Ajara

Ajara is Georgia's Black Sea coast and the mountains that rise straight behind it. Batumi, the capital, is a subtropical port city of palms, belle-époque façades and a modern skyline, with a long stone beach and a boulevard that fills every summer evening. An hour inland, the same region becomes a world of stone arched bridges, alpine villages and terraced tea, where the road to the Goderdzi pass climbs above two thousand metres.

The coast runs from the Turkish border at Sarpi past Gonio, with its Roman fortress, to the family resorts of Kobuleti and the magnetic black sands of Ureki. The mountain districts of Keda, Shuakhevi and Khulo are the place for hiking, waterfalls and a distinct highland cuisine built on cheese, honey and corn.

Ajara has a warm, humid climate: the sea season runs from June to September, while spring and autumn suit the mountains. Batumi's airport and the fast road from Tbilisi make it easy to combine the coast with the rest of the country.