Sitting at a towering 2,182 meters (7,159 feet), the Zekari Pass is a commanding feature of Georgia's Meskheti Range, perched on the border between the Imereti and Samtskhe-Javakheti regions. This high mountain pass, also known as Zikar Pass in older texts, has been etched into history as an age-old 'caravan' route, tracing a line through time back to times immemorial.
Yet, the path across the pass remains unpaved, a testament to its rugged charm. Its rough terrain is best suited for off-road vehicles and remains usually impassable from October to June, surrendering to the grip of the seasons.
As you ascend to the summit, the sprawling expanse of sky and clouds overhead, the view becomes a boundless spectacle. A glimpse at the pass's peak rewards you with an uninterrupted panorama of the Imereti and Samtskhe-Javakheti Regions. The air at this altitude, infused with the healing properties of sulfur springs, offers an unusual remedy to various ailments.
Traveling 24 kilometers from Baghdati Municipality in the south of Imereti to Adigeni Municipality of Samtskhe-Javakheti, the Zekari Pass serves as a link between these two regions. The journey showcases a diverse terrain—mountainous expanses covered with a verdant blanket of oak, walnut, chestnut, spruce, and ash trees. Amidst these lush forests, shepherds' huts dot the mountainsides, and flocks of sheep roam freely across the rolling meadows.
