Is it just me, or is Georgia terrifyingly underrated? I feel the need to specify Georgia – the country – as it seems the name draws a lot of confusion among people due to the same name being used for a US state. In fact, in Georgia (the country) people prefer to refer to the country as Sakartvelo – its original name.
But let’s start from the beginning – why did I decide to even go there? Well, to be honest (as with many other trips that I do) – I don’t really know. When picking travel locations, I mostly go my gut feeling – which is a bit tricky to explain sometimes, but basically it means one day I’ll wake up and I’ll have a specific place in my mind, not necessarily with a reason, and I will book a flight. This is exactly what happened here – in all truthfulness I had had Tbilisi in my mind since I was young, because my dad and I used to the play the “name the capital” game and Tbilisi would always come up, so in some deep corner of my brain it was always there. Except this year, I decided to make it a reality – and so off I went, backpack strapped on and a boarding pass in hand – destination: Tbilisi, Georgia.
Have you ever had a feeling, as soon as you landed somewhere, of being at peace? As in, being in the right place, at the right time, and just feeling this energy around you that made you feel right at home despite being somewhere completely different? I gotta be honest with you – I don’t think I ever had something quite like that, at least not within my first 5 minutes of being somewhere new. There may have been excitement, and anticipation, but this feeling was different – of being in the right place and just feeling that great things were gonna come my way.
This is exactly how I felt when I got to Tbilisi. It might have been the cosy airport, the warm evening air, the fact that the arrivals area was packed with people warming up to each other, flower shops selling last minute scented embraces to people coming back home, and a general frenzy pervading the place. Whatever it was – I looked around and I just knew it: I had made the right choice. As my taxi driver sped through the empty highway towards my stay, my gaze was glued to the shimmering city slowly appearing in the distance.
MAIN THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN GEORGIA
What followed was two weeks packed with new people, flavours, sounds and sights which made my heart soar. Sakartvelo has a plethora of experiences which cater to all sorts of people – from city dwellers, to hikers, to tourists looking for a place to relax. While tourism has been steadily growing in recent years, the country is still relatively unexplored, meaning that being there makes you feel like you’re truly getting to have a special experience in a small corner tucked away from the rest of the world.
Some of the main attractions, which I will explore in more detail in a dedicated travel guide:
- Tbilisi: the capital, its rich modern history immediately visible from the building’s architecture, while the mix of cultures which governed Georgia at one point or another in time make it a seamless melting pot of global influences
- Kakheti region: the wine region of the country, this is the perfect place to enjoy a full day wine tasting experience getting to know some of the more renown spirits in Georgia – which don’t stop at wine, but also include Georgian Brandy and the infamous chacha – their grape-based grappa (which you’ll find anywhere and which they take incredible pride in)
- Gazbegi region: nestled in the Caucasus mountains, this region is the closest you can get to Russia from Georgia. To get there, you need to go through the old Military Road and will be welcome with breathtaking views of the mountain peaks and valleys below
- Vardzia: an ancient monastery, whose charm stems from the fact that it is entirely build in caves. While perhaps impractical at times to navigate, its carving on a mountain side meant security and protection from unwanted attacks. In addition, it looks cool
- Mestia: if you’re a fan of hiking, I would recommend the Mestia region, which offers plenty of opportunities for multi-day hikes in the area. I personally didn’t go because I didn’t have enough time, but I met many people who did and loved it
- Borjomi: if you’re into walks in nature more than intense hiking, Borjomi is also a great option. A maze of hiking trails in the Georgian nature, this area is amazing to truly immerse yourself in the country and enjoy a bit of piece and serenity
- Batumi: recently coined “the Dubai of the Black Sea”, Batumi is a place for many people. While being turned into a casino-led little sea city, there’s plenty more to be enjoyed in Batumi, from strolling by the sea side, to taking the cable way up to Mt Anuri (which I totally recommend – 2.5km of cable way route all the way up, was a truly magical experience at night) to admire a view from above over the Black Sea, and plenty of little restaurants, cafes and boutiques to indulge a bit in some culinary and shopping experiences.
While I am aware and a bit scared that blog posts like these might make tourism go wild in the country and sort of ruin the atmosphere, I really cannot stop raving about it ever since I got back and cannot recommend it enough.
If you’re curious about things to do and see in Sakartvelo, I will be making some new blog posts soon exploring some of the key landmarks and day trips to fully experience the country.
Have you been to the country? What was your experience? I would love to hear more!
Until next time,
Elena
