Southwestern Georgia
Southwestern Georgia is a region along Georgia's Black Sea coast, which borders Turkey to the south.
Cities
- – capital of Ajara and Georgia's third largest city is a pleasant Black Sea port with great Ajaruli cuisine
- – small town in Guria, district center
- – town in Ajara's highland, and the district center
- – small town, district center
- – with medieval fortress and 15th century church
- – with medieval Askana Fortress
- – capital of Guria is a fairly small town; near the Shemokmedi Monastery and the Likhauri Church
- – beach resort famous for its magnetic sand
- – coastal village and transport hub right next to the border with Turkey
- – with 6th century Monastery
Other destinations
- – small beach resort and gateway to Chakvistavi National Park
- – beach resort
- – district center
- – small town and beach resort
- – source of mineral water of the same name
- – balneotherapeutic health resort with mineral water
- – venue for the annual Leloburti (a rugby match between the neighboring villages of Kvemo and Zemo Shukhuti), always on the Orthodox Easter Sunday
- – village with 3,000-year-old Petra Fortress
Ajara
- Kintrishi National Park
- Kobuleti National Reserve
- Mtirala National Park
- Machakhela National Park
Guria
- — mountain resort
- — mountain resort
- Kolkheti National Park and Paliastomi lake
Understand
The climate of Southwestern Georgia ranges from subtropical to high alpine, and is one of Georgia's greenest and wettest regions.
Talk
Get in
By plane
Batumi has its international airport. Taxi from airport to the city costs about 10 lari. Other nearest major international airports are in Trabzon, Turkey and Kutaisi. There are regular flights from Tbilisi to Batumi international airports.By train
Tickets can be bought at stations and online.
By bus
There are daily coach arrivals and departures in several directions: Kutaisi, Samtredia, Poti and Tbilisi, also from Istanbul, as well as easy marshrutka. Marshrutkas head to Btumi and Ozurgeti from the bus stations in Tbilisi and Kutaisi. Batumi is the easiest destination to get to, and is widely served by public transport.By car
Batumi, Kobuleti and Ureki lies on the well-developed international road which links Turkey to Georgia. Other cities lies on national roads which are paved with concrete. Roads are beautiful and ideal for a scenic drive.Get around
See
Head for the beaches of Gonio, Kvariati, Sarpi, Chakvi to experience the black sea and high night life of the resorts, or head to Shekvetili, Ureki or Grigoleti which also offer a number of more relaxed beaches and curable sands than those close to Batumi.
- See Ozurgeti, historical capital of the region, with Soviet era architecture
- Explore Guria's historic medieval monasteries, churches and fortresses in villages Likhauri, mTispiri and Shemokmedi.
Parks
- Batumi Botanical Garden
- Kintrishi National Park — east from Kobuleti
- Kobuleti National Reserve — in Kobuleti
- Machakhela National Park
- Mtirala National Park — east from Chakva
- Kolkheti National Park — north from Ureki
- Eristavi Palace and Park — near Chokhatauri
Do
- Ski in Goderdzi Pass, Mountainous resorts of Ajara.
- Trekking and Hiking in other mountain resorts: Bakhmaro, Gomismta or Beshumi
- Batumi offers great biking opportunities
- Visit Guria Park — large amusement center between Ureki and Kobuleti
Mt. ChakvistaviGreat national park for hiking with an interesting subtropical forest. The round track passes at least three climate zones, subtropical, temperate and alpine. There are some guesthouses just before the sealed road ends. Hiking is possible already at the beginning of April, but expect some snow at the turn at the top. There are some places along the track to put up a tent or lie down a mattress, in case you arrive late. Some campsites even have toilets. If you cannot find a hitch, the way along the road from Chakvi to Khala is about 2 hr (10 km), from where you might be more lucky to get a lift.
Alternatively, just take a marshrutka from Batumi Bus Station to Keda and get of at Waterfall and start hiking from behind the waterfall. Or you can also climb the from , which is close to the Batumi-Akhaltsikhe 4WD highway after Keda. The trail from Makhuntseti is definitely long, but could be more interesting.
Eat
The food differs slightly in Gurian and Ajara. You should try Khakhapuri in Ajarian style. You also need to make sure you experience the fresh fish and other seafood, which is served at restaurants in Batumi and Ureki, as well as in villages of Guria and Ajara you can try river fish. Try "Bachlava" for dessert.
Drink
Sleep
There are seven resorts in the region, of which Ureki, Shekvetili and Grigoleti are located on the Black Sea; Bakhmaro, Gomi Mountain, Balneological Nabeghlavi and Nasakirali—in the mountainous alpine zone.
Stay safe
Go next
North of the region is Northwestern Georgia and east of the region is Samtskhe-Javakheti. They can be reached by the well developed local roads.