One Day Trips in Georgia: Where to Go?
As the whole country will start blooming heavily from Spring, it will become impossible to remain at home on weekends. In case you are in Georgia or want to come see it, we can give you some ideas, where to go!
1. David Gareji
Semi-desert Udabno, mount Gareji and rock-hewn monastery, which has been established in VI century and, as it was often happening in this area, devastated and re-established many times. Beautiful frescoes of old saints (blinded by non-Christian invaders, who wanted to humiliate them this way). Pink hills and multicoloured field flowers in spring, all shades of yellow and plus 40 degrees Celsius in summer. Go there every week, and you feel see different colours and smell different scents.
You can get there with minibuses or taxis from Samgori or Isani stations, or take a minibus of Gareji Line at Liberty Square of Tbilisi: it departs at 11:00 AM every day, a two-way ticket costs 25 lari. On the way back you will stop in a cool Polish-founded place called Oasis: it is a bar, cafe, hostel and club at the same time. Very cool, out-of-order as for this middle-of-nothing area, it offers simple drinks and food, places to sleep (a room for 4 people costs 80 lari/night) and chilled out international atmosphere.
2. Another great option is Vashlovani National Park
Better to go there in spring or early summer, because in July and August it will be very hot. Don’t forget your ID card, register in Visitor Center in Dedoplistskaro village, and go face adventures! There are couple of bungalows to rent, and also camp sites for those who have tents (more info about prices and trails is here: http://apa.gov.ge/en/protected-areas/cattestone/vashlovanis-daculi-teritoriebis-administracia).
3. Why day trips should be undertaken from Tbilisi only? Bored in Batumi?
Go to the mountains and drink wine! There are several winehouses nested in Ajarian mountains, so taking a shared car and going to explore them might be a nice idea. On the way don’t forget to visit bridge of King Tamar and Kintrishi waterfall: it is very beautiful.
As for winehouses – I’ve been to Ajarian Wine House and Shervashidze’s Wine House, and I can say that both of them have their own peculiarities: Shervashidze’s winery is more home-like, and Ajarian Wine House is also a restaurant with huge wine cellar and some stories to tell – about big politicians visiting them, at least. If you are going to Shervashidze’s and can warn them in advance, you can also ask to teach your how to make Ajarian khachapuri!
Of course there are hundred time more ways to spend a day off (not even speaking about chilling in Kazbegi or Lopota, going to explore Kartli or another part of Kakheti)…