Western Georgia

Famous as the destination of Jason and the Argonauts in their search for the golden fleece, western Georgia is home to Georgia’s third-largest city, Kutaisi, and is full of easily accessible historical, architectural and natural riches. The region has always acted as a conduit for influences from the west, from the Ancient Greeks to St Nino to the Ottoman Turks. It was for long periods ruled separately from eastern Georgia, but was also where the great united Georgian kingdom of the 11th and 12th centuries made its start. Today the region attracts huge numbers of visitors, primarily as many of its sights are within a relatively short distance of each other, and their accessibility has been dramatically improved in recent years. However, it's not hard to get off the beaten track and discover areas as yet untouched by Georgia's tourism miracle.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Western Georgia.

  • Monastery

    Gelati Monastery

    This Unesco World Heritage–listed monastery complex, on a wooded hillside 8km northeast of Kutaisi, is an outstanding example of Golden Age architecture and one of Georgia's most important churches. Gelati was a cultural hub of Georgia's medieval renaissance, and many Georgian rulers were buried here, including the great 12th-century king, David the Builder. The interior of the main Cathedral of the Virgin is among the brightest and most colourful in Georgia, with fascinating frescoes.

  • Cathedral

    Bagrati Cathedral

    Kutaisi's cathedral was built in 1003 by Bagrat III, with a tall drum and pointed dome resting on four freestanding pillars. In 1692 a Turkish explosion brought down drum, dome and ceiling to leave the cathedral in a ruined state. It was fully renovated between 2009 and 2012, with a mix of old and new stone and a few steel sections.

  • Canyon

    Okatse Canyon

    An exciting 700m-long walkway projects from the edge of this 100m-deep canyon and culminates in a viewing platform that hangs right out over the middle. It's a 2.5km hike from the visitors centre near Zeda Gordi village, 42km northwest of Kutaisi. A jeep back to the visitors centre afterwards costs 15 GEL for five or six people.

  • Fortress

    Nokalakevi Fortress

    Nokalakevi is an ancient Colchian fortress built on the banks of the Tekhuri River. It's been mooted as one of the (many) places to have housed the Golden Fleece, and is well worth a detour to explore, not least for the impressively engineered tunnel on the far side of the complex leading down to the river. Admission includes an interesting archaeological museum, a new building for which was under construction at research time. Excavations are ongoing (see www.nokalakevi.org).

  • Museum

    Dadiani Museum

    The castle-like palace of the Dadiani family (old lords of Samegrelo) is now a museum set in beautifully maintained grounds. As well as interesting 19th-century paintings of the Caucasus and a fine collection of icons and crosses from the 10th to 20th centuries (in the Treasury section, which can only be visited on a guided tour), it contains one of Napoleon’s four bronze death masks, acquired through marriage between Princess Salome Dadiani and Achille Murat, Napoleon's nephew.

  • Canyon

    Martvili Canyon

    The attractive Martvili Canyon has been comprehensively adapted to the needs of tourists and now contains multiple walkways and bridges giving lovely views, although between the crowds and the built environment, it feels far from natural. Rides up the Abasha River through the 40m- to 70m-deep canyon itself are pretty, though not an overwhelmingly exciting ride: the price per small inflatable boat (five or six passengers) is 15 GEL to go 350m up the canyon and back, or 30 GEL for 700m.

  • Waterfall

    Kinchkha Waterfall

    This impressive waterfall cascades 88m down the side of a huge limestone cliff, runs through a narrow gorge and then crashes down again to a pool below and on into the Okatse River. It's a gorgeous spot, made totally accessible by the construction of a metal walkway through the gorge allowing for stellar views of the site, even if it rather detracts from the natural wonder itself. It's usually combined with a visit to the Okatse Canyon.

  • Museum

    Kutaisi Historical Museum

    The history museum has superb collections from all around western Georgia, but a guided tour is a good idea as labelling is poor. The highlight is the Golden Fund section, with a marvellous exhibition of icons and crosses in precious metals and jewels, including a large, reputedly miracle-working icon that used to reside in the Bagrati Cathedral.

  • Archaeological Site

    Vani

    You'll need to use your imagination to get much out of this ancient city site, which was one of the main centres of Colchis, flourishing from the 8th to 1st centuries BC. Some speculate that it could have been the city of King Aeëtes, where Jason came in search of the golden fleece. The museum here, connected to the site by a stylish bridge, was closed for refurbishment when we last visited, and was due to reopen by 2020 after years of building.