Guria between the Sea and the Mountains
Accommodation in Guria
Guria connects the coastal lowlands in western Georgia with the surrounding mountain regions. The region stretches along 22 kilometres of the Black Sea coast; its landscapes also range from humid forests to alpine meadows. When looking for a holiday rental, you can first consider whether the coast and lowlands or experiences in nature and the mountains will shape your stay.
Teeplantage im Dorf Tsitelmta in Gurien, Georgien
Photo: Giorgi Abdaladze via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
From Colchian forests to the highlands
Guria National Park covers 15,310 hectares within the municipalities of Chokhatauri and Ozurgeti. Its humid Colchian mountain forest landscapes lie at elevations of 300–400 to 1,800–1,900 metres above sea level. They give way to high-mountain meadow landscapes that extend from 1,800–1,900 to 3,000–3,500 metres. This change in elevation gives nature in Guria a clear diversity: forests and alpine landscapes are both part of the region’s character.
Depending on the time of year, up to 272 vertebrate species can be observed in Guria National Park. Kolkheti National Park represents another side of Guria’s nature: it encompasses the region and includes Lake Paliastomi, the eastern border zone of the Black Sea, unique wetlands and Colchian forests. Visitors particularly interested in wetlands, lake and forest landscapes will find a different focus here from that of the mountain regions.
The 60-hectare Shekvetili Dendrological Park also lies between the mountains and the sea. More than 200 trees from 29 species grow there, including trees over 300 years old. A walkway lined with dense bamboo leads through the park; information boards describe individual tree, plant and bird species in detail. A visit can therefore focus not just on looking at the trees, but also on their different species and characteristics.
Culture and regional traditions
The Jumati Monastic Complex stands on Mount Jumati, 15 km from Ozurgeti. The monastery, which dates from the feudal period, played an important role in Guria’s religious and educational life. Its main church, St. Archangels, was built in the 6th century, renovated in the 12th century and painted in the 18th century. Its different phases of construction and decoration make the site especially interesting for travellers interested in the long history of religious architecture.
The old game of Lelo is a living tradition in the village of Shukhuti in Lanchkhuti Municipality. A forerunner of rugby, it is played once a year at Easter. Those who want to discover culture through more than historic buildings can mark this annual event as a special insight into a local tradition.
Nature experiences and active days
The Musicians’ Park in Shekvetili features sculptures of Georgian and international musicians. Music plays continuously as visitors approach them. The park thus offers a distinctive experience alongside the region’s nature and cultural attractions: music is directly connected to the sculptures.
Boat tours in Kolkheti National Park are offered on Lake Paliastomi and along the Paliastomi–Pichori and Paliastomi–Pichori–Small Paliastomi routes. In Bakhmaro, hiking is the main summer activity; the landscape includes alpine meadows as well as spruce and fir forests. In winter, visitors can go sledding. Bakhmaro particularly appeals to freeride enthusiasts and extreme sports lovers—a different kind of holiday from one focused mainly on the coast or wetlands.
The routes at Orkari Canyon differ considerably: the left side is not technically accessible on foot and leads, at the end of the road, to a waterfall with an elaborate staircase. The right side is a much more difficult route for professional climbers, who use special equipment. These differences are important when choosing activities to suit your climbing experience and planned excursion.
Regional guide to choosing a holiday rental
Getting to Bakhmaro also requires a seasonal decision. Although an asphalt road leads there, a snowmobile is needed to travel safely on the snow-covered road in winter. One route through Guria starts in Ozurgeti, passes through the resort of Nabeghlavi and climbs towards Bakhmaro; three days are recommended for this trip. If you are planning a longer tour of Guria, you can take the region’s different landscapes and activities into account when choosing the focus of your holiday.
Regional destinations include Ureki, Grigoleti, Shekvetili, Osurgeti and Lanchkhuti. Whether you are more interested in the coastal lowlands, forests, culture or the mountains, Guria offers different starting points for planning your holiday. Choose a holiday rental to suit the part of the region you would like to explore more closely.
For the broader travel overview: Georgia.
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