Suatisi Lake
*scouting trip

2 days

duration

hard

difficulty

~28 km

distance

↑↓2500 m

elevation gain / loss

Scouting means we haven't hiked this specific route ourselves yet—we've only studied it through maps and stories from those who have.

The lake is very close to the border, so you must have your passport with you. We might need to get a permit from the border guards (the post is usually right in the gorge).

The route kicks off in the Truso Valley. To skip the long walk through the crowds, we'll drive straight to Zakagori Fortress. It sits right at the turn into the Suatisi Valley. The border guards will likely ask to see our permits there, and then our journey begins. We'll hike about 11 kilometers along the river with a steady climb through the Suatisi Valley. The final stretch to the lake is a steeper ascent up the mountainside. Once we conquer that, we're at our destination: the stunning glacial Suatisi Lake. It sits at about 3100–3200 meters above sea level. Like most glacial lakes, Suatisi has an incredible bright turquoise color. Depending on the weather, it shifts from milky to a piercing blue. This is where we'll set up camp, grab some dinner, and spend the night.

*If you check the map, you'll see a massive glacier flowing down to the lake. It starts from Mount Suatisi. We can hike closer to the glacier if you're up for it.

We'll wake up early to enjoy breakfast and soak in the lake views. Then, we head for the South Iriston Pass (1A) at 3385 m. This is the steepest and toughest part of the trek. From the pass, we'll descend into the Mna Valley. We'll find a spot in the valley to rest and grab lunch. After that, it's a chill, pleasant hike along the river down to Kvemo Okrokana, where our transfer back to Tbilisi will be waiting.