Trekking in Racha mountains

Departure from Tbilisi to Racha. On the way to Racha from Tbilisi we walk through the Nakerala Pass, overlooking the Colchis lowland. Shaori lake is stunning area, surrounded by mountains and spruce forests. The final destination is in the village Ghebi, where we will stay in a guesthouse.

The trekking starts from the village to the south and follows the highway to the mountains. Having walked half an hour ,we find ourselves in an amazing scene of the eternal snowy mountains of the Caucasus, snow-capped Racha and Svaneti glaciers, Zopkhito and Zeskho glaciers, too. The trail goes to Mukhameshi,at the bottom of the huge watershed Shodakedela Ridge. You will be fascinated with the spectacular vistas of the undulating meadows. The Shoda is a huge mountain stretching over 59 km, overlooking Mukhameshi from the south- a 3600-meter high wall. You can get endless pleasure from beautiful flowers, grasslands, waterfalls and rolling hills. At night, We will return to Ghebi guesthouse.

We leave the village towards the Kirtisho glacier. In the north, we will pass by the abandoned village Gona and go along the river Chveshuri Gorge, at the same time we will have a look at the streams, falling down from the mountain cliffs. This scrubland is surrounded by dozens of peaks. On the alpine fields, the green cover gradually disappears and the most beautiful peaks of the Caucasus Mountains are more visible. The trail goes to the glacier Kirtisho, which is the largest glacier in the river Rioni basin. It runs from the northern border of the country to the south at an altitude of 7 kilometers. The total length of the route is 18 km. The starting point is 1700 meters, and the highest is 2500 meters. We get back to the guesthouse, in Ghebi.

Our route heads to the northeast. On this side, the village is bordered by Zopkhito, Loboda, and Edena glaciers. Our target is Zopkito first, as it is the biggest and most splendid among them. The trail runs along the river Rioni gorge and then turns to the north. The trail passes by the old settlements, through the birch forests and then gradually moves into alpine fields, that are surrounded by enormous summits. The route ends at mesmerizing Zopkhito Glacier, at an altitude of 2500 meters. Huge cliffs reflect the sun’s rays, and this sun-kissed place blended with the cloudless sky, will make you speechless and definitely inspired. The length of the route is 20 km.