Goderdzi Pass: high clearance and good suspension
Goderdzi Pass (Goderdzis Ugheltekhili) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.027m (6,650ft) above the sea level located on the boundary of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and the Samtskhe–Javakheti region of Georgia.
Is Goderdzi Pass paved?
Tucked away on the southern part of the country, the picturesque road to the summit is called Batumi-Akhaltsikhe road. It’s mostly unpaved and open to all motorized vehicles; however, strongly recommended for a high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicles. The road is very rough--only try driving it in a 2wd car, if you're planning to buy a new car. If you don't have a 4x4 vehicle, driving up and down the pass will be a slow and fairly painful experience. The rough road is laden with cows, landslides, and waterfalls. The summit hosts hotels, restaurants and a mosque. The pass is not made for sissies you need a strong car and stamina.
Is Goderdzi Pass open?
Set high in the Lesser Caucasus mountain range, make sure you have a vehicle with high clearance, good suspension and plenty of patience. The pass is usually impassable in winters due to heavy snow.
How long is Goderdzi Pass?
The pass is the highest point on the road. The road is 79.4 km (49.33 miles) long, running west-east from Khulo (in Adjara autonomous republic) to Akhaltsikhe (in Georgia's southwestern region of Samtskhe–Javakheti).
Pic: Vamekh Basharuli