To See in Samegrelo

This region has many natural features, or national monuments – like caves and waterfalls – that are fun to visit, especially in the foothills of the Caucasus. The Georgians have begun developing some of the best sites for tourism. Mukhuri has mineral waters that never freeze, even in –25°C (–13°F) winter temperatures. From there, in summer, adventurous hikers can trek 45 kilometres (28 miles) up into the mountains to the remote Tobavarchkhili Lake, an Alpine lake at nearly 3,000 metres (9,483 feet), and one of the most stunning scenic spots in northern Samegrelo, on the border with Svaneti. A less time-consuming and challenging alternative is to take a jeep for the first 30 kilometres (18 miles) and walk the last 10 (6) to the lakes. Martvili has an impressive natural canyon.