Dashbashi Canyon: glass bridge and waterfalls
Dashbashi Canyon in Georgia — the glass bridge, waterfalls, viewpoints. What to see, when to go, ticket prices and how to get there.
Dashbashi Canyon is a gorge on the Khrami River in the Kvemo Kartli region — up to 80 meters deep, with a 240-meter glass pedestrian bridge and several waterfalls. It's a well-developed spot: marked trails, viewpoints, a ticket office at the entrance. Works equally for people who just want good photos and for those who want to spend a few hours outdoors away from the city.
What's actually there
Before 2022, the canyon was known mostly to locals. Once the tourist infrastructure opened, the place took off — deservedly so.
The glass bridge ("Diamond Bridge") is the main draw. 240 meters long, around 300 meters above the gorge. The floor is partly transparent: you walk and see the river right below your feet. At the center of the bridge sits the "diamond" café with a glass floor and an upper-level viewing platform — a 360° panorama over the canyon. The structure is solid, but the feeling isn't for everyone. People afraid of heights usually still walk to the middle — turning back feels too disappointing.
Waterfalls — there are two. The first is clearly visible from the bridge itself. The second is a bit further down the trail, a 15–20 minute walk. The second one is slightly smaller, but you can walk right up to it.
Viewpoints are spread along the rim of the gorge. Each gives a slightly different angle on the canyon — worth making the full loop without rushing.
Trails run along both sides of the gorge. The surface is partly paved, partly dirt and rock. Proper sneakers are a must; sandals are uncomfortable.
Optional activities (paid separately):
- Swing over the abyss — 80 GEL per person
- Zipline bike over the gorge — 120 GEL per person
Tickets and hours
The canyon is open daily, no days off.
- Hours: 10:00–19:00 (in high season the ticket office may stay open longer)
- Ticket for foreigners — 79 GEL
- Ticket for Georgian residents — 49 GEL (with residence permit)
- Children under 3 — free
- No general child discount: all other ages pay full price
The ticket covers all trails, the bridge, and the viewpoints. The café in the middle of the bridge and the optional activities are paid separately.
Parking near the entrance is paid, cash on arrival. Card payment isn't accepted everywhere — bring cash.
How much time to plan
Walking the place without rushing — 3–4 hours is enough. That covers the bridge, both waterfalls, every viewpoint, and a coffee at the bridge café.
With kids, or if you just want to take it slow, bring a snack and sit by the water — plan for 5–6 hours.
A rough outline:
- Entrance and 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
- Optional activities or rest — up to you
When to go
The canyon is open year-round, but each season has its own character.
April–June — arguably the best time. The waterfalls are full after winter rains, the greenery is at its peak, the heat hasn't kicked in. Noticeably fewer tourists than in summer.
July–August — peak season. Weekends can mean queues for the bridge. It's hot, though the gorge stays a bit cooler than open ground. If you're going in summer, pick a weekday and arrive at opening.
September–October — a very good option. Crowds thin out, the temperature is comfortable, and the slopes start showing autumn colors.
Winter — the canyon stays open, some trails get slippery. The waterfalls occasionally partly freeze — looks striking. The café may be closed in this period.
How to get there
The canyon is 90 km south of Tbilisi — about a 2-hour drive on switchbacks.
Route: Tbilisi → Rustavi → Tetri-Tsqaro → Dashbashi village → canyon
Most of the drive is normal paved road. Scenic, but with serpentines — warn anyone prone to motion sickness in advance. Navigation is straightforward: "Dashbashi Canyon" is in both Google Maps and Maps.me.
There's no public transport to the canyon. Options:
- Rental car — by far the most convenient. Leave when you want, return without hurrying, stop along the way. More on how renting works in Tbilisi — in the FAQ.
- Round-trip taxi — works, but more expensive, and either the driver waits on the clock or you negotiate a return time.
- Organized tour — they exist, but usually combine several stops and don't give you proper time to linger.
If you have the car for a few days, Dashbashi pairs well with a trip to Borjomi or Vardzia — roughly the same direction out of Tbilisi. You can build a 2–3 day route without circling back to the capital each time. More route ideas — in the MY.DRIVE journal.
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes — sneakers or hiking sandals, the trails get rocky.
- Water — especially on a hot day; the café is pricier than packing your own.
- Cash in GEL — parking and the entrance are cash only.
- A light layer — by the waterfalls and inside the gorge it's noticeably cooler than up top.
- A charged phone — the views earn the storage.
What else is nearby
Kvemo Kartli isn't the most touristed region, but a few spots deserve attention if you have time and a car.
Asureti village (Elisabethtal) — a former German colony a few kilometers from the canyon. German settlers lived here from the 19th century and were deported in 1941. What remains are classic German-style houses, a church, and a cemetery with headstones unlike anything else in Georgia. The mix of Alpine architecture and Georgian mountains feels unexpected.
Khulgumo Fortress — a small medieval fort in roughly the same area. Not promoted, almost no tourists.
Bolnisi Sioni — a 5th-century basilica in the town of Bolnisi, one of the oldest Christian churches in Georgia. Quiet and austere inside, none of the tourist polish.
All of these are practical only with a car — no bus or taxi logistics will work cleanly. More locations with coordinates — on the MY.DRIVE places page.
Bottom line
Dashbashi Canyon delivers a lot for a single day: a glass bridge 300 meters up, waterfalls, panoramic views, and, if you want, a swing over the abyss. The entrance is 79 GEL for foreigners — more expensive than most natural sites in Georgia, but the infrastructure earns it. The one thing to plan ahead is transport: without a car, getting here is markedly harder.
