Dashbashi Canyon – Ultimate Guide to Visiting Tsalka Canyon

Dashbashi Canyon, recently renamed Tsalka Canyon, is quite an impressive natural monument, with its lush greenery, cascading waterfall, and now a 2,400-meter-long glass bridge with a diamond shape in the middle. 

If you are looking for a beautiful short-day hike that is extremely easy to do and doesn’t require special hiking equipment, you should give this one a go. Here’s all the information you need to know about making a day trip from Tbilisi to Dashbashi Canyon: what to expect, what to see nearby, and where to eat on your way. 

Why visit Dashbashi Canyon

Carved by river Khrami cutting through the volcanic sediments, Dashbashi Canyon stands out with a unique ecosystem and bio-diversity formed on the lava-made hills.

Since my last visit in 2019, Tsalka Canyon has changed a lot. An Israeli company, Kass Group, launched its project Kass Land on the territory and developed tourist infrastructure featuring a massive 240-meter-long glass bridge over the canyon and a diamond-shaped glass cafe in the middle. 

The ecosystem around the canyon is relatively sparse, with inadequate plant cover. However, the vegetation drastically changes on the steep and tilting slopes of the gorge, backed with astonishing waterfalls.

Dashbashi Canyon itself is only 8km long. However, a small portion of it is accessible to tourists. The proximity to the capital and easy hiking terrain make it a good option for a short day trip from Tbilisi. 

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Where is Dashbashi Canyon in Georgia?

Dashbashi Canyon is only 110km from Tbilisi and 4km from Tsalka, one of the main towns of the Kvemo Kartli region in southeastern Georgia.

The canyon is part of the Khrami Gorge, located near Dashbashi village. Around 1,110-1,448 meters above sea level, Tsalka Canyon is also close to the Algeti National Park.

How to get to Dashbashi Canyon from Tbilisi

Getting to Dashbashi Canyon from Tbilisi is relatively easy; it depends on your preferred transportation. Here, I outline the best ways to get to the canyon: renting a car in Georgia, hiring a driver in Tbilisi, or doing it on your own with a marshrutka. 

Rent a car

The best way to get from Tbilisi to Dashbashi Canyon is to rent a car. I recommend a LocalRent company that offers cheaper options compared to international ones. 

Here are Dashbashi Canyon Georgia directions when driving a rental car: there are two ways – one way follows the Rustavi Highway towards Tetritskaro, and the other is via Tskneti and Manglisi. The difference is only 10 minutes and depends on which part of the town you live in. The roads are excellent on both highways. 

Hire a driver

If you don’t drive or are uncomfortable driving a car in Georgia, another best way to get from Tbilisi to Dashbashi Canyon is to use a service GoTrip, and hire a driver. This way, you can make unlimited stops along the way and visit some nearby places listed below. 

Public transport

Daily marshrutkas from Tbilisi to Tsalka run from Navtlughi bus station. The ticket costs 8 GEL one way. The first one leaves at 8 a.m. and the next at 11 a.m. Afterward, it runs every hour. 

Check the schedule in advance by going to the station, as sometimes it changes seasonally or by demand. Taking the second one will leave you enough time to spend in the canyon without a rush.

Tell the driver to drop you off at the Wissol Petrol Station. You’ll also see the brown tourist sign saying Dashbashi Canyon. Follow the road for 2km to reach Dashbashi village.

Ask the driver when the last marshrutka from Tsalka to Tbilisi leaves, and make sure to be back at the Wissol Petrol Station around 30 minutes earlier.

Join an organized tour

If you prefer to join a tour, this budget-friendly option from Tbilisi to Dashbashi Canyon is a great alternative. The tour includes a round-trip transfer in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle with English speaking guide. You’ll need to purchase entrance tickets and pay for any other activities offered at the canyon.

The best time to visit Dashbashi Canyon

It is beautiful all year round; however, the best time to visit the Dashbashi Canyon is spring and early autumn. 

I have been there twice in autumn and once now, in summer. The first time was at the end of September when the weather was still warm and at the beginning of October when it was slightly cold and foggy, but autumn hues and its character added a unique charm to the area. 

On my last visit in July, walking down and back up in such heat was pretty hot and slightly unbearable. Even though the green foliage covers the trail and the canyon, I still believe it’s much more beautiful in autumn. 

I have seen the pictures of Dashbashi Canyon in winter when the waterfall is frozen, creating a winter wonderland scenery.

