About half-an-hour north of Batumi, the village of Chakvi marks the turn-off point for this oft-overlooked gem for nature lovers. 15km from Chakvi, the village of Chakvistavi hosts the visitors’ center of Mtirala National Park and several family-run hotels and restaurants where locals might try to ply you with locally-produced honey vodka.

While the forests, rivers and waterfalls of this semi-tropical wonderland can all be enjoyed on foot or horseback, Mtirala also offers zip-lining (travelling down an incline suspended from a steel cable) and canyoning, which allows visitors to travel down rivers and waterfalls without climbing equipment. There is a 700m section of canyon set aside for this purpose, offering an exhilarating and very hands-on experience of nature. 

The turn-off for Mtirala National Park is in the village of Chakvi, on the Borjomi-Kobuleti Road, and is marked by a big wooden sign.