Salome Makharadze, Founder of UP PR Company, tells us where she would take guests visiting Georgia this summer. Check out her choices!
UPX
UPX is a place where you can get a full taste of Georgia, learn Georgian singing and relax. UPX is a complex on the Tbilisi Sea, where, through exciting hour-long master classes, tourists are introduced to Georgia through song and cuisine. UPX is both in the capital but not, close to the clouds but not quite in them (if you want to go that high, how about a Motoplane flight? Guaranteed adrenaline and fun!). If you prefer water, go jet-skiing or relax in (or by) the pool. Enjoy an evening in the UPX forest-park where hammocks, a bar and ice cream tunnel can be found- you might even spot a dinosaur or two. Be enchanted by musicians and an exhibition-sale of Georgian handmade products. You can even ride horses like a real “Georgian” rider! Enjoy modern and traditional elements of little Georgia, and then discover all the regions of this most hospitable country.
Let’s go West…
IMERETI
Imereti is well-known for its honesty, hospitality and sightseeing. Kutaisi is the heart of Imereti, once the main capital of Georgia, so our history here comes to life in the fortresses, churches and monasteries. Sataplia and the Karst caves are not only the most spectacular sights in Georgia, but in the world.
GURIA, BAKHMARO
It is said that people in Guria are the fastest and most cheerful, and you’ll be convinced by the Georgian hazelnut plantations and the relaxation to be found in Bakhmaro. Taste the air, touch the clouds and feel free. Guria boasts both mountain and sea resorts, and in one season you can enjoy both. The coast is known for its magnetic black healing sand. After visiting Guria, you will have a lot of fun stories to tell… and then you can move to Samegrelo.
SAMEGRELO
The humid subtropical climate will follow you from the coast of Guria to the 13 beautiful lakes in Samegrelo, with a coastline that meets Abkhazia via the deep-water port Anaklia (under construction). Relax at the Martvili and Okatse Canyons and enjoy the breath-taking views. The live history and cultural monuments are also a great way to get a sense of the
region. The cuisine is also very tasty- where nuts and paprika dominate the kitchen.
ABKHAZIA
Via the beautiful bridge of Anaklia from Samegrelo we would like to take you to Abkhazia but can’t…. With the most stunning resorts of the Black Sea, combined sea and mountain air, citrus and exotic fruits - Abkhazia is the most beautiful part of Georgia. However, neither we nor our guests can go there because it is occupied. Maybe we can host you next time in Sokhumi, for we will definitely be back there one day. Before that, you have to see sunny Adjara instead, the strong and severe towers of Svaneti, East Georgia, Kartli and Mtianeti.
“Great” and interesting is my little Georgia, a country that especially loves you, all its guests.
NOTE (advice from fodors.com): Yes, you can go to Abkhazia. "As long as your passport isn’t Georgian, you’re eligible to apply for a visa to visit Abkhazia. The process is painless: You fill out an online form (here), pay a fee of 350 roubles (about $6), and within two weeks, a printable visa lands in your inbox. Unless you have a Russian visa, you’ll want to enter Abkhazia from Georgia. Before arriving, read up on the bizarre crossing procedure so you’re not caught off guard by the anachronistic horse-drawn carriages, occasionally prying questions by border officials, or multiple security checkpoints (Georgian, Abkhaz, and Russian). Alternatively, save yourself potential bureaucratic headaches by booking a private group tour. Those offered by Regent Holidays and Caucasus Explorer are particularly excellent."