Lopota LakePhoto: Kober, CC BY-SA 3.0Lopota Lake is a small body of water on the edge of the Alazani Valley, just where the wooded southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus start to climb, outside the village of Napareuli in Telavi municipality. It covers only about 7 ha, ~350 m from end to end, at ~470 m above sea level. A steep hill covered in forest rises close behind one bank and is mirrored in the water on windless days. The shore and roughly 60 ha around it form the grounds of Lopota Lake Resort & Spa, a hotel complex that has grown up beside the lake since 2008.
Most people come for an unhurried hour or two by the water. You can stroll or cycle the loop around the shore, take out a pedal boat or cast a line from the fishing bank, and the hotel stables run horse rides. The reflections are at their best late in the day. Because the lake lies in the Napareuli wine micro-zone, it slots easily into a day of cellar visits, and the medieval churches of Alaverdi and Gremi are each ~20 km away by road.
History
In the 19th century the Lopota valley counted among the lands of Alexander Chavchavadze and was known for its rose gardens; later it became an estate of the Romanov family. A rose-oil works opened here in the second half of that century, and with help from French experts its scented oil won praise at a perfume exhibition in Paris. The factory closed under Soviet rule. The lake drew little notice until a seven-room hotel went up on its bank in 2008 (some accounts give 2006). In 2010 Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II blessed the water, and it was named in his honour.
What to see and do
- Reflections of the wooded hillside on calm evenings
- A walk or bike ride around the shoreline
- Pedal boats and a fishing spot on the bank
- Horse rides from the hotel's stables
- Tastings in the Napareuli wine micro-zone close by
How to visit
Getting there
The lake is ~23 km from Telavi, roughly 30 to 35 minutes by car, crossing the Alazani on the way. From Tbilisi allow about 2.5 hours for the ~116 km over the Gombori Pass (check road status first), or about 3 hours for the ~165 km route through Sagarejo and Gurjaani. We found no direct public transport: ride a marshrutka to Telavi and take a taxi from there.
When to go
May to mid-October, on calm late afternoons. Plan 1–2 hours; half a day with lunch and a winery here.
- The shore is inside private hotel grounds. Phone ahead to ask whether day visitors can come in and what, if anything, that costs.
- For photos, pick a windless late afternoon, when the hillside doubles in the still water.
- Do not count on a swim: none of the sources we read list the lake for bathing, and the hotel's swimming is in its pools.
- Pair it with Gremi (~18 km) or Alaverdi (~21 km) and a Napareuli cellar for a half-day loop from Telavi.
Weather at Lopota Lake
Based on the climate of Telavi, 16 km away. Warmest in August (31° by day), coldest in January (−1° at night), with 754 mm of rain a year. Best months: Sep.
Lopota Lake: FAQ
Can you visit Lopota Lake without staying at the hotel?
Lopota Lake is enclosed by the grounds of a large resort hotel, so entry for non-guests depends on its rules. We could not confirm a day-visit policy for 2026, so call the hotel before you drive out.
How far is Lopota Lake from Tbilisi?
By the Gombori Pass road it is ~116 km, roughly two and a half hours behind the wheel. The longer highway via Sagarejo and Gurjaani adds ~50 km and takes closer to three hours.
What can you do at the lake?
Walk or cycle around it, hire a pedal boat, fish from the bank or book a horse ride. Many visitors fit it into a wine day in the Alazani Valley with a monastery stop at Alaverdi or Gremi.
Nearby places
Straight-line distance from Lopota Lake.
