Overlanding

Overland Adventure: Mystical Mountains of Guria & Adjara

Chase the mist through Georgia's cloud-kingdoms — highland resorts where sea air meets the mountains, hidden alpine lakes, and a medieval fortress above the clouds.

From€800/ person

Tour type

Private

Duration

7 days

Start / End

Tbilisi / Tbilisi

Activity

Overlanding & Camping

Difficulty

Moderate

Accommodation

Mountain resort, guesthouses & wild camping

Overview

Discover Adjara — Guria & Borjomi

West of the well-trodden routes lies a Georgia few travelers ever see — a world of drifting fog, spruce-scented air, and alpine lakes that seem to appear and vanish with the weather. This overland expedition climbs from Tbilisi into the mystical highlands of Guria and Adjara, trading paved roads for off-road tracks across ridgelines, summer settlements, and open alpine meadows. You'll wake in Bakhmaro, the legendary mountain resort where sea and mountain air meet and golden sunsets pour through the mist. You'll drive the spectacular ridge route to Gomismta, camp beside the enchanted Karagoli "Black Lakes," stand beneath the Baki-Bako Waterfalls, and explore the medieval Khikhani Fortress perched high above the valleys. Along the way, the crystal-clear Green Lake at Goderdzi Pass, the pine-ringed calm of Kakhisi Lake, and a first-day stop at a local winery round out a journey that is equal parts raw wilderness and quiet magic. This is highland Georgia at its most atmospheric — and it has to be seen to be believed. Pricing is per person and varies by group size. Fully guided (our guide drives, everyone shares one vehicle): €1700 solo in a private vehicle, or from €1400 / €1100 / €800 per person for 2, 3 or 4 travellers sharing. Prefer to drive yourself? The self-drive experience runs at €1890 per person (minimum 6 people, two sharing each car) and includes a 4×4 with a roof tent, kitchen equipment and car kit, plus a local guide in a 4×4 who knows the area. Tell us your group and preferred style in the enquiry and we'll send an exact quote.

Trip highlights

Wine & lunch stop at a local Georgian winery
Stay in Bakhmaro, the "kingdom of clouds and mist"
Drive the ridge route to Gomismta (2,100–2,750 m)
Pass Wolf's Bed Peak and Chinchaos Lake
Camp at the mysterious Karagoli (Black) Lakes
Visit the Big and Small Baki-Bako Waterfalls
Explore the medieval Khikhani Fortress
Reach the Big and Small Shuamta alpine lakes
Drink from the crystal-clear Green Lake near Goderdzi Pass
Camp at tranquil Kakhisi Lake among the pines
Wild off-road driving through Upper Adjara

Itinerary

Day-by-Day

A scenic transfer from Tbilisi with a relaxing wine & lunch stop at a local Georgian winery along the way. Hidden deep in the mountains of Guria, Bakhmaro is a unique resort where sea and mountain air blend into an environment long believed to have healing properties. Nestled in a valley of evergreen spruce and fir, it's often called "the kingdom of clouds and mist" — drifting fog, pine-scented air, and golden sunsets that no photograph can quite capture.

Drive~330 kmOvernightBakhmaroOptionalWinery wine & lunch stop

We drive the mountain-ridge route linking Bakhmaro and Gomismta, both perched high in Georgia's western mountains. Gomismta (2,100–2,750 m) offers sweeping views of the Lesser Caucasus; our off-road track threads alpine meadows, summer settlements, Wolf's Bed Peak, and the serene Chinchaos Lake. The scenery shifts constantly — from misty forest to open sky and dramatic cliffs — on one of Georgia's most spectacular drives.

Drive~40 km (off-road)OvernightGomismta

We descend through picturesque Adjara villages and forested valleys to the high Karagoli lakes (2,100–2,200 m) in the Khulo region. These twin lakes sit among the alpine pastures and ridges of Baki-Bako and Sari-Chairi, often wrapped in mist — when fog settles, they seem to vanish entirely, a mesmerizing illusion that makes the place feel truly enchanted.

Drive~93 kmOvernightCamping near Karagoli Lakes

A day full of natural and historical wonders. We start at the Baki-Bako Waterfalls — the Big and Small Bako falls, hidden in lush green valleys. Next, the Khikhani Fortress, a medieval stronghold of the noble Abuserisdze family, strategically placed as a refuge during invasions, with towers, a chapel, and ancient walls perched dramatically above the landscape. The day ends at Shuamta (2,150 m), a peaceful summer village with the Big and Small Shuamta alpine lakes and panoramic views over Khikhani and the valleys.