What to expect at Dashbashi Canyon after the reconstruction

The newly renovated Tsalka Canyon now offers a wide variety of attractions within the territory of the Kass Land. Besides walking on the diamond glass bridge and down to the waterfall, you can stay at its hotel and cottages. At the same time, adrenaline lovers can enjoy a zip-line bicycle ride over the canyon along the bridge. 

Although, there still is a lot of construction within the territory of the Kass Land.

There is an 1800-meter-long walkway from the Visitor Center to the canyon. The hike down the waterfall is now paved compared to the dirt/natural road the last time I was there; in my opinion, it removes the whole point of the hiking experience and feels unfinished. 

The canyon reopened in June, and since then, many people visit the canyon, so expect crowds of locals and foreigners. Early morning, when the visitor center opens, has relatively few people. However, it gets very crowded on weekends, even in the morning. 

When walking on the glass bridge, you must wear plastic disposable shoe covers (the ones you wear in the hospitals), which I understand at some point for maintenance. Still, it creates massive waste, and you can see much of it thrown within the park’s territory despite having garbage bins. 

Due to the high number of visitors, you will most likely wait in queue for at least an hour, depending on when you visit. It seems like the management is not trained well enough to handle the line at the moment, and it feels unorganized and unfair when some people or tour groups pass by without waiting in line. Moreover, there is not much area with shade for waiting in line. 

The bridge is not wheelchair accessible. I have read one post on Facebook where the management refused a disabled guy to enter the bridge because it wouldn’t hold the wheelchair and its wheels would damage the glass. I mean, when you are investing 120 million GEL in something, at least make it accessible for everyone!

The Diamond-shaped cafe/restaurant is expensive, and there is no proper AC, so it’s hot there during summer. One friend told me they sold no cold water in the restaurant; it was warm instead of icy cold in such heat.

When you hike down the waterfall, the beautiful photo spots that I took pictures at are now beyond the metal construction and railings, meaning you can’t get close to the water itself.

Dashbashi Canyon hike down the waterfall

You don’t need special hiking equipment or gear. Since it’s paved, you can walk down even with your sandals. However, I suggest wearing comfortable shoes. 

First, you start the hike by walking the metal walkway with railings and stairs. Then you start going down the paved road; it’s slightly steep but easy to walk on. The overall hike distance is around 3.6 km long both ways. 

Once you are down, there is another metal pathway/viewpoint towards the waterfall. This is the main highlight of the canyon. Stream of water slowly cascades on a terrace-like and moss-covered cliff, creating genuinely gorgeous scenery, while the moss stripes in the small pond create an illusion of emerald-green water!

What to bring on the hike to the Dashvashi Canyon

• Comfortable shoes that don’t slip and stand firmly. Sneakers could do okay. 
• Water
• Sunscreen
• Hat or scarf for protection
• Food and snacks (optional)

There is no designated spot to have a quick bite inside the canyon. It used to have – you could have sat on the rocks before reconstruction and enjoyed the scenery. 

However, you can still nibble on your stacks while walking toward the waterfall. 

Is it worth visiting Dashbashi Canyon after the reconstruction?

The glass bridge with the diamond in the middle is quite impressive, as are people riding a bicycle 280 meters above the canyon. It looks like they cycle it in the air, just like in the iconic bicycle scene from the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

I won’t lie; I am not a big fan of the reconstruction and the glass bridge. I am also quite uncomfortable with the fact that a previously free natural monument is privatized, and now the entrance ticket is quite overpriced, in my opinion. 

If I thought Martvili Canyon was overpriced and overrated, now I think it’s much better to visit Martvili than Tsalka Canyon.

The canyon has one single ticket to enter the premises, no matter whether you want to walk on the bridge or into the canyon only. I understand charging visitors to walk on the glass bridge for its panoramic views and adrenaline rush. Still, I’d want the canyon to be free or have a separate entrance ticket. 

There’s a church sitting on top of the hill overlooking the canyon, which is an exciting spot to explore (see below), but since the reconstruction and the fences around the canyon trail, the shortcut access to the church is closed, and now you’ll need to walk an extra 1 km to visit it. 

That being said, I would suggest visiting Tsalka Canyon if you haven’t been there yet, or if you don’t have time to explore many other parts of the country and want to escape Tbilisi for some nature (although you can find more thrilling nature nearby the city). 

It is a fantastic place for those who love adrenaline and extreme sports, as you can ride a bicycle, zip line, or swing over the canyon. 

However, if you are into nature, waterfalls, and canyons, we have far better natural monuments across the country than Tsalka Canyon can offer, such as Martvili, Birtvisi, and Okatse canyons or Nokalakevi hot springs, to name just a few.

Dashbashi Canyon price and opening hours

The visitor center works from Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Entrance ticket prices: 

• Foreigners – 49 GEL
• 3-12 years old foreigners – 34 GEL
• Georgian citizens and residents – 29 GEL
• 3-14 years old Georgian citizens and residents – 19 GEL
• Kids under 3 are free of charge, no matter their nationality

Dashbashi Canyon attraction prices: 

• Swing – 1 person – 80 GEL
• Swing – 3 persons – 150 GEL
• Bike-line – 120 GEL

What to note when visiting Tsalka Canyon: 

• The canyon closes during snow, rain, or intense fog. 
• The hiking trail has a height restriction. You must be taller than 1.2 meters. 
• The length of the trail is only 1.8 km. 
• Tickets are non-refundable. 

Other things to do nearby Dashbashi Canyon

St. George church – this domed church on a small hill offers stunning views of the gorge, the bridge, and Dashbashi village. It is built with hewn stone during the 10th-11th centuries and has a cross shape. There are various carvings and inscriptions on the church doors and walls and a few interesting tombstones – a horse statue for presumably a horse rider and a woman with scissors, presumably a tailor. 

However, note that these gravestones are more visible during spring or autumn when the grass is not very high as no one cuts them, so it overgrows and covers these stones, making it hard to find some. 

Before the reconstruction and the fences, there was a shortcut to the church. Now, you must exit the canyon where you entered and walk back for around 1km to reach the church. 

Tsalka town – Tsalka municipality is known for its extinct volcanic plateaus, several lakes, piercing canyons, and ancient petroglyphs. Here are 11 things to do in Tsalka. 

Birtvisi Canyon – part of the Algeti National Park; you can add one more canyon stop to your itinerary. Known for its rocky terrain formed millions of years ago after the eruption of an active volcano, Birtvisi Canyon is another less-traveled place and an ideal place to hike in nature. 

Elizabethtal – one more unique place in Georgia and a former German settlement in today’s Asureti village, still has typical German architecture and a Gothic Lutheran Church.  As I mentioned above, my friends and partners at Friendly.ge include this in their organized tour of Dashbashi Canyon.

Where to eat on your way 

Depending on which road you are taking – Rustavi Highway along the Koda-Tetritskaro or Tskneti-Manglisi – there are just a few places to eat along the way from Tbilisi to Dashbashi Canyon. 

Tsiskvili restaurant in Tskneti is excellent for traditional Georgian meals. Another restaurant on the Tskeneti-Manglisi road is Agaraki, just past Didgori. They also serve Georgian staples such as Khachapuri, Khinkali, mtsvadi, etc. I haven’t eaten at Agaraki, but still putting it here just in case you’d like to check it out. 

On the Koda-Tetritskaro side, near the village of Tbisi on Partskhisi-Manglisi road, there’s a fish restaurant, Admiral. They have their own aquaculture Pan Caviar featuring one of the largest Sturgeon broodstock in the world. 

The restaurant offers various grilled, fried, and smoked Sturgeon fish. Besides fish, they offer Khachapuri, some salads, and side dishes. They also sell black caviar and frozen Sturgeon in their shop. 

Where to stay near Dashbashi Canyon

In case you want to stay near Tsalka Canyon, sadly, there are not that many options and these are a few suitable hotels. 

Family Hotel Maia – located in Dashbashi village, offers a garden, BBQ facilities, a terrace, a restaurant, and a shared lounge. The cottages have a fully equipped kitchen, private bathroom, stovetop, and oven, to name a few. 

Kass Diamond Resort – this hotel was built by the same company that reconstructed the whole area; therefore, it’s right at the canyon’s entrance, facing the glass bridge, gorge, and the visitor center. It has a garden, bar, and a terrace to enjoy your stay here. 

Hotel Home+  – located in Tsalka town, this is the best option if you want to explore this less popular town of southeastern Georgia. The modern apartment-style hotel offers a kitchenette, air-conditioning, private bathrooms, and a garden. 

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