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Short trip (2–5 days)
Mountains

Racha: Nikortsminda, Shaori Lake & Khvanchkara Wine — 3-Day Private Trip

Nikortsminda Cathedral • Ambrolauri • Oni • Shaori Lake

Available

Jun–Oct (harvest in Racha in October)

Group Size

Private, 1–8 travellers

Difficulty

Easy

$355per person

Travellers

9+

Group total: $1,420

Private: car and guide are priced per group, so each person pays less in a bigger group. Children count as travellers.

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$355 pp · 4 travellers · $1,420

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Private tour for 1–8 travellers

About This Experience

Three quiet days in Racha, a mountain region in north-west Georgia with few visitors. You see the carved façade of the 11th-century Nikortsminda Cathedral on the way to Ambrolauri, spend a day in Upper Racha around Oni and the upper Rioni valley, and taste the region's semi-sweet red Khvanchkara at family wineries before leaving past Shaori lake. Between April and July you can add a rafting day on the Rioni (extreme section, adults only, strong swimmers). Day one and day three are long drives of 4.5–6 hours; the reward is a region most tours miss.

Destinations You'll Visit

Places on This Tour

Discover 4 incredible destinations across Georgia

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  1. Day 1

    Tbilisi to Racha via Nikortsminda

    About 4.5 hours of driving.

    • 08:00 Pickup in Tbilisi; west on the E60 highway, then the mountain road north into Racha
    • 13:00 Lunch on the way (not included)
    • 14:30 Nikortsminda Cathedral
    • 16:00 Ambrolauri; evening walk
    • Overnight: Ambrolauri (hotel or guesthouse, breakfast)
  2. Day 2

    Upper Racha: Oni and the Rioni valley

    About 2–3 hours of driving on mountain roads.

    • 09:00 Drive up the Rioni valley to Oni: the 1895 synagogue and old town
    • 11:30 Walk in the upper Rioni valley above Oni
    • 13:30 Lunch (not included)
    • Optional Apr–Jul: Rioni rafting (quoted separately; 18+, minimum 4 people)
    • 17:00 Back in Ambrolauri
    • Overnight: Ambrolauri (hotel or guesthouse, breakfast)
  3. Day 3

    Khvanchkara tastings and Shaori lake

    ⚠ Long day: about 5–6 hours back to Tbilisi via Tkibuli and Kutaisi.

    • 09:30 Khvanchkara tastings at two family wineries
    • 11:30 Shaori lake viewpoint
    • 13:00 Lunch on the way (not included)
    • 19:00 In Tbilisi (or drop-off in Kutaisi about 15:00)
Tour Route
4 destinations on your journey
Nikortsminda CathedralAmbrolauriOniShaori Lake
1
Nikortsminda Cathedral, Georgia

Nikortsminda Cathedral

An early-11th-century cathedral in Racha, famous for the carved stone reliefs that cover its facades and drum, and for later painted interiors. It stands in a village above the Rioni valley on the road to Ambrolauri.

Highlights

Day 1: Nikortsminda Cathedral (11th century), known for its carved façades.

2
Ambrolauri, Georgia

Ambrolauri

The small main town of Racha, a quiet mountain region on the upper Rioni. Nearby Khvanchkara village gives its name to Racha's naturally semi-sweet red wine, and local cellars offer tastings.

Highlights

Nights 1–2 in Ambrolauri. Day 3: Khvanchkara tastings at family wineries (included).

3
Oni, Georgia

Oni

The main town of upper Racha, on the Rioni. Its synagogue, built in 1895, recalls a once-large Jewish community, and the town is the gateway to the Shovi valley and to high passes toward the Russian border.

Highlights

Day 2: Upper Racha around Oni, with its 1895 synagogue, and the upper Rioni valley.

4
Shaori Lake, Georgia

Shaori Lake

A reservoir lake at about 1,100 m on the Nakerala ridge between Tkibuli and Ambrolauri, ringed by meadows and forest. It is a scenic stop on the mountain road into Racha rather than a destination in itself.

Highlights

Day 3: Shaori lake (reservoir) on the road out towards Kutaisi.

Tour Summary

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