The Dolra river Kayaking route

Location

The kayaking route starts at the village of Becho, located in the Svaneti Region, 1635 metres above sea level, at the foothills of Mt Ushba.

River

The Dolra river originates from the Dolra Glacier, and the magnificent Shdugra Waterfalls flow into it. The river is 24 kilometres long and converges with the Enguri River. Dolra is characterized by floods in late spring.

Route

The first section of the route starts at the bridge by the Shdruga Waterfalls, 1,874 meters above sea level, and ends in Becho Village, 1,285 meters above sea level.

The length of the section is 10 kilometers, with a drop in elevation of 589 meters and ranks at a 3+ difficulty level (moderately hard, numerous, high, irregular waves, cliffs, whirlpools, transparent but narrow exits).

Along the route, gaze upon the stunning scenery of Ushba Mountain.

The second section of the route starts in Becho Village, at 1285 meters, and ends at the confluence of the Dolra and Enguri rivers, at 1193 meters above sea level.

The length of the section is 2,5 kilometers, with a drop in elevation of 150 meters and ranks at a 5-5+ difficulty level  (extremely difficult, long drops with small distances in between. The current is fast and strong, with an extremely steep gradient, requiring a high level of expertise).

Season

Kayaking season on the Dolra River is from April to May, September to October, and the beginning of November.

How to Get to the Starting Point

Becho Village is 20 km far from the town of Mestia and can be reached by any type of vehicle. From there you will need to walk about 3 kilometres to reach the starting point of the route, by the bridge, towards the Shdugra Waterfalls.

Safety

For kayaking on this route, you will need high expertise!

To enjoy kayaking safely, you will first have to go through special training with a highly-qualified instructor on a river or any dammed water or lake. Professional kayakers will evaluate your skills and advise you on a suitable route, where you can paddle down safely under their supervision.

We strongly advised you to kayak with a local kayaker or at least get information from such a person before your trip. To book a tour, contact a local company in advance.

The minimum age for kayaking is 18 years.