Why do you need to travel to Georgia in 2021? Simply, because Georgia is a fucking amazing country that has so many great things to offer!
After spending 11 days in Georgia, which were absolutely not enough, I fell in love with this beautiful country.
Georgia is now one of my favorite places I’ve ever been to and I can’t wait to visit it again. Find out why I fell in love with it so much and why you need to travel to Georgia in 2021 yourself.
Edit April 2019: I went back to Georgia for 3 weeks in August 2018. I was supposed to visit the GEM fest, but sadly the event was canceled. The weather wasn’t good either and my plans for 3 weeks of hiking failed. However, I managed to visit Tusheti, one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to.
Table of Contents
Why do you need to travel to Georgia in 2021? #1 The incredible scenery
If you love nature and if you love to be surrounded by it, then Georgia definitely should be one of your next destinations.
The nature of Georgia is a variety of landscapes, flora, and fauna. Mountains occupy two-thirds of Georgia’s land area and almost one-third of the area of the country is occupied by forests.
As you might know, Georgia is a country situated in the Caucasus region, the Caucasus Mountains, and the Black Sea coast.
The mountains that are spreading in Georgia are absolutely breathtaking and incredible.
I remember when I was going from Tbilisi to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) and slowly started to get higher and higher and more and more unreal views were opening in front of me – I started wondering if I am still on Earth, or somehow I went to Heaven, at least I can imagine that the Heaven can look like this.
But it’s not just the high mountains. Traveling around the country, you’ll always be surrounded by beautiful views.
There are many beautiful nature views around Kutaisi. The route from Kutaisi to Batumi is wonderful as well. Mtskheta, one of the oldest cities in Georgia, which is located 20 km away from Tbilisi is also amazing. The most famous landmark of Mtskheta is the Jvari Monastery, which is located on a mountaintop with great views of the entire city of Mtskheta and the meeting point between the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers.
Another stunning place that I, unfortunately, missed is the Svaneti region, which is situated on the southern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains and it’s surrounded by 3, 000 -5, 000-meter peaks.
The landscapes there are out of this world and because I didn’t plan enough time for Georgia and I didn’t visit that region, it’s breaking my heart now when I’m writing this. Anyway, I already love Georgia, so I’ll be definitely back and the next time hiking in Svaneti will be the first thing to do.
Why do you need to travel to Georgia in 2021? #2 To hike some stunning trails
Great mountains = great hiking trails! Georgia is a paradise for hikers.
Hiking to the Gergeti Glacier in Kazbegi was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done alone. The hike itself was amazing, stunning, and unforgettable. Especially, there was one moment at the beginning of my hike that I will never forget.
I’ve started the hike early in the morning before the sunrise and when I get to the Gergeti Trinity Church the sun was already rising and the peak was all shining. The best thing was that I was the only person out there getting this just for myself, it was so special and so unbelievably beautiful.
I’ve made it only to the Gergeti Glacier but of course, you can hike even further to the Kazbegi peak itself. Kazbegi is the third highest peak in Georgia and the seventh highest one in the Caucasus, rising at 5 047 meters.
Conquering the Kazbegi peak is also on my to-do list for the next time when I visit Georgia.
There are many other amazing hiking trails in Georgia, which will take you high from the sea level. Make sure that once when you’re already in Georgia, you’ll talk and ask the locals for recommendations too. They are proud of their wonderful nature and love it and love to hike as well, and of course, they know the best hikes.
I already know someone in Tbilisi and I will make sure that I’ll get back to him again for some trails inspiration next time. However, I’ve also found this list of treks that is amazing and I would love to try all of them.
If you’re not into hiking that much but you still enjoy the beautiful scenery, then a visit to Kazbegi, Georgia, at least, is a must!
Why do you need to travel to Georgia in 2021? #3 The local’s hospitality
Georgians are warm and friendly people.
During the time I’ve spent in the country, I have met only super friendly and very hospitable people. And even though sometimes we have a language barrier, they were always trying to find a way to help me if I needed it.
The grandmas that I was buying fruits from on the street were so sweet as well and we were communicating only with body language and gestures.
Overall, Georgians are lovely and they will try to make you feel at home.
With this being said, meeting with as many locals as possible is an absolute must.
It’s absolutely safe to travel in Georgia even as a solo female traveler. It’s also safe to hitchhike in the country, I’ve done it twice – the first time I was with another traveler, the second time I was alone.
My best local friends, the dogs – they are everywhere.
Why do you need to travel to Georgia in 2021? #4 Good food & good wine
Georgia is famous for its cuisine and for its wine.
To be honest, they are both great, indeed, but the Bulgarian cuisine and wines are better.
Anyway, back to the good Georgian food and wine….
Georgian cuisine is rich with meat dishes but it also offers many vegetarian dishes.
