Hello everyone. As part of our trip to Georgia, we visited Tsemi, a small holiday village. It’s located between Bakuriani and Borjomi. We chose this place because it offers a unique vacation experience. Surrounded by mountains, the area boasts stunning nature, fresh air, tranquility and peace. There are many interesting spots here. We wanted to visit both Borjomi and Bakuriani but weren’t quite sure where to start. So we decided to explore Tsemi first.
We took a taxi from Borjomi to get here, which cost only 20 GEL. We could have taken a minibus as well, but since we were in a bit of a rush, we opted for a taxi. A minibus ride costs about 1 GEL, making it a very cheap and convenient option. When we arrived a strange wind greeted us, but the view was absolutely breathtaking. Everywhere you look, there’s nature, serenity and a few scattered houses. There are cabins, hotels and cows welcoming visitors like us. I’m glad the cows don’t come too close because I’m a bit afraid of large animals.
We’ve now settled into our cozy cabin. This place is close to ski resorts like Bakuriani, making it a perfect base for winter travelers who want to enjoy nature and easily access skiing destinations. Bakuriani is about 15 km away. In the evening, we took a little walk around the village. We followed the railway tracks, trying to find a famous and beautiful bridge said to be in the area.
I had seen photos of this bridge but didn’t realize it was in this village. I thought it was in a more remote location, accessible only by car. However, locals informed us that the bridge was right here and could be reached on foot. So, we decided to check it out. They mentioned that the bridge offers stunning views. Since we weren’t entirely sure of the directions, we just followed the described path. I thought we might come across something interesting along the way.
The village is dotted with small houses, giving it an authentic countryside vibe. For those who love nature and rural atmospheres, this place is heaven. Interestingly we learned that trains pass through the tracks here twice a day. The train stops right next to the cabin, providing a perfect photo opportunity. There’s even a small train station-like area here. Everything is so tiny and charming. Between Borjomi and Bakuriani, there’s a historical train route called Kukushka. A journey on this train is a delightful way to enjoy the scenic views.
The area is incredibly peaceful, with only the sounds of birds and crickets breaking the silence. We fully embraced the tranquility of nature.
On our walk, we came across a football field where children were playing. Despite being a small village, it seemed quite lively. The cars here also caught my attention, as many of them were quite luxurious. It’s likely that the residents run their own businesses, perhaps family-owned ventures.
Walking along the railway tracks towards the bridge, the lush greenery around us created a magical atmosphere. Even when we stepped onto a concrete road, the trees continued to surround us, as if watching over us. This place is famous for its clean air, attracting many visitors seeking health benefits. We were here to refresh ourselves and find peace.
After some time, we finally reached the place known as the Eiffel Bridge. This bridge was influenced by the designs of French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, which is why it’s commonly referred to by this name. Its official name is the Tsagveri-Tsemi Bridge. Built at the beginning of the last century, it’s one of the region’s significant historical landmarks. The moment we arrived, we felt as though we had stepped into a fairytale.
The sound of the river flowing beneath the bridge and the sight of small waterfalls created a magical ambiance. We had watched drone videos of this place before and seeing it in real life was even more incredible. Standing on the bridge and admiring the surroundings was a special experience. To the right, you could see the river and to the left, a canyon-like formation. Visiting this place was definitely worth it.
What stood out the most was the absence of tourists. We only saw a few locals from the village. This made the experience even more special, as there were no crowds or queues typical of tourist attractions. We could take photos and enjoy nature at our own pace. My friend and I had a little photoshoot before deciding to head back to the cabin before nightfall. The walk to the bridge took about 25 minutes.
When we returned to the cabin, the evening atmosphere was enchanting. Lanterns were lit and there was a fire burning. The setting was magical. Many hotels here have such seating areas where guests can sit around a fire and enjoy the evening.
The next day we arrived in Bakuriani, a place famous for its ski holidays... It's probably the most popular ski resort in Georgia. People come here in winter to ski or in summer to enjoy the beauty of the mountains and nature. It took us about half an hour by bus from Borjomi and then we took a taxi to the main area. There are actually two ski lifts here, but we chose the one called Crystal. Both lifts were said to be nice, but we made a somewhat random decision and headed for the first one we found.
This area is filled with hotels. As we walked towards the ski lift, we saw that many people were heading in that direction as well. At first, everything seemed a bit chaotic. The bus station we arrived at had little more than shops and small restaurants. However, as we got closer to the ski lift area, the scenery started to change and the mountains and nature began to reveal themselves. This place was different from what I had imagined. When we arrived in Bakuriani, I had expected the area to be surrounded by mountains and filled with organized platforms, but instead, I encountered something completely different.
The air in the mountains is definitely cooler than in Tbilisi. It was about 22 degrees here, while in Tbilisi, it was around 30 degrees. You definitely need to bring something warm with you, as it can get quite windy, especially here. Even though it was summer, the weather was fairly cool. When we arrived at the ski lift area, we noticed there were a lot of children around. We decided to move ahead to see what was going on.
I had expected there to be many walking and biking paths here, but I didn’t see any. Perhaps more exploration is needed. The area was very calm, with Crystal Hotel, cafes and restaurants. You can buy lift tickets right here. A round-trip ticket costs 9 dollars per person. In winter, the price doubles because prices go up during the ski season. Along the way, we saw many places where you can rent ski equipment. Of course, we didn’t need these things in the warm weather, but I assume it gets quite crowded here in winter. People must book their reservations in advance.
There’s also the famous Bakuriani water here. In Georgia Borjomi and Bakuriani waters are sold. The bottles have pictures of mountains on them and it’s said that the water is sourced directly from the local springs. In fact Bakuriani water is claimed to be bottled directly from the source, without any processing, while Borjomi is processed.
Since we had bought lift tickets, we decided to start from there. We thought the best views would likely be seen from the lift. The area was quite nice, with a small park and benches placed around. Those who wanted could walk up the mountain, but since we had a round-trip ticket, we decided to take the lift. The mountains and nature were impressive and despite the cloudy weather, the views were beautiful. Perhaps the weather even made the photos look brighter.
As we boarded the lift, what caught my attention was that the cabins were a bit scratched. The cabins in Tbilisi looked cleaner and newer, but these ones seemed a bit worn out. This was somewhat annoying because you’re paying 9 dollars. Fortunately, it was still possible to enjoy the views from outside.
As we went up the mountain, the scenery became absolutely amazing. However, the swaying of the cabins due to the wind was a bit unsettