Our second trip to Nedzvi Managed Reserve didn’t take long to plan. Once again, the three of us were motivated and determined.

This time, we were going to finish what we started.

As always, we packed our backpacks with food, gear, sleeping pads, and everything else we might need. Ready to go, we took a microbus to Borjomi, got off near the road, and began our journey toward the shelter.

At the beginning of the trail, we passed through the beautiful village of Akhaldaba. Wooden cottages lined the road, surrounded by lush nature and incredibly fresh air. It was the perfect welcome to the journey. The forests around Borjomi have always felt mesmerizing and refreshing to me.

Back then, we were in great shape. Before we even realized it, we had crossed the entire village on foot, and within about forty minutes we had already reached the entrance of Nedzvi Managed Reserve. As beautiful as Akhaldaba was, I loved the solitude we felt once we entered the reserve — no civilization, no people, just the three of us and nature.

We stopped near a small river for a short break — our favorite kind of place to relax, eat some snacks, and take a few photos. The area was humid and lush, the ground soaked with water, surrounded by dense trees and the quiet sounds of nature.

After a couple of hours of hiking, we reached the village where our old friend lived — Zina Bebo. She was excited to see us again and welcomed us warmly. This time we told her confidently that we knew exactly where to go and promised her we wouldn’t get lost again.

Zina Bebo is a kind and wise grandmother. It’s clear she has experienced a lot in life, and her close connection with nature seems to have made her spiritually rich. Even today, all three of us agree that when we grow older, we would love to live somewhere like that — far away from noise, stress, and the rush of everyday life, simply blending into nature.

After some sweet conversations and another short break, we continued on the trail.

Not long after leaving, we reached the very turn where we had gotten lost during our first trip. The paths were muddy, and the last time we had chosen a cleaner uphill route, assuming all roads would eventually lead to the shelter. Unfortunately, that one path happened to be the only one that led us in the wrong direction.

This time we were prepared.

We took the correct turn and soon found ourselves exploring a completely new part of the reserve. Unlike our first attempt, this was an unexplored area for us, and it felt like discovering a hidden world inside the forest.

Along the way we passed through a section of forest filled with tall spruce trees reaching high into the sky. Slim and symmetrical, they formed a unique little forest of their own. We all agreed that it would be an amazing place to spend a night camping, but this time we were determined to finally reach the shelter.

Soon we came across something unusual — water flowing from underground. It had a strange smell and an even stranger taste. One of my friends, Tako, decided to try it and immediately regretted it.

At that moment Tako said the water tasted like it came straight from sewerage… which made me laugh immediately — how do you even know what sewerage water tastes like?

Later, I watched a travel vlog about this place and saw people lighting the water on fire — it actually burns because of natural gas in it. Too bad we didn’t try that ourselves. It would have been quite the experience.

After passing the underground spring, we soon reached a barrier marking the entrance to the shelter area. We knew we were getting close, but reaching the shelter still took quite a while.

The trail led uphill through a mysterious forest. Bird sounds were rare, and the atmosphere felt almost magical and slightly eerie. At that point we knew we were truly far from civilization — completely isolated in the wilderness.

Evening was approaching. The sunlight was fading and clouds were gathering above us. We kept walking without many stops, determined to reach the shelter before it got too late.

Along the way we passed a strange wooden structure that looked like the remains of an old cabin. Not long after, we spotted fresh bear tracks on the trail.

The footprints were clear in the mud.

A bear had walked this path not long before us.

Judging by the size, it was probably a young one.

At that moment, I was very glad I had brought pepper spray. I felt like it was my responsibility to be prepared — after all, I was the only guy in our group.

We kept walking.

Soon it became completely dark.

The forest around us slowly disappeared into shadows.

We took out our headlamps and continued the final part of the climb.

Then, through the darkness of the trees, we saw something ahead.

A small wooden shape standing quietly in the forest.

And then, finally, we saw it.

Shuano Shelter.

After everything — after getting lost on the first trip — we had finally reached our destination.

The shelter looked almost brand new. It was clean, cozy, and had an incredible fireplace that we immediately lit. Soon the entire cabin filled with warmth and comfort.

The shelter had two floors, and the upper floor felt especially magical. We took off our shoes, unpacked our snacks, and relaxed after walking more than 20 kilometers that day.

It had been a long journey.

Sitting next to the fireplace, we talked for hours — about life, about random thoughts, about everything and nothing. Eventually, we fell asleep, not realizing that the morning would bring something magical.

During the night, the weather turned wild. Strong winds shook the forest outside, but inside the shelter it was warm and safe. In fact, it became so warm that we almost felt hot.

The next morning, I woke up and looked out the second-floor window.

For a moment I thought I was still dreaming.

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Snow.

A huge amount of snow had fallen overnight.

Everything around us was covered in a thick white blanket. The forest looked like something out of a fairy tale — trees covered in snow, fresh cold air, complete silence.

We made hot coffee and tea and went outside.

We ran around like kids, taking photos everywhere, laughing and enjoying the moment. It felt like nature had given us a magical surprise.

Two of us could have stayed another day, but unfortunately one of my friends had to go to work the next day. Otherwise we absolutely would have stayed longer.

After a few hours, we packed our bags and began the long journey back.

The path looked completely different now. Everything we had walked through the day before was covered in snow — mountains, trees, trails, everything. That wonderful sound snow makes when you step on it echoed through the forest.

The landscape was breathtaking.

We also saw many fresh animal footprints in the snow — evidence that the forest was full of life, even though we never actually saw the animals themselves.

We walked all day, taking photos and enjoying every moment.

On the way back, we visited Zina Bebo again. We told her about the shelter and the unexpected snowfall. Eventually we said goodbye, knowing that we might never see her again.

But who knows?

Maybe someday we will.

The return journey was long, just as we expected. Even though we were walking downhill, it still took us hours to reach Akhaldaba again.

One strange thing happened on the way back — walking through the village felt three times longer than it had the day before. Maybe we were simply tired, but it genuinely felt like time and space had stretched somehow.

Eventually we reached the road and waited for a microbus back to Tbilisi.

By then, it was already night.

In just two days, we had walked more than 42 kilometers.

Forty-two kilometers of unforgettable memories — magical forests, stunning nature, our old friend Zina Bebo, an unexpected snowfall in the mountains, and a journey that finally brought us to the shelter we had missed before.

We returned with hundreds of photos and even more memories.

Nature heals.

And hiking is something we will never stop loving.

Three of us.

Not lost this time.

Just exactly where we wanted to be.

🥾 🌊 👦👩👧 🌲🌳 💧 🏔️ 🌙 🏡 ⭐ ❄️ 🚶‍♂️