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- Old Shatili (the medieval fortified complex) — The whole cluster of stone houses and towers packed together on the slope; this is the place you came for — a genuine defensive village that still reads like a lived-in fortress when you walk through it.
- Cliffside houses — Narrow multi-storey houses built into the rock face, stacked and linked; seeing how people fitted living spaces into the cliff is a rare lesson in mountain architecture you can only get here.
- Tower houses (domestic towers) — Shorter, square residential towers with low doors and tiny windows; many are still accessible so you can peer into family rooms, ovens and storage niches to understand everyday life centuries ago.
- Watchtowers — Taller standalone towers used as lookouts and refuges; a few allow you to climb up for a
- Old Shatili (the medieval fortified complex) — The whole cluster of stone houses and towers packed together on the slope; this is the place you came for — a genuine defensive village that still reads like a lived-in fortress when you walk through it.
- Cliffside houses — Narrow multi-storey houses built into the rock face, stacked and linked; seeing how people fitted living spaces into the cliff is a rare lesson in mountain architecture you can only get here.
- Tower houses (domestic towers) — Shorter, square residential towers with low doors and tiny windows; many are still accessible so you can peer into family rooms, ovens and storage niches to understand everyday life centuries ago.
- Watchtowers — Taller standalone towers used as lookouts and refuges; a few allow you to climb up for a real sense of why this site was chosen and to take unbeatable photos of the jumble of stone roofs below.
- Labyrinthine lanes and communal courtyards — The tiny alleys, archways and shared courtyards are where village social life happened — wandering them gives you the best accidental encounters with local details and architecture.
- Tiny village chapels — Small stone chapels and shrines tucked between houses; simple, atmospheric spaces with icons and votive marks that show how faith and frontier life were intertwined.
- Rooftop panoramas and viewpoints — Climb one of the accessible roofs or a tower top at sunset for sweeping views over the Aragvi valley and the layered silhouette of Shatili — the scale and isolation hit you here.
- Stone bridges and mountain springs — Small pedestrian bridges and the clear springs that supplied the village are pleasant, visitable spots; they’re functional, photogenic and give a glimpse of daily survival in the highlands.
- Homestays and guest rooms in the new settlement — Staying overnight in a local guesthouse (often run by families from the village) is one of the most memorable things to do: eat Khevsur food, sleep to the sound of wind through stone, hear local stories.
- Conservation spots and restored interiors — A few towers and rooms have been stabilized or partially restored; these small preservation projects let you safely inspect original construction, tools and household fittings up close.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.