Private Backpacking tour in Racha – Udziro Lake

Date: 18-19-20 July
Duration: 3 days/2 Nights
Trip difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: 2 rooms in Guesthouse Hotel Gallery in Oni. The rooms have a shared bathroom.
Equipment needed: Sleeping bag, Pad, Tent, Hiking poles, Hiking boots, raincoat, Backpack
Total Price: 2512 Gel. 2300 + 212 gel for equipment rental
Number of People: 3

Inclusions:

1. Trekking guide, his transfers, accommodation, food.
2. Accommodation in Hotel Gallery on 18 July with dinner on 18 July and breakfast on 19 July
3. Acommodation in Hotel Gallery on 20 July with dinner on 20 July and breakfast 21 July in the morning.
4. Equipment rental:
   total for 2 day will be 212 gel.
   2 tents. (one tent is 20 gel, so 40 gel for 2 days / 80 gel)
   3 sleeping bags. ( one bag 15 gel. 3 bags 2 days / 90 gel)
   3 sleeping pads. ( one pad 7 gel. 3 pads 2 days / 42 gel)

Exclusions:

1. Private insurance
2. Client’s Batumi – Oni transfers
3. Gratitudes
4. Activities and fees not mentioned in the itinerary

Trail parameters:

Difficulty: Hard
Distance: 19 km – A to B
Min. elevation: 1338 m.a.s.l.
Max. elevation: 3075 m.a.s.l.
Total elevation gain: 1863 m
Total elevation loss: 1730 m
Water sources: Streams, Udziro Lake, tap or spring water in villages at the beginning and the end of the trail
River crossings: 1

Trail description: The trek is long, with a large elevation gain. The section is particularly challenging before the Katitsvera Pass, from which you descend towards Udziro Lake. Descent is initially steep, then gradually easies. Even in mid-July, parts of this section can be covered with snowfields. The area around Udziro Lake is relatively flat and good for camping. From Udziro, the trail navigates through alpine meadows and rhododendron fields. In summer, the grass here is very high. Make sure to wear long trousers. The trail crosses a mountain stream, enters a forest here, and continues downhill until the Glola village.

Itinerary:

Day 1 / 18 July
Meeting to Guide – Dinner in the guesthouse – Overnight 

Check into Hotel Gallery. Time to rest and relax. In the evening, your guide will join you for a bit to say hallo and deliver equipment.

Day 2 / 19 July 
Breakfast – Driving to Shovi – Trekking to Udziro lake – Overnight in tents

Early in the morning, you will meet your guide, prepare equipment and head to the starting point of our trail. The first several hours you will spend hiking in the forest. Later on, the trail will shift to meadows and a river valley. Finally, you will reach Katitsvera Pass and take a longer break before crossing it. Once you cross the pass, you will see Udziro Lake from afar. The trail here gets a bit easier. Upon reaching Udziro Lake, you will have time to rest and relax before finding the best place to camp. Overnight in tents.

Important: You will recieve from us -7C comfort sleeping bags but it is still will be cold there at night. Take warm clothes with you.
Hiking details: 10.8 km, ↑1816 m, ↓464 m

Day 3 / 20 July
Udziro Lake – Glola village – Walk to the cars 

After breakfast, we will start hiking downhill. The trail will take us downhill through beautiful alpine meadows and rhododendron fields. Once we cross the Chibisru stream, we will follow a forested path leading to Glola village. In Glola, you will walk extra 2 km on Asphalt to reach your cars. Return to your guesthouse for dinner and overnight. Say goodbye to your guide.
Hiking details: 8.9 km, ↑272 m, ↓1753 m

Note:
Please check Terms and Conditions for our cancellation and insurance policy

How to Prepare for the tour:

WEATHER

Georgian weather changes often and fast. For this reason, it’s essential to follow the weather forecast closely. The weather forecast is Here:
https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-611960/Georgia/Racha-Lechkhumi%20and%20Kvemo%20Svaneti/Kurorti%20Shovi

Please check it the night before the tour to be well prepared. Keep in mind that the weather may change during the tour so be prepare for everything.

WHAT TO WEAR

Hiking boots and walking poles are a must. Bring one set of warm clothes and one very light summer outfit. Good raincoats, rain covers for backpacks, and another pair of shoes or sandals to wear in the evenings are a must. You must bring a large, 50-70 liter, backpack and fit all your belongings inside and carry with you.

FOOD & DRINKS

You will eat dinner in the guesthouse on 18 and 20 July. You will also have breakfast in the guesthouse on 19 and 21 July. However, you must bring enough food supplies for Lunch and Dinner on 19 July, and breakfast and lunch on 20 July. Oni has only very basic shops, so if you have any dietary requirements or wish for a specific food, we recommend buying it earlier in Batumi or Kutaisi.

Always make sure you have enough drinking water. 1.5-2 liters should be enough for the day. We will be refilling our bottles with water from streams and springs, and tap water in villages/guesthouses.

EQUIPMENT & OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS

If you are prone to motion sickness, please have medicine with you.

As for the equipment, you will need hiking poles, a good tent, a sleeping bag minimum 20 F temperature, a sleeping pad, a headlight (torch), a raincoat, forks/ knives/ spoons/ cups, a small pot, sunscreen, and everything that protects you from the sun. We also recommend carrying a personal first aid kit, hygiene items, and water bottles.

GUIDE

We will e-mail you the guide’s name and contact info a few days before the trip. Please make sure to check your inbox. Meanwhile, feel free to contact us via e-mail or WhatsApp.