Georgia is a country of mountains. There are numerous hiking trails in the Caucasus Mountains. While hiking here, it is essential to have a full rest and restore energy for the next day.
Places for camping should be selected considering safety measures. A good view and comfortable meadow won’t be extra, as well.
There should be water suitable for drinking and enough space for making the camp at the camping place. The environment should be protected from rock falling, flood, and strong wind.
Comfortable and cozy camping places make hiking in the mountains more attractive. Some of them are such beautiful that it is worth to visit the particular hiking trail only because of these camping spots. We have chosen below listed 14 places to introduce you – we subjectively consider them as the most attractive and the most distinguished. Of course, there may exist the camping spots we have not visited yet, or others prefer than this Top 14. Feel free to share them with us and let us know so that we can visit these places in the future.
So, let’s start:
1. Didi (Big) Okrotskali
The camping place near Didi Okrotskali takes the honorable first place. You can relax and enjoy the nature here from July till the end of September. There is plenty of water suitable for drinking at the camping place. The views of the Svaneti Caucasus will be waiting for you, as well.
Location: Svaneti, Chuberi Community, one of the headwaters of the Ormeleti River.
Altitude: 2 400 MASL.
2. Arkhotistavi
The second place takes the camping place of Arkhotistavi. You can visit it from July until the end of the second half of September. On the fluffy field flows a small river, which turns into the angry Asa River afterward. This water is suitable for drinking.
Location: Khevsureti, hiking trail from Juta to Arkhoti.
Altitude: 3 000 MASL.
3. Samotkhe (“Heaven”)
After crossing volcanic uneven “Jojokheti” (“hell”), you will appear on a green meadow named Samotkhe, which is flat as a playground. This place is a real relief for the tired hiker. There is a beautiful view of Mount Kazbek (Mkinvartsveri) and the Truso Valley in good weather. This camping place is “open” from June to early October. Although water suitable for drinking is rare since August, as the only spring dries.
Location: Khevi, the Khorisari Plateau, hiking trail of Kelisadi Lake.
Altitude: 2 660 MASL.
4. Tobavarchkhili
The Egrisi Range is distinguished by beautiful alpine lakes. Tobavarchkhili (Silver Lake) is the biggest one among these lakes. There is a fluffy and green camping place with stunning views on its shore. You can not bypass this place if you decide to hike on the Tobavarchkhili Hiking Trail. You can travel here from June till the end of September.
Location: Samegrelo, the Egrisi Range.
Altitude: 2 660 MASL.
5. Okhoje Toba
There is one more pearl on the Tobavarchkhili Hiking Trail. The lakefront is a convenient and cozy place to overnight. You can keep an eye on the beautiful alpine lake which is surrounded by cliffs.
Location: Samegrelo, the Egrisi Range.
Altitude: 2 560 MASL.
Recommended Period: June – September.
6. Levani Lake
There are beautiful camping places in exotic and harsh Javakheti. The piece of a green meadow situated between rocky mountains on the shore of the lake is an ideal camping spot for hikers. The water suitable for drinking is available till the end of Summer. As for the fluffy field, it is “calling” you to plunge the tent stakes into the ground.
You can visit Levani Lake from May till the end of October.
Location: Javakheti, the volcanic plateau of Abuli.
Altitude: 2 570 MASL.
7. Kelitsadi Lake
Kelitsadi Lake is located on the volcanic plateau of Keli. There is enough fluffy grass for making the camp on the shore of the lake. Here are several springs with the water suitable for drinking. They are available till the end of August.
Location: Kazbegi Municipality.
Altitude: 3 081 MASL.
Recommended Period: July – September.
8. Lebardes Didi Tobavarchkhili (Lebarde’s Big Lake)
Another pearl – Lebardes Didi Tobavarchkhili – is hidden into the Egrisi Mountains. It is located above the resort of Lebarde at the altitude of 2300 MASL. There are an excellent fluffy field and the spring with the water suitable for drinking on the shore of the lake. It is desirable to visit the lake from the end of June till the end of September.
9. The Ghorghiani Plateau
There are a lot of big and little lakes on the volcanic plateau of Keli. Three lakes of Ghorghiana are distinguished among them. These lakes are located at the foot of Mount Mepiskalo. Our favorite camping place is a flat meadow situated between two lakes. You can choose any of them, jump into it, and swim.
Altitude: 2 860 MASL.
Recommended Period to Visit: June – September.
10. Sasvano Lake
Mount Pasi is undoubtedly a favorite place for hikers who travel from Svaneti to Racha. You can make camp on the shore of the lake on the meadow at 2677 MASL. Then you can enjoy views of the headwaters of the Rioni River and glaciers of the Racha Caucasus.
11. The headwaters of the Khobistskali River
The fluffy green meadow on the shore of the pure river is the perfect place for hikers traveling from Tobavarchkhili to Svaneti. It is the best place for them to have a rest and relax before beginning the ascents again with their heavy backpacks. Water suitable for drinking and green meadow is inexhaustible here.
Location: Samegrelo.
Altitude: 2 000 MASL.
Recommended Period: June -September.
12. Lakumurash Toba
This bright blue color lake is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful lakes in Georgia. There is not very comfortable camping spot on its shore. However, we have decided to include it on this list because of the beauty of the place, landscapes, scenery. The views of the Svaneti Caucasus, Mount Elbrus, and the waterfalls of the Egrisi Range are worth overnight on the rough, uneven, rocky surfaces.
Location: Svaneti, the Egrisi Range
Altitude: 2 560 MASL.
Recommended Period: June – September.
13. Sakore Lake
Gudamakari is located to the south of the Chiukhi Massif in the mountains of the Eastern Caucasus. There is situated little and beautiful Sakore Lake at the foot of the southern Chaukhi, where the Shavi (Black) Aragvi originates. There is a fluffy meadow on the shore of the lake. You can enjoy stunning views of the Shavi(Black) Aragvi Gorge, the Chaukhi Massif, and Piraketa Khevsureti.
Altitude: 3 000 MASL.
Recommended Period: June – September.
14. Udziro Lake
Udziro Lake is truly distinguished among the alpine lakes. There is a bright green meadow for resting on the shore of the lake at the foot of Mount Katitsvera. There is a pure spring near the camping place. Stunning views of the Rioni Valley, the Caucasus of Racha and Svaneti will surprise you. You will be able to look at Shkhara, Ushba, and Tetnuldi directly from the tent in good weather.
Location: Zemo(Upper) Racha.
Altitude: 2 900 MASL.
Recommended Period: June – September.
