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🌲 Sagori Forest in Kutaisi: Where Georgian kings hunted

📋 What You Need to Know Before Visiting

📍 Location on the road from Kutaisi toward the Sairme resort
🕐 Access Open 24/7, free of charge
👑 Historical Name the "Royal Forest", once the hunting grounds of the Georgian nobility
🍄 Famous For one of the few places in Georgia where the Caesar's mushroom can be found
🚶 Trails easy walking trails with no significant elevation gain
💡 From the opposite bank of the river, the Geguti Palace, the former royal residence, can be seen from the forest. This is no coincidence—the kings once hunted in these very woods. More details below 👇

🧭 What's This Article About?

Sagorio Forest is a woodland area on the road from Kutaisi toward the Sairme resort, known for its royal hunting history and the rare Caesar's mushroom. This article is for anyone who wants to combine a nature walk with a visit to Geguti Palace and find out what to expect from the local forest trails.

🌲 The forest where Georgian kings hunted

The Sagori Forest is located on the right bank of the Rioni River, along the road from Kutaisi to the Sairme resort. According to independent sources, this area has long been called the "royal forest": Georgian nobility and royalty used to hunt here. It's no coincidence that the Geguti Palace, a former royal residence, is visible from the forest on the other bank of the river. We have a separate article about it. The location and its use are logically linked: the kings lived in Geguti and hunted in the adjacent forest.

Today, the Sagori Forest is not a well-maintained tourist park with signs and infrastructure, but a vibrant forest with easy walking trails. There's little information about it in open sources, but this is precisely what makes a walk here akin to a journey through a lesser-known corner of Imereti, rather than following a well-trodden tourist route.

Sagori Forest

💡 Editor's Tip

Combine your visit with a stop at Geguti Palace. The two attractions are located close to each other on opposite banks of the river, making it easy to visit both in a single trip instead of coming back another day. If you're heading to the Sairme resort, you'll pass the forest along the way anyway.

🚶 Trekking and trails

According to descriptions available in tourist sources, the trails in the Sagori Forest are easy and don't require any special physical preparation: there are no steep climbs or difficult sections. The route passes through the forest along the road to Sairme, amidst dense greenery and the vegetation typical of Imereti. It's more of a relaxing nature walk than a sporty trek, making the forest suitable for both families with children and those simply seeking a break from the bustle of the city

Sagori Forest

🌱 Forest in different seasons

🌱
Spring
Fresh greenery and pleasant temperatures for walking
☀️
Summer
Dense shade provides relief from the heat, though humidity is high
🍂
Autumn
Mushroom season, including the rare Caesar's mushroom
❄️
Winter
Quieter and less crowded, with the forest taking on a completely different atmosphere
Interesting fact: Sagorio Forest is one of the few places in Georgia where the Caesar's mushroom (Amanita caesarea) grows—a rare orange mushroom considered a culinary delicacy. In autumn, local mushroom enthusiasts come here specifically to collect it. However, if you're not experienced in mushroom identification, it's best to admire the forest rather than forage on your own.

🚗 How to get there

There's no dedicated public transportation to Sagori Forest: it's located on the road from Kutaisi toward the Sairme resort, so the most convenient way to get there is by car or taxi. It's a good idea to combine your visit with a trip to the Geguti Palace, which is visible from the opposite bank of the river, or with the longer route to Sairme, if you're planning a trip there

🎒 Things to Keep in Mind Before Your Visit

✓ Wear closed-toe shoes and long sleeves—the forest is still the forest
✓ Plan to travel by car, as there is no public transportation to the forest
✓ During mushroom season, avoid picking unfamiliar mushrooms unless you have local experience
✓ Combine your visit with a trip to Geguti Palace—they are located close to each other

🌍 Just a stone's throw away

ℹ️ Information about the forest is based on open tourist sources, as official data and reviews about the site are still limited. Check trail conditions and the current route before your trip.

💬 Tell Us About Your Visit

Have you explored Sagorio Forest? Share your experience in the comments—which trail did you enjoy most, and were you lucky enough to visit during mushroom season?

✨ Why you should come

Sagori Forest is a rare case where a modest walk in the forest reveals a real story: a royal hunt, proximity to the Geghut Palace, and one of the few homes in Georgia of the rare Caesar's mushroom.

❓ Frequently Searched Questions about Sagori Forest

🤔 Why is Sagori Forest called "Royal Forest"?

💬 According to historical records, Georgian nobility and royalty hunted here, and the Geghut Palace, their former residence, is visible from the other side of the river.

🤔 Are the trails in Sagori Forest difficult?

