Beshumi

By Mariam Lomidze, GTour desk · Fact-checked against the sources listed · Last checked 17 October 2026 · Editorial policy

Overview

Beshumi is a mountain climatic resort in Guria, western Georgia, set in the forested uplands of the Meskheti Range (part of the Lesser Caucasus) within Chokhatauri Municipality. It sits at an elevation of roughly 1,900 metres, among beech and coniferous forest and open alpine meadow, a short ridge away from the better-known resort of Bakhmaro. The air is cool and resin-scented even in midsummer, and on clear days the hills open toward views of lowland Guria and, in the distance, the Black Sea coast.

Beshumi matters as part of a network of Soviet-era highland health resorts that once drew visitors from across Georgia for the mountain climate, and it remains a quiet summer retreat rather than a commercial resort town. It is visited today mainly by Georgian families escaping the coastal heat, by hikers using it as a base for walks through the Guria highlands, and by travellers combining it with the wineries, mineral-water springs and villages of Chokhatauri Municipality lower down the valley. GTour includes Beshumi in private itineraries through the Guria region hub and custom tours on request.

History

The wider Guria region has a documented history stretching from its existence as a semi-independent principality under the Gurieli dynasty from the late medieval period until its incorporation into the Russian Empire in 1829–1830, following earlier unification with the Kingdom of Imereti and periods of Ottoman pressure along the coast. The highland interior around Chokhatauri, where Beshumi lies, remained sparsely settled pastoral and forest land through this period, used seasonally by lowland communities for grazing and timber.

Beshumi’s development as a resort follows the pattern seen across the Georgian mountains during the Soviet period, when the climate of forested highland sites was promoted for rest and recuperation and simple boarding houses, sanatorium buildings and access tracks were built at altitude. Since Georgian independence in 1991, both resorts have continued to function informally as summer retreats, with infrastructure maintained unevenly and visitor numbers driven mainly by domestic demand rather than organised tourism.

What to see

Beshumi forest and meadows

The resort itself is less a built destination than a setting: mixed beech and coniferous forest opening onto alpine meadow, criss-crossed by walking tracks that are used informally rather than waymarked. Early morning and evening light through the trees, and the cool air at altitude, are the main draw for visitors from the lowlands.

Bakhmaro

A short drive or walk along the ridge connects Beshumi to Bakhmaro, the larger and older of Guria’s two principal highland resorts, with more guesthouses, a small market in season and panoramic viewpoints over the surrounding valleys. The two sites are often visited together as a single highland excursion.

Nabeghlavi springs

Lower in Chokhatauri Municipality, the village of Nabeghlavi gives its name to a well-known Georgian mineral water bottled from local springs; travellers descending from Beshumi can stop at the springs and surrounding village on the way back toward the Guria lowlands.

Chokhatauri town and valley

The municipal centre of Chokhatauri, in the valley below the resort, is a practical stop for fuel, supplies and a look at a typical small Guria town, and serves as the usual junction point for the mountain road up to Beshumi and Bakhmaro.

Getting there

From Tbilisi, Beshumi is reached by the main west-bound highway toward Kutaisi and Samtredia, then south on regional roads through Chokhatauri Municipality and up the mountain track to the resort, a journey of about 5 hours 5 minutes by car. From Kutaisi the route runs via Samtredia and Chokhatauri before the climb to Beshumi, around 5 hours 15 minutes, the longer time reflecting the condition of the final mountain stretch rather than the straight-line distance. From Batumi the drive is shorter, roughly 3 hours 55 minutes, via Guria’s lowland towns and then up through Chokhatauri.

Marshrutka services run from Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi to Chokhatauri, but onward transport up to Beshumi is limited and seasonal, so most visitors continue by private car, hired taxi or organised transfer for the final climb. There is no rail access; the nearest stations are on the Georgian Railway lowland network. The mountain road’s final section is narrow, partly unpaved and can be closed or difficult after heavy rain or early snow, so checking conditions in advance through GTour’s road status page is advisable, and GTour arranges private transfers and guided days from all three cities via GTour tours.

When to go

Beshumi is a summer resort in the practical sense: it is most accessible and most used from June to September, when the forest road is clear and daytime temperatures at altitude are a cool relief from the coastal and lowland heat. Outside this window the resort is quiet to the point of being largely closed, with limited services, and winter snow can make the final approach impassable. Travellers planning a highland excursion should combine it with a summer visit to the Guria coast or Kutaisi rather than attempt it in the colder months.

Where to stay and eat

Accommodation directly in Beshumi is limited to a small number of simple guesthouses and seasonal boarding houses, with more choice available down the valley in Chokhatauri or in neighbouring Bakhmaro. For dining, options are similarly modest and seasonal, generally simple Guria home-style cooking served by guesthouse hosts rather than independent restaurants. GTour’s verified register of hotels, guesthouses and restaurants in the wider Guria region, including places near Beshumi and in Chokhatauri, is listed in the best-of Guria selection, and travel planning for the area can be arranged through GTour’s regional guides.

Practical notes

Mobile network coverage is patchy at altitude and can disappear entirely on parts of the access road. A vehicle with reasonable ground clearance is recommended for the final unpaved stretch, especially after rain. Even in summer, evenings at 1,900 metres are cool, and warm layers are worth carrying regardless of the forecast in the lowlands. Cash should be carried, as card payment is unreliable or unavailable at guesthouses and small shops in the resort area.

Questions travellers ask

Is Beshumi the same as Bakhmaro?

No. Beshumi and Bakhmaro are separate, neighbouring highland resorts in Chokhatauri Municipality, Guria, connected by a short ridge road or walking track. Bakhmaro is larger and better known, while Beshumi is smaller and quieter.

How far is Beshumi from Tbilisi?

The drive is approximately 5 hours 5 minutes by car via Kutaisi and Samtredia, followed by a mountain climb from Chokhatauri Municipality.

Can I reach Beshumi by public transport?

Marshrutkas reach Chokhatauri from Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi, but onward transport up to the resort is limited and seasonal, so a private vehicle, taxi or arranged transfer is usually needed for the final stretch.

Is the road to Beshumi paved?

Much of the route is paved as far as Chokhatauri, but the final section climbing to the resort is narrow and partly unpaved, and can be affected by rain or early snow.

What is the best time of year to visit?

June to September is the practical season, when the road is clear and temperatures at altitude are a cool contrast to the coast and lowlands; the resort is largely inactive outside these months.

Is there accommodation in Beshumi itself?

A small number of simple guesthouses operate seasonally in Beshumi, with a wider choice available nearby in Bakhmaro and in Chokhatauri town.

What is there to do at Beshumi besides the scenery?

Activities are centred on walking in the surrounding forest and meadow, visiting Bakhmaro along the ridge, and combining the resort with a stop at the Nabeghlavi mineral-water springs lower in the valley.

Is Beshumi suitable for a day trip from Batumi?

It is possible given the roughly 3 hours 55 minute driving time each way, but the condition of the final road and the altitude change make an overnight stay, or a guided day arranged through GTour, a more comfortable option than a rushed return trip.

Does mobile signal work at Beshumi?

Coverage is inconsistent and can drop out entirely on parts of the access road and within the forest, so travellers should not rely on it for navigation or communication.

Can GTour arrange a private visit to Beshumi?

Yes. GTour organises private transfers and guided itineraries to Beshumi and the wider Guria highlands, combining the resort with verified guesthouses, wineries and other regional sights listed in its register.

Sources

• Georgian National Tourism Administration — Guria region