Georgia surprised us. As a former republic of the Soviet Union, it is similar to Ukraine or Russia, but there are some significant differences:
- Large-scale reconstruction of tourism facilities and infrastructure
- A lot of new buildings with unusual design
- Top quality of night lights everywhere
- Reformed police system
During the last 10 years, the government has spent a huge amount of money on all these changes. But welfare of the people has almost not changed, Georgia is still a rather poor country. Probably because of that fact Mikhail Saakashvili's team lost the presidential election in 2013. From our side we were pleasantly surprised with the tourist infrastructure of Georgia and also by Georgian cuisine. Every day we ate khinkalis, khachapuris, corn tortillas, kharcho soups and much more.
Actually, Georgia is a small country, so better rent a car if you want to visit many places. Public transport is basically minibuses. They are often crowded and don't run according to the schedule.
The first few days we were living in Tbilisi and made several trips: to Kakheti and to north Georgia. To inspect the rest of the country, you need to spend the nights elsewhere.
We have to say that despite a hectic schedule of our route, we visited not all places from our wishlist.
Day 1: Tbilisi
Day 2: Tbilisi
Day 3: Ujarma Fortress, Ikalto Monastery, Alaverdi monastery and fortress, Kindzmarauli winery, Gremi Castle
Day 4: Mtskheta, Ananuri Fortress, Observation deck in Gudauri, Trinity Church in Gergeti
Day 5: Paravani Lake, Khertvisi Fortress, Vardzia
Day 6: Rabat Fortress, Borjomi
Day 7: Gelati Monastery, Cave of Prometheus, Inguri Dam, Svaneti
Day 8: Mestia
Day 9: Dadiani Palace, Batumi
Day 10: Tbilisi
Day 1
We landed in the evening and were pleasantly surprised to receive small bottles of wine together with stamps in the passport in the Tbilisi airport. The first 3 nights we spent in Tbilisi.
Day 2
The entire second day we were walking around Tbilisi.
Cableway to the Nariqala Fortress ©Yuriy Buriak
Bridge of Peace ©Yuriy Buriak
Day 3
For the entire day we went to Kakheti. One day is not enough for this region, try to plan 2 days.
Landscape on the way to Kakheti ©Yuriy Buriak
We visited:
Ujarma Fortress
Ujarma Fortress ©Yuriy Buriak
Ikalto Monastery
Holy Spirit Temple (7-9 century) ©Yuriy Buriak
Alaverdi monastery and fortress
Alaverdi monastery and fortress ©Yuriy Buriak
Kindzmarauli winery
Kindzmarauli winery ©Yuriy Buriak
Gremi Castle
Gremi Castle ©Yuriy Buriak
We also stopped in Telavi, walked in the downtown and visited a local market.
Churchkhela at a market in Telavi ©Yuriy Buriak
Market in Telavi ©Yuriy Buriak
Market in Telavi ©Yuriy Buriak
Day 4
On this day we went to the north along the Georgian Military Highway and visited:
Mtskheta
View from the Djvari Monastery ©Yuriy Buriak
Ananuri Fortress
Ananuri Fortress ©Yuriy Buriak
Observation deck in Gudauri
New observation deck in Gudauri ©Yuriy Buriak
And in the end, one of the most beautiful places in Georgia, Trinity Church in Gergeti.
Trinity Church in Gergeti ©Yuriy Buriak
View from the Trinity Church in Gergeti ©Yuriy Buriak
During our trip, we saw other interesting and beautiful places.
Zhinvali reservoir ©Yuriy Buriak
Zhinvali reservoir ©Yuriy Buriak
Almost "gold" on the Georgian Military Highway ©Yuriy Buriak
Almost "gold" on the Georgian Military Highway ©Yuriy Buriak
We left the car to take a picture with a rainbow. ©Yuriy Buriak
Landscapes on the Georgian Military Highway ©Yuriy Buriak
Day 5
On this day, we left Tbilisi and drove west towards Vardzia. On the way we stopped near a huge ravine.
