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The Kintrishi Protected Areas (Georgian: კინტრიშის დაცული ტერიტორიები) are located between the Black Sea and the mountain system of Achara-Imereti in the gorge of the Kintrishi River in Georgia’s Ajara region. It consists mainly of mountains and gorges covered with forests of beech, chestnut, hornbeam, oak, and silver fir.

Mount Sarbiela in the Kintrishi Protected Areas

Kintrishi Protected Areas covers 18 893 hectares and consists of the Kintrishi Strict Nature Reserve established in 1959 and Kintrishi Protected Landscape established in 2007.

Sub-alpine zone of the Kintrishi Protected Areas

The area is rich in rivers, some of which are spanned by medieval arched bridges.

Medieval stone arch bridge at Tskhemvani village.

Arch stone bridge at Kobalauri village.

Waterfall at Mount Peranga

In the high mountains, at a height of 2200 m, is a small lake – Tbikeli.

Lake Tbikeli

Wild cats, Otters, Roe deer, Chamois, Wild boar and Brown bears inhabit the Protected Areas but Lynx and wolves are rare.

The entrance to Kintrishi Protected Areas

The Kintrishi Protected Areas has two visitor trails that are open to hikers and visitors on horseback. The trails are well marked and have designated camping and picnic sites.

Kintrishi Protected Areas

A Visitor Center is located in the village of Tskhemvani (24 km from Kobuleti) and can help organize guides, horses and local transport.

How to get there? Minibuses leave from Tbilisi’s Didube bus terminal to Kobuleti every day, every hour (20 Gel – 6 hours). Daily trains from Tbilisi’s Central Railway Station to Kobuleti (15 Gel – 6 hours).

Sunset at Mount Sarbiela

Photos courtesy of the Agency of Protected Areas/Kintrishi Protected Areas.

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