Diamond Bridge, Dashbashi Canyon & Mtatsminda Day Trip from Tbilisi

The Diamond Bridge over Dashbashi Canyon

The Diamond Bridge opened in 2022 and quickly became one of the most photographed places in Georgia. About 240 metres long and roughly 280 metres above the canyon floor, it has glass panels under your feet, so you look straight down onto the forest, the cliffs and the river far below. At its centre stands a diamond-shaped glass pavilion that gives the bridge its name and works as a viewpoint and a small café suspended in the air.

On this Diamond Bridge tour you have about an hour and a half here, enough to walk across, take photos from the rim and enjoy the views at your own pace. The entrance fee is paid on site and is not included in the tour. Many visitors ask whether the Diamond Bridge is worth visiting if they are nervous of heights: the deck is solid and wide, and most people relax after the first few steps.

Dashbashi Canyon and the waterfall hike

Dashbashi Canyon is a deep gorge cut by the Khrami river into volcanic rock near the town of Tsalka, about two hours from Tbilisi. Its sheer basalt walls are softened by thick green forest, and spring water trickles down moss-covered cliffs to form waterfalls, wooden footbridges and small pools along the trail. The canyon is especially lush in late spring and summer.

If you want to see the canyon from inside, you can join the optional hike of about 2 km to a waterfall, which takes roughly two hours including stops. The path has steps and uneven ground, so comfortable shoes are a must. This walk is what turns a simple Dashbashi Canyon day trip from Tbilisi into a real nature day, and it gives a very different view of the bridge hanging above you.

The adventure park, sky bike and contact zoo

Around the bridge an adventure park has grown with attractions for all ages. The most famous is the sky bike, a bicycle that rolls along a cable over the canyon for those who want an extra thrill; it is optional and paid on site. There are also newer activities such as go-karting, cafés with canyon views and a small contact zoo where children can meet friendly farm animals.

Your tour leader explains what is open on the day and how to fit everything into the free time. Families often spend part of the stop at the zoo while others cross the bridge again or rest at a café. This mix of nature and activities makes the trip suitable for groups with different tastes, and it is one reason the Diamond Bridge has become a favourite day trip from Tbilisi.

Mtatsminda Park: the best views of Tbilisi

On the way back the group stops for about 40 minutes at Mtatsminda Park, which sits on the mountain of the same name directly above the city. From its terraces you see the whole of Tbilisi spread below: the old town, the Mtkvari river, the bridges and the hills beyond. Late in the day the light turns golden and the city lights start to shine, so it is a lovely way to end the trip.

The park also has rides, cafés and a funicular that links the mountain with the city centre. If you prefer, you can leave the group here, have dinner on the mountain and take the funicular down whenever you are ready. Otherwise you ride back with the group and arrive in central Tbilisi at around 19:00 to 20:00.

The road through Kvemo Kartli and the honey village

The drive from Tbilisi to the Diamond Bridge takes about two hours through the Kvemo Kartli region, climbing from the warm lowlands onto a high plateau of meadows, lakes and small villages. The scenery changes quickly, and your tour leader shares stories about the region and its people along the way.

On the road the group stops in a village where you can buy real local honey from the producers themselves, a favourite souvenir of Georgia. The trip is seasonal and is at its best in summer, when the meadows are green and the canyon trail is dry; bring sunscreen and comfortable shoes for the day. In spring and autumn the higher plateau can be cool and windy, so a light jacket is useful too.