Georgia in 5 Days: Racha Highlands

This itinerary spends the whole five days inside one region, Racha-Lechkhumi, and climbs steadily: the reservoir and cathedral on day one are on mostly-paved road, but the trailhead on day four is rated 4x4-only, and the whole route only runs June to September.

Day one drives up to Shaori Reservoir, a pine-fringed highland lake at about 1,130 metres, then to Nikortsminda Cathedral, an 11th-century church known for its stone carving and frescoes.

Day two continues to Oni, Upper Racha's main town on the Rioni at 830 metres — still only half-rebuilt since the 1991 earthquake — and on to Shovi Resort, a high mountain base in the Chanchakhi valley.

Day three is a rest and acclimatisation day at Shovi with no further driving, ahead of day four's push to the Udziro Lake and Buba Glacier trailhead, the last village in Racha and reachable only by 4x4 in summer.

Day five finishes at Glola, Upper Racha's last large village, where the road splits toward Shovi and toward Ghebi.