Canyon on the Tbilisi - Manglisi road ©Yuriy Buriak
Then we walked around the Paravani Lake.
Paravani Lake ©Yuriy Buriak
Here we visited a local house and bought some homemade cheese. That was a mistake, as the cheese was too "fragrant" :)
Road near the Paravani Lake ©Yuriy Buriak
Satellite receiver in a remote Georgian village ©Yuriy Buriak
And also a rabbit ©Yuriy Buriak
We tried to pat it, but it ran away. ©Yuriy Buriak
Fragrant Georgian cheese ©Yuriy Buriak
Fragrant Georgian cheese ©Yuriy Buriak
Moving further along the canyon of the Paravani river, we found an interesting bridge.
Train car bridge ©Yuriy Buriak
Train car bridge ©Yuriy Buriak
Train car bridge ©Yuriy Buriak
Then we came to Vardzia.
Vardzia Cave Monastery ©Yuriy Buriak
Vardzia Cave Monastery ©Yuriy Buriak
And after that we returned to the Khertvisi Fortress.
Khertvisi Fortress ©Yuriy Buriak
Khertvisi Fortress ©Yuriy Buriak
Finally, we stopped in the center of Akhaltsikhe to make photos of the Rabat Fortress at night, and then went to the hotel. After we had settled in the hotel, we also visited a thermal spring and an observatory.
Rabat Fortress ©Yuriy Buriak
Day 6
In the morning we went for a walk in a freshly reconstructed Rabat Fortress.
Rabat Fortress ©Yuriy Buriak
After that we went to Borjomi to drink famous water.
Mineral water source in Borjomi ©Yuriy Buriak
Tasty water ©Yuriy Buriak
The next city is Kutaisi, where we spent the night. On the way we stopped at a roadside souvenir market and met guys from National Geographic there.
Market near the highway ©Yuriy Buriak
National Geographic ©Yuriy Buriak
Somewhere near Kutaisi ©Yuriy Buriak
Day 7
In the morning, after a walk in Kutaisi, we went to the Gelati Monastery.
Bench in Kutaisi ©Yuriy Buriak
Kutaisi ©Yuriy Buriak
Church of Virgin the Blessed in the Gelati Monastery ©Yuriy Buriak
Then - to the Cave of Prometheus:
Cave of Prometheus ©Yuriy Buriak
On the long way to Svaneti, we met the real Georgian guy with a pet :)
Rabbit :) ©Yuriy Buriak
And stopped at the Inguri Dam:
Inguri Dam ©Yuriy Buriak
We reached Svaneti in the evening and went for a walk around Mestia, the central town.
Center of Mestia ©Yuriy Buriak
Towers of Mestia ©Yuriy Buriak
The next day we spent in Mestia and the surrounding areas.
Svan towers of Mestia ©Yuriy Buriak
On the roof of the tower ©Yuriy Buriak
Cableway in Mestia ©Yuriy Buriak
Mushrooms in Mestia ©Yuriy Buriak
Day 8
On this day we had a long trip to Batumi. On the way we visited the Dadiani Palace in Zugdidi.
Dadiani Palace ©Yuriy Buriak
And one of the recreation areas on the sea:
Beach at the recreation center near Batumi ©Yuriy Buriak
Beach at the recreation center near Batumi ©Yuriy Buriak
We had a nice evening walk in Batumi.
Stone pouf on the waterfront ©Yuriy Buriak
Piazza Square ©Yuriy Buriak
Ali and Nino ©Yuriy Buriak
Day 9
In the morning we went to Tbilisi. We arrived at the capital in the afternoon and visited the Mtatsminda Park. After that we went to the airport.
Mtatsminda Park ©Yuriy Buriak
Ferris wheel in the Mtatsminda Park ©Yuriy Buriak
View of Tbilisi from the Ferris wheel ©Yuriy Buriak
Useful links:
http://tickets.railway.ge/login.aspx?lang=en-US - railways
http://www.skigeorgia.ge - ski resorts
http://www.info-tbilisi.com/carrent/price/ - car rental
http://www.info-tbilisi.com/cars/ - car rental