# Racha and Lechkhumi by 4×4 — 3 Days

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- Canonical: https://gtour.ge/tour/racha-lechkhumi-4x4-3-days/
- Author: 
- Published: 2026-10-27
- Updated: 2026-10-27
- Language: en
- Russian edition: https://gtour.ge/ru/tour/racha-lechkhumi-4x4-3-days/

€840 per person3 days / 2 nightsPrivate · car & English-speaking guideBased on two travellers

Three days by 4×4 through Racha and Lechkhumi: Khvanchkara vineyards, Nikortsminda Cathedral, the Udziro lake hike and the road toward Lower Svaneti.

The route

[Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/)[Ambrolauri](https://gtour.ge/georgia/ambrolauri/)[Oni](https://gtour.ge/georgia/oni/)[Lentekhi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/lentekhi/)

Why this tour

- —Private 4×4 with driver, no fixed bus routes or shared itineraries

- —Khvanchkara wine tasting in its home region, not a city cellar imitation

- —Nikortsminda Cathedral's 11th-century carved stone, often overlooked on Georgia itineraries

- —Upper Rioni villages Glola and Ghebi, reached by unpaved mountain roads

- —Udziro lake hike away from any marked tourist trail

- —Small family guesthouses and home-cooked Racha meals, not hotel buffets

Itinerary

Day 1Pickup in [Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/), drive to [Ambrolauri](https://gtour.ge/georgia/ambrolauri/) with a stop at Nikortsminda Cathedral for its carved facades, then a Khvanchkara wine tasting at a family cellar; overnight in a guesthouse near Ambrolauri.

Day 2Drive past Shaori lake and on to Oni, then into the upper Rioni valley to the villages of Glola and Ghebi; in the afternoon, hike to Udziro lake (moderate, 3-4 hours round trip, weather dependent) before returning to Oni for the night.

Day 3From Oni, drive south through Lechkhumi toward [Lentekhi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/lentekhi/) along the Tskhenistsqali River, with stops in villages below the Zagari Pass route to Mestia; drop-off in [Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/) in the late afternoon (return to Mestia or Tbilisi possible on request, checked at booking).

Included

- ✓ Private 4×4 vehicle with driver for all three days

- ✓ Fuel, tolls and parking

- ✓ 2 nights in family guesthouses, half board (breakfast and dinner)

- ✓ Khvanchkara wine tasting at a family cellar

- ✓ Udziro lake hike with driver as guide

- ✓ Driver's meals and accommodation

- ✓ All transfers between Kutaisi, Ambrolauri, Oni and Lentekhi

Not included

- — International or domestic flights

- — Lunches (available at local cafes, typically €8-12 per person, paid on the spot)

- — Entrance fees where applicable (checked at booking)

- — Personal travel insurance

- — Tips for driver and guesthouse hosts

Good to know

- · Roads beyond Oni toward Ghebi and the Zagari Pass are unpaved and slow; a 4×4 is required, not a sedan

- · The Udziro lake hike involves uneven terrain and loose stone; sturdy hiking boots are necessary

- · Best season is May to October; the Zagari Pass route toward Mestia is closed by snow outside this window, checked at booking

- · Guesthouses in Racha are simple and family-run, with shared bathrooms common outside the main house

- · Bring layers: mornings in the upper Rioni valley are cool even in summer

- · Mobile signal is patchy in Glola, Ghebi and along the [Lentekhi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/lentekhi/) road

Questions

**Can this trip continue to Mestia instead of ending in Kutaisi?**
Yes, in season the route can continue over the Zagari Pass to [Lentekhi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/lentekhi/) and on to Mestia; this depends on road conditions and is confirmed at booking.

**Is the Udziro lake hike suitable for children or older travellers?**
The hike is moderate with some steep sections; it is manageable for fit adults and older teenagers but not recommended for young children or those with limited mobility.

**What is Khvanchkara wine and why is it specific to this region?**
Khvanchkara is a semi-sweet red wine made only from grapes grown in a small protected zone around [Ambrolauri](https://gtour.ge/georgia/ambrolauri/); it cannot legally be produced elsewhere in Georgia.

**Do we need to bring cash?**
Yes, for lunches, any extra drinks and tips; guesthouses and small cellars in Racha rarely accept cards.

Prices are per person for two travelling together, in euros; solo travellers and larger groups are quoted on request. Every departure is private and adjusted to you. Hotels, wineries and restaurants on our routes are [verified by GTour](/verified/).

*Image: Rioni river gorge winding through forested mountains in Upper Racha near Ghebi. Photo: Jelger Groeneveld / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0*

*Image: Medieval Nikortsminda Cathedral set against a clear blue sky in Racha, Georgia. Photo: Natia Maisashvili / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0*

Panoramic mountain view of Mt. Karaugom and Boko Glacier from the Glola–Lake Udziro trail in Racha. · Photo: Boris Kuznetsov / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0