Is Zekari Pass unpaved?

Is Zekari Pass unpaved?

Georgia, europe

Length

39.2 km

Elevation

2,157 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Deep in Georgia, straddling the Imereti and Samtskhe-Javakheti regions, lies Zekari Pass. Forget pavement – this is a 39.2 km (24.35 miles) unadulterated off-road experience connecting Sairme and Abastumani, a former Soviet resort area nestled in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park.

This isn't a Sunday drive. We're talking 2-3 hours of slow going on a seriously rough track, best tackled in a capable 4x4. Heavy rains? Forget about it. You'll be stuck.

But if you're brave enough, the views are insane. Think sprawling mountain vistas from a max elevation of 2,275m (7,463ft) and a pass at 2.157m (7,076ft). Plus, you'll find cool shepherd camps dotting the landscape. And near the pass is the Georgian Academy of Sciences observatory (the first high-mountain one in the USSR, BTW) which you can access via cable car.

Keep in mind, though, Zekari Pass is generally snowed in from October to June. So plan your trip accordingly and get ready for an unforgettable Georgian adventure!

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Road Details

Country
Georgia
Continent
europe
Length
39.2 km
Max Elevation
2,157 m
Difficulty
moderate

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