Vardzia and Georgia's Lake District by Expedition Camper

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Welcome to The Beast! Not its official name, but it's what we liked to call it. This Toyota HiLux Expedition Camper was our home for 3 weeks in May, allowing us to get off-road and explore some remote parts of Georgia, as well as a few better known spots. This is Part One of our journey.

We kicked off our road trip at Paravani Lake, one of our favourite places in Georgia. Sitting at 2073 metres, on the Javakheti volcanic plateau, it's a bit chilly up here in Spring. So, after saying hello to a few pelicans and buying ALL the cheese at Poka Nunnery we headed south to warmer climes.

The drive to Vardzia was a real surprise, a stunning gorge with ruined clifftop forts. We camped in a field below Vardzia, looking up at the expansive 11th-13th century monastic cave complex. The following day we explored the complex with a guide, seeing the beautiful frescoes in the church, winding through tunnels, listening to the sparrows, and admiring the views.

After a couple of nights at Vardzia, we wanted to cross the Goderdzi Pass into Upper Adjara, but we were told the road was still closed after winter. So, we headed north instead to Tabatskuri Lake, another of Georgia's biggest lakes. We headed properly off-road for the first time on this trip, winding our way up to Tskhratskaro (Nine Springs) Pass at 2454 m, with amazing views over the Abul-Samsari Range. After showing our passports and passing through a police checkpoint we descended to the lake, an incredible sight. The village of Tabatskuri juts out into lake, volcanic peaks rising up behind to create a beautiful scene. The area is only accessible by 4x4 roads and feels really hidden away in the mountains.

We found the perfect wild camp spot by the lake and settled down for an evening enjoying great Georgian amber wine and artisinal cheeses. We loved this area so much we decided to stay another day, catching up on some laundry, testing out the camp shower, and chilling.

For detailed (off) road trip Georgia itineraries and route maps, check out our blog (linked at the top).

Happy Travels!
Kim and Del Hogg
www.goingthewholehogg.com
Instagram + Facebook | @goingthewholehogg

➤ FILM CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
01:43 Paravani Lake
03:42 Poka Nunnery
04:53 Khanchali Lake
05:39 Vardzia
12:45 Khertvisi Fortress
13:38 Off-Roading to Tabatskuri
14:45 Tabatskuri Lake

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PART TWO
   • Overlanding Georgia in a Toyota Expedition...  

WATCH THE BTS VERSION OF OUR TRIP IN OUR INSTAGRAM STORIES HIGHLIGHTS
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