Road Trips From Batumi: The Best Routes

Road trips from Batumi lead into the Adjara mountains, to the canyons of western Georgia, up to Svaneti and south to Borjomi and Vardzia. All four start by the sea and fit into a day or a weekend with one night away.

Svaneti: the most beautiful route and the most demanding

The road to Svaneti goes through Zugdidi, and the second half of the way climbs into the mountains along the Enguri reservoir. It is asphalt as far as Mestia; beyond it, the road to Ushguli is narrow and unpaved in places, so ask about its condition in Mestia the day before.

Plan at least two days: one day is not enough to drive it and see it. The medieval Svan towers of Mestia and Ushguli are worth a night in the mountains. Leave in the morning, so the climb happens in daylight.

Western Georgia: canyons and caves

The way to Kutaisi runs along the highway across the lowlands, with no mountain stretches. Around the city are the Martvili canyon with boats on turquoise water, the Okatse canyon with its hanging walkway and Prometheus Cave with its lit halls and underground river.

All three in one day is a rush, so choose two and drive back to Batumi without hurrying. Gelati Monastery, on the UNESCO list, stands just outside Kutaisi and fits easily into that day. In Kutaisi itself, take a walk to the Colchis fountain and the White Bridge.

Road trips from Batumi into the Adjara mountains

The road to Khulo climbs the Adjaristskali gorge: hairpin bends, villages with wooden mosques and waterfalls right by the roadside. Stop at Makhuntseti waterfall and the arched Queen Tamar Bridge; several more old arched bridges survive in the gorge. Stop for lunch at a roadside café, since Adjarian food in the mountains is a reason for the trip in itself.

Further east, the road climbs to the Goderdzi pass. In winter the pass is sometimes closed after snowfall, so in the cold season check the road on the morning you set off, and in summer bring a warm layer, as it is noticeably cooler up there.

Borjomi and Vardzia: the south in a weekend

The road to Borjomi goes through Kutaisi and Khashuri. Borjomi has its park with mineral springs and a cable car; further on are Akhaltsikhe with the Rabati fortress and Vardzia, a 12th-century cave monastery cut into the cliff above the Kura.

The route fits easily into two days with a night in Borjomi or Akhaltsikhe. See Vardzia in the morning, while the rock halls are still cool, and stop in Kutaisi for an evening on the way back. In Borjomi, try the mineral water straight from the spring in the park.

Which car suits which route

• Kutaisi and the canyons — any comfortable car; the road runs across the lowlands.
• Borjomi and Vardzia — not a low sedan and not the premium class, since part of the way is in the mountains.
• Khulo and Mestia — a car with some ground clearance, not a low sedan.
• Ushguli and the Goderdzi pass — a car with more ground clearance from the SUV section.
• Any mountains in winter — winter tyres are fitted on all cars from November.

Mileage is unlimited, so there is no charge for kilometres. The car can also be returned in another large city; from Batumi to Tbilisi there is sometimes a fee, named when you book.

What the insurance does not cover in the mountains

Full comprehensive insurance is in the price, but it never covers tyres or the underbody, on any road, including gravel and mountain roads. That is the one thing to know before Goderdzi, Ushguli or any gravel stretch: a punctured tyre or a scraped underbody is paid for by the renter.

On hard stretches, drive slower than seems necessary and steer around large stones. If you are unsure about a section, stop and walk it first. Mountain roads are allowed on all our cars except premium models and low sedans.

In short

Send your request on the Batumi page with your dates and your route.