# Zekari > gtour.ge — G Tour, Gateway to Georgia. Cite as: GTour desk, gtour.ge. - Canonical: https://gtour.ge/georgia/zekari/ - Author: Mariam Lomidze (GTour desk, Tbilisi) - Published: 2026-09-15 - Updated: 2026-10-17 - Language: en - Russian edition: https://gtour.ge/ru/georgia/zekari/ By [Mariam Lomidze](https://gtour.ge/author/mariam-lomidze/), GTour desk · Fact-checked against the sources listed · Last checked 17 October 2026 · [Editorial policy](https://gtour.ge/standards/editorial-policy/) ### Overview Zekari is a small highland village in the Baghdati municipality of Imereti, western Georgia, set on the forested slopes that rise toward the Meskheti mountain range. It lies close to the road that climbs to the Zekari Pass, the historic route linking the Imereti lowlands with Samtskhe-Javakheti to the south. The village itself is modest — a scatter of farmhouses, orchards and hayfields — but its setting at the edge of a mountain road gives it a role out of proportion to its size: travellers, shepherds and traders have used this corridor for generations to move between two distinct regions of Georgia. Zekari matters to visitors less for a single monument than for the landscape and the route it anchors. The approach road passes through beech and pine forest, mineral-water valleys and pasture, and the pass itself offers wide views over the Imereti hills. GTour includes Zekari in private itineraries that combine the drive to the pass with wine and heritage stops elsewhere in [Imereti](/georgia/imereti/), and the village is a useful reference point for anyone planning a crossing between Imereti and the south of the country. ### History Imereti emerged as a separate Georgian kingdom in the late medieval period after the fragmentation of the unified Kingdom of Georgia, and it retained its own rulers and borders into the early modern era. The mountain corridor through what is now Zekari and the Zekari Pass formed part of the practical boundary between Imereti and the Meskheti highlands to the south, a frontier that shifted several times between Georgian, Ottoman and Persian spheres of influence between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, as outlined in general histories of the Imereti region. The pass itself is documented as a long-used seasonal route connecting the Rioni valley lowlands with the upper Kura basin, and it is described in modern geographic references as the Zekari Pass, closed by snow for much of the winter and passable only in the warmer months. Villages along the route, including Zekari, grew around subsistence farming, transhumance grazing and small-scale forestry, a pattern typical of highland Baghdati municipality rather than any single recorded founding event. In the Soviet period the road over the pass was upgraded for seasonal vehicle use to connect collective farms and mountain pastures on both sides, and it remains, in the twenty-first century, an unpaved or partially paved route rather than a year-round highway. ### What to see #### Zekari Pass The pass above the village gives open views back over the forested Baghdati foothills toward the Rioni valley. It is the main reason travellers pass through Zekari, and the drive up is as much the attraction as the summit itself. The road is seasonal, so conditions should be checked before setting out — see GTour’s [road status page](/road-status/) for current notes on mountain routes. #### The forested approach road The climb from the valley floor to Zekari passes through mixed beech and conifer forest typical of Imereti’s mid-elevation slopes. Streams, small waterfalls and seasonal pasture appear along the route, making the drive itself a modest scenic highlight rather than a single fixed sight. #### Village farmsteads and orchards Zekari’s working farmsteads, with their fruit orchards, hayfields and timber outbuildings, reflect the everyday rural life of highland Imereti villages. There is no formal visitor infrastructure here, so interest lies in observing a working mountain community rather than visiting a curated attraction. ### Getting there From Tbilisi, Zekari is reached by the E60 highway west to Khashuri and Zestaponi, then south through Baghdati toward the foothills, a drive of roughly 4 hours 40 minutes depending on traffic and road conditions. From Kutaisi the route runs south through Baghdati and up the mountain road, around 2 hours 30 minutes. From Batumi, travellers generally follow the Kutaisi highway east before turning south at Baghdati, a trip of about 4 hours 30 minutes. Marshrutka minibuses run from Tbilisi, Kutaisi and other Imereti towns to Baghdati, from where local or chartered transport is needed to continue to Zekari and the pass, since public transport does not run the full mountain route. Rail travellers can reach Zestaponi or Kutaisi on the national network operated by [Georgian Railway](https://railway.ge) and continue by road from there. GTour arranges private transfers and guided day trips with an English-speaking driver-guide for travellers who prefer not to self-drive the unpaved sections; see [GTour’s tours](/tours/) for options. ### When to go Zekari and the pass above it are best visited between late May and early October, when the road is clear of snow and the forest and pastures are at their greenest. Outside this window the pass is frequently closed or difficult to pass, particularly after autumn rains or the first winter snowfall, so travellers heading this way in shoulder season should confirm conditions in advance through GTour’s [road status page](/road-status/). ### Where to stay and eat Zekari itself has no hotels or restaurants, and travellers typically base themselves in Kutaisi, Baghdati or at the nearby Sairme mineral-water resort area before or after the drive to the pass. GTour’s verified register of hotels, guesthouses and restaurants across the region is listed on the [Imereti region hub](/georgia/imereti/), with further recommendations in GTour’s [destination guides](/guides/) and [best-of lists](/best-of/); contact GTour to combine a Zekari crossing with a verified place to stay nearby. ### Practical notes Fuel, mobile signal and services are limited beyond Baghdati, so travellers should fill up and download offline maps before continuing toward Zekari. The pass road includes unpaved stretches and can be rough after rain, so a vehicle with reasonable ground clearance and an experienced driver are recommended. There are no entrance fees or opening hours to plan around, since the attraction is the landscape and route rather than a managed site. ### Questions travellers ask #### Is Zekari Pass open all year? No. The pass is a seasonal mountain route, generally passable from late spring to early autumn and closed or hazardous in winter due to snow. Conditions should always be confirmed before travel. #### Is Zekari a destination in itself, or a stop along a route? Zekari functions mainly as a waypoint on the road over the Zekari Pass between Imereti and Samtskhe-Javakheti. Most visitors pass through as part of a longer drive rather than staying in the village itself. #### Can I reach Zekari by public transport? Marshrutka services run to Baghdati, but there is no scheduled public transport over the pass itself. A private transfer or chartered vehicle is needed to continue beyond Baghdati. #### Is a 4×4 vehicle required? A 4×4 is not always mandatory in dry summer conditions, but the unpaved sections and occasional rough surfaces make a vehicle with good ground clearance and an experienced driver advisable, especially after rain. #### How long does the full crossing take? Driving from Baghdati over the Zekari Pass to the Samtskhe-Javakheti side typically takes several hours at a cautious pace, depending on road conditions, well beyond the simple one-way drive time to the village of Zekari alone. #### Are there facilities at the pass or in the village? No restaurants, shops or fuel stations operate at the pass or in Zekari village itself. Travellers should carry water, snacks and a full tank before setting out. #### What is the nearest place with hotels? Kutaisi and the Sairme mineral-water resort area are the nearest practical bases with accommodation; GTour’s register for the wider Imereti region lists verified options. #### Can GTour arrange a private tour that includes Zekari? Yes. GTour combines the Zekari Pass drive with wineries, heritage sites and other stops in Imereti on private, English-guided itineraries arranged on request. ### Sources - [Georgian Railway](https://railway.ge) - [Georgian National Tourism Administration — Imereti region](https://georgia.travel/regions/imereti) Plan your Georgia Want Zekari on a private itinerary with a driver who knows the road? A GTour travel expert designs the route and calls you back. [Start planning](/contact/)   [WhatsApp us](https://wa.me/995577416314)