💬 No, the trails are easy and don't require any special preparation. The forest is suitable for a leisurely stroll, including for families with children.

🤔 What kind of Caesar's mushroom grows here?

💬 It's a rare orange mushroom (Amanita caesarea), considered a delicacy. Sagori Forest is one of the few places in Georgia where it can be found; the picking season is in the fall.

🤔 How to get to Sagori Forest without a car?

💬 There's no public transportation here; the most convenient way to get there is by taxi or rental car on the road toward Sairme.

🤔 Is it possible to combine the forest with other nearby attractions?

💬 Yes, the most logical option is to combine a visit with the Gegut Palace, which is located on the opposite bank of the river.

Marina Orlova
By:

Marina Orlova

Post: Georgia Guide. Travel Expert

I help you navigate Georgia: from your first trip to relocating. I write about tourism, food, culture and life in the country — honestly, in depth and from per…

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4 comments


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  • M
    Maximilian Becker
    Sagori Forest klingt ja fast schon zu malerisch, um wahr zu sein. Ehemalige Jagdgründe der Könige? Das hat was von einer romantisierten Geschichte, die genügend mysteriöse Wolken hat, um sie fast unheimlich wirken zu lassen. Was ist mit der Realität da draußen? Leere Pfade und die Hoffnung auf Pilze. Man fragt sich, ob die Wege wirklich so leicht zu gehen sind oder ob man am Ende gegen eine Hecke stürzt, weil der Weg nicht präpariert ist. Und die Farben, die in der Beschreibung schimmern - sieht man's wirklich so? Oder ist das wie bei den Postkarten, die nie der Wahrheit entsprechen? Vielleicht ist das ja der Reiz - zwischen dem, was versprochen wird und dem, was man letztendlich findet. Ich kann mich nicht entscheiden, ob ich es spannend oder besorgniserregend finde.
  • M
    Ming Wang
    我不知道为什么,但每次提到萨戈里森林,我心里总是会涌起一种莫名的激动。那就像是越过时光的门槛,走进那些古老的猎场,能想象到格古提宫附近,王族们在这里追逐野兽的场景,真是太神奇了。今天的徒步旅行者们或许不会想到,自己正在走的,曾是历史的舞台。

    我上周末去了那里,阳光透过树叶洒下斑驳的光影,感觉一切都静谧而美好。然而,部分小径确实需要注意,石头和树根太多,不小心就容易摔倒。至于蘑菇季节,我几乎没见到什么可采摘的,不知道是不是我运气不好。

    这片森林不仅风景如画,还充满故事。你们觉得最适合在这里野餐的地点在哪里呢?
  • М
    Мария Козлова
    Той ліс... Хочеться вірити, що він дійсно такий, як у вашій статті - казковий, загадковий. Але ж, насправді, чи варто сподіватися на піднебесну природу, якщо поруч з цими королівськими угіддями стільки розрекламованих міст, які, м’яко кажучи, не завжди відповідають очікуванням? Як виглядає справжнє спілкування з природою, коли через кожні кілька метрів хтось намагається продати тобі черговий сувенір? І що з грибами? Я завжди думав, що якщо їх багато, то краще не ступати на ці стежки. Хоча, мабуть, в Грузії все інакше? Люди ходять за грибами, а садки москових скоромних спогадів заповнюються солодким ароматом натхнення. Можливо, варто спробувати, принаймні, ради оцього царствуючого спокою. Але от чи не виглядає все це трохи надуманим?
  • Y
    Yasmin Hassan
    الذهاب إلى غابة ساغوري كان تجربة أخذتني إلى زمن آخر. هنالك، تحت ظلال الأشجار العتيقة، شعرت وكأنني جزء من تاريخ مفعم بالأرواح. لكن، على الرغم من جمال المكان، لم أستطع التغاضي عن بعض التفاصيل. إن المسارات سهلة حقاً، لكنها تفتقر إلى إشارات واضحة. أحياناً، أتساءل، كيف يمكنني التأكد من أنني أسير في الاتجاه الصحيح؟ وعندما يتعلق الأمر بفصل الفطر، يبدو أن الكثير من الزوار يتجاهلون القواعد المتعلقة بجمعه. يبدو أنني أرى الكثير من الفطر غير المعروف يُجمع في سلال، وهذا يثير القلق. لذا، بينما كانت رحلتي ساحرة، أعتقد أن الأمور بحاجة إلى تحسينات. المكان يحمل سحراً خاصاً، لكن قليلاً من الوعي يمكن أن يجعل التجربة أكثر أماناً للكل.