As usual we don’t get that much snow in Kutaisi, but when it comes the city becomes twice as beautiful as it is. Here are 10 things I recommend to do in snowy Kutaisi. 1. Getting ready for the snowy day
Feeling cold and uncomfortable is the last thing you want to feel outside. Once you wake up get a hot shower to worm up your body. Make sure your hair is 100% dry to avoid getting cold because of it. I strongly recommend to use thermal underwear. They are lightweight and keeps you really worm in the coldest days of the winter. But don’t get too low quality ones. They will make you sweating on hiking and run. Marino wool is the best material for the thermal underwear. Wool socks are great option to keep your feet worm. You can get thermal socks as well. Get a cotton pants, cotton hoody or something as comfortable (difficult to find something as comfortable as hoody) and your outfit is almost done. Hiking shoes have a very good grip on ice and snow, so get one of them on the trip. Use special cream if your skin is sensitive to cold. Get a warm breakfast and that’s it, you’re ready for Georgian winter.
2. Visit Sataplia Nature Reserve
This place is unbelievable beautiful in snow. 2 km hike will warm up your joints and muscles. There is a cave inside the reserve, where temperature is always 14 degrees Celsius. Humidity inside the cave is up to 98% and the oxygen is 25%. In brief it’s a perfect therapy for lungs. The views from the trail are great for social media stories and posts, so get the phone ready for it. 3. Bagrati cathedral
This place is always very beautiful and nice, but it’s the most beautiful in winter when it’s covered by snow. The church was built in 11th century, but people lived at this place B.C. There is a church, a bell-tower, ruins of the castle and bath, fence and jars for wine in the complex. There is a panoramic view to the old town and the south Caucasus mountain range from the church yard.
4. Tskhrajvari & Shaori lake
55 km away from Kutaisi there is located Shaori lake that gets frozen in winter. It’s a really beautiful place for camping and for taking good pictures. Near the lake is Tskhrajvari church, but in case of big snow driveway to there is blocked and you’ve to hike up to 5 km in a deep snow. The last 500 meters of the trail is so steep and rocky it might be impossible to reach the top. I suggest to visit it only in case of low snow, max up to 10 cm. 5. Motsameta monastery
The complex built on the cape, surrounding by 80 meters deep canyon and amazing views – totally worth to see this in snow. I suggest to leave a car at the parking, cross the railway by foot and walk down to the monastery. The road is 6% downhill. You can probably drive down without a damage, but coming up might be tricky even with AWD vehicle and snow tires. Take a good look around, make some nice shots, pray if you are Cristian and hike back to the parking. Thank me later.
6. Gelati monastery
This one is located even higher than Motsameta, so snow will be higher here. The monastery was built in 12th century. There are 3 big churches from 12th, 13th and 16th centuries, a bell-tower, houses of monks, 12th century academy and the grave of David The Builder, who was the greatest king in the history of Georgia. Do the same things there.
7. Have a hot chocolate at Lilestan
Coming back to the city have a walk in the downtown. But before that grab a hot beverage at Lilestan. This is a restaurant with the style and quite delicious food. Lunch out here is a good idea as well, but if you’re not a lunch person just get a hot drink to heat up the body. 8. Take a walk in the downtown of Kutaisi
Kutaisi is the oldest city in Georgia. There are lot’s of beautiful old building and streets in the center. Here is my favorite route: If you start walking from the restaurant “Lilestan”, go directly to the central square. Here is Colchis fountain, a Drama theatre and the entrance of the central park. Walk in the park and visit the Opera house. Here cross the street and walk to the “Mon Plaisir” arch where are really nice graffiti art drawings. Walk to the School #1, to the tourism center of Kutaisi and down to the river bank. Here you can visit the Golden Marque that is the oldest building in the downtown. Next to it is located soviet cable car that will bring you up to amusement park. You can take the stairs back or the cable car. The next must see place is a white bridge, but be careful if it’s covered with snow or ice. The surface is made by the metal and the glass and it’s super slippery and dangerous.
9. Sulfur bath of Dikhashkho
To the sauth of Kutaisi, 40 km away is sulfur bath of Dikhashkho. It’s a natural geyser and is totally public. It gets more and more popular and crowded, so I suggest to visit it in the morning. The most of Georgians are not morning people, so no one will come here at 8 a.m. to take a bath. I strongly recommend to keep car running and warm to get in from the pool.
10. Sairme resort
On the way back you can visit Sairme resort. Here are quite a lot of things to do: hot swimming pools, bakery, shooting gallery, mineral water springs, zip line and a deep snow to get stuck by the car, so watch out. if you get stuck locals will just stop and help you to get our of snow. Here is a quite fancy hotel where you can stay.
Keep in mind this suggestions and travel in Georgia anytime.