Guria

Understand

Southwestern Georgia consists of two regions: Ajara and Guria. The region includes a variety of localities, from historic towns and cities, through ports, industrial areas, beach resorts and natural reserves. It therefore offers a varied mixture of holiday opportunities to the travelers, as you can engage in traditional beach activities and do a fair share of inspiring sightseeing. Ajara is an autonomous region of Georgia 30% of whose population is Muslim. It has beaches, palm trees, and wonderfully fattening food. Guria, on the other hand, is famous for its "Gurian Riders", trick horse riders who toured the United States as part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show The climate of Southwestern Georgia ranges from subtropical to high alpine, and is one of Georgia's greenest and wettest regions.

Getting there

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

Batumi, Ureki, Kobuleti and Ozurgeti has a railway stations. These cities are linked to each other and to Tbilisi by the railway. 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.

Getting around

Marshrutkas go into the surrounding area. Cycling is easy in Batumi. Marshrutkas are generally the way to go when traveling outside of Batumi or Kobuleti.

See

There are many historic monuments, museums, galleries and other attractions in the old city of Batumi, which is probably where more tourists will start their visit anyway. Do not miss Roman era Gonio Fortress in the souther part of the city. 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.

Four of the seven components making up the natural world heritage site Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands; 1 Imnati, 2 Grigoleti, 3 Ispani and 4 Kintrishi-Mtirala are in the northern and western corner of this region (the others are in Northwestern Georgia).

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 – Goderdzi Pass, mountainous resort of Ajara Trekking and Hiking in other mountain resorts – Bakhmaro, Gomismta or Beshumi Batumi offers great biking opportunities Visit Guria Park – A large amusement center between Ureki and Kobuleti Hiking – Mt. Chakvistavi or the Two Mountains Trail from Batumi

Eat

The food differs slightly in Gurian and Ajara. You should try khachapuri 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 & nightlife

You will fins some wineries in Keda (Ajara) and Bukistsikhe (Guria) and a lot of pubs and bars in coastal resorts: Batumi, Kobuleti and Ureki during summer season. The most famous local wine is "Chkhaveri".

Sleep

There is wide range of hotels, hostels and guesthouses in Batumi, Kobuleti and Ureki, included splurge international brands such as Hilton, Radisson, and Sheraton hotels in Batumi. 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.

Go next

International road links Georgia trough Batumi with Turkey and it is fairly easy to catch a marshrutka or hire a taxi going to the Sarpi border, or travel to Trabzon or Istanbul from Batumi by bus. 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.