Bakhmaro Resort

By Mariam Lomidze, GTour desk · Fact-checked against the sources listed · Last checked 16 October 2026 · Editorial policy

Overview

Bakhmaro Resort is a high-altitude mountain settlement in the Chokhatauri Municipality of Guria, the small region that stretches from the Black Sea coast into the forested foothills of the Lesser Caucasus. The village sits on a ridge above the Bakhvistskali river valley, well off the main coastal and inland highways, and is reached only after a long climb through beech and spruce forest. It functions less as a town than as a seasonal community of wooden cottages, used for a few summer months each year by families, herders and visitors escaping the heat of the lowlands.

Bakhmaro matters to Georgia’s travel geography because it represents an older, largely undocumented tradition of domestic mountain tourism that predates the ski-resort development seen elsewhere in the country. Its wooden architecture, open alpine meadows and association with clean air and dairy farming make it a useful counterpoint to the monasteries and wine regions that dominate most itineraries. GTour includes Bakhmaro in private itineraries for travellers who want to see rural Guria beyond the coastal towns, and the village is covered in GTour’s regional guides to the area.

History

Guria itself has a documented history reaching back to medieval Georgian principalities, but Bakhmaro’s story as a named destination is much shorter and tied specifically to the discovery of its climate., the site began to be used from the early twentieth century as a climatic health resort, valued for its elevation, clean air and cool summer temperatures, qualities that were thought beneficial for people with respiratory conditions and general fatigue.

Development intensified during the Soviet period, when sanatoria, children’s camps and seasonal guesthouses were built on the ridge to accommodate workers sent from across the Soviet Union for rest cures. Much of the distinctive two-storey wooden housing stock that still defines Bakhmaro’s appearance dates from this era and from local Gurian building traditions, in which carpenters assembled timber cottages with minimal use of nails. The practice is described in general terms in regional accounts of Guria and its vernacular architecture.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the formal sanatorium system declined along with state subsidies for workers’ holidays, and many buildings fell into disrepair or were abandoned outside the short summer season. Since the 2000s, Bakhmaro has re-emerged gradually as a domestic and increasingly international summer destination, valued by Georgian visitors for its meadows, horse riding and fresh dairy products rather than for the medical cures once advertised under Soviet planning. The settlement remains administratively part of Chokhatauri Municipality, within the Guria region.

What to see

The wooden resort houses

The core of Bakhmaro is its cluster of weathered, two-storey timber cottages built on the slope facing the valley, many dating from the early to mid-twentieth century. The carpentry style, associated with Gurian builders, favours close-fitted timber joints rather than heavy use of metal fixings. Walking the unpaved lanes between the houses gives a sense of a resort community that has changed little in layout since the Soviet period.

Alpine meadows and ridge views

Above the village, open pastureland rises toward the surrounding ridgeline, offering wide views over forested valleys toward the Black Sea lowlands on clear days. These meadows are used for grazing cattle and horses through the summer and are the main reason visitors come to walk or ride rather than to see any single monument.

Horse riding and short treks

Local families and informal operators offer horse rides along the ridge tracks that connect Bakhmaro to neighbouring summer settlements. The terrain suits short excursions rather than long mountaineering routes, and is best undertaken with a local guide familiar with the paths and weather changes.

Chokhatauri and the Nabeghlavi spring

On the descent toward the lowlands, the town of Chokhatauri and the nearby village of Nabeghlavi are worth a stop. Nabeghlavi is known across Georgia as the source of a bottled mineral water carrying the same name, and the surrounding valley gives a contrast of cultivated farmland after the open pasture of Bakhmaro itself.

Getting there

From Tbilisi, Bakhmaro is reached by road in roughly 5 hours 55 minutes, travelling west on the main highway toward Kutaisi and then turning south through Guria toward Chokhatauri before climbing the mountain road to the resort. From Kutaisi, the drive takes about 2 hours 40 minutes, and from Batumi approximately 3 hours, both routes converging on Chokhatauri before the ascent. There is no rail link to Bakhmaro; the nearest stations served by Georgian Railway are in Kutaisi and Batumi, from which onward travel must be by road.

Marshrutka (shared minibus) services run seasonally from Chokhatauri up to Bakhmaro during the summer months, timed loosely around demand rather than a fixed schedule, and travellers often combine a marshrutka to Chokhatauri with a taxi or shared jeep for the final climb. The upper section of the access road is steep, narrow and partly unpaved, and is best checked in advance through GTour’s road status page before travelling independently, particularly after heavy rain. GTour arranges private transfers with an English-speaking driver for travellers who prefer not to negotiate the mountain road themselves.

When to go

Bakhmaro is a summer destination by design. The resort is at its most active from July to early September, when temperatures in the valleys below become uncomfortably warm and the ridge offers a noticeably cooler climate. Outside these months, many guesthouses close, the access road is more difficult to pass, and in winter snow can make the final stretch impassable without appropriate vehicles. Travellers aiming for hiking and open meadows should plan for the height of summer; those wanting quieter conditions with fewer visitors may prefer late June or mid-September, weather permitting.

Where to stay and eat

Accommodation in Bakhmaro consists mainly of family-run guesthouses in the traditional wooden cottages, offering simple rooms and home-cooked Gurian meals, typically featuring local dairy products, corn bread and seasonal vegetables. Given the short season and the informal nature of much of the lodging, travellers are advised to confirm availability ahead of a summer visit rather than arriving unannounced. GTour’s verified register of hotels, guesthouses and restaurants for Guria, including options closer to Chokhatauri and the coast, is listed in the best of Guria guide and can be combined with a Bakhmaro visit through GTour’s private tours.

Practical notes

The access road to Bakhmaro gains significant elevation over a short distance and includes unpaved sections; a vehicle with good ground clearance is recommended, and four-wheel drive is advisable after rain. Mobile network coverage is limited and intermittent on the final approach and within parts of the village itself. Cash is the most reliable means of payment, since card facilities are scarce at this altitude. Warm clothing is advisable even in summer, as evenings on the ridge are noticeably cooler than in Tbilisi, Kutaisi or Batumi, and weather can change quickly.

Questions travellers ask

How high up is Bakhmaro?

Bakhmaro sits at a notably high elevation for a Guria settlement, on a forested ridge well above the surrounding valleys. Exact figures vary slightly between sources, but the resort’s defining feature is its cool summer climate relative to the lowlands, which is why it developed as a seasonal retreat in the first place.

Is Bakhmaro open all year?

No. Bakhmaro functions mainly as a summer resort, with most guesthouses and services operating from roughly July to early September. Outside this window, the access road becomes harder to pass and much of the accommodation closes.

Can I reach Bakhmaro without my own car?

Seasonal marshrutka services connect Chokhatauri to Bakhmaro in summer, though schedules are informal and tied to demand. Many travellers combine public transport to Chokhatauri with a private taxi, jeep or GTour transfer for the final, steeper stretch.

Is the road to Bakhmaro paved?

Only part of it. The lower sections toward Chokhatauri are paved, but the final climb to the resort includes unpaved and sometimes rough stretches, which can be difficult after heavy rain. Checking conditions in advance, including through GTour’s road status page, is recommended.

What is Bakhmaro best known for?

Bakhmaro is known among Georgians as a traditional climatic health resort dating from the early twentieth century, valued for its cool mountain air, alpine meadows and distinctive wooden cottage architecture built by local Gurian carpenters.

Can Bakhmaro be visited as a day trip from Batumi?

It is possible but demanding, since the one-way drive from Batumi takes around three hours over mountain roads. Most visitors prefer to stay at least one night in Bakhmaro or combine the visit with a wider Guria itinerary rather than attempting a single-day round trip.

What food is Bakhmaro known for?

The area is known for fresh dairy products, including local cheese, along with corn bread and seasonal vegetable dishes typical of Gurian home cooking. Guesthouse meals in Bakhmaro tend to be simple, home-produced and seasonal rather than restaurant-style.

Are there marked hiking trails around Bakhmaro?

There are informal paths across the surrounding meadows and ridgelines, used by herders and horse riders as much as by hikers, but formal waymarked trails are limited. Travellers unfamiliar with the terrain are advised to walk with a local guide, particularly given how quickly weather can change at altitude.

Is there mobile signal in Bakhmaro?

Coverage is patchy and can disappear entirely on parts of the access road and within the village. Visitors should not rely on constant connectivity and should plan accordingly, including carrying cash since card payment is unreliable.

Does GTour arrange transport to Bakhmaro?

Yes. GTour organises private transfers and guided day trips or multi-day itineraries to Bakhmaro from Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi, combining the resort with other verified sights in Guria listed in GTour’s regional guides.

Sources

• Georgian Railway
• Georgian National Tourism Administration — Guria region