Saro and Khizabavra

By Mariam Lomidze, GTour desk · Fact-checked against the sources listed · Last checked 17 October 2026 · Editorial policy

Overview

Saro and Khizabavra are two small villages on the Javakheti volcanic plateau in Samtskhe-Javakheti, in southern Georgia near the border with Armenia. They sit at altitude, on open basalt grassland dotted with extinct volcanic cones, within reach of the Javakheti lakes and the Ninotsminda and Akhalkalaki districts. The villages are not major sightseeing stops in themselves; they matter as representative points of entry into one of Georgia’s least-visited landscapes, where high-plateau farming, Armenian Apostolic church life and volcanic geology combine.

For travellers building a slower route through Samtskhe-Javakheti, Saro and Khizabavra illustrate the rural, largely Armenian-populated character of the Javakheti plateau, distinct from the better-known monastery towns of Vardzia and Akhaltsikhe further west. GTour includes the villages in private itineraries on request, usually paired with the Javakheti lakes, Ninotsminda and the region’s protected areas, and arranges the logistics that make a visit worthwhile for travellers without their own transport.

History

The Javakheti plateau, including the area around Saro and Khizabavra, has been inhabited since antiquity, lying on routes between the South Caucasus and eastern Anatolia; archaeological evidence across the wider region points to Bronze Age and later settlement. The medieval and early modern population of the plateau fluctuated with repeated Ottoman–Persian and Ottoman–Russian conflicts that passed through this corridor.

The present demographic character of villages such as Saro and Khizabavra dates largely to the early nineteenth century. Following the Russo-Turkish War of 1828–1829 and the Treaty of Adrianople of 1829, large numbers of Armenians from the Erzurum and Kars districts of the Ottoman Empire resettled in the Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikhe areas of what is now Samtskhe-Javakheti, founding or repopulating villages across the plateau. This resettlement is documented in general histories of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region and explains why Armenian Apostolic churches and the Armenian language remain prominent in Saro, Khizabavra and neighbouring villages today.

Through the Soviet period the area was organised around collective agriculture suited to the cold, high-altitude climate, chiefly potato growing and livestock. Since Georgian independence, the Javakheti plateau’s wetlands and lakes have gained formal protection, with the Agency of Protected Areas managing a network of reserves in the wider district, described on the agency’s site, apa.gov.ge. Saro and Khizabavra remain primarily agricultural villages, with population movement toward Tbilisi and abroad a continuing trend common across the plateau.

What to see

The Javakheti volcanic plateau landscape

The open, treeless terrain around Saro and Khizabavra sits above 1,700 metres and is shaped by extinct volcanic cones, basalt outcrops and seasonal streams. The scale and emptiness of the plateau, more reminiscent of Armenia’s highlands than Georgia’s forested valleys, is itself the main attraction for travellers interested in landscape and rural life rather than monuments.

Village churches

Both villages have Armenian Apostolic churches that serve as the focal point of community life, consistent with the Armenian-majority settlement pattern across the Ninotsminda and Akhalkalaki districts. Exteriors can usually be viewed freely; visiting during a service is the best way to see the interior and should be done quietly and with permission.

Lake Paravani and the Javakheti lakes

A short drive from Saro and Khizabavra brings travellers to Lake Paravani, the largest lake in Georgia by surface area, and to the smaller wetland lakes of the plateau such as Khanchali and Madatapa, important for migratory birds. Several of these wetlands fall within areas managed by the Agency of Protected Areas as part of the Javakheti protected landscape.

Rural agricultural life

The villages themselves offer a direct look at Javakheti farming: stone and basalt houses, hay stacking in late summer, and livestock grazing on communal pasture. This everyday rural texture, rather than any single monument, is what GTour itineraries in the area are built around.

Getting there

From Tbilisi, Saro and Khizabavra are reached by road in about 4 hours 10 minutes, typically via Tsalka or via Borjomi and Akhaltsikhe before turning south toward Ninotsminda. From Kutaisi the drive takes roughly 4 hours 30 minutes, usually via Borjomi and Akhaltsikhe. From Batumi, allow about 6 hours 10 minutes, following the same route through Akhaltsikhe. There is no rail service to this part of Samtskhe-Javakheti; Georgian Railway’s network, described at railway.ge, does not extend to the Javakheti plateau. Marshrutka services run from Tbilisi to Ninotsminda and Akhalkalaki, from where onward travel to the villages depends on local or chartered transport; this makes a private transfer the more practical option for most visitors. Check seasonal conditions before travelling, especially outside summer, via the Roads Department’s road status page. GTour arranges private transfers and guided day trips with an English-speaking guide from Tbilisi, Kutaisi or Batumi; see GTour’s tours for options.

