Lijareti - Trialeti Lake - Zarzma

Samtskhe-Javakheti has an exceptional geographic location. It is a historically important region that is rich in various natural monuments, natural resources, and resorts. It will take more than one day to see those places, but you will probably never forget the magical views and fascinating cultural monuments.

The First Day: Ijareti, Triala Lakes

Your turn begins in Ijareti, where you’ll see the ruins of a 13th-century church, beside which stands the oldest bell tower in Georgia, also dating back to the 13th century.

Once you’ve had a chance to marvel at this gorgeous church, you’ll follow a dirt road out of the village that will soon lead you to the beautiful Triala Lakes. The largest lake is the first along the route, with the second being both the smallest and the most beautiful of the lakes.

To the west is the third one, part of which turns into marshland.

The lakes are especially beautiful in the spring and summer when the water level rises. In the winter they freeze, offering a different kind of beauty.

It is here that you’ll pitch your tents for the evening, making for a wonderfully serene night’s rest.

The Second Day: Triala Lakes, Ijareti, Zarzma

From the lakes, you will return to Ijareti and then take the central road for about 10 kilometers, until you reach Zarzma Village.

Zarzma Village is home to an extremely important cultural monument: Zarzma Monastery. This ancient church has not been preserved to the present day, but the current main church dates back to the turn of the 14th century. The Zarzma bell tower is one of the largest in Georgia.

“Tamar’s Spring” is also here. In Georgia, they say that if the spring is dubbed “Tamar’s Spring”, it means that Queen Tamar must have passed through there and drunk the water, which would mean that the spring is at least eight centuries old.