Top 5 Must Do's in Pankisi

1. Canoeing down the river on a tyre and waterfall jumping

 The current of the Alazani River is rapid, but the river isn’t deep and has many small bays, thanks to which it is perfect for mountain canoeing rallies and rafting. Big spinning-on-the-surface tyres are great for this purpose as well. The streams of the Alazani river turn into waterfalls at the foot of the Great Caucasus. Thrill enthusiasts jump from their tops into the river in the places where natural, deeper basins have been formed. The Kists will disclose to the fishermen where wild trout fisheries are located.

2. Horseback trips to the mountains  

Small mountain horses travel on the High Caucasus routes almost effortlessly with tourists and luggage on their backs. At the top, one can spend the night in a shepherd’s hut. The highlanders are happy to demonstrate to hikers the process of the production of a dozen or so kinds of cheese, butter or cream. Those who are hungry will be fed on lamb shish kebab and other types of meat. Autumn around the mountain Bacar Reserve is the sweet chestnut picking season. When grilled or cooked in the oven, the chestnuts taste delicious.

3. Folk evening

The band Daimoakh (Motherland) is made up of singers and dancers widely recognised in Georgia. Dressed in traditional Kist outfits, they perform lezginkas, one of the most popular dances in the Caucasus, which the tourists are invited to perform alongside the natives. They sing and play both Georgian and Chechen songs, which gives their performance a unique flavour. The members of the band sometimes accompany tourists on their mountain trips, their singing resounding around the neighbouring mountain tops.

4. Visits to mosques and churches  

The Kists are glad to show tourists around their mosques, churches and home shrines, which cannot be found in any guidebooks. In an old mosque in Duisi the members of a female Sufi brethren gather to recite the dzikr prayer. The women invite to their part of the mosque all those who wish to go there and are interested in the Sufi tradition. This is one of the greatest attractions in Pankisi, often compared to the famous Whirling Dervishes in Turkey.

5. Felt production technology  

In the home workshops the Kists make felt, a highly durable fabric, from sheep wool. In addition to warm shepherd clothes, the craftsmen make various colourful accessories: bags, cases, hats and wall hangings, which may be bought right on the spot. The traditional process of felt production is one of the most interesting elements of the Kist culture.

6. Testing of traditional Kist dishes  

The traditional Kist cuisine includes Chechen (żiżik gałnysz) and Georgian (chinkali, chaczapuri) dishes. Typical of Kist cuisine are mutton, goat, beef and chicken kebabs (usually prepared in the open air during mountain trips). The Kists make many types of dairy products, such as: several types of cheese, butter, cream and yoghurt. They also bake wheat and maize bread, and will treat you to some lovely home wine.