As you might already know, Georgia has a diverse landscape. Here, you can find gorgeous mountains, beautiful lakes, and natural wonders that are quite unique to the country. While some of those areas are popular among many travelers and locals, Georgia still hides many destinations that are less-known to the travelers. Therefore, we compiled those destinations so you won’t miss them when traveling here.
Kobuleti Protected Areas
Photo Source: Georgian Travel Guide
Kobuleti Protected Areas hides unique wetland ecosystems of international importance. Located in Adjara region, this protected area is home to a distinguished diversity of birds and plants.
The most significant of all is Ispani – a maiden sphagnum moss peat swamps. When you look at those swamps at first, it resembles a lace wrapped with about 45 square meters thick quilt of white sphagnum moss. It’s one of the rarest plants in the world and very sensitive to environmental pollution.
There’s a walking trail from the entrance to the swamp areas and a lookout tower. You’ll get special shoes to walk within the area, and if you are lucky enough, you can even see the rarest swamp turtle.
Kolkheti National Park
Photo Source: National Parks
Another impressive destination not to miss in Georgia is Kolkheti National Park laying along the Black Sea and Lake Paliastomi. There are no walking trails here, and in order to see the park and its gorgeous ecosystem, you need to book a boat ride in advance. In addition, Kolkheti National Park is a great place to enjoy bird-watching and sports fishing.
Dashbashi Canyon
Photo Source: Georgian Journal
Dashbashi Canyon, located in Tsalka and a two-hour drive from Tbilisi, is defined by its rarity and biodiversity. Formed by the Khrami river inside the Dashbash volcanic plateau, the ecosystem here is absolutely unique with breathtaking waterfalls and steep slopes of the canyon.
Birtvisi Rocks
Photo Source: Bisna
Here you’ll find high volcanic rock hills and numerous independent rocks. Those rock formations were created as a result of volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. However, the natural processes have altered their appearance over the centuries.
In addition to the rocks, you can climb up to the Birtvisi fortress, the least accessible complex of such kind in Georgia. But the breathtaking panoramic views from the highest point of the fort is worth every step.
Chiatura
Photo Source: Advantour
Chiatura is a manganese town in Imereti region of Georgia. It used to be one of the most important industrial towns during Soviet Georgia, but since the collapse, Chiatura has lost its glory. Even though it still remains a manganese town, the production volume of today is nothing compared to those several decades ago. Despite the fact that Chiatura doesn’t boast of cultural and historical sights to see, it still is an impressive town to visit. Mainly because of the several ropeways created in the Soviet era to ease workers to get to the factories and mining areas. Today, some of them still operate perfectly and serves as an adrenaline-boosting attraction that hasn’t been changed for more than 50 years.
Abastumani
Photo Source: Best Georgia Travel
Astronomy lovers will enjoy their visit to Abastumani, home to the Astrophysical Observatory founded in the 1930s. The observatory nests between the coniferous forest, where weather conditions are perfect to gaze at the stars and the universe.
Gorelovka
Photo Source: Georgia About
Located in Samtske-Javakheti region, Gorelovka is probably the most less-known destination from this list. This small village is home to Doukhobors, a religious community banished from Russia in the middle of the 19th century. In Russian, the word Doukhobor means ‘spirit wrestler’ and Doukhobors are a Christian sect that emerged in the 1700s in Russia. They believe that God lives within every person, therefore a church, rituals, icons, and priests are unnecessary. Therefore, their belief led to the rejection of Russian Orthodox Church and many chose to leave the country and immigrate in the Caucasus instead of converting to Orthodoxy.
Around 10,000 Doukhobors have settled in Georgia by the end of the 19th century, but today, they are at the stage of extinction as only several hundred are left. Their houses designed in Russian style and typically are of pale blue, or mint, color. It’s a quite impressive site to see after looking at most of the Georgian architecture during your trip. is an impressive site to see.
Gomismta
Photo Source: Agenda.ge
The western region of Georgia, Guria is home to beautiful landscapes and high mountain resorts. One of them is Gomismta, a summer resort of Ozurgeti Municipality. Known for mineral springs and softwood forest, Gomismta is characterized by its jaw-dropping panoramic views of mountains covered with pine forests, where summer cottages are scattered across the area. Moreover, you’ll get to witness one of the most stunning sunrises you have ever seen.
Bakhmaro
Photo Source: Tour Guide
With its mountains and forests, Bakhmaro is like a competitor of Gomismta. Both located in Guria region, both offer splendid views of nature and breathtaking sunrise panoramas. Located at an elevation of 2,000 meters above the sea level, Bakhmaro is often called a ‘small heaven on earth’ by many locals because of its surroundings.
Vardzia
Photo Source: CNN
Even though Vardzia seems to be a popular place, the somewhat not practical location of this man-made cave makes lots of travelers to miss the opportunity of visiting the area. The town was founded by Queen Tamar in the 13th century to serve as a functioning city during the various invasions the country was facing back then. The vast amount of the town was destroyed by the earthquake in a couple of years after the completion, however, you can still wander around hundreds of rooms, visit wine cellars, and admire rarest frescos at the church.
Udabno’s Colorful Hills
Photo Source: Get Your Guide
Udabno, or the Dessert in English, is an area in Kakheti region which lacks water supplies and has insufficient nature. Home to many important religious sites such as David Gareji, Udabno hides one of the natural wonders of Georgia – the colorful hills, similar to those in Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park in China.
