Vashlovani-Sighnaghi
Duration
of the tour: 2 Day
s
Route:
Tbilisi, Dedoplistskaro, Vashlovani Protected Areas,
Sighnaghi, Tbilisi
Transportation:
Nissan Pathfinder (4WD)
Distance:
450 km
Sights:
Pantishara- Bear Canyon: The
swallows Town,
Alesilebi, Petrified
Flora and Fauna
.
Sighnaghi
Kakhetian wine cellar
Short
description:
Vashlovani
Protected Areas is located in the extreme eastern part of the Dedoflistskaro
district. It includes Vashlovani Nature Reserve, National Park and
3 Natural Monuments – Eagle Gorge, Takhti-Tepa Mud Volcanoes and
Kakliskure Alazani floodplain forest. Its area includes Pantishara-Vashlovani
massive, whose height is up to 300-600 meters above sea level. The name
Vashlovani is derived from the natural similarity and disposition of pistachio
and apple trees that leaves the association of the fruit garden. It total
area amounts to 35053,7 ha.
Sighnaghi - City of
wine and love, as it is being called in recent years, is very much appealing to
those who are tired of rush and hustle, and like everything lovely, cute and
small. Walking through Sighnaghi, you might feel like in Italy - the
architecture is pretty similar to small Italian towns. Romantic cobbled
streets, carved balconies, 24/7 marriage registration...
Tour
description:
The first day - Distance from Tbilisi To
Dedoplistskaro is 130 km (approximately 2 hours by car). Administrative
and visitors center of the national park is located in Dedoplistskaro.
Exhibition and presentation hall is designed in administrative building, where
visitors have the opportunity to become familiar with the specifics of
protected areas, and safety rules.
The Route begins from Dedoplistskaro. The modern image of the
preserved territories of Vashlovani dry gorges were developed in
quaternary, 1-2 million years ago in the Neozoic era. The analysis of
geological strata showed that in different periods Vashlovani had been a sea
botton. It is confirmed by the sea fauna discovered in rock lines. Furthermore
the relief forms built of marine sediments sharply differ from the forms built
of continental sediments.The relief developed on the continental sediments
represented by smothered hillrocks and plain surfaces. On the marine sediments,
that are less resistant to eroision, is developed the ’’badland’’ relief –the
world of naturallabyrinths. Here are reliefs such as ”pseudokarst’’ in
friable rocks at the bottom of the ridges (negative underground
forms - funnels, wells, hollows) columnar and fortress like forms on
the abrupt vertical southern slopes af the ridges without vegetation and built
of easily decomposable clay and sandstones, erosive residues. One ofthe wonders
of Pantishari Canyon ia a “town” of swallows (Delichon urbica), built on a
negastive wall of the rock in the middle of Pantishari Canyon. It
includes several thousands of nests. This so-called town was built by the
swallows and it shows the manner of their colonian life. In early spring this
town is occupied by spallows. Later, the swallows, returning from warm
countries, are furiously fighting to get back their town. As a rule, the fight
is ended with driving the spallows out . The swallows are building their
nests with a mixture of grass, mud and their own saliva, that hardens after
drying out and sometimes maintains its strength even for several years.
Such colonies of swallows are not observed in any other corner of Georgia.
The route runs through the Pantishara Valley. After seeing
the beautiful landscapes and rock massifs – the so called “Alesilebi” or sharp
walls, visitors can view a completely different ecosystem and its inhabitants.
Vashlovani Protected Areas tourist trail network gives the
possibility of hiking for one or several days. Paths are marked and
well-arranged. Bungalows and camping sites are arranged along the routes. Sites
for setting up a fire are also allocated.
The second day - The
next day, tourists will visit the beautiful city of Sighnaghi, which is also
called the city of love. A walking tour of the city will be held, where a
professional guide will provide tourists with detailed information about the
origin and attractions of the city.
The next location is a wine cellar, where tourists will
taste 4 types of wine and learn about the methods and traditions of Georgian
wine and Kakheti winemaking. During the tour, tourists will have the
opportunity to take photos, buy souvenirs, take a walk around the city and have
dinner at a restaurant where they will be served delicious food.
After all, we shall return to Tbilisi.
Tour
includes:
You
will be given off-road 4WD Nissan Pathfinder for driving
Driver service if needed (for service, please email: sales@agg.travel)
Ensuring
with fuel during the tour
Entrance
fee
Local guide
English
and Russian speaking tour instructor with one car
Lunch in
Vashlovani
Breakfast
in the hotel
in Sighnaghi
Hotel in Sighnaghi
Water
Tour
does not include:
Flight
booking and tickets
Hotel
in Tbilisi
Travel
insurance
Services
not described in the tour
Additional
information:
4x4
car is required
Wear clothing meant for the outdoors, e.g. durable pants,
boots, etc.
Not
recommended for pregnant women
One
car can seat 5 persons at most, including the driver for your comfortable
movement
Not
recommended for those who have serious health problems
Not
recommended for children aged 2 and younger
Have
a warm jacket with you
Instructor
will drive his own car
Necessary
requirement:
Please
have an identity card (passport
) with you
Active
B category driving license
Driver’s
age is defined above 21 in accordance with the insurance
Visitors are not allowed:
To carry guns
Take
domestic animals with you
To touch plants, rocks or fossils
To catch, chase, or injure fauna species
Vandalism
Cause
any damage to historical monuments, collect remnants, undertake excavation
without special permit
To make hasty movements in low visibility conditions (fog,
bushes, high grass), to shout and/or make loud noise
To build fires (except for the designates camp fire areas)
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