Samtskhe-Javakheti
Samtskhe-Javakheti is located in the south-eastern part of Georgia. It includes two historical regions: Samtskhe and Javakheti. There are 6 municipalities in the region: Adigeni, Aspindza, Akhalkalaki, Akhaltsikhe, Borjomi and Ninotsminda.
Here is the rich potential of resorts and resorts places, variety nature monuments, attractive cultural monuments and unknown sites of ancient settlement, archeological monuments. The active church-monasteries and saints kept in them make the best condition for pilgrim tourism.
Borjomi is mainly represented with resorts – as well curable as famous winter resorts.
The mineral water of Borjomi is used for curing since 40-y years of XIX century. Useful climate is also curable factor. The climate- balneotherapeutic health resorts are located on the south-eastern of Borjomi – Daba, Tsagveri, Tsemi, Tba, Libani, Likani, Bakuriani, Tsikhisjvari, Chitakhevi.
Borjomi is represented with the winter resort of international meaning – Bakuriani. The resort is located on the 1700 meters above sea level. Its climate and relief makes ideal conditions for development of winter sport. Winter is mostly windless and sunny, snow cover -18-98 cm-high, duration – from December till April.
Bakuriani is “sport capital” in winter. Tourists are interested in ski-mountain ways, cable railways, sport and curable-recreation centre. Borjomi region is signified with nature. Also, here are no less important cultural monuments.
In Borjomi gorge are registered more than 200 historical monuments. The most interesting between them are: monasteries of Tadzrisi, Nedzvi, Kviriketi, Timotesubani, Kvabiskhevi, Likani, Chitakhevi (”green”), also the castles of Petre, Gogia, Akhaldaba, former village of Tori Plato and etc. In point of nature monuments is interesting forest-park of Sadgeri Plato, lakes: Tabatskuri, Kakhisi and etc.
The best place for eco-tours is Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park.
The main tourism price of Aspindza region is expressed in its cultural heritage:
On the way from Akhaltsikhe till Aspindza we meet the village Rustavi, which is considered as the origin place of Shota Rustaveli, on the crossing of river Mtkvari and Paravani is located castle-city Khertvisi, the religion centre of V-th century – Tsunda and mythological lake Tsunda, castle-city Tmogvi – famous as “ unconquered”, caves of Vani – cave monastery, famous cave – city Vardzia…
The river Aragvi gorge is usually known with its numerous cultural monuments, in point of this is also impressed rafting – this sightseeing provides the completely different impression for tourist.
Aspindza region is also famous with resorts and mineral waters. Aspindza itself is balneotherapeutic resort – its thermal waters are used for curing of musculoskeletal system, peripheral nervous system, rheumatism, blood circulation system, chronic gynaecological and skin diseases.
Here the resort places are: Nakhalakhevi and Vardzia – with thermal, radioactive and curable-mineral waters.
Nature of Samtskhe-Javakheti is good factor for jeep tours.