Georgia

Akhaltskhe has undergone enormous development with the renovation of the new castle (Rabati). The dilapidated town has started a revival and more and more tourists know where to find Akhaltsikhe. The repairs to the castle have not always been done authentically. Nevertheless, Rabati has gotten a unique atmosphere and it is definitely worth a visit when in Georgia.

Bakuriani is our favorite ski resort in Georgia. It still has a lot of charm and typical Georgian buildings. The ski area is not very big, but the freeride part makes up for everything. You can shoot down between the trees anywhere. The Kokhta and Mitarbi chairlifts in particular will take you to the pristine white stuff.

The coastal city of Batumi has grown enormously in recent years. Many foreign investments have been attracted with a government program. Large hotel chains such as Hilton, Sheraton and Wyndham have already settled there. With glittering skyscrapers, the Batumi skyline is constantly changing.

The Trinity Church of Gergeti is one of the main stops for tourists. From the town of Stepantsminda you can already see the mighty church. At an altitude of more than 2000 meters lies a unique piece of Georgian architecture. The church is inhabited all year round by monks who live in an adjacent complex. Gergeti is fantastic to visit at any time of the year. But in winter it is nice and quiet.

The Japan of Georgia, Goderdzi has the most snowfall in the entire Caucasus. In addition, many deciduous trees grow here so it's ideal for tree skiing. We have been coming here for many years with incredible pleasure. We would like to buy a typical cabin in the mountains. To create a base for ski touring and cat skiing. Nice project for the future.

The town of Gori is centrally located in Georgia, near the border with South Ossetia. During the last war with Russia (in 2008) the Dutch cameraman Stan Storimans died here. The city has risen from the ashes and tries to develop more emphaty as a tourist destination

Gudauri is the largest ski area in the Caucasus with 75 km of slopes. Especially since 2012, huge investments have been made to make Gudauri compete with European standards. Modern gondolas have been built, snow cannons have been installed and avalanche experts have been hired. With the construction of New Gudauri, development has entered a new phase. Modern New Gudauri is reminiscent of a French ski station. Just with modern gadgets.

Mtshketa is the former capital of Georgia. It is located on a small piece of land between the rivers Mtkvari and Aragvi. When space became too limited here, the capital moved to neighboring Tbilisi. Mtshketa is known for the most difficult named cathedral in the world. The Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.

Stepantsminda is the last town on the road from Tbilisi to Russia. It is in a unique location, at the foot of the mighty mountain Kazbegi (5.033m). Stepantsminda has been an important place for the defense of the Georgians since the Middle Ages. Now tourism seems to be heralding a renaissance. Guesthouses are expanded and activities are set up. Outwardly, the Gergeti Trinity Church is still the cultural highlight of Stepantsminda.

Tbilisi (თბილისი) is a city like a labyrinth. A city to wander into. A haze of past glory hangs around overgrown courtyards of seemingly collapsing buildings that stand next to futuristic glass structures. Persian bathhouses are popping up between Kafkaesque soviet blocks and a thousand and one churches and mosques.

The ancient city of Uplistsikhe has been inhabited since the Iron Age. From the first century BC they started carving out cave houses and around the 4th century Uplistsikhe was an important stop on the Silk Road from Azerbaijan to the Black Sea. There was a market, pharmacy, shops and animal shelters. In addition, there was drainage and fresh drinking water facilities. After the Muslim conquests in the 10th, the city fell into disrepair.

A cave complex that is unparalleled. Vardzia is one of the best preserved buildings from the time of Queen Tamara. An earthquake in 1283 caused a large part of the outer walls to collapse. As a result, the houses are now visible from the outside. This was not the case before. It was a place of refuge in case of (war) threat.