Gveleti Big Waterfall — Local services in Mtskheta-Mtianeti

Never read the reviews and figured this would be a quick little stop to see a cool waterfall. Boy was I wrong. It's not clearly marked anywhere after leaving the main road where you should park or even start walking to get to the waterfall. So if you are heading there from Stepantsminda, you'll have the turnoff on your left. Once there, you'll immediately turn left again. This is a rocky road, so 4x4 and high vehicle is recommended. Don't stop by the 1st deceiving parking area marked at 5Gel for parking, unless you don't have a proper car. Drive past and you will come to more free parking further along (about a minute drive). You can start your trek up from here if you want, it's along the rocky road for about 500meters or so before you get to the real hiking section. If you have a proper 4x4 car, you can continue on past this parking all the way up to where the paths split to go to either the small waterfall or the big one.

From here the big one is about a 20 minute trek. It's pretty good, but there are some steep sections. The last part of the trek is very steep. You'll have ascended quite high. But it's well worth it as this waterfall is amazing.

I did this trek all the way from the bottom with 2 kids, 1 riding on my shoulders the entire way up and down (and no, I wasn't given any credit for this service). Fair warning, I advise you not to do this trek with kids under the...

Everything there is to be written about the delights of the two waterfalls has been covered in these pages already. If you are planning on using Google Maps for directions, please note it'll announce your arrival at some random point on the road roughly 200-300 metres from the start of the trail, with no waterfall in sight. What you need to do is drive on until you pass signs for Gveleti, followed by a bridge (see photo) and take the immediate, sharp turn left- as for landmarks you'll see a Georgian flag on top of the hill and a rubbish bin on the side of the road (see photos). Parking is 5 GEL and toilets 1 GEL.

Make sure you're wearing decent footwear as the trail to the big waterfall is narrow, steep and slippery in places. There is an unpaved track that extends much of the way to the top but don't attempt it even if you have an off roader- if you want to avoid the 5 GEL parking charge, there is plenty of free parking if you just drive 200-300 metres...

🧙‍♂️ A Scenic Quest Worthy of Middle-earth

This wasn’t just a hike—it was a mission. A mission to save the world and deliver the ring. What started as a nice, easy trail (perfect even for pregnant adventurers) quickly transformed into an unexpected journey straight out of The Lord of the Rings.

The landscape was breathtaking—lush greenery, dramatic vistas, and winding paths that felt like they were pulled from Tolkien’s pages. Every step brought us deeper into a world where elves might dwell and orcs could be lurking (thankfully, they weren’t). We didn’t realize we’d signed up to be Frodo and Sam, but we embraced the quest wholeheartedly.

Whether you're a seasoned hiker or just looking for an escape, this trail offers more than just fresh air—it offers a story. And if you're lucky, you might just find yourself on a mission to save...