Glola: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

A 18-kilometre trekking route of moderate difficulty leads from Shovi via Lake Udziro to Glola and is designed as a two-day tour. On the second day, the route descends from Lake Udziro to Glola Village. Racha can also be explored by car, on foot or by bicycle.

Nature

The route to Racha National Park passes through the highland villages of Racha, including Glola. The landscape along the route features turquoise rivers, snow-covered mountains, wildflowers and dense forests. The area between Lake Udziro and Glola also includes dense forests and flowering meadows, along with views of Dolomisi Pass. Lake Udziro is located between the peaks of Katistsveri and Dolomisi.

Glola’s boulders are described as an attractive natural phenomenon and are listed in the Red Book of Georgia under the category “displaced and mobile boulders”. Glola can be reached via regional roads that branch off from Oni into the upper river valley. Hiking trails and unpaved tracks connect the village with the surrounding alpine pastures and mountain paths.

History

Glola is described as a historic highland settlement with ancient fortifications. The village has historic churches dedicated to Saint George, the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, and the Holy Cross. Historically, Glola served as an outpost guarding the passage to Mamisoni Pass.

Fragments of old walls and fortifications are visible on the rocky Zedakalaki hill in Glola. Thus, the village is home to both sacred monuments and visible remains of its former fortification history.

Hiking

The first 2 kilometres of the route from Shovi via Lake Udziro to Glola run along a ridge covered with mixed forest. There is a picnic and camping site there. The route then crosses the valley of the Chkhocha River. The highest point is a pass south of Dolomisi Peak at an altitude of 3,260 metres above sea level. The final 800 metres before the high pass are steep; fog and rain make movement through the pass more difficult.

The descent towards Glola begins on rocky, loose terrain and becomes easier beyond the ridge. The final section of the descent from Lake Udziro to Glola passes through forested areas. Lake Udziro is described as one of the best camping sites on the route from Shovi via Lake Udziro to Glola.

Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Glola can then continue their search with other destination pages in the same travel region: Ghebi, Kveda Tlughi, Khvanchkara, Lentechi, Tsanashi, Ambrolauri, Tsageri and Oni.

To the overarching travel overview: Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti.