Lagodekhi National Park

Highway 5 cuts west–east across Georgia from Tbilisi, crossing the Alazani Valley between Tsnori (on the plain below Sighnaghi) and Lagodekhi before it turns south into Azerbaijan. Before Lagodekhi it passes through the Alazani wetlands, seasonally flooded woods that are home to many bird species.

North of the town, as the land rises into the mountains, is the expansive Lagodekhi National Park, positioned between Dagestan and Azerbaijan. This was Georgia’s first nature reserve, set up in 1912 as a hunting area. Today it’s divided between Strict and Managed Nature Reserves. The former is only accessible to researchers; the latter is open to the public and includes a well-organized visitor’s centre and clearly marked trails for hiking and horse riding.