Difficulty level: hard
Route type: adventure, jeep tour
Total route length: 46 km
Duration: 1 day
Altitude: 2100 m
Cellular: Partial
The route is active from late spring to late autumn.
The route connects 2 high-mountainous municipalities of Ajara: Shuakhevi and Khulo, passing through the alpine zone, villages and summer pastures (yaylas). The hike / trip starts from Chirukhi (100 km from Batumi, Shuakhevi municipality), goes to the Shuamta lakes on the Tkhilvana yayla, and ends in Khulo municipality, at the Goderdzi pass.
At the very beginning of the route, there are panoramic views of the alpine pastures with small wooden houses where you can eat and sleep. A stop at the village guest houses is the best way to get acquainted with local traditions, life of the villagers and try organic products.
In Chirukhi you will find a newly built picnic site where a group of tourists can relax and prepare their own food during a long hike. There are hammocks, table and a swing, as well as special place to start a fire. The place is illuminated at night.
Shratiani Lake is located very close to the Chirukhi Mountain, and if you move further along the route, you can see the Sarychay yaila, Lake Karagol, Bako yayla, and the roads leading to the Baki-Bako and Mtisubani villages.
From here you can get to the Khikhani gorge, and stay overnight in one of the family hotels in Khikhadziri village, as well as visit the Khikhani fortress - the most important medieval historical monument of Georgia.
If you continue your journey further, you will reach the Shuamta lakes in 7 km. It is a very beautiful place with breathtaking views of mountains, pasture lakes and summer houses, full of life all summer long.
On the way to Chirukhi, you can visit the Okropilauri fortress (XI-XIII centuries), the ethnographic museum in Oladauri village, as well as the old fortress in Darchidzeebi village (XI-XIII centuries).
Note: the alpine route Chirukhi-Shuamta-Goderdzi runs along the Georgian-Turkish border and if you visit the Khikhani fortress, you can be stopped by border guards to inquire about the purpose of the visit, no more.
Transport
Minibus: it is recommended to use a 4x4 off-road vehicle along the route, or use public transport, which departs from the old Batumi bus station (Address: 1, Mayakovsky street No. 1) in the direction of the villages of Paposhvilebi and Darchidzeebi.
You can spend the night here in family hotels located in Paposhvilebi or Darchidzeebi villages and continue the route on foot or by bike. It is also possible to rent an SUV on the spot.
The Batumi-Shuakhevi bus runs daily, from 07:50 to 18:50, every half hour. Cost: 4 GEL.
The Batumi-Darchidzeebi minibus runs twice a week: Tuesday and Friday, at 14:00. The cost is 6 lari.
From July to mid-September, a minibus runs from Shuakhevi through Tetrobi to Chirukhi once a week according to a pre-established schedule. The trip is free.
For more information on transport and guides, contact the tourist information centers. Tel: +995 577 90 90 91 / +995 577 90 90 93
or local travel agencies, whose contacts can be found on gobatumi.com