Drive~30 kmOvernightShuamta Lakes

We continue through Upper Adjara to the scenic Green Lake near Goderdzi Pass (2,058 m), whose crystal-clear, lightly mineralized water is pure enough to drink. From there we head east to Kakhisi Lake on the western slope of the Trialeti Range in Borjomi municipality (1,752 m) — a tranquil, pine-ringed camp, with the hidden Chito and Tsero lakes nearby.

Drive~139 kmOvernightCamping at Kakhisi Lake

A peaceful morning by the lake, then the drive back to Tbilisi, carrying home the mist, mountains, and wilderness of western Georgia.

Drive~180 kmOvernightTbilisi (hotel)

Farewell — you head home full of memories and emotions. End of tour.

Overnight—

Adjara — Guria & Borjomi, Georgia

Details

What’s included

Included

Local guide leading the expedition
Fully equipped overland / 4×4 vehicle, with car kit and support
All camping & kitchen equipment (tents, sleeping bags & mats provided)
All accommodation as listed (mountain resort, camping & Tbilisi hotel)
Camp meals cooked en route, plus the Day 1 winery lunch
Route planning, organisation and support throughout

Not included

International flights
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Alcoholic drinks beyond those listed
Meals not specified as included
Entrance tickets (e.g. Khikhani Fortress)
Optional activities
Tips (discretionary)

Accommodation

·Night 1 — Mountain-resort stay in Bakhmaro
·Night 2 — Gomismta (high camp)
·Night 3 — Wild camping near Karagoli Lakes
·Night 4 — Camping at Shuamta Lakes
·Night 5 — Camping at Kakhisi Lake
·Night 6 — Hotel in Tbilisi
·Camping & kitchen equipment provided throughout

What to bring

·Comfortable hiking / walking shoes

·Waterproof jacket

·Warm layers (cold, misty nights at altitude)

·Day backpack

·Reusable water bottle

·Sunglasses and sun protection

·Hat

·Headlamp or torch

·Personal medication

·Camera or phone and a power bank

·Quick-dry towel

·Travel insurance documents

Best season

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Excellent

Good

Mountain weather can change quickly — your guide monitors conditions and adapts the plan.

Gallery

Scenes from the trail

The wooden cottages of the Bakhmaro highland resort in the western mountains

Overland camp pitched in the high meadows

A walk out to a misty highland viewpoint

Trailside vehicle care on the overland expedition

FAQ

Common questions

It's a moderate overland expedition. The demanding parts are the rugged off-road driving, the altitude, and the wild-camping nights — not hard hiking. The lake and waterfall walks are short. If you're comfortable with rustic conditions and changeable mountain weather, you'll be right at home.

No. On the guided trip your local guide handles all the driving, including the rough off-road sections, and the camp is set up for you. You just need to be happy with long hours in the vehicle, rustic camps, and misty mountain weather. Off-road experience only matters if you choose the self-drive option.

It's mostly camping. You stay at a mountain resort in Bakhmaro on the first night and a hotel in Tbilisi at the end, and wild camp on the other nights — near the Karagoli lakes, at Shuamta, and at Kakhisi Lake. All camping and kitchen equipment, including tents, sleeping bags and mats, is provided.

On the guided trip a solo traveller gets a private vehicle; groups of 2–4 share one fully equipped overland vehicle. The self-drive option runs for a minimum of six people with two sharing each 4×4. Tell us your group size in the enquiry.

On the fully guided trip our local guide drives and leads the whole expedition. The self-drive option lets you drive your own 4×4 (fitted with a roof tent and kitchen kit) in convoy with our guide, and runs for a minimum of six people at €1890 per person. Both follow the same route.

It suits active families with older children or teenagers who are happy with long off-road drives, rustic camps and changeable mountain weather. Tell us your family's ages and we'll advise honestly and adapt the pace where we can.

They vary. Day 1 is a long transfer (~330 km) to Bakhmaro; the mountain days are shorter but slow and rugged off-road (Day 2 is only ~40 km but demanding); Day 5 is a longer ~139 km day. Total distance is roughly 810 km. The driving is a core part of the adventure.

These are summer-only highland routes and mountain weather changes fast — mist is part of the appeal, but conditions can shift quickly. If a track or pass is unsafe, your guide will adjust the route and find the best alternative. Safety always comes first.

All accommodation on the route is included, along with camp meals cooked en route and the Day 1 winery lunch. Entrance tickets (such as Khikhani Fortress) and meals not listed are not included. Your final confirmation will spell out exactly what's covered for your departure.

Yes. Travel insurance including emergency evacuation cover is strongly recommended for remote-region and mountain travel. We can suggest providers — just ask.

The published route is our tried-and-tested plan, but road conditions, weather and local events can require adjustments. Your guide will always choose the best alternative and keep you informed.

Yes — like all our tours, the whole trip runs privately for your own group on dates that suit you. Use "Request a Custom Version" in the enquiry form to tailor it.

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