Ecotourism in Guria

Today, rural Guria relies on agriculture and tourism for its primary income. Ecotourism is well suited to this unspoiled area, within easy reach of sea and mountains. Mount Gomi, just 17 kilometres (11 miles) from Ozurgeti, offers winter sports such as snowboarding and great hiking in summer. Bakhmaro, at 2,000 metres (6,562 feet) in the mountains on the Adjarian border, is known for its clean air and is popular for those with bronchial problems. It’s also the source of a pure mineral water. Its wooden houses, with lacy balustrades and peaked roofs, are reminiscent of the Alps. Up the coast from Kobuleti are the seaside towns of Ureki and Shekvetili. They’re close to the expansive Kolkheti National Park, an unspoiled nature reserve of wetlands, woodlands and biodiversity that can be visited by canoe, on horseback and on foot.