Simplified Trek to Tobavarchkhili Lakes – Into The Wild, Georgia for Amateur Hikers
530 EUR
per personTobavarchkhili Lakes is the best trekking destination in Georgia for those who want to experience the wildest untouched nature. It’s like an oasis in the middle of the mountains at 2650 meters above sea level. Trek to Tobavarchkhili Lakes is the best route for camping and hiking enthusiasts. During this hiking tour package you will hike through waterfalls, caves, and alpine lakes, streams, springs, rivers. A few days of hiking promises a variety of exciting obstacles, unique emotions and unforgettable memories which will always remind you – Georgia.
Trek to Tobavarchkhili Lakes Tour Outline:
Day 1: Transfer from airport – Tbilisi city tour
Day 2: Tbilisi – Uplistsikhe Cave town – Gelati Monastery – Motsameta Monastery – Kutaisi
Day 3: Kutaisi – Mukhuri – Natipuru Hut jeep or Truck ride – start of the trekking
Day 4: Trekking to smaller Tobavarchkhili – Okhoje lake
Day 5: Day at the lake
Day 6: Trekking to Big Tobavarchkhili lake
Day 7: Hike back to Natipuru and Drive to Kutaisi
Day 8: Kutaisi – Mtskheta – Tbilisi
Tobavarchkhili Lakes is hard to reach, especially for inexperienced hikers. The route below is for those who are less fit or experienced, for a group at average fitness level. For fit hikers the standard route of Tobavarchkhili lakes hike is more recommended. This is the LITE version of Tobavarchkhili hiking tour which means that you don’t return back via the hard way. You have horses for most luggage including personal staff.
Georgian mountain lakes tour route is very divided into short distances to allow you to make it to the lakes easier. Also, there is camping at the first lake for 3 nights and those who are very unfit will most probably stay at the first lake and not hike with the rest of the group to the second lake.
Initially developed for Thailand photographers tour agency, this trekking tour package in Georgia is perfect for group tours. However, even if distances are short, the route is not easy as you have to cross the snowed or stony passes and go up significant elevation differences and be in the wild for multiple days, with no access to civilization and no mobile coverage.
Check out more trekking, hiking tour packages in Georgia: Tour List
1140km – Drive
32km – Hike
Arrival - Tbilisi Tour
We will meet you at the airport and take you to the amazing adventure tour in Georgia. We will start our Tobavarchkhili hiking tour from Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia which is a combination of European, Asian, and Caucasian cultures. Newly built pedestrian glass and steel bridge with bow design - Peace Bridge is an attraction that should not be missed in Tbilisi. It will be our first destination.
Our next destination will be the Mother of Georgia’s monument. We will reach this sightseeing with a cable car. The monument is located on a hill overlooking the entire city. Photos taken from this place are always unforgettable. After enjoying the view we will visit Narikala Fortress - the main defensive structure of the city.
The main symbol of Tbilisi is the sulfur baths so this will be our next destination. Ottoman’s period bathhouses and sulfur smell around will immediately make you feel the vibe of old Tbilisi. Through this amazing atmosphere, we will reach Leghvtakhevi - a 14 m high waterfall in the heart of Tbilisi and enjoy the views of old Tbilisi balconies in the shade and fury of the waterfall.
The day will end with Georgian gastronomy and art. You will taste delicious dishes accompanied by Georgian music and traditional dances.
Overnight in Tbilisi
Tbilisi - Gori - Kutaisi
After the breakfast our destination will be Uplistsikhe - an ancient rock-hewn town, which contains structures dating from the Early Iron Age to the Late Middle Ages. You will travel back in time while exploring this sightseeing. The daily life of ancient Georgians will be revived in front of your eyes in this open-air museum.
We will move from the landmarks of Georgian ancient history and will make our way to Kutaisi – one of the largest cities in Georgia. There we will visit Gelati Monastery – one of the most important monuments of Georgian culture, which was founded by David the Builder in 1106. The complex, located in a beautiful place, was not only a monastery, but also an academy of culture and education.
Then we will visit Motsameta Monastery. The monastery complex, built in the 8th century in honor of the memory of the great Georgian warriors, is built on a steep cliff next to the river Tskaltsitela.
At the end of the day we will drive back to Kutaisi. Overnight in Kutaisi.
Kutaisi - Mukhuri - Natipuru Hut jeep or truck ride - Start the trekking
(Distance - 4.5km, Elevation Gain - 450m, medium difficulty)
In the morning we will drive to Mukhuri. Then either by jeep or soviet truck we will make it to Natipiru hut passing rough forest roads. From there we will have a great panorama of Egrisi mountains. Here we will rest, eat lunch and move towards the eastern slopes of Egrisi mountains a few kilometers so we test ourselves and are ready for the harder part the next day.
Overnight in tents.
Trekking to smaller Tobavarchkhili - Okhoje lake (The Silver Lake)
(Distance - 5.5 km, Elevation Gain – 800m, Elevation Loss – 300m, very hard as we cross the snowed pass)
From the campsite we will start trek to Tobavarchkhili Lakes and hike towards Okhoje (smaller Tobavarchkhili) lake. We need to climb the Okhoje pass (2750m). From the pass, we will descend to Okhoje lake, a beautiful alpine lake surrounded by the mysterious mountains.
Overnight in camp by the lake.
Day at the lake
This day can be a great gift for us. Relaxing at the lake, enjoying being on another planet. However, if the weather was not good this day could be used as an extra day. Anyway it will be the perfect experience of a lifetime.
Overnight in tent.
Trekking to Big Tobavarchkhili lake
(Distance - 12km, Elevation Gain/Loss - 860m, difficulty: hard, crossing the second pass to and back - if someone is very very weak will stay at the first lake)
This day we will climb from the smaller Tobavarchkhili to the big Tobavarchkili lake. The pass is 2900m from sea level. From there we will be amazed by the scenery behind as well as the view towards the red mountain – Chitaghvala then the lake also appears in the eyesight. We can enjoy our time there, explore the source of the river from there, maybe climb the nearby mountain for a good view and return back to the small lake to our campsite.
Overnight in tent.
Hike back and Drive to Kutaisi
(Distance - 10km, Elevation Gain - 560m, Elevation Loss - 1160m, medium difficulty, Will just need to go up pass, then mostly descending to Natipuru)
This day we will hike across the pass and then will descend to Natipuru hut parking where a car waits for us. After this get back to Mukhuri and then to Kutaisi
Overnight in Kutaisi.
Mtskheta - Dinner in Tbilisi
This is the last day of our adventure tour. We will check out from the hotel, then drive back to Tbilisi. Just before we enter Tbilisi we will visit Mtskheta old town, Georgia’s old capital. Magnificent Svetitskhoveli church and Jvari monastery with a view towards Mtskheta and the confluence of Kur and Aragvi rivers. Afterwards we will be back to Tbilisi, where we will have a final dinner, possibly at the restaurant with a Georgian dance program. Then we will transfer to airport.