It’s hardly an accident that the ancient Greeks made this land the setting for the Argonauts and the realm of Medea. Georgia is none other than the stage for one of the earliest European adventure tales: the ancient Colchis, where Jason recovered the Golden Fleece. A unique blend of History and modernity, this small territory of 69,700 square kilometers packs within its stunning geography twelve climatic zones and wild natural spaces, some peaks exceeding 5,000 meters, hundreds of mineral springs, dense forests, and shores washed by the Black Sea. Each season is unique, revealing a different face of the country as light changes: hiking, trekking or ski touring are practiced in a pristine environment. Hospitality here expresses itself through millennia-old rituals; many sites and traditions are listed as UNESCO World Heritage.
Summer: Between Sky and Sea
From the summits of the Caucasus to the beaches along the Adjara coast, the country willingly reveals itself under the summer sun. To the north, the high range of the Greater Caucasus sees hikers wandering through forests of beech and hornbeam, crisscrossed by turbulent torrents and crowned by glaciers. In its villages, a mountain way of life endures—authentic and rugged—paced by folk festivals. In Upper Svaneti, the remarkable village of Ushguli, perched at more than 2,000 meters above sea level, raises its tall medieval defensive towers against the blue of the sky.
At the other end of the country, just two or three hours by road, lies the Black Sea. Nestled against the Turkish border, the Adjara coast enjoys a subtropical climate: palms provide welcome shade, the air is thick with humidity. Cosmopolitan, distinctive, the seaside city of Batumi blends Art Nouveau architecture and Ottoman influences, glass towers and casinos along a vibrant seafront that buzzes in the summer months. There you will find busy yet pleasant beaches for a refreshing dip. To discover wilder coves, you must head a little further north.
Autumn: the Harvest Season
By late September, the sun becomes oblique, the forests turn gold, and the air grows softer. This is the pinnacle of the year, a genuine and gentle transition toward winter. The country pulses to the rhythm of the rtveli, the traditional grape harvest. In villages, grapes are trodden by foot in wooden vats, the satsnakheli, after which the juice is poured into qvevri—ovoide clay vessels—where it begins to ferment. Georgia has been producing wine for more than 8,000 years, and this ancestral method is inscribed on UNESCO’s intangible heritage list.
Tbilisi is especially welcoming in the heart of winter: visitors linger there before resuming the road to ski on the less crowded but often pristine slopes of the Greater Caucasus! Gudauri, Bakuriani, Tetnuldi (Svaneti), Bakhmaro and Goderdzi… you simply need to choose your resort!
A destination at the other end of the country is the Black Sea. Nestled near the Turkish border, the Adjara coast enjoys a subtropical climate: palms cast welcome shade, the air is laden with humidity. Cosmopolitan and distinctive, the seaside city of Batumi blends Art Nouveau architecture with Ottoman influences, glass towers and casinos along a lively seafront that comes alive in the summer. Here you’ll find popular, pleasant beaches for cooling off. To discover wilder coves, you should head a bit further north.
Winter: From the warmth of Tbilisi to the ski slopes
Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, pleasantly stretches along the banks of the Mtkvari River. One enjoys visiting the Narikala fortress and its labyrinth of cobbled streets, lined with wooden-balconied houses. The medieval Metekhi Church, followed by the famed Abanotubani sulfur baths, also deserve a stop to discover the millennial tradition of thermal cures that characterizes the country.
Tbilisi is particularly welcoming in the heart of winter: one is happy to stay before resuming the journey to ski on the seldom-busy yet often pristine slopes of the Greater Caucasus! Gudauri, Bakuriani, Tetnuldi (Svaneti), Bakhmaro and Goderdzi… you just have to choose your resort!
The Georgia can be visited all year round, but each season offers its own distinctive experiences. All that remains is to choose your preferred season.
More information here.
Sponsored article by OT Georgie
