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    Eleven Stunning Photographs that Prove Georgia Should be your Next Adventure

    From traditional ballet to unspoilt night skies, let Georgia’s rich variety inspire you.

    The aerial tramway in the Batumi Funicular, Ajara, has a capacity of 500 passengers per hour.
    Photograph Courtesy Georgia Travel
    Published May 21, 2018
    • 9 min read
    This content was written by and is brought to you by our sponsor, Georgia Tourism. It does not necessarily reflect the views of National Geographic or its editorial staff.

    Explore Tusheti’s villages

    In the northeast, on the slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, is the region of Tusheti. It’s one of the most ecologically unspoiled parts of the country, still inhabited by traditional communities, with various villages, inhabited and abandoned, to explore.

    One of the many traditional communities in the Tusheti Region of Georgia.

    Photograph Courtesy Georgia Travel
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    Ride the Batumi Funicular

    There is adventure in Georgia’s cities too. In Batami, a seaside town on the beaches of the Black Sea, a 2km long aerial tramway was built in 2013 that offers stunning views and impressive architecture. The town itself is worth exploring too, with a mixture of old and new buildings, beautiful parks, fascinating museums and strong coffee.

    Raft the Rioni river

    Outdoor adventures aren’t just restricted to hiking. Georgia has plenty of thrills for adrenaline junkies. Rafting, or ‘Jomardoba’, and kayaking are popular thanks to rivers all over the country, and you can also go off-roading, mountain biking, caving, hanglinding or cliff jumping.

    Autumn is the perfect season for river rafting in the Racha region of Georgia.
    Photography by Snova, Shutterstock
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    Stagaze over Ushba

    Thanks to its untouched areas and wild treks, camping is a wonderful way to feel completely removed from everyday life in Georgia, and with no light pollution, you can really appreciate the stars in the night sky. Carry your own tent and stop for the night, or find a guesthouse or hut to rest your head and feet.

    A camper enjoys a clear night sky over Ushba, Georgia, which is located in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti revgion.

    Photograph by Creative Travel Projects, Shutterstock
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    Taste a new world of flavours

    Georgia’s rich history and mixture of influences from east and west has made its food an adventure in itself. Enjoy colourful spinach pkhali, carefully-made khinkali, and delicious sulguni cheese packed into khachapuri Adjaruli. Then wash it all down with Georgia’s legendary Borjomi mineral water.

    Spinach pkhali, a traditional Georgian cold starter, served with pomegranate seeds
    Photograph from Shutterstock
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    Hike amid stunning mountain scenery

    With scenery this beautiful, hiking is almost mandatory and there are trails for every level of experience and spirit. Stepantsminda village in the mountains of Georgia offers a perfect mix of adventure tourism and good old-fashioned Georgia hospitality. Spend your days hiking, and your nights enjoying supras with locals.

    In the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region of north-eastern Georgia sits the town of Stephantsminda.

    Photograph from Shutterstock
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    Soothe yourself in the Sulphur Baths in Old Tbilisi

    In the Abanotubani District of the capital Tbilisi stand the unusual structures of the town’s sulphur baths. They’re an essential experience in the city, popular with locals and tourists alike. Containing various rooms, communal and private, saunas, hot pools and massage areas, public nudity is the norm, and thorough exfoliation with a coarse glove before soaking in the mineral-rich warm waters will leave your skin as soft as a baby’s.

    The sulphur baths of Old Tbilisi are built on top of thermal springs. The best time to visit is between October and March when the weather is coolest.

    Photograph Courtesy Georgia Travel
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    Spot wild chamois in the snowy mountains

    Georgia isn’t off limits in the winter, if you’re happy to tackle the snow. Snowshoeing is popular and some trails are even more beautiful with a covering of white. Look out for wintering animals in the lowland areas, such as red deer and chamois.

    Mountain chamois are a rare breed of antelope that reside in the mountains of Georgia.

    Photograph from Shutterstock
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    Discover unique traditions

    Cultural adventures abound in Georgia and you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to see some traditional performances. Sukhishvili, The Georgian National Ballet company, puts on some unusual and beautiful shows, and there is the option of seeing an opera performance at Tbilisi’s stunning Paliashvili Opera House.

    The Georgian National Ballet, Sukhishvili, was founded in 1945 and tours year-round.

    Photograph Courtesy Georgia Travel
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    Discover the ancient history of wine

    Wine-lovers prepare to be educated. Georgia has an incredibly rich wine history, with some of the oldest evidence of winemaking found right here. Vine cultivation is thought to have begun 8,000 years ago, and thanks to the topography and ancient vine varieties, many of the wines you’ll try are unlike anything you’ve tasted in the traditional Old or New worlds.

    Georgia’s Kakheti Region is the primary wine region where you can tour qvevri cellars and taste the region's famous wines.

    Photograph Courtesy Georgia Travel
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    Be beside the sea

    It’s easy to forget, with all the inland excitement, that Georgia also has a coastline of stunning turquoise waters and beautiful views. The best place to enjoy these is from the huge Botanical Gardens in Mtsvane Kontskhi, 9m north of Batumi. The gardens are impressive to explore too, with local and international varieties of plants and trees.

    Stunning views of Batumi Bay in Georgia can be seen from the botanical garden in Mtsvane Kontshki.

    Photograph from Shutterstock
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.


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