Lake Paravani

ფარავანის ტბა

The largest lake in Georgia, spread across the high volcanic Javakheti plateau at over 2,000 metres. Its wide open shores and big skies draw birdwatchers and travellers crossing the remote southern highlands.

Things to do

• Birdwatching on the shores — Scan the open reed-fringed banks for migrating waterfowl, gulls, and waders that flock to this high-altitude wetland.
• Visit Poka village and its convent — Stop at the small lakeside village of Poka, home to the Nunnery of St. Nino known for its handmade enamel crafts and honey.
• Photograph the volcanic plateau vistas — Capture the sweeping treeless Javakheti highlands, big skies, and distant volcanic cones reflected in the water.
• Winter ice fishing — In the deep cold season locals cut holes in the frozen lake to fish, a striking sight on the snow-covered plateau.
• Drive the remote southern highlands route — Cross the lonely high roads linking Ninotsminda, Akhalkalaki, and the Armenian border for a true off-the-beaten-path experience.
• Explore nearby Saghamo and other Javakheti lakes — Combine Paravani with the chain of small volcanic lakes scattered across the plateau for more birdlife and solitude.

Food to try

• Fresh lake fish — Locally caught khramulya and other fish from Paravani are grilled or fried and served in villages around the shore.
• Poka convent honey and cheese — The nuns produce highland honey, cheeses, and herbal teas that make an authentic local tasting stop.
• Javakheti guda cheese — A sharp, salty sheep's-milk cheese aged in a skin bag, typical of the pastoral highland communities here.
• Khinkali — Hearty meat dumplings warm you against the cold plateau climate and are found in roadside eateries in Ninotsminda.
• Armenian-style flatbread and dishes — With a large ethnic Armenian population in Javakheti, look for lavash, khash, and other Armenian home cooking.

Local customs & good to know

• Expect an Armenian-speaking region — Javakheti is predominantly ethnic Armenian, so Armenian and Russian are more common than Georgian in many villages.
• Dress warmly year-round — At over 2,000 metres the weather is cold and windy even in summer, and winters are severe with heavy snow.
• Respect the convent's customs — When visiting Poka's nunnery, dress modestly and cover shoulders and heads as at any active Orthodox monastery.
• Bring cash and fuel up in advance — This is a remote area with few ATMs, limited services, and long distances between petrol stations.

Nearby

• Kumurdo Cathedral — 22 km
• Khertvisi Fortress — 41 km
• Vardzia — 42 km
• Vanis Kvabebi — 44 km