Start at the small village of Kvemo Mleta near the church, and run up for about 4-5 km (500 m elevation gain) to reach the Lomisa Orthodox monastery (approximately 2,200 m altitude), where five monks reside year-round. Feel free to enjoy a cup of tea with them if you wish!
After the run, you can follow the impressive, narrow ridge for another 3-4 km, descending past castle ruins, Svan towers, an abandoned Ossetian village, and a waterfall before finally returning to your car.
However, my dog decided to make his own improvements and refused to move halfway through the route. Perhaps he was scared, or more likely, he just got tired. He sat down on a boulder and began howling in true Husky fashion.
While it was disappointing, it wasn’t tragic. I’ll try again next time (hopefully in two weeks), avoiding some mistakes from this attempt and definitely leaving Ice at home.
Regardless, the route is wonderful. The ascent to the monastery is quite steep but relatively short, taking about 40 minutes or less. You may encounter people—especially on weekends—and even monks making their way up to the monastery for Saturday or Sunday services.
Some of these visitors walk barefoot and occasionally carry items to leave at the monastery as a symbol of purging their sins. While they may not necessarily be pilgrims, they are definitely religious individuals.
Once you reach the monastery, you can continue running along the ridge to the right. This path features a brief ascent, followed by a series of ups and downs. We turned back from Lomisa Peak, which is about 10 minutes from the monastery pit stop. The peak is a triangular, steep summit with a rocky surface, and I didn’t want to climb it alone due to the wind and the steepness. Instead, I opted to traverse at the foot of Lomisa Summit, navigating a path through small bushes and rocky slopes, jumping between the various boulders that have crumbled from the mountain. This traverse is technical, and it’s always better to run with a friend, especially on remote routes.
Ultimately, we tried to cross this summit, but Ice got stuck, clearly fatigued from jumping over and around the boulders. Even the large boulders felt "alive," and Ice is just a dog, not an alpine climber.
So, we made our way back to the Lomisa monastery, reaching our car in about half an hour. The descent was quick and enjoyable.
After the run, you can follow the impressive, narrow ridge for another 3-4 km, descending past castle ruins, Svan towers, an abandoned Ossetian village, and a waterfall before finally returning to your car.
However, my dog decided to make his own improvements and refused to move halfway through the route. Perhaps he was scared, or more likely, he just got tired. He sat down on a boulder and began howling in true Husky fashion.
While it was disappointing, it wasn’t tragic. I’ll try again next time (hopefully in two weeks), avoiding some mistakes from this attempt and definitely leaving Ice at home.
Regardless, the route is wonderful. The ascent to the monastery is quite steep but relatively short, taking about 40 minutes or less. You may encounter people—especially on weekends—and even monks making their way up to the monastery for Saturday or Sunday services.
Some of these visitors walk barefoot and occasionally carry items to leave at the monastery as a symbol of purging their sins. While they may not necessarily be pilgrims, they are definitely religious individuals.
Once you reach the monastery, you can continue running along the ridge to the right. This path features a brief ascent, followed by a series of ups and downs. We turned back from Lomisa Peak, which is about 10 minutes from the monastery pit stop. The peak is a triangular, steep summit with a rocky surface, and I didn’t want to climb it alone due to the wind and the steepness. Instead, I opted to traverse at the foot of Lomisa Summit, navigating a path through small bushes and rocky slopes, jumping between the various boulders that have crumbled from the mountain. This traverse is technical, and it’s always better to run with a friend, especially on remote routes.
Ultimately, we tried to cross this summit, but Ice got stuck, clearly fatigued from jumping over and around the boulders. Even the large boulders felt "alive," and Ice is just a dog, not an alpine climber.
So, we made our way back to the Lomisa monastery, reaching our car in about half an hour. The descent was quick and enjoyable.
Itinerary of the 1st attempt rout.
By car, it takes about 15-20 minutes to drive down from Gudauri to the village of Kvemo Mleta. Park near the small church, then follow the signs to Lomisa through the village. Don’t worry about the dogs along the way—they may resemble Fluffy, the three-headed dog from Harry Potter, but they’re really lovely and friendly. Most of the time, they just want someone to pet them!
Route Details:
By car, it takes about 15-20 minutes to drive down from Gudauri to the village of Kvemo Mleta. Park near the small church, then follow the signs to Lomisa through the village. Don’t worry about the dogs along the way—they may resemble Fluffy, the three-headed dog from Harry Potter, but they’re really lovely and friendly. Most of the time, they just want someone to pet them!
Route Details:
- Distance: 10 km
- Surface: Stones, grass, clay, and icy patches in the morning
- Elevation: From 1,490 m (parking) to 2,330 m (monastery)
- Climb: 950 m
- Facilities: None, except for the monastery itself
- Difficulty: Medium. The ascent is steep, and while the ridge is narrow, it is safe. The descent is partly technical but generally easy. During summer, be prepared for heat as the trail is sun-exposed.
About the History of the Monastery
Lomisa is steeped in local legends and folktales. It is said that the church was built here to commemorate the miraculous deliverance of 7,000 Georgians from Chorasmian captivity through the intervention of the icon of Saint George, which was mounted on an ox named Loma (meaning "lion"). Another legend tells of a captain of a royal detachment who incurred the wrath of the icon after chopping the church door for firewood; as a result, the soldiers were blinded and their eyesight would not return until the captain promised to donate an iron door to the church. An ironclad oak door adorned with 16th–17th-century Georgian inscriptions is still kept inside the church. Additionally, the church features a massive iron chain that believers wear around their necks, walking counterclockwise around the shrine three times to make a promise or wish.
The Lomisa church also hosts an annual festival known as Lomisoba (literally "of/related to Lomisa"), which likely stems from an ancient pre-Christian cult that has been superimposed by the veneration of St. George. Every year, on the Wednesday after Pentecost, thousands of people from various regions of Georgia, particularly Mtiuleti, Khevi, and Khevsureti, make a pilgrimage to the Lomisa church.
Lomisa is steeped in local legends and folktales. It is said that the church was built here to commemorate the miraculous deliverance of 7,000 Georgians from Chorasmian captivity through the intervention of the icon of Saint George, which was mounted on an ox named Loma (meaning "lion"). Another legend tells of a captain of a royal detachment who incurred the wrath of the icon after chopping the church door for firewood; as a result, the soldiers were blinded and their eyesight would not return until the captain promised to donate an iron door to the church. An ironclad oak door adorned with 16th–17th-century Georgian inscriptions is still kept inside the church. Additionally, the church features a massive iron chain that believers wear around their necks, walking counterclockwise around the shrine three times to make a promise or wish.
The Lomisa church also hosts an annual festival known as Lomisoba (literally "of/related to Lomisa"), which likely stems from an ancient pre-Christian cult that has been superimposed by the veneration of St. George. Every year, on the Wednesday after Pentecost, thousands of people from various regions of Georgia, particularly Mtiuleti, Khevi, and Khevsureti, make a pilgrimage to the Lomisa church.
