Kayaking on the Paravani River

Difficulty 

The difficulty rating of the section ranges between 4 and 5.

Location

Akhalkalaki, where the route starts, is located in the Samtskhe-Javakheti Region, on the Javakheti Plateau, between the Paravani and Murjakhetistskali Rivers.

River

The Paravani River has its source 2,073 meters above sea level, on the southern shore of Paravani Lake, which is the biggest lake in Georgia, with a surface area of 37.5 km2. The length of the river is 74 kilometers, and it is fed by underground, rain, and snowmelt waters. In spring, it is characterized by high water levels, and it joins the Mtkvari River near the village of Khertvisi.

Route

The route starts in the city of Akhalkalaki, 1,700 meters above sea level, and ends at Khertvisi Fortress, 1,099 meters above sea level.

The length of the section is 16 kilometers, with a drop in elevation of 435 meters, and a difficulty rating ranging between 4 and 5 (extremely difficult, long and difficult rapids, steep drops, and large rocks).

It is imperative to locate siphons before going down this section.

Season

Kayaking on the Paravani River is dependent on the flow of water coming from the nearby hydroelectric power plant, meaning It would be impossible to determine in advance which season would be the best for kayaking. To plan a kayaking trip, you will need to first contact the administration of the hydroelectric power plant, or contact local companies providing kayaking services.

How to Get to the Starting Point

The distance from Akhalkalaki to Tbilisi is 116 kilometers, and the starting point can be reached using any type of motor vehicle.

Safety

You must be an experienced kayak to go down the river.

It is recommended that you go down the river with a local kayaker or at least get the necessary information from such a person. Contact a local company in advance to book a tour.

The minimum age for kayaking is 18.