Itinerary
We are offering itineraries from one to six days; it can be also modified based on your interest and time which you can spend with us.One day trip
We recommend the following optional destinations; Kolkheti National Park, Mtirala National Park. Raptor migration watch points ( Shuamta- Sakhalvasho), Machakhela national Park. Botanical Garden SEE MORE
Weekend (Two day) trips
For the weekend tours two different sites can be visited, it depends on your interest and season. We recommend the following optional destinations; Village Nigazeuli, Khikhani Fortress. SEE MORE
Six day tour
Day1. Batumi-Kolkheti National Park
Drive 65 km alongside the black sea cost, our destination is Kolkheti national park, wetland.JPG)
forest area west of the black Sea cost, east of Town Poti and satly Lake Paliastomi. This area is geographic center of historically known as Kolcheti (Colchis), from the Hellenistic legend "Jason and the Argonauts". The ancient Greek names for the site make up the scientific name for Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), which is thought to have been introduced to Europe by the Argonauts. Paliastomi lake harbors many waterfowl birds and is extremely important for waterfowl wintering and migrating, as well as rare endemic plants, and many water-affiliated amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. One can also find here mammals such as; Golden Jackal, wild boar, roe deer. Most common reptiles are Ring Snake, Dice snake and European Marsh Turtle.
Group will have opportunity to drive through the Palistomi lake on the boat and go through the small channels of river Pichori. Lunch picnic on the nice spot on one of the islands.
Drive toward Chakvi, overnight at the guest house.
Day 2. Mtirala national park
Mtirala National Park
This site is an extremely interesting mountain covered with relic forest and a climate that is different even from nearby areas. The annual rainfall of 4000mm makes Mtirala one of the humid locations in non-tropical Eurasia. This area harbors the highest proportion of endemic animals and plans in Georgia.
Visiting Mtirala National park would not be complete without exploring the trail which gives visitors chance to feel surroundings of park. It goes between 265 - 442 meters above sea level and starts from the visitor center in Chakvistavi, which is located in the planned buffer zone. The trail runs along the beautiful gorge of the Chakvistskali River, 2 kilometers from the visitor center, there is a 15 m high waterfall covered in ivy and Colchic box trees. Lunch picnin on the nice spot.
After hiking group will visit local honey makers, here they will learn about unique honey making tradition and one can taste some local honey and honey products, also it is possible to buy some.
Overnight stay in the same guest house.
Day 3. Raptor Migration hot spot (Sakhalvasho)
The Batumi bottleneck is one of the most important birdwatching sites in Eastern Europe, where migratory birds concentrate en route to Africa and southern Asia. The site, near the third
largest city of Georgia, has a developed infrastructure for birdwatching. The bottleneck occurs at the location where the mountains of the Lesser Caucasus, covered with humid relic forests, descend to the Black Sea coast. The numbers of migrating birds that can be watched from the site is higher than any other place in Europe. Site is third largest raptor migration sites in the world. Each fall over the million birds of prey soaring in thermals migrate through the site. European Honey-buzzards and Common Buzzards (Steppe buzzard) are the dominant species, but many Black Kites, Northern, Montag's, Pallid and Western Marsh Harriers, Eurasian and Levant Sparrowhawks, Eurasian Hobbies, Common and Lesser Kestrels, Red-footed Falcons, Merlins, Ospreys, Short-toed Snake-eagles, Lesser Spotted Eagles, Greater Spotted Eagles, Imperial Eagles, Steppe Eagles, Booted Eagles, and White-tailed Eagles could be seen as well. Smaller numbers of Northern Goshawks, Peregrine and Saker Falcons, Golden Eagles, and Rough-legged Buzzards are regularly spotted. Other species to watch for include other soaring birds like storks and pelicans as well as a good variety of waterfowl and shorebirds. During the count in 2008, the number of migrants reached 812,000 raptors and around 3000 non-raptor species. In 2009, the migrant raptor count reached 850,888 and around 2600 non-raptor migrants. In 2012 it already reached one million migrant raptors.
The best period for raptor migration watch is from August 20th til the end of the October. Usually it is better to visit in the morning before raptors will start flying higher in the blue sky.
Everywhere in the world, Falconry has been pastime of nobles. But in Achara, Guria and Samegrelo regions of Georgia bird migration, this spectacular event, created interesting tradition of falconry, here falconry was method of subsistence hunting which could be practiced by everyone not only by privileged. Tradition of falconry is so ingrained in local culture that still today, alongside the migration route, among the local population it is very common to be a falconer. Usually falconers start trapping raptors during migration season and then training them to use for hunting on other birds. In Sakhalvasho group can visit one of the falconer and see some trained birds and see how locals unique, traditional method of training raptors.
Ovenight in Sakhalvasho guest house.
Day 4:-Keda-Nigazeuli
Trip starts at morning 09:00, leaving Batumi, travelling toward Ajarian Mountains. The first our stop will be at the Makhunceti bridge (built in 12 century), group will also visit Makhunceti waterfall (52 meters high). Our next stop will be in Keda, visiting local wine makers where we can have opportunity to have lunch and taste some homemade wine. Winemaking is very important tradition in Georgia, with its very unique and oldest winemaking method and over 600 grape varieties. Most of the Vineyards concentrated in the eastern part of Georgia due to more preferable conditions for vine growing. Western part of Georgia has more variety of grapes and since preferable vine growing areas are small, sporadic and isolated there are interesting wine varieties which have very distinctive and unique taste. Reaching village Nigazeuli in evening, checking into the guest house. There will be opportunity to see and even participate in traditional food making. One can also try milking a cow and making cheese with local family.
Day 5: Khikhani fortress
Drive from the village Nigazeuli on the rough terrain road, after reaching the mountain we have to start hiking till the fortress.
Khikhani Fortress is located on 2635 m above the sea level on the mountain range betreen the Skhalta- Khikhanistskali rivers. The Khikhani Fortress was built by eristavt-eristavi (Duke-of-Dukes) Tbel Abuseridze and dates twelfth- thirteenth centuries. It was built on hectare plot of the land with for main towers and with walls. The fortress also has the remains of some buildings including a bakery, wine cellar, and church. A wall has also been preserved to this day. Lunch picnic on the nice spot.
Drive toward the alpine zone, visiting spectacular alpine lakes. Reaching our guesthouse in evening. There will be opportunity to see and even participate in traditional food making. One can also try milking a cow and making cheese with local family.
Day 6: Batumi
After delicious breakfast with locally produced milk products and local dishes, saying goodbye to our host family and traveling back to Batumi. End of the tour.