When to go

The Javakheti plateau has a short, cool summer and a long, harsh winter, with snow possible from October through April and roads sometimes affected. The most comfortable period to visit Saro and Khizabavra is from June to September, when pastures are green, lakes are accessible for birdwatching, and daytime temperatures are mild, though evenings remain cool even in midsummer. Spring and autumn can be attractive for landscape photography but travellers should confirm road conditions in advance.

Where to stay and eat

Saro and Khizabavra themselves have little or no tourist infrastructure; most travellers base themselves in Akhalkalaki, Ninotsminda or further afield in Akhaltsikhe, and visit the villages as part of a day trip. GTour’s verified register lists guesthouses, hotels and restaurants across Samtskhe-Javakheti; browse recommended places via the best of Samtskhe-Javakheti guide or consult a GTour guide for current, checked options nearest to the plateau, listed in more detail below.

Practical notes

Altitude and open terrain mean weather changes quickly; carry warm layers and wind protection regardless of season. Fuel stations are sparse on the plateau, so fill up in Akhaltsikhe or Ninotsminda before heading toward the villages. Armenian and Georgian are the main languages spoken locally, with limited English outside tourism-oriented towns, so a guide or pre-arranged transfer is useful for independent travellers. Mobile coverage is generally adequate but can weaken in low-lying stretches between villages.

Questions travellers ask

What language do people speak in Saro and Khizabavra?

The villages are predominantly ethnic Armenian, and Armenian is the main spoken language, alongside Georgian as the state language. English is rarely spoken locally, which is why most visitors travel with a guide or driver.

Is there direct public transport to the villages?

No direct marshrutka runs to Saro or Khizabavra. Travellers can reach Ninotsminda or Akhalkalaki by marshrutka from Tbilisi and then arrange local transport, but a private transfer is more reliable for a single-day visit.

Are Saro and Khizabavra part of a protected area?

The villages themselves are agricultural settlements, but nearby lakes and wetlands on the Javakheti plateau fall within areas managed by the Agency of Protected Areas, which oversees habitat for migratory birds in the district.

Can the villages be combined with Vardzia or Akhaltsikhe in one trip?

Yes, though it makes for a long day given the distances involved. Many itineraries combine Akhaltsikhe’s Rabati fortress and Vardzia with a detour toward Ninotsminda and the Javakheti lakes, with Saro and Khizabavra as a stop along that route.

Is there accommodation in the villages themselves?

Formal accommodation is limited to none in Saro and Khizabavra. Most travellers stay in Akhalkalaki, Ninotsminda or Akhaltsikhe and visit as a day excursion.

What is the best time of year to see the Javakheti lakes near here?

Late spring through early autumn, roughly May to September, offers the best combination of accessible roads, mild weather and active bird populations on lakes such as Paravani and Khanchali.

Are the village churches open to visitors?

Exteriors of the Armenian Apostolic churches in both villages can generally be viewed without restriction. Visitors wishing to see an interior should try to coincide with a service or ask locally for access, and should behave respectfully as these remain active places of worship.

What should travellers pack for a visit?

Warm layers, wind-resistant outerwear and sturdy footwear are recommended even in summer, since the plateau sits above 1,700 metres and evenings are cool. Sun protection is also advisable given the open, unshaded terrain.

Why do Saro and Khizabavra have an Armenian character?

Following the 1829 Treaty of Adrianople, Armenian communities from the Erzurum and Kars areas of the Ottoman Empire resettled across the Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda districts, founding or repopulating villages including those on this part of the Javakheti plateau, which remains predominantly Armenian today.

Is it possible to visit independently without a guide?

It is possible with a rented car, but limited signage, sparse fuel stations and minimal English make a guided or pre-arranged private transfer considerably more practical, particularly for travellers combining the villages with other sites in Samtskhe-Javakheti.

Sources

• Agency of Protected Areas
• Georgian Railway
• Georgian National Tourism Administration — Samtskhe Javakheti region
• Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia — national parks