Shovi Resort

Shovi sits in Oni municipality in the valley of the Chanchakhi river, at about 1,520 metres. It developed in the Soviet period as a climatic and mineral water resort: pine forest, cool air and views towards the main Caucasus ridge made it the summer destination of Racha.

In August 2023 a large debris flow swept down the valley, destroying part of the resort and causing loss of life. Recovery and slope-stabilisation work has been under way since, some of the infrastructure no longer exists, and the situation continues to change. For that reason check road conditions and whether accommodation is operating before you set out — this is not somewhere to arrive on spec.

If the road is open and the weather is dry, Shovi remains a striking place:

• the Chanchakhi gorge and the high ridges of the Caucasus
• pine forest and mineral springs
• the starting point for routes towards Glola and Ghebi

The season is short, roughly June to September. In winter the road closes with snow, and in spring the risk of flooding and debris flows is high. This valley reacts sharply to weather, and heavy rain is a good reason to be somewhere else that day.