Bakhmaro
Summer mountain resort at about 2,000 m in Guria's spruce forests, known for wooden cottages, sunsets above the clouds and an August horse race.
BakhmaroPhoto: Nelson.ksk, CC BY-SA 4.0Bakhmaro is a high mountain resort at around 2,000 m on the Meskheti range in Chokhatauri municipality, set in a valley of spruce forest ringed by peaks of 2,300 to 2,700 m; the highest, Sarkornia, reaches 2,755 m. Georgians have come here in summer for well over a century for the clean air, which locals believe heals the lungs, ideally over a stay of 21 days. The resort is a loose village of wooden cottages, many rented by the week or season, with a bazaar, a few cafés and a handful of hotels.
The season is short, essentially July and August, and the resort is hard to reach from November to April. Days are spent walking the ridges, riding horses, visiting cold springs and climbing Sunset Hill in the evening, when cloud often fills the valleys below. On 19 August, the feast of the Transfiguration, Bakhmaro holds a traditional horse race that draws thousands of spectators. Bring warm clothes, as nights are cold even in midsummer.
What to see and do
- Watch the sunset from Sunset Hill above the clouds
- Join the crowds at the horse race on 19 August
- Hire a horse to ride the surrounding ridges
- Walk to the cold springs around the resort
- Buy homemade dairy products at the bazaar
How to visit
Getting there
Bakhmaro is about 50 km from Chokhatauri on a mountain road, roughly 1.5 hours by car, and about 6 hours from Tbilisi in total. In summer, marshrutkas run from Ozurgeti, Chokhatauri and Tbilisi.
When to go
July and August; the horse race on 19 August. Plan 2-5 days here.
- Book a cottage early for July and August
- Many cottages have outdoor toilets and spring water, so check facilities before you book
- Use low gears and go easy on the brakes on the long descent
- Bring warm layers and rain gear
Bakhmaro: FAQ
When is the Bakhmaro horse race?
Every year on 19 August, the Orthodox feast of the Transfiguration. It starts around midday and draws thousands of spectators.
Can you visit Bakhmaro in winter?
Not easily. Snow makes the resort hard to reach from roughly November to April, and most cottages and cafés open only in summer.
Nearby places
Straight-line distance from Bakhmaro.
