Rezi’s guidebook (Around Georgia)

A historic province in Georgia, in the northwestern part of the country. Svaneti is the highest inhabited area in the Caucasus. Four of the 10 highest peaks of the Caucasus are located in the region. The famous Svanetian tower houses erected mainly in the 9th-12th centuries, make the region’s villages more attractive. In the province are dozens of Georgian orthodox churches and various fortified buildings. Architectural monuments of Upper Svanetia are included in a list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

A four hour drive and 300 km (190 mi) away from Tbilisi lies the region of Racha – a highland area located in northwestern Georgia. This place has always attracted Georgian and international tourists and, with recent infrastructure investments, it’s popularity has been booming. The first place you should visit in Racha is Shaori – the largest lake in this region. Ten minutes further into the heart of Racha and you will arrive at the village of Nikortmsinda where a 10th century temple is located and is currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site candidate.

A historic province in the western part of Georgia. If you would like to enjoy the nature you should definetely visit Martvili canyon. Also, nearby you should totally visit Martvili Monastery. While traveling here you should also visit the city of Zugdidi. Which offers many places worth visiting. But, first of all I would recommend visiting Dadiani Palaces History and Architectural Museum. It is a Georgian national museum located in Zugdidi.

A region formed in 1995 in southern Georgia. First of all, I would recommend to see Rabati Castle. this is a fortress in Akhaltsikhe. Originally established in the 9th century as the Lomisa Castle, it was completely rebuilt by Ottomans. Most of the surviving buildings date from the 17th and 18th centuries. This place is a mix of many traditions. There are hotels, cafes, restaurants, museums, churches and many things worth seeing. Also it is worth to see Vardzia cave monastery. The main period of construction was the second half of the twelfth century.

A region in the western part of the country, bordered by the eastern end of the Black Sea. While visiting this part of Georgia, you should totally visit Bakhmaro. It is a village in mountains. One of the highest resorts in Georgia. Bakhmaro is a resort with breathtaking nature and views.

The best place to see the Georgian wine making tradition. You can see and taste the best wine in here. There are a lot of places to visit, for example: Tusheti, Alaverdi monastery, Ikalto monastery, Nekresi monastery, Gremi monastery, Bodbe monastery, Gurjaani Kvelatsminda Monastery, Signagi, Kvareli lake, Lopota lake, Lagodekhi national park and many more places.

In this part of Georgia, you should totally visit Mtskheta. It's one of the oldest cities of Georgia, with a lot of monasteries to see, for example: Jvari/Svetitskhoveli/Samtavro. Another great place to visit is Kazbegi. It is located in mountains and the nature here is beautiful. Here you can see Gergeti monastery, from where you can enjoy great view of Kazbegi from a mountain. Also, there is a luxury hotel "Rooms hotel Kazbegi", where tourist can stay and enjoy their trip.

Located in the country's southwestern corner, Adjara lies on the coast of the Black Sea near the foot of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, north of Turkey. There are many resorts here. The main and most popular is Batumi. This is a modern city, which offers tourist a great variety of attractions.

While talking about this part of Georgia, first of all that comes to my mind is the Okatse Canyon, a place near city Kutaisi that is really worth seeing. It is a sight of natural beauty that has been recently adapted for tourists. The work took about 2 years and now length of the route around the canyon is about 2 kilometers. Another place to visit is the city of Kutaisi. One of the biggest cities in Georgia. Mostly, I would recommend to see Prometheus Cave near Kutaisi and Gelati monastery, which is a masterpiece of the Georgian Golden Age, founded in 1106.