… valleys.

At the border between Imereti and Racha, we are afforded a fabulous view the famous Kvamli mountain range. According to legend, Prometheus was chained to one of these mountain slopes. This was the destination of the Argonauts, who set out to free the hero.

Here we can see the mountain cliffs through the morning haze. This area has a unique micro climate. It is formed from streams of mountain air ionized by river, lake and sea moisture and enhanced by the aroma of woodland verdure. The air here is incredibly sweet.

Here on the sheer cliffs are unique caves with rock carvings.

Unfortunately, it is quite difficult for the ordinary traveler to reach them. But at this time of the year, we will give it a try.

But first we will cross the mountains that separate Imereti from Racha. Here a panoramic view of the mountains opens up – it will take your breath away!

We continue our journey towards Ambrolauri—the main city in this area. The road makes for easy travel and…

… is very picturesque!

Ambrolauri is a small town located in a mountain gorge on the banks of the Rioni river, which has its source in the local mountains.

It is surrounded by villages, the residents of which are all engaged in wine-growing. Racha is the homeland of such well-known elite wines as Khvanchkara, Ojaleshi, Alekstandreuli, Tvishi, Tetra, Dzelshavi, Usakhelauri…

We will check into a hotel in Ambrolauri and then make our first visit to the Royal Khvanchkhara wine factory.

We will take a short excursion around the part of the factory that exhibits articles from everyday Racha life and wine-making.
The exhibits date back to the mid-19th century.

We will take a short excursion around the part of the factory that exhibits articles from everyday Racha life and wine-making.
The exhibits date back to the mid-19th century.

There are at least fifty of them here…

We will taste several different wines and have lunch in a rural 19th-century house adapted especially for the purpose.

After lunch, we will go on an excursion around the environs of Ambrolauri and steep ourselves in its wonderful medieval history, which begins in the 10th century.

The frescoes are from the same period…

Unbelievable!!!

And the stonework on the walls is exquisite…

And on the cupola too.

Next to the little church is another extremely rare phenomenon—two 1,000-year-old trees!

You just have to lean up against the trunk and feel its phenomenal power!
By this time, the sun is going down and we will head back to the hotel. Tomorrow more incredible adventures await us!

Day Two
The next day, we will go on an excursion around Racha. It will begin with a visit to the Minda fortress. Distance – 9 km. This is the only large fortified structure that has survived in the area and was the former residence of the Racha eristavis (dukes). The fortress stands on a high cliff that rises above the Rioni river.

Not far away is Barakoni church (1753). It stands on a steep cliff where the Rioni and Lukhuni rivers converge.

The walls of the church are decorated in the finest stonework.

The inscriptions are written in the old Georgian language.

The frescoes date to the same period.

We will then go on to the town of Oni. The road passes along the Rioni river.

On the way, we will stop at the village of Sori and visit St. George church (10th century).

We continue on our way and soon see a wonderful view of the southern slopes of the Great Caucasian Mountain Range, which means we are drawing close to Oni.

Oni is a small population settlement that used to be a lively trade center in the Middle Ages. Merchandise came here from all over the region, including from the Northern Caucasus.

This synagogue is one of the well-known architectural monuments in Oni. It was built by the local Jewish community at the end of the 19th century. The exterior walls of the church are decorated with copious stonework.
The entrance and windows are adorned with ornamental wrought iron lattices bearing Judaic religious symbols. The interior decor with its beautifully painted walls and ceiling is also a sight to see.
We will have lunch in a local tavern.

Then we will continue along a country road to the Tskhmori waterfall that is well-known throughout the entire area and located not far from Oni…

It is found in a dense forest nestled in a narrow mountain gorge.

The next stop along our way will be Nikortsminda church. It was built in the first half of the 11th century.

Its exterior walls are decorated with exquisite stonework.

And its interior walls are painted with unique frescoes.

The frescoes have survived in their original appearance.

The church was built using the funds of the Tsulukidze princes. The princely family is portrayed on one of the walls at the entrance to the church.

Next we will follow the local residents to the so-called refrigerators, deep underground caves located close to Nikortsminda.

Here, several dozen feet underground, the temperature is a constant 4°C.

This ends our journey on day two. We will return to Ambrolauri, have a delicious dinner and then rest.

Day Three
Today we will go to a karst cave recently discovered by our speleologists. It is located an hour’s drive from Ambrolauri in the dense forest of a mountain preserve.
It is impossible for outsiders to get there. But we are not outsiders… First we need to climb up this steep slope.

The path is stony, 4 km in length, and it takes about an hour to walk there on foot, but you can also get there in 15 minutes by car.

And then we head into the dense forest! And walk for another 4 kilometers through thickets…

and over wind-fallen trees.

And here is the entrance into the cave… It was discovered by an old local farmer and named after him—Murad’s cave.

First we have to climb down 20 meters into the cave…

And then make a smooth descent along a corridor.

The cave is around 700 meters in length. It has more than 20 rooms of different shapes and sizes. There are also some small lakes.

We are immediately treated to amazing formations like these…

And these!

And more like these!

I have to say that this is not a trip for everyone. But there is nothing really difficult about it. You only need to be generally fit!

You can stand and move around without stooping almost everywhere. I don’t know how far underground we are at the moment, but in places the distance between the floor and ceiling is 15-20 meters.

In the corridor, which is shaped like a large sickle, there are many offshoots and side channels. They are yet to be explored.

And here is our first lake—it is millions of years old.

Nature creates fantastic forms…

… and they are all totally unique!

Here is another lake…

… and beyond it a passage leads into a large room. You need to walk carefully, treading only on firm ground and stepping around the young formations, which are very fragile.

The path is winding and littered…

… with large fragments of stalactites and stalagmites that have broken off the walls and ceiling.

Along the way we find the petrified bones of unidentified animals, which, judging from their lime coating, have been here for millions of years.

And here is something extremely unusual! According to our speleologists, there is nothing else like it anywhere else in the world—stalactites in the form of globes hanging on stems from the ceiling. Below them is a lake. People call them “chandeliers.”
We have been in the caves for two hours. The walk back will be much faster—no more than one hour.

This entire adventure takes five hours. But we think it is worth it. And most important, any normal fit person can manage it, accompanied by a guide of course. We will sit down to a picnic lunch and then return to Ambrolauri.

After taking a shower at the hotel and resting for a while, we will go to the Royal Khvanchkhara vineyards for dinner. We will eat in a quaint wooden house, and our meal will be accompanied by Georgian folklore singing and dancing.

Day Four
Today will be just as active as yesterday! We will set out to conquer the Rioni river, which originates in the mountain glaciers of the Great Caucasian Mountain Range.

At various places along the river, you can do some rafting requiring various degrees of proficiency, ranging from “kindergarten” to “super professional.”
We suggest taking the “average” route, which begins right outside Ambrolaura and stretches for 21 km. This makes for a wonderful three-four-hour adventure.

We successfully maneuver through this section…

… on two rafts. But if necessary we can provide up to ten boats at a time.

We will stop on the rocky shore and have lunch in this natural setting, after which we will head back.

Along the way, we will pass through Khvanchkara…

… where we will definitely stop and visit Maiko…

… to drink some of the khvanchkary or aleksandreuli her husband, a good man by the name of Dato, makes in his winery.

Day Five
This ends our journey around Racha. But it in no way means we are leaving Georgia. We have many more wonderful places to visit if you have the time and desire!