Kakhisi Lake

A visit worth every season

Kakhisi Lake is situated 27 km southwest of the city of Borjomi, which is a drive of almost an hour in an off-road vehicle. Especially when you leave the main road 8 alongside the Mtkvari River (Turkish: Kura River) and turn off in the direction of the village of Chobiskhevi with the Chobiskhevi River to your left, the road becomes narrow and rocky and the ride can get really bumpy.

But if you have a sense of for adventure and are an experienced hiker, Kakhisi Lake is the place to go. You could even make your way from Chobiskhevi Village to Kakhisi Lake on foot, using the hiking trails as shortcuts.

Kakhisi Lake is a small lake with a maximum depth of 10 meters that covers an area of less than 0.5 square kilometres and is surrounded by dense forest. Fishing and swimming are allowed and during the summer there is even a small camping site on the eastern shore including newly built wooden cabins and a small café for food and drinks.  

Kakhisi Lake is located on the western slope of the Trialeti Range at an altitude of more than 1700 meters above sea level and is mainly fed by snow, rain and groundwater. Be sure to wear warm clothes and hiking shoes, no matter what season you intend to visit in.

There are two more lakes near Kakhisi Lake within a distance of less than one kilometer: Chito Lake and Tsero Lake. There is a small, but relatively easy path through the forest that connects the lakes.

Although we recommend a visit to Kakhisi Lake between late spring and early fall, the nature and especially the light around Kakhisi Lake can be just as eye-catching in late fall or early winter, with the trees bearing yellow leaves and later the snow-covered spruce, pine branches and frozen surface of the lake.

Near the lake, just a few hundred meters away on the other side of the Chobiskhevi River, is the village of Dabadzveli. There are two churches in the village, the older one, a single-nave church, is named after Giorgi Mtatsmindeli, one of the most influential Christian churchmen of medieval Georgia, who acted as an arbitrator and facilitator of cross-cultural engagement between his native country and the Byzantine Empire.

Since 2018, every July the Giorgi Mtatsmindeli Commemoration Day is held in Dabadzveli at the initiative of the local government, with concerts, cultural and sports activities.

How to get there:
Kakhisi Lake is situated 27 km southwest of the city of Borjomi, which is a drive of almost an hour in an off-road vehicle. Especially when you leave the main road 8 alongside Mtkvari River (Kura River) and turn off in the direction of the village of Chobiskhevi with the Chobiskhevi Rive to your left, the road becomes narrow and rocky and the ride can get really bumpy.

Distances from major cities:
Borjomi - Kakhisi Lake: 27 km

Important things to know:
There is a small camping site on the southeast banks of Kakhisi Lake with wooden cabins for rent and a small café for food and drinks. Kakhisi Lake lies at an altitude of more than 1700 meters above sea level. No matter which season you come to visit in, always be sure to wear sturdy shoes and bring warm clothes.

Picture credits: SJDC

Project “Increased regional added value in the tourism sectors of Georgia by Digital Heritage Tourism Guides” was funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with funds of Austrian Development Cooperation.