Vashlovani Protected Areas are located in the extreme eastern part of Georgia, in the Dedoplistskaro district. It consists of Vashlovani Strict Nature Reserve, Vashlovani National Park and Natural Monuments as follows: “Eagle Gorge”, “Takhti-Tepa mud volcanoes”, “Juma Bay” and “Alazani Floodplains”, total area of which is about 24924 ha. Vashlovani Protected Areas were opened in 2003.

The Protected Areas are located among the two main vital sources, the main rivers of Kakheti – Iori and Alazani. The gorge is a deep and very beautiful canyon cut by a little ravine through the cliffs of limestone origin.

The territories of Vashlovani are distinguished with rare Wild pistachio trees (Pistacea mutica), arid light forests and bluestem-feather grass steppes. Foothills are covered with oak trees and ash-tree groves mixed with maple and elm. Here can be found barberry, Jerusalem thorn, smoke tree, peashrub, et al.

There are unique floodplain forest of Alazani and two little bays (Juma and Mijna) in Vashlovani National Park.

About 700 plant species are described in Vashlovani, though among them can be distinguished the distribution of diversity of orchids (7 species), Georgian iris (Iris iberica), Eichler's tulip (Tulipa eichler)

Fauna of Vashlovani is quite diverse and attractive. 46 species of mammals inhabit Vashlovani. There are many jackals (Canis aureus), Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), hares (Lepus europiacus), wolves (Canis lupus), lynxes (Lynx lynx), Jungle cats (Felis chaus) and Indian porcupine (Hystrix indicus) and even Brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Vashlovani, which is so rare for semi-desert areas.

At the end of 2003 leopard (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica)was discovered in Vashlovani. The scientists managed to shoot the photos of this animal (NACRES), unique for Georgia. The male leopard was named as Noah. He still inhabits the territory of Vashlovani and is a symbol and visit card of the National Park. In September 2008 the official B. Lortkipanidze and the rangers saw the leopard in live (NACRES).

Site of “Alesilebi” of Datvis Khevi (Brown bear gorge) has one more surprise for visitors – the meeting with pre-historical fauna. In the deposited layers of exposed rocks a good observer can easily notice the mollusk chitins that are well preserved. These mollusks are the oldest habitants of Vashlovani; they belong to the time when the local territories were covered with sea.

In the same Datvis Khevi you can see one more comparatively “young” pre-historical animal: in clay hill extrudes the hardened shoulder bone of the southern elephant.

There are favorable conditions in the Vashlovani Protected Areas for development of ecotourism and scientific tourism. From Pantishara gorge the walking route “Datvis Khevi” begins. There is even much more to see the sights along the walking trails, as the clays of “Alesilebi” is full of old and new footprints of wild animals.

In general, all these Protected Areas, the Eagle Gorge among them, are ideal places for bird-watching. Bird watching is comparatively new thing in our country, but in different parts of Georgia you can meet with more and more groups of western tourists, equipped with cameras and binoculars, busy with bird-watching. Vashlovani, rich in ornithological viewpoint, is surely attractive place for these kinds of tourists.

The rafting tour elaborated by the Administration of the National Park starts at the Alazani riverside village of Tsiteli Sabatlo as far as the Mijna bay. It must be very interesting rafting on the river having Georgia on one side and Azerbaijan on the other and the river banks of which are covered by nice floodplain forests.

Behind the forest line the beautiful "Alesilebi" are seen. While going down stream on the Alazani, you constantly hear the singing of birds that are nesting in the floodplain forests, and you can see the representatives of different species. At the end of the route, in Mijna bay, the Administration of the National Park allows the sports fishing with a rod.  Like a sports fishing, any kind of activities such as – movement, spending the night or making a fire is allowed only in the places designated by the Administration of the National Park. And of course, it is forbidden to carry gunsand accompany domestic animals while traveling. Enforcement of these terms is provided by the guides and rangers who are permanently on duty at the four posts around the Park. These are the necessary measures, without which the balance of nature will be destroyed, and without which the National Park will surely lose its original appearance and untouched wilderness that attracts so much the visitors.

Tours in Vashlovani Protected Areas:

Trekking Route “Datvis Khevi”

Tour duration – 1.5 day

Tour length – 3km

The route starts from Datvis Khevi Valley, which is located 60km away from town Dedophlistskaro. In ancient times the territory has been a sea bottom. The attentive observer will easily notice shells of ancient sea mollusks. Here visitors can find Southern Elephant’s stoned bone part, which tells about the gigantic size of the mammal living half million years ago. On the way the footprints of wolves, bears and other wild animals can be easily found. The tour ends at the joint of Pantishari Valley and Datviskhevi Valley where a place for picnics has been specially designed.

Trekking Route “Eagle Gorge”

Tour duration – 4-5 hours

Tour length – 1.5km

The route starts from the visitors center situated at the entrance of the “Eagle Gorge”. The trail brings visitors to the west slopes of the valley from where beautiful view is opened. This is the best place for bird watching. 10 species of raptors can be observed from here. The back trail brings visitor to a place for picnics, from where beautiful Caucasus Range can be seen.

Rafting Tour “Alazani 1”

Tour duration – 1.5 day

Tour length – total 200km, 20km of rafting

The travelers will be transferred from the town Dedophlistskaro to the direction of national park, passing holy Elia Mountain, naturally salty lake “Kocheb”, crossing Shiraki valley down to Alazani valley to stop at river Alazani. Here travelers get into the boats and start their rafting tour down to Alazani River. During the rafting tour apart from beautiful landscape some different birds species can be observed. The rafting tour ends at the Ghoristkali valley at the place specially designed for picnic and camping. From the Ghoristkali valley travelers will be transferred back to Dedoplistskaro to end the tour.

Rafting Tour “Alazani 2”

Tour duration – 1.5 day

Tour length – total 210km, 30km of rafting

The travelers will be transferred from the town Dedophlistskaro to the direction of national park, passing holy Elia Mountain, naturally salty lake “Kocheb”, crossing Shiraki valley down to Alazani valley to stop at river Alazani. Here travelers get into the boats and start their rafting tour down to Alazani River. During the rafting tour apart from beautiful landscape some different birds species can be observed. The rafting tour ends at the Mijniskhure valley at the place specially designed for picnic and camping. From the Mijniskhure valley travelers will be transferred back to Dedoplistskaro to end the tour.