Borjom - Kharagauli National Park and Tours
The Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park is the first National Park in Caucasus that corresponds to the international standards. It was established in 1995 and was officially opened in 2001. According to the area it is one of the best Protected Areas of Europe. In 2007 the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park became a member of European network of Protected Areas – Pan Park that is a guarantee for highest level protection of these Protected Areas and sustainable development of tourism.
Geologically, the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park belongs to the fold system of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains and covers the central subzone of Achara-Trialeti fold zone. The region is mainly constructed with so called Borjomi flysch sediments of lower Eocene: marl clays, marls, limestone sandstones and marl limestones; its construction also includes the sediments of Oligocene and Neogene ages and volcanic sediment formations.
The National Park covers the territories, which are the marginal parts of several historical regions of Georgia. The Park is located in the territories of Tori, Imereti and Samtskhe. Total area is about 61235 ha.Forests of the Kharagauli part of the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park are presented by dark coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests. Mixed deciduous forests are mainly consisted of chestnut trees,beech trees, hornbeams Caucasian lime, Colchis oa, Caucasian rhododendron and ash tree .
Together with the changing in altitude one deciduous forest is replaced with the other one:in some areas beech forests are replaced by mixed deciduous forests with subforest of colchis type, and further – the hornbeam groves, beech-chestnut groves, spruce-groves and silver fir-groves. In the Borjomi gorge the coniferous forests are spread including spruce-groves, silver fir-groves and spruce and silver fir-groves.
In the upper zones of the forest belt the dark coniferous forests of spruce-groves and silver fir-groves dominate, which are composed of Oriental spruce, Nordmann Fir . In subalpine belt the subalpine forests and bushes, subalpine high grasses and meadows are spread.
The Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park is the first National Park in Caucasus that corresponds to the international standards. It was established in 1995 and was officially opened in 2001. According to the area it is one of the best Protected Areas of Europe. In 2007 the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park became a member of European network of Protected Areas – Pan Park that is a guarantee for highest level protection of these Protected Areas and sustainable development of tourism.
Geologically, the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park belongs to the fold system of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains and covers the central subzone of Achara-Trialeti fold zone. The region is mainly constructed with so called Borjomi flysch sediments of lower Eocene: marl clays, marls, limestone sandstones and marl limestones; its construction also includes the sediments of Oligocene and Neogene ages and volcanic sediment formations.
The National Park covers the territories, which are the marginal parts of several historical regions of Georgia. The Park is located in the territories of Tori, Imereti and Samtskhe. Total area is about 61235 ha.Forests of the Kharagauli part of the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park are presented by dark coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests. Mixed deciduous forests are mainly consisted of chestnut trees,beech trees, hornbeams Caucasian lime, Colchis oa, Caucasian rhododendron and ash tree .
Together with the changing in altitude one deciduous forest is replaced with the other one:in some areas beech forests are replaced by mixed deciduous forests with subforest of colchis type, and further – the hornbeam groves, beech-chestnut groves, spruce-groves and silver fir-groves. In the Borjomi gorge the coniferous forests are spread including spruce-groves, silver fir-groves and spruce and silver fir-groves.
In the upper zones of the forest belt the dark coniferous forests of spruce-groves and silver fir-groves dominate, which are composed of Oriental spruce, Nordmann Fir . In subalpine belt the subalpine forests and bushes, subalpine high grasses and meadows are spread.
Park offers 8 routes:
1. Hiking and Horse-riding Route – “Nikoloz Romanov Trail” Tour duration – 3 days; Route length – 39-41 km; Spending the night – in the tourist shelters:”Lomismta” and “Saxvlari”; The route crosses the National Park from Likani (Borjomi district) as far as Marelisi (Kharagauli district). 2. Hiking and Horse-riding Route –“St. Andria Pirveltsodebuli Trail”
Tour duration – 4 days; Route length – 49-51 km; Spending the night – in the Amarati and Sakhvlari tourist shelters or tents. The tour is carried out from Atskuri to Marelisi (or vice versa); The route crosses the highest peak of the National Park – Sametskhvario (2642m) 3. Hiking and Horse-riding Route – “The Panorama Trail” Tour duration – 2 days; Route length – 34 km; Spending the night – in the Amarati tourist shelters or tents. This is a complex, circular tour with splended sights. 4. Hiking Route – “The Untouched Forest Trail”
Tour duration – 1,5 days; Route length – 12-13 km; Spending the night – in the Nunisi guard watch-house or tents. This is the shortest trail, which crosses the National Park. It is especially great pleasure to travel in spring, the time when rhododendron starts blooming (May). 5. Hiking Route – “Zekari Pass Trail”
Tour duration – 1,5 days; Route length – 9-10 km; Spending the night – in the Didmaghala tourist shelter. The route stretches from Abastumani guard watch-house as far as the Didmaghala tourist shelter (Adigeni district). Crossing the National Park is possible by the mountain bicycle through Zekari Pass as far as Sairme. 6. Information Trail of the National Park
Tour duration – 1,5 h; Route length – 3 km; While walking along the trail, you will find 9 information board and wooden installments on different eco-educational issues. 7. Horse-riding Route – “The Meghruki Gorge”
Tour duration – 1 day; Route length – 5,5 km; This is a circular trail from Didi Sakhvlari tourist shelter passing through the gorge of the Meghruki River. 8. Hiking and Horse-riding Route – “Shepherds" Trail
Tour duration – 1 day; Route length – 14 km; The trail stretches along the Black hill and connects the Amarati and Lomismta shelters with each other. The tourist shelters are for 12 persons. |
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