GeorgiaOfficial tourism
Kinzika Pass

Racha's forgotten roof, where rivers divide

Kinzika Pass

Why go

Kinzika Pass (2,700m) is the raw spine of the Racha-Lechkhumi range, a seasonal track linking the Kinzika and Tskhenistskali valleys that once formed part of the ancient transit web between Imereti and Svaneti. Unlike engineered Georgian Military Highway crossings, this remains a rutted, unmarked track where shepherds still move livestock seasonally and Soviet-era stone markers crumble into alpine meadows. The pass delivers what Georgia's tamed routes cannot: genuine high Caucasus solitude, with views west toward the Egrisi range and east to the snow-capped peaks above Shovi. It rewards those who accept that infrastructure ends where authenticity begins.

On the ground See

  • The unmarked Soviet triangulation pillar at the pass summit, half-buried in wildflowers each July
  • Shepherd camps (koshki) along the northern approach, where Tushetian-style stone shelters still function in summer
  • The descent to Tsana village, where the Tskhenistskali valley opens suddenly to reveal Racha's terraced walnut groves and medieval tower houses

Practical Know before you go

Strictly July-September only; requires 4WD with high clearance and local guidance from Oni or Ambrolauri, as the route is unmarked and unpassable after first snow.

Last reviewed 25 August 2026 · reviewed quarterly