Tsalka Canyon

If you’ve traveled through Georgia, you’ve likely witnessed many places that leave you breathless with their beauty and grandeur. Perhaps you now believe there’s nothing left in this country that can truly surprise you. Yet there exists one extraordinary destination—remarkably absent from the typical lists of heavily promoted landmarks—that matches, if not surpasses, Georgia’s most celebrated sites in splendor. This is the Tsalka Canyon, formerly known as Dashbashi, nestled in southern Georgia within the picturesque valley of the Khrami River. If your soul longs for awe-inspiring landscapes and untouched wilderness, this is a place you simply must experience. In addition, the road leading to Dashbashi Canyon offers an alternative scenic route to the famous cave city of Vardzia.

Tsalka is a small town in the Kvemo Kartli region of southern Georgia. For many years, it drew little attention—except for one remarkable fact: during Soviet times, it was the only place in the Union where ethnic Greeks made up 90% of the population. So much so that Greek, rather than English, was taught as a foreign language in local schools. However, with the collapse of the USSR, a wave of emigration swept through Tsalka, and the Greek community departed for their ancestral homeland. The town’s population, once around 50,000, has since dwindled to just 2,000.

The journey to the canyon leads through Tsalka and over the Paravani Pass. Though this road might seem a little desolate, it’s far from boring. The route begins in the forested region of Kvemo Kartli, winding past the former German colony of Asureti, a lake, and the Algeti National Park. From there, the road climbs higher, and the landscape shifts dramatically. The dense woods give way to a vast highland plateau where the horizon stretches wide and open.

Dashbashi Canyon lies in the village that shares its name. This natural wonder draws visitors with its majestic scale and breathtaking views, most notably its array of stunning waterfalls. The canyon sits at an elevation of 1,100 to 1,500 meters above sea level and stretches for 8 kilometers. Covering an area of 669 hectares, it’s rich in underground springs and spectacular cascades. The dramatic cliffs of Dashbashi, some sheer and some sloping gently, rise several hundred meters above the river, at times appearing to hang precariously over it.

Caves—both naturally formed and carved by human hands—dot the canyon and draw the curious eye. The landscape here is astonishing in its diversity: volcanic cones and plateaus, forests and shrublands, meadows and steppe. This ecological variety is a result of the canyon’s unique geographic position—at the intersection of two distinct regions, Kvemo Kartli and Trialeti. As such, the area is celebrated for its rich biodiversity and plays a crucial role in facilitating the interaction between species native to both regions.

In 2022, a decision was made to enhance and commercialize the canyon. A glass suspension bridge, stretching 240 meters, was constructed, and tourist infrastructure was added. This development, however, also brought an entrance fee—around $20 per person for foreign visitors. The site now includes the dazzling “Diamond Bridge,” suspended on cables high above the canyon floor, and the canyon itself, where a mesmerizing waterfall can be admired from below. To reach this natural spectacle, visitors must descend a challenging path—first down a metal staircase with railings, then along a narrow trail. The descent is steep and spans approximately 1.2 kilometers, but the reward is immense: the canyon’s beauty is nothing short of breathtaking.

The hiking trail begins near the village of Dashbashi. The walk to the waterfall is 1.5 kilometers one way, or 3 kilometers round-trip. The starting point of the trail sits higher than the waterfall, so you’ll first be heading downhill, and then uphill on the return. The elevation change is about 150 meters. For the average tourist, the hike takes between one to one and a half hours. While the trail doesn’t require you to cross the river, if you’re keen to reach the base of the cliffs for that perfect photo, you might end up getting your feet wet.

The distance from Tbilisi to the village of Dashbashi is 107 kilometers, and the drive typically takes around two hours.