Here’s a list of the most traditional Georgian cuisines that you need to try:
- Puri – Georgian bread
- Khachapuri – Cheese bread
- Khachapuri Adjaruli – Egg, cheese, and butter boat
- Khinkali – dumplings that can be filled with cheese, potatoes, meat, a mix of those, etc
- Lobio – bean soup
- Georgian Cheese
- Pkhali – vegetarian appetizer
- Badrijani – eggplant rolls with walnut paste
- Georgian Salad – fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and walnuts
- Churchkhela & Tklapi – sweets
My favorite is the eggplant rolls and the salad, but I also really like the khinkali and khachapuri if it’s well cooked.
There is not much to say about the wine, except to drink as much as you can – haha! In Tbilisi, at many places in the center, you’ll find free wine tasting, so get an advantage of them.
Besides the wine, you should also try cha cha, the Georgian beer, and their lemonades.
Why do you need to travel to Georgia in 2021? #5 The dynamic capital, Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and largest city of Georgia.
It’s very likely that you will start your Georgian adventures in Tbilisi, or for some people, Tbilisi will be the only place that they will visit in Georgia.
Although I will recommend you to visit as many places as possible and to stay longer in the country, both scenarios are fine. Tbilisi is lively, energetic, and vibrant and it has become one of my favorite cities very easily.
There are many cool and fun things to do in Tbilisi at every corner of the city. Getting bored is simply impossible.
Tbilisi is full of life, entertainment, and a unique atmosphere!
Tbilisi has its own Old Town, which is one of the most beautiful parts of the city, and walking around it is an absolute pleasure. There are many places where you can go to so you can enjoy amazing views of the city. As I mentioned earlier, there are also free wine tastings at many places in the city and especially in the Old Town.
Tbilisi is very hot in the summer, but not to worry, Tbilisi has its own ”sea” and also a waterfall next to the heart of the city, where you can go swim and refresh yourself. How cool is that?
Wanna party? Clubs, bars, parties, Tbilisi have them all. Georgians also love to have fun and party.
If you’re from the people who would visit only Tbilisi, at least make sure to go on some day trips. Mtshketa and Signaghi are some of the best day trips from Tbilisi, Kazbegi as well.
Mtshketa
Why do you need to travel to Georgia in 2021? #6 GEM Fest
Back to the parties…
Apparently, Georgians also love electronic music. Since 2015, every year in Anakla is being held one of the biggest electronic festivals in the world, GEM fest.
Gem stands for Georgian Electronic Music and the festival lasts for one month. Yes, one-month cool music and awesome activities – I’m sold!
Some of the names of the Dj’s from the previous years are Armin van Buuren, Ferry Corsten, Dubfire, Steve Aoki, Aly & Fila, Nastia, Paul Van Dyk, Martin Garrix, and many more.
I believe that the festival is a reason itself to visit Georgia in 2018. I will definitely try to make it next year.
Why do you need to travel to Georgia in 2021? #7 For the best paragliding experience with the most epic views!
My paragliding flight in Gudauri was one of the most epic experiences in my life.
Seriously, it was amazing, it was crazy, it was beautiful, it was exciting, it was calming, it was captivating, it was breathtaking, it was everything I wanted it to be and even more!
Gudauri is situated on the way to Stepantsminda, on the Georgian Military Road that connects Tbilisi and Russia. It’s a young and rapidly developing ski resort in the greatest Caucasus Mountain Range at an elevation of 2, 200 meters above sea level.
The surrounding mountains are gorgeous, wild, and virgin – just the perfect place for paragliding. The views? You just can’t get enough of them!
I highly recommend everyone who’s going to travel to Georgia to experience this himself. You’ll thank me later. 🙂
And just so you can get an idea of how amazing it is, here’s a 10-minute video of my 50-minute flight. Ignore my stupid face and watch it in HD on full screen.
Why do you need to travel to Georgia in 2021? #8 Off the beaten path destination
Georgia is still off the beaten path destinations, which is not crowded with tourist, which is actually kind of surprising having in mind how stunning it is and how much does it have to offer.
Unfortunately, many people haven’t even heard of Georgia, or when they hear Georgia they think of the state and don’t know that there is an existing country with the same name. What a shame!
Georgia is welcoming tourists mostly from its neighboring countries, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, and Turkey. It’s very popular among the Ukrainians as well and the visitors from Western Europe are increasing too.
When I was in Kutaisi, I met just a few, maybe 2 or 3 to be exact other travelers and, in general, there were not that many. From one side, I liked that, but from the others, Georgia needs to show how beautiful it is to the world and the increase of tourists will also help the economy of the country.
Tourism in Georgia is a very important component of the economy of the country, producing almost 7% of Georgia’s GDP.
Have you started planning your trip to Georgia already?
I can’t wait to go back to discover more of this fascinating country and enjoy its incredible nature and hike more!
Thanks for reading,
Bilyana
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