Racha in a Day — Shaori Lake, Nikortsminda and Khvanchkara

Cross the Nakerala Pass into Racha for Shaori Lake, the carved stone of Nikortsminda, a Khvanchkara wine tasting and Oni's synagogue, all in one long day from Kutaisi.

• —Crosses the Nakerala Pass, one of western Georgia's most scenic mountain roads, with views over forested ridges and the Shaori reservoir
• —Nikortsminda Cathedral has some of the finest 11th-century stone carving in Georgia, on both the exterior and the interior
• —Tastes Khvanchkara, Georgia's best-known semi-sweet red, in Ambrolauri, the valley where it is actually produced
• —Reaches Oni, a town most visitors to Georgia never see, with its 19th-century synagogue and mountain-gateway feel
• —Lunch at a Rachan farmhouse with lobiani and local ham, not a roadside tourist stop
• —Private car and driver the whole way, so the long distances are covered in comfort rather than on a shared minibus

• · This is a long day: around 6 to 7 hours of driving out of the 11 hours, with an early start and a late return to Kutaisi
• · The Nakerala Pass can close or require caution in snow and ice; check https://gtour.ge/road-status/ before booking in winter
• · Dress modestly for Nikortsminda Cathedral (shoulders and knees covered) and bring a light scarf for women
• · Lunch is substantial, so come with an appetite and pace yourself with the wine tasting
• · Comfortable shoes are useful for the cathedral grounds and Oni's old streets, which are uneven in places
• · Mobile signal is patchy between Tkibuli and Ambrolauri

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.