GeorgiaOfficial tourism
Mukhuri

Gateway to the Silver Lake wilderness

Mukhuri

Why go

Mukhuri sits where the Enguri River emerges from the dramatic Tobavarchkhili massif, a village of wooden balconies and subtropical gardens that has served for generations as the last settlement before the high Caucasus. Its name marks the threshold: beyond lies the 'Silver Lake'—Tobavarchkhili—one of Georgia's most inaccessible alpine jewels, reachable only by foot or horse through passes once traversed by Mingrelian highlanders moving livestock to summer pastures. The village itself rewards the lingerer with the languid rhythms of Samegrelo's foothills, where mandarin orchards climb hillsides and family guesthouses preserve a hospitality tradition older than the trails they serve.

On the ground See

  • The Enguri River swimming holes where locals gather on summer evenings, with clear pools beneath rustling alders
  • Traditional Samegrelo wooden houses with carved balconies and flowering courtyard gardens
  • The trailhead path beginning at the village edge, leading upward through old-growth beech forest toward Tobavarchkhili Lake

Practical Know before you go

Best June–September; reached by marshrutka from Zugdidi (2 hours) or private taxi, with guesthouse accommodation bookable through local families—reserve ahead as capacity is limited.

Last reviewed 25 August 2026 · reviewed quarterly