Javakheti Lakes and Birds
Three plateau days from Tsalka to Paravani and Javakheti park.
- days
- 3 / 2 nights
- Total distance
- 590 km
- Total driving
- 11:30
- Car needed
- Crossover / SUV
- Season
- May–October
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Click a marker for details. Coloured lines are ready-made road trips.
A quiet nature tour combining lakes birdwatching and local culture.
Day-by-day plan
Day 1: Tsalka → Tabatskuri. Day 2: Paravani → Poka → National Park. Day 3: Kumurdo.
Stops on this route
Tsalka Reservoir
A large artificial lake on the Trialeti plateau at 1,500 metres, in treeless country among half-empty villages.
2 h
Lake Paravani and Lake Tabatskuri
High-altitude lakes on the volcanic Javakheti plateau at around 2,000 metres, on a major bird migration route.
3 h
Poka Nunnery of St Nino
A nunnery on the shore of Lake Paravani at two thousand metres, known for its enamel and cheese workshops.
1 h
Javakheti National Park
A protected network of volcanic plateau lakes and wetlands near Ninotsminda, and Georgia's best birdwatching ground.
4 h
Kumurdo Cathedral
A cathedral precisely dated to 964, standing on the Javakheti plateau near Akhalkalaki on a rare six-apse plan.
1 hTips
- Bring binoculars.
- Plateau evenings are cold.
Best car for this trip
Cars in this category
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 in Tbilisi — 63 km (straight line)
Booking and enquiries
The easiest way to reach these places is by car — you pick the route and the stops.