Batumi Svaneti road route

1. High-altitude air will be useful for your body, tired of the hustle and bustle of the city.
2. If you travel in spring and autumn, then there is a high probability of going down the mountain slopes on skis or snowboarding.
3. For mountain lovers, Mestia is the center of the alpine tourism and mountaineering. From here the ascent to the peaks of Ushba, Shkhara and others begins.
4. Of course, try traditional Spanish cuisine.
5. A little touch of history, seeing firsthand the famous stone houses with residential and watchtowers.
6. Visit the museum and get acquainted with the life of the harsh highland area.
7. Of course, take beautiful pictures against the background of mountains.
8. Get an indelible impression from visiting a new place.

If you have never been to the mountains, then you need to know some small rules that will brighten up your vacation and will not let you be disappointed in your choice.

- First and probably the most important thing to remember is that you are going to the MOUNTAINS. See the weather. If the trip is planned in spring or autumn, then when renting a car, be sure to clarify that a high-altitude trip is expected, and winter tires should be on the car.

- You should definitely take a snack with you on the road and have a picnic in a picturesque place. Don't forget to take the bags and clean up all the garbage behind you. Where it is beautiful for you, it should be beautiful for others. Cleaning in remote places is difficult, it is always worth remembering.

- Comfortable shoes guarantee a happy tourist. There is no need to go and buy special shoes for hiking in the mountains, but when choosing heels or sneakers, preference should be given in favor of the latter. The beautiful views will not leave anyone indifferent and you will definitely want to wander around the mountains a little.

- It's always colder in the mountains, and the sun is more active than below. Even if your trip takes place in the midst of a hot summer, you should take warm clothes and sunscreen with you.

The Megrelian district combines densely populated plains, less populated foothills and uninhabited highlands. The Svaneti region historically has nothing to do with Megrelia, but now, for convenience, they are often combined into one locality.

Svaneti can be reached by the E70 highway, in high season we advise you to use the bypass road and not to go to Kobuleti. On the way you will be able to enjoy tea plantations. Tea in the last century was one of the main agricultural crops, although the seeds were first introduced relatively recently, a little over a hundred years ago. The local climate is perfect for this bush.

Also along the way you will discover a unique natural fossil magnetite, which in the form of sand covers the Black Sea coast near the village Grigoleti.

Along the way, the first big city in the Megrelian district will be the city of Poti. The city itself is located on an island. From the south and north sides, it can be accessed by bridges over the Maltakva and Rioni rivers.

The city is cut off from the west Lake Paliastomi, and from the east, the city is washed by the waters of the Black Sea. Various migratory birds can often be found on the lake, as it is on their migration path. In this way, photo hunters will not have to be bored for a long time waiting for unusual shots.

In the center of the city, a bridge over one of the branches of the river Rheoni offers a picturesque view of how it flows into the Black Sea.

Historically, the city of Poti was first a Greek colony, and later was restored for commercial purposes. It is also believed that the Greeks on their way to the capital of Colchis, now Kutaisi, kept their way through Poti.

The city is famous for its sculptures, each of which has a history. There is also a monument-memorial to the heroes-sailors from the famous artist Elguja Davidovich Amashukeli. And a monument to Tsotna Dadiani, the hero of the Megrelian people. According to legend, for his nobility, the Mongols freed the Megrelian prisoners. And also a monument to Alexander Dumas, who praised the Megrelian women, admiring their beauty.

Another interesting fact about Poti. In its center is the Cathedral, which in its structure is not similar to other religious buildings and is a smaller copy of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul in Turkey.

Getting lost in the city is almost impossible. In the center of the city there is a road that goes around the cathedral, and all other roads lead to the center, to the Cathedral.

To visit, it is still worth considering a city park.

In general, the city of Poti is worth seeing its sights.

Heading further along the route you will get to a town called Hobby. While you follow from Poti to Hobi, you will be able to observe the life of the Megrelian people. Their villages have only a couple of streets on each side of the highway.

The Hobby Monastery, also known as the Nodzhikhevsky Assumption Monastery, is mandatory to visit. It is noteworthy that the structure contains columns and arches atypical for Georgia, as well as marble tombstones and tombs. The old frescoes are still preserved inside.