Goderdzi Pass

The Goderdzi pass crosses the Meskheti range at just over two thousand metres on the road between Adjara and Samtskhe, and it is a slow, rough and spectacular drive: the road climbs out of the Adjaristsqali valley through forest into open alpine meadow, crosses the watershed and drops toward Akhaltsikhe. Near the top an alpine botanical garden displays the flora of the range. A short distance away lies the Goderdzi petrified forest, where trees buried by volcanic activity millions of years ago are preserved as stone, exposed in the hillside. A small ski resort has been built on the pass, operating in winter when the road is kept open.

The landscape

• Alpine meadows on the watershed - open ground at the top of the pass.
• The petrified forest - trees turned to stone by volcanic burial.
• The alpine botanical garden - the flora of the Meskheti range.
• The Adjara to Samtskhe crossing - forest on one side, dry hills on the other.

When to go

June to October for the drive; in winter the pass is kept open for the ski area but conditions are difficult. A day. Allow far more time than the distance suggests.

Practical notes

The road is rough, unsurfaced in stretches and slow, and four-wheel-drive is strongly advised. Fog and cloud sit on the pass frequently. There are almost no services along the route. Winter driving here needs experience and equipment.

Nearby

Khulo is west; Akhaltsikhe lies east beyond the pass.

Key facts