Lopota Lake
A lake and resort valley at the foot of the Caucasus near Napareuli — boats, pools and views over the Alazani wine country.
- Time needed
- 3 h
- From Tbilisi
- 100 km · 2:00
- Road
- Paved
- Car needed
- Economy class
- Season
- May–October
- Entry
- check locally
Lopota is where a Kakheti wine trip turns into an actual holiday. The lake sits in the narrow Lopota gorge above the village of Napareuli, right at the base of the green lower slopes of the Greater Caucasus — about 100 km from Tbilisi and 26 km from Telavi.
A resort has grown around the water since 2008: several hotel buildings, pools, a spa and its own winery spread over roughly a million square metres, with the lake as the centrepiece.
What you actually do here:
- Row or pedal a boat across water that mirrors the Caucasus wall
- Ride horses on valley trails above the gorge
- Taste wine at the estate cellar — Napareuli is a wine appellation in its own right
- Walk the lakeside loop for views back over the Alazani valley
The sweet spot runs from late spring to autumn, when the gorge is green and everything on the water operates. In September and October Lopota makes a calm base for the rtveli harvest season — lake in the morning, the cellars of Napareuli and Telavi in the afternoon.
Practical advice
The grounds belong to a private resort, so check day-visitor access and activity prices by phone or at reception before building your day around it. Weekends and summer evenings get busy; weekdays are far quieter. Restaurants, toilets and parking are on site. Bring mosquito repellent in summer, and a light jacket — evenings in the gorge cool down fast even in July.
How to get there from Tbilisi
The quickest way from Tbilisi is over the Gombori pass: take the Kakheti highway towards Sagarejo, climb over Gombori to Telavi, then continue towards Napareuli — about 100 km and two hours in total. The road is asphalt the whole way; Gombori is a long series of bends and can hold snow in winter. Fill up in Telavi, as fuel stations are sparse on the Napareuli side. An economy car is fine for the whole season.
Click a marker for details. Coloured lines are ready-made road trips.
Nearby places
Napareuli
A village on the left bank of the Alazani that gave its name to an appellation and where qvevri are still made by hand.
Gremi
The citadel of Kakheti's lost capital — a 1565 church and tower on a hill above the Alazani Valley.
Alaverdi Cathedral
An eleventh-century cathedral rising fifty metres out of the Alazani plain — for centuries the tallest building in Georgia.
Best car for this trip
Guides
- The Best Time to Visit Georgia, Counted Month by Month Georgia does not have one season. It has two countries: a 60% country from November to April and a 99% country
- Driving in Georgia: What the Distances Actually Cost You Georgia is a small country with slow roads. Here is what 267 measured drives from Tbilisi say about how long y
Pickup locations
Car Rental at Tbilisi Airport — 64 km (straight line)