# Zugdidi, Dadiani Palace and the Enguri Dam

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- Canonical: https://gtour.ge/tour/kutaisi-zugdidi-dadiani-enguri-day/
- Author: 
- Published: 2026-10-27
- Updated: 2026-10-27
- Language: en
- Russian edition: https://gtour.ge/ru/tour/kutaisi-zugdidi-dadiani-enguri-day/

€195 per person10 hoursPrivate · car & English-speaking guideBased on two travellers

A full day from [Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/) to the Dadiani princes' palace in [Zugdidi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/zugdidi/), the ancient fortress of Nokalakevi and the towering Enguri arch dam.

The route

[Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/)[Zugdidi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/zugdidi/)

Why this tour

- —Dadiani Palace, the 19th-century residence of Samegrelo's ruling princes, holds a death mask of Napoleon linked to the family's Bonaparte-Murat marriage ties.

- —Nokalakevi archaeopolis is an active excavation site with fortress walls dating from the Roman to Byzantine periods, still being studied by archaeologists today.

- —Enguri Dam viewpoint looks over one of the tallest arch dams in the world, 271.5 metres high, spanning the Enguri River gorge.

- —Megrelian lunch with dishes distinct from eastern Georgian cuisine, including elarji, kubdari and gebzhalia.

- —[Zugdidi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/zugdidi/) doubles as the practical gateway town to Svaneti, useful context if Mestia is also part of your travel plans.

- —Private tour from €195 per person based on two travelling together; solo and group rates quoted at booking.

Itinerary

08:00Pickup from your [Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/) hotel, private driver and vehicle for the day.

09:40Arrival in [Zugdidi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/zugdidi/) after the roughly 100 km drive; visit to the Dadiani Palace and its botanical garden, home to the Niko Dadiani Historical and Ethnographic Museum collection.

11:15Drive to Nokalakevi, about 45 minutes, for a walk through the archaeopolis fortress site.

12:30Megrelian lunch at a local restaurant, menu and timing checked at booking.

14:00Drive to the Enguri Dam viewpoint via Jvari village, about an hour.

15:15Time at the viewpoint for photographs of the dam wall and gorge, no border crossing involved.

15:45Return drive to [Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/), about two hours, arrival by early evening.

Included

- ✓ Private licensed driver and vehicle for the day

- ✓ English-speaking guide

- ✓ Hotel pickup and drop-off in Kutaisi

- ✓ Bottled water in the vehicle

- ✓ Megrelian lunch

- ✓ All fuel, tolls and parking

Not included

- — Entrance tickets to Dadiani Palace and Nokalakevi, checked at booking

- — Personal expenses and gratuities

- — Travel insurance

Good to know

- · Dadiani Palace opening days vary by season, checked at booking.

- · Nokalakevi has uneven, partly unpaved ground, comfortable shoes recommended.

- · The Enguri Dam viewpoint is outdoors with no shelter, dress for the weather.

- · Roads to [Zugdidi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/zugdidi/) are paved and in good condition, but late-autumn dusk can mean a dark return into [Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/).

- · The dam sits near the administrative boundary line with Abkhazia; the public viewpoint involves no border formalities.

- · Carry a passport or ID copy, standard practice in border-adjacent areas of Samegrelo.

Questions

**Is this tour suitable for children?**
Yes, the walking is moderate and the drive includes stops, though Nokalakevi's uneven paths call for supervision with small children.

**Can we combine this with a trip to Svaneti?**
[Zugdidi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/zugdidi/) is the usual junction town for Mestia, so this day trip can be adapted into a multi-day itinerary; ask us for a combined option.

**What if Dadiani Palace is closed on our date?**
Opening days change seasonally; we confirm the schedule at booking and adjust the day's order if needed.

**Is the Enguri Dam viewpoint safe to visit?**
Yes, it is on the Georgia-controlled side and needs no special permission, though photography of the dam structure itself may be restricted, checked at booking.

Prices are per person for two travelling together, in euros; solo travellers and larger groups are quoted on request. Every departure is private and adjusted to you. Hotels, wineries and restaurants on our routes are [verified by GTour](/verified/).

*Image: Aerial view of the curved Enguri arch dam with turquoise reservoir water and a crane. Photo: G.N. / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0*

*Image: Facade of the Dadiani Palace Museum in Zugdidi with its castellated towers and lawn. Photo: Lika2672(ლიკა) / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain*

Dadiani Palace in Zugdidi with red roses and a bright blue sky in the foreground. · Photo: Lika2672 / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain