Into The Wild - Day Tour from Kutaisi to Racha Region
Description
This is the perfect tour for hiking and mountain lovers. It's a one-day hiking and picnic tour from Kutaisi to some of the most underrated places in Georgia: Tskhrajvari and Racha. The first stop is the highlight of the tour: Tskhrajvari Mountain. We hike up to the summit (1,590 meters) to the Church of St. George. From the peak, we can see all of Western Georgia and Kutaisi. After completing this great hike, we drive to the Racha region. On the way, we stop at Nakerala Pass, the border between Imereti and Racha. The pass offers magnificent views of both regions. Crossing the pass, we arrive at the shore of Shaori Lake, where we have a picnic by the lakeside in the wilderness. Everyone should bring their own food for the picnic. Fishing and swimming are available in the lake. After lunch, we visit the Nikortsminda Church, built in the 11th century. The last stop is Tskhmori Waterfall, known for its freezing cold water and fresh air.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Hiking to Tskhrajvari Mountain is a short but demanding trek. The round trip is less than 2 kilometers, but the elevation is quite steep, reaching 1,590 meters.
Shaori reservoir is one of the biggest and the most beautiful lakes in Georgia. The place turns into wonderland on fall when the leaves are colorful and the lake reflect them. We stop here for taking good pics and enjoying with the nature.
The church of 11th century. There are the rarest and beautiful frescoes and ornaments from 11th and 16th century in the church. Also, one part of the church is painted recently there we can see the contemporary Georgian orthodox frescoes and icons.
The final destination of the tour is the Sairme Pillars. Although this hike is relatively short, the slopes are incredibly steep, making it quite challenging. However, the effort is worth it for the breathtaking views and unique rock formations. Prepare for a tough climb, but also for a rewarding experience with stunning natural scenery.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- The tour takes 8 hours because we have to drive between the destinations.
Reviews(11)
I went on a Saturday, the places visited are so packed with people, impossible to enjoy and take some good photos. The monastery up Tskhrajvari would have been a cool and exotic place, if there wasn't such crowds. The hike up is very good. The next stop at Shaori reservoir is nothing spectacular, and again so crowded. Nikortsminda church got some antique frescos. The Sairme pillars are nothing spectacular. The walk up there is quite refreshing though. I don't recommend this tour.
Although the original plan was cancelled due to weather, Budget Georgia were excellent in arranging a new tour immediately that was incredible and will last as a great memory.
It was by far the best organized day trip I have ever experienced. I wanted to feel the authentic, wild spirit of Georgia, and thanks to this tour, I truly did. The atmosphere throughout the day was fantastic - I had so much fun, met wonderful people, and felt completely immersed in the local culture. Our guide, Ika, was simply amazing. He was extremely friendly, had a wealth of knowledge, and you could tell he genuinely loves what he does. His passion and positive energy made the whole experience even more special. I highly recommend this one-day tour to anyone who wants to discover the real Georgia, even with limited time. Everything was perfectly arranged, and I honestly have nothing to criticize. It was a wonderful experience in every respect, and I would gladly do it again!
Booked three different trips with Budget and never been disappointed so far. Affordable prices, competent local guides and most important - beautiful nature of Georgia.
Our guide, Lasha, was very knowledgeable and upbeat throughout the tour. We had great conversations and were able to see some great sites in Racha!
If you’re coming to Georgia and you want to have the best experience with everything managed and prepared without the headache of planning… if you’re looking for the lowest prices and the most fun you will ever have in Georgia without unnecessary bad experiences. budget Georgia is the answer, i booked the 12 days tour and it been nothing but a blast, had the most fun, the most enjoyable experiences, conversations and backgrounds history about Georgia. The tour guides were picked carefully so just trust Budget Georgia and have a good time.
I booked with them 3 tours. The 2 firsts tours we come back more than 1 hour later, the last day I would have to take flight after the tour so because of this I was concerned and asked to change my tour, I couldn’t come back 1 hour late that last day, I asked first to change what I paid (90 gel) to transfer service (40gel) and the girl just said no, and then I asked to change for a shorter tour, which one was just one hour and 20 gel and also she said no! I didn’t ask for a refund, I know this kind of service it’s non-refundable but I asked to change the service and both were cheaper than what I paid!!! They were so incomprehensible with my case and I feel stolen. Also I paid for private transfer directly from airport to canyons, I paid 100 gel and the car just picked me up in the airport and dropped me off in some place after 15 minutes and then I joined with the group transportation (which one was included in the tour) so I paid for private but was not private, again I feel stolen.
We had a fabulous day with Lasha a very knowledgeable guide who told us everything we wanted to know about Georgian people and the region. The view from the chapel was gobsmacking and a real highlight. The waterfall and picnic was great. Definitely would recommend if you want to get a true taste of nature in this beautiful country
Amazing trip! Giorgi was super accommodating, fun and knew exactly what each one of us wanted.. Not to mention the number of times he saved me by keeping dogs away :) The trip involved hikes and treks to very beautiful views! We had our lunch by the waterfall after a 2km+ trek. The experience was wholesome
Wonderful tour through the Racha region with a knowledgeable and very kind guide. The tour ended with a picknick at the shores of beautiful Lake Shaori.
