GeorgiaOfficial tourism
Lake Paliastomi

Where pelicans wheel above ancient waters

Lake Paliastomi

Why go

Lake Paliastomi is a shallow, brackish lagoon once connected to the Black Sea, now the beating heart of Kolkheti National Park. For millennia, these waters fed the legendary Golden Fleece kingdom of Colchis—Homer's 'far land' of oxhide boats and marsh gold. Today, it remains a living wetland where traditional Georgian fishing skiffs, called 'lazhi,' still drift among reeds as they have for centuries. The lake draws over 200 bird species, including Dalmatian pelicans, white-tailed eagles, and pygmy cormorants, making it one of the South Caucasus's premier birdwatching sites. Its ecological significance is matched by its cultural depth: this is a landscape where human and wild histories intertwine in slow, watery time.

On the ground See

  • The Paliastomi birdwatching towers at dawn, when pelicans lift off in formation against the mist
  • Traditional 'lazhi' reed boats and fishing techniques still practiced by local communities
  • The submerged archaeological remains of ancient Greek and Colchian harbors along the former shoreline

Practical Know before you go

Best visited March through May and September through November for migration; access via Poti, with boat tours requiring advance booking through Kolkheti National Park administration.

Last reviewed 25 August 2026 · reviewed quarterly