Hike to Skhalta monastery
Hike details
- Total Time: 4H - 6H
- Difficulty: Medium
This hike goes to Skhalta Monastery. You’ll walk on mountain paths and through thick forests. The mountains around you will be a great sight. The walk back can be hard, especially because it gets steep on the way back to the Glamping site. So, make sure to give yourself extra time for the walk back.
The hike isn’t too tough, but there are steep parts. The hardest part is getting back to the Glamping site. So, plan for extra time to get back.
The whole path has yellow signs to guide you. If you can’t see them anymore, you may be lost. But don’t worry! Your phone will have signal all along the way. You can call us if you need help.
Remember, there’s a small part of the road paved with asphalt near the monastery. Cars drive fast here, so walk on the sides of the road.
Here’s a tip: You don’t have to go back the same way you came. You can go to Cheri and Dzmagula instead, and then follow a dirt road back to the glamping site.
You’ll find the main parts of the hike to the monastery and the way back to the glamping site listed below.
Route
Use maps.me (other maps don't work)
- Tago - Viewpoint
- 15 min: flat dirt road
- Difficulty: 3
At the crossroads go left and follow a car road. This road is not visible on Maps.me.
Straight after you went on the unmarked route
- Viewpoint - Dzmagula
- 30 min: downhill dirt road
- Difficulty: 5
- dzmagula - Cheri
- 20 min: downhill dirt road
- 10 min: asphalt road
- Difficulty: 3
- Cheri - Skhalta
- Visist to Skhalata monastery 20 min
- 5 min: dirt road
- 20 min: asphalt road
- Difficulty: 3
- Tago - Viewpoint
- 15 min: flat dirt road
- Difficulty: 3
At the crossroads go left and follow a car road. This road is not visible on Maps.me.
- dzmagula - Cheri
- 20 min: downhill dirt road
- 10 min: asphalt road
- Difficulty: 3
- Cheri - Skhalta
- Visist to Skhalata monastery 20 min
- 5 min: dirt road
- 20 min: asphalt road
- Difficulty: 3
Otsinari lake
This lake is located in the Skhalti valley, in the village of Pachkha, on Mount Otsinari.
In the legend, Queen Tamar was accompanied by her companion Amala to the mountain.
In response to the viziers’ question as to where Queen Tamar was, her servants replied that she was – “In front of here”
(Tsin aris – წინ არის (GEO.) – in front)
Both the mountain and the lake were named Otsinari! Swimming in the lake is possible only until the end of June, after the lake dries up.