Aragvi Rafting & Adventure Park Day Trip from Tbilisi

The sun had only just crowned the tiled rooftops of Tbilisi when we set off up the legendary Georgian Military Road, steaming coffee in hand and the promise of rapids ahead. Ninety minutes later stone ramparts broke the tree line: Ananuri Fortress, perched high above the turquoise Zhinvali Reservoir. We wandered its echoing chambers, ran palms across 17-century masonry, and soaked in the alpine stillness that cloaks this once-strategic stronghold.

From Ananuri the asphalt narrowed, tracing the left bank of the Aragvi until the Adventure Center sign flashed between pines. Here the routine shifted to river mode: life-jackets, helmets, and a brisk safety chat that made even first-timers feel like seasoned paddlers. We launched from Magharoskari village, six to a raft plus one cheerful guide whose commands (“Forward!” “Hold!”) bounced off the valley walls.

The Pshavi’s Aragvi was playful—just the right mix of splash and serenity. For 90 minutes we glided through emerald forest, spun into gentle rollers, and drifted beneath cliffs that looked hand-carved for postcards. Each bend revealed another ridge dusted in wildflowers; each pause offered crisp mountain air tinged with spruce.

We beached at Tvalivi grinning and water-spattered, appetites primed for the scent curling from nearby grills. Lunch was a rustic feast: skewered mtsvadi pork, herb-flecked potatoes, and churchkhela sweets cooling on a wooden rack. Plates balanced on picnic benches, we traded river tales while Aragvi Adventure Park loomed invitingly behind.

Afternoon belonged to the treetops. Harnessed in, we tackled rope-bridge gauntlets, clambered wobbly ladders, and zipped across the river’s glinting surface—shouts whipping away with the breeze. For the brave there was the high line, a quick shot of adrenaline that delivered a bird’s-eye sweep of the whole valley.

As shadows lengthened we piled back into the van, content and pleasantly spent. By sunset the lights of Tbilisi welcomed us home, yet somewhere between tires and asphalt the day’s soundtrack still played: paddle strokes, laughter, and the soft hiss of the Aragvi sliding past our raft.

Pack quick-dry clothes, a thirst for mild thrills, and an empty stomach—this is the kind of day that fills both memory cards and hearts.