Georgia is the kind of place that doesn’t just welcome you—it pulls you in, slowly unraveling its layers of history, landscapes, and people. This journey, which started in Kutaisi and wound its way through the mountains of Svaneti, the vast Caucasus, and the quiet shores of Tsalka Lake, wasn’t just about seeing a country. It was about understanding it.
Kutaisi: The Gateway to Georgia
Kutaisi, one of Georgia’s oldest cities, was my first stop. The moment I stepped into its winding streets, I could feel the weight of history. The city sits in the Rioni Valley, surrounded by rolling hills and ancient monasteries.
At Gelati Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the air smelled of damp stone and burning candles. The frescoes inside, faded but still vivid, told stories of a time when this place was a center of learning and power.
The city itself was a mix of old and new. Soviet-era buildings stood next to lively cafés, where locals sipped strong coffee and discussed politics. There was an easygoing rhythm to daily life here—markets full of fresh fruit, children playing in small courtyards, elderly men debating over chess in the public squares.
Mestia: Where the Mountains Begin
From Kutaisi, the road to Mestia was long, winding, and unforgettable. Svaneti is a region where mountains dictate life. The drive took me through deep valleys and past rivers that shimmered under the midday sun.
Every turn in the road revealed another postcard-perfect view—stone villages clinging to hillsides, cows wandering freely on the asphalt, clouds wrapping themselves around the peaks of the Caucasus.
Mestia itself was unlike any place I had been before. The Svan towers, medieval stone structures once used as defense outposts, stood tall against the dramatic mountain backdrop. The locals, proud and reserved, still spoke their own language, a dialect separate from Georgian.
Ushguli: The Last Village Before the Sky
The journey from Mestia to Ushguli was challenging but worth every bump in the road. At over 2,200 meters, Ushguli is one of the highest inhabited villages in Europe.
The silence here was almost unsettling—no traffic, no city noise, just the occasional sound of wind rustling through the valleys. Life in Ushguli felt like a step back in time. The houses were simple, made of stone, their roofs covered in wooden shingles. People moved slowly, tending to their livestock, living by the same rhythms their ancestors had followed for centuries.
Standing at the foot of Shkhara, Georgia’s highest peak, I felt small but connected to something much older than myself.
Tsalka Lake: A Hidden Corner of Georgia
Leaving the highlands behind, I made my way south to Tsalka Lake. After days of rugged mountain landscapes, the calm waters and rolling green pastures felt like a different world.
The lake itself was vast, mirroring the sky above, with tiny islands scattered across its surface. A handful of fishermen stood at the shore, quietly waiting, as if time didn’t exist here.
The village of Tsalka was home to a mix of cultures—Georgians, Armenians, and Greeks, remnants of the region’s layered past. I spent the evening with a local family, sharing a meal of khinkali, Georgia’s famous dumplings, while they told me about the harsh winters and the slower pace of life here.
Tbilisi: A City of Contrasts
Tbilisi was the final stop, and it couldn’t have been more different from everything that came before it. The city was alive—narrow streets twisting through the old town, wooden balconies hanging over hidden courtyards, neon signs flashing above wine bars and cafés.
Walking along the banks of the Mtkvari River, I realized Georgia is a country that never fully reveals itself. It’s a place of layers—ancient and modern, wild and urban, welcoming but mysterious. And that’s exactly what makes it worth exploring.
