I spent two weeks travelling around Georgia, renting a car in Tbilisi and exploring different parts of the country. And honestly, I think Georgia is still such an underrated destination.
One of the things that surprised me most was how much the landscape changes as you travel around. In the south, you have dry, almost desert-like scenery around Vardzia and David Gareja, with those incredible colourful mountains. Then, heading north, everything changes completely, with dramatic valleys, green landscapes and snow-covered peaks in the Caucasus.
Some of my favourite places and experiences:
Tbilisi: Such a great city! Lively, colourful, beautiful architecture, lovely cafés, great restaurants and so much character. I really enjoyed its atmosphere.
Ushguli and Mestia: I visited Mestia briefly, but decided to spend more time in Ushguli, which ended up being my favourite place in Georgia. The scenery was absolutely beautiful, with the dramatic Caucasus mountains, traditional stone towers and remote mountain villages. It was one of those places where you just want to slow down and enjoy being there. If I ever return to Georgia, I’d definitely spend more time in this region.
Vardzia: One of the highlights of the trip. The cave city itself is fascinating, but I also loved the landscapes along the drive there.
David Gareja: The colourful, almost otherworldly mountains around the monastery were unlike anything else I saw in Georgia.
Georgian Military Highway: One of the most beautiful drives of the trip. The highlight was visiting Gergeti Trinity Church, standing high above the mountains with the Caucasus as its backdrop.
And then there’s the food and wine! I loved Georgian cuisine. The khachapuri, khinkali, local dishes and wine were all part of what made the trip so enjoyable. Georgian hospitality was another highlight. People were friendly and welcoming throughout the journey.
Looking back, what I loved most was the variety. You can experience historic cities, remote mountain villages, monasteries, dramatic mountain roads and completely different landscapes within the same country.
Georgia definitely deserves more attention. I’d happily go back!
A few details about the pictures, in order:
Landscapes around Ushguli, in the beautiful Svaneti region.
Katskhi Pillar, a monastery built on top of a dramatic limestone rock formation near Chiatura.
More scenery around Ushguli and the Caucasus Mountains.
A view of Ushguli, one of my favourite places in Georgia.
Gergeti Trinity Church, along the Georgian Military Highway.
The spectacular Caucasus Mountains.
The colourful, almost otherworldly mountains near David Gareja.
Natlismtsemeli Monastery, also known as the Monastery of St. John the Baptist, near David Gareja.
Have you been to Georgia? What was your favourite place?