Dashbashi Canyon: the glass bridge, waterfalls, and how to get there from Tbilisi

A glass bridge 300 metres up, the Khrami River somewhere far below, and waterfalls along the edges of the gorge — this is Dashbashi Canyon in the Kvemo Kartli region. It drops up to 80 metres deep, and everything is set up: trails, viewpoints, a ticket booth at the entrance. We come here regularly with guests, and the place works equally well for "just some pretty photos" and for "spend half a day outdoors, away from Tbilisi."

What's here

Before 2022, only locals really knew about the canyon. Then tourist infrastructure was built here — and the place quickly became popular. Deservedly so.

The glass bridge ("Diamond Bridge") is the main draw. It's 240 metres long and hangs about 300 metres above the gorge. The floor is transparent in places: you walk and see the river right beneath your feet. I'll be honest — the first time you step onto the glass and 300 metres of empty space open up under your soles, something in your stomach gives a little lurch. A minute later you get used to it and you're calmly taking photos. In the middle there's a "diamond" café with a glass floor and a viewing deck on the second level, with a 360° panorama. The structure is solid, but the sensation is an acquired taste. Even people afraid of heights usually make it to the middle anyway — turning back feels like a shame at that point.

The waterfalls — there are two. The first is perfectly visible right from the bridge; the second is a little further along the trail, about a 15–20 minute walk. It's more modest in size, but you can walk right up to it — and to my mind it's even more interesting up close than the first: you hear the water, spray flies, and there are noticeably fewer tourists.

The viewpoints are set along the edge of the gorge, and each one gives a slightly different angle. It's worth walking them all, unhurried. We almost always end up lingering at one of them longer than we planned — so build in some extra time for that.

The trails run along both sides of the gorge. The surface is mixed — some tile, some dirt and stone. Proper sneakers are a must; sandals will be uncomfortable.

Extra activities (optional, paid separately):

• Swing over the abyss — 80 GEL per person
• A cable-bike over the gorge — 120 GEL per person

Ticket price and opening hours

The canyon is open every day, no days off.

• Opening hours: 10:00–19:00 (in high season the booth may stay open longer)
• Ticket for foreigners — 79 GEL
• Ticket for Georgian residents — 49 GEL (with a residence permit)
• Children under 3 — free
• No children's discounts: everyone else pays full price

The ticket covers access to all the trails, the bridge, and the viewpoints. The café on the bridge and the extra activities are separate.

Parking at the entrance is paid, cash on arrival. Cards aren't accepted everywhere, so it's better to have cash on you — a couple of times we've watched people at the booth frantically hunting for cash because the terminal "doesn't feel like it today."

How much time to set aside

If you go without rushing and want to see everything — 3–4 hours is enough. In that time you'll manage the bridge, both waterfalls, a stop at each viewpoint, and a coffee at the café over the gorge. By the way, the coffee there is average, but drinking it while your gaze drops into a 300-metre chasm is a pleasure of its own, worth lingering for.

Traveling with kids, or you just don't want to rush anywhere — bring a snack and sit by the water — set aside 5–6 hours.

A rough plan:

• Entrance, parking — 10 minutes
• Walk to the bridge — 10–15 minutes from the parking lot
• Bridge, "diamond" café, first waterfall — 40–60 minutes
• Viewpoints — 40–60 minutes
• Trail to the second waterfall and back — 40–50 minutes
• Activities or just relaxing — as you like

When is the best time to go

The canyon is open year-round, but each season has its own character.

April–June — probably the best time. The waterfalls are full after the winter rains, the greenery is rich, there's no heat yet, and there are noticeably fewer tourists than in summer.

July–August — the busiest period. On weekends there can be queues for the bridge. It's hot, though the gorge is a little cooler than the open ground. From experience: in summer go on a weekday and right at opening — we once arrived around midday on a Saturday and half the impression was eaten up by the slow queue to get onto the bridge. On a weekday morning you'd hardly recognise the same place.

September–October — a very good option. The crowds thin out, the temperature is comfortable, and autumn colours appear on the slopes.

Winter — the canyon is open, but some trails can be slippery. The waterfalls sometimes partly freeze — it looks striking. The café may be closed at this time.

How to get to Dashbashi Canyon from Tbilisi

The canyon is 90 km south of Tbilisi — about 2 hours' drive along winding roads.

Route: Tbilisi → Rustavi → Tetri-Tskaro → the village of Dashbashi → the canyon

Most of the way is decent asphalt. The road is scenic but full of switchbacks, and that's not a figure of speech: on the last stretch to the canyon it twists in earnest. If someone in the car gets carsick, warn them in advance and sit them up front — we usually toss a bag and a couple of hard candies in the glovebox, they never hurt. The navigation leads confidently: "Dashbashi Canyon" is in both Google Maps and Maps.me.

There's no public transport to the canyon. The options are:

• Renting a car — the most convenient way. Leave when you want, return without rushing, and stop wherever catches your eye along the way. More on how rental works in Tbilisi is in the FAQ section.
• A round-trip taxi — it works, but it comes out pricier, and the driver either waits or you have to arrange the return time in advance.
• An organised tour — these exist, but they usually combine several stops and don't let you linger properly where you'd like to.

If you have the car for a few days, Dashbashi pairs nicely with a trip to Borjomi or Vardzia: it's all roughly in the same direction from Tbilisi. You can build a 2–3 day route without going back to the capital each time. More route ideas are in the MY.DRIVE journal.

What to bring

• Comfortable shoes — sneakers or trekking sandals; the trails are rocky in places.
• Water — especially on a hot day: it's pricier at the café than if you bring your own.
• Cash in GEL — parking and entry are paid in cash.
• A light layer of clothing — it's noticeably cooler by the waterfalls and in the gorge than up top.
• A charged phone — the views are worth it.

What else to see nearby

Kvemo Kartli isn't the most touristy region, but a couple of places are worth your attention if you have the time and a car.

The village of Asureti (Elisabethtal) — a former German colony a few kilometres from the canyon. German settlers lived here from the 19th century and were deported in 1941. What's left are houses in the classic German style, a church, and a cemetery with gravestones unusual for Georgia. The combination of alpine scenery and Georgian mountains looks unexpected — we dropped by almost by accident on the way back and ended up spending an extra hour wandering the village, it's so unlike everything around it.

Khulgumo Fortress — a small medieval fort in roughly the same area. Not a hyped-up spot, but almost tourist-free.

Bolnisi Sioni — a 5th-century basilica in the town of Bolnisi, one of the oldest Christian churches in Georgia. Inside it's quiet and austere, with no touristy gloss.

All these places are convenient to visit only by car — without the hassle of buses and taxis. More locations with coordinates are on the MY.DRIVE places page.

Bottom line: is it worth going

Dashbashi Canyon gives you a lot in a single day: a glass bridge 300 metres up, waterfalls, panoramic views, and, if you fancy it, a swing over the abyss. Entry costs 79 GEL for foreigners — pricier than most natural attractions in Georgia, and when you see the price at the booth you wince a little. But honestly, after a couple of hours on the bridge and by the waterfalls, this is one of those cases where your money buys an actual experience, not just a box ticked. The one thing to plan in advance is transport: getting here without a car is noticeably harder, so if you're specifically set on Dashbashi, a car solves half the question before you even set off.