Borjomi

From Akhaltsikhe it’s an easy drive along the verdant Mtkvari River valley north to Borjomi, Georgia’s most famous town for mineral waters and natural spas. (Bottles of the naturally carbonated, fairly salty mineral water are sold throughout Georgia.) It’s a lovely place to spend a few days relaxing and taking the waters and recently some of the historic spas have been modernized and upgraded. Chekhov, Tchaikovsky and the Russian royal family were among the most famous guests to be enthusiastic about taking the waters here, as was Stalin.