valley i Khevsureti One of Georgia's most remote hiking areas, the valley is lined with small mountain villages and high passes, and some parts can only be reached on foot or horseback.
Nature experiences also near Tbilisi
Those who don't want to go far up into the mountains can instead visit Mtatsminda above the capital Tbilisi. The mountain is reached by the historic funicular from 1905 and offers walking trails through pine forests, viewpoints over the city and attractions such as Narikala Fortress or Turtle Lake.
Georgia's combination of easily accessible trails, dramatic mountain landscapes, and vibrant mountain culture makes the country an attractive destination for both beginners and experienced hikers during late summer and fall.
