Caving in Georgia

[thehungrytroglobite]

Does anyone know much about caving in Georgia, EXCLUDING the occupied territories? I note that there are several show caves and canyons in Georgia (excluding occupied territories) so would guess there is sport caving to be done there too. Does anyone know what the national caving org is called in Georgia, or of any Georgian caving clubs that I might get in touch with?

 

[rhychydwr1]

NEW AFON CAVE badge, from Georgia. Caving cavern, metal badge. | eBay

The ახალი ათონის მღვიმე (New Afon Cave) is the most important tourist cave of Georgia. NEWAFON CAVE badge, from Georgia.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[langcliffe]

Google is your friend...

Organisation:	Speleological Society of Georgia
Address:		Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography, Department of Geomorphology, Tamarashvili st. 6, Tbilisi, Georgia
Email:		Dr. Lasha Asanidze lasha.asanidze@tsu.ge

 

[thehungrytroglobite]

Thanks! I tried Google, but it kept giving me USA things

 

[langcliffe]

You may also find this a usefu point of contact: https://www.facebook.com/SPELEOGE

 

[Alex]

I had the same problem when I went and ended up sticking to hiking. All I can tell you there's no Limestone around Mestia, so don't bother going there for caving, but it's excellent hiking around there.

I did go to a show cave in another region (My memory fails me to as to where exactly, prob somewhere near Kutaisi) and when I asked if there were any other caves in the area they said no not a single one, probably because they thought I meant other show caves and did not want to loose business.

 

[thehungrytroglobite]

I had the same problem when I went and ended up sticking to hiking. All I can tell you there's no Limestone around Mestia, so don't bother going there for caving, but it's excellent hiking around there.

I did go to a show cave in another region (My memory fails me to as to where exactly, prob somewhere near Kutaisi) and when I asked if there were any other caves in the area they said no not a single one, probably because they thought I meant other show caves and did not want to loose business.

Would be great to hear some hiking tips if you have any! We are hoping to go to the Caucasus.
We are also planning on hiring a 4x4 and driving ourselves around - how feasible is this / how dangerous is the driving in Georgia?

 

[Alex]

There's a tourist office in Mestia (It's semi-touristy), which supplied some semi-decent maps (to purchase) there are lots of trails around. My husband also had access to old soviet era maps, but I don't know how it got them unfortunately. The hiking itself I remember the paths are not that well maintained, but the more popular ones are well marked, I don't recall us getting lost. Unless you are going in July be prepared for snow. Fantastic views of the Caucases around there and the hikes bring you past glaciers, some of the most breathtaking hiking I have done, we wild camped along the way and foraged raspberries to supplement our food. Most of the hikes are multi-day, so you will have to be self sufficient.

Never drove there unfortunately, we took a bus and train. I remember the taxi drivers being quite insane so they are not sensible drivers as you would expect from that part of the world, but once you reach that part of the counrty where Mestia are the roads become dirt tracks beyond and we felt safe enough to cycle mountain bikes on them (you can hire them in Mestia) to reach the trail heads.

Sorry I can't be much more help it's been a while since I went.

 

[Alex]

Oh I noticed on another post that you are a vegan? Unfortunately, that's going to be difficult in Georgia. I think there is/was one vegan restaurant and it was stormed with people with sausages. They are not very open, I did not mention I was gay there either, as it's not LGBT+ friendly.

 

[thehungrytroglobite]

Oh I noticed on another post that you are a vegan? Unfortunately, that's going to be difficult in Georgia. I think there is/was one vegan restaurant and it was stormed with people with sausages. They are not very open, I did not mention I was gay there either, as it's not LGBT+ friendly.

I'm vegetarian very happy with cheese and eggs etc

 

[thehungrytroglobite]

as it's not LGBT+ friendly.

that's a shame, but good to know in advance!

 

[thehungrytroglobite]

Well let me just say, this has been a huge success. I'm now in regular contact with the only Georgian caving club, and they're all lovely - over 15 of them have said they want to go caving with us. Even in non-occupied Georgia, it sounds like there is tons of caving to be done, both sporting and exploratory trips. They've offered us places to stay and we've offered to host them at ours in the Dales, so maybe they'll come over here at some point too! I had originally developed a 2-week sight-seeing itinerary of the country, but all of that is going out the window now as caving unsurprisingly takes priority. Will report back here in early October to give more detailed info on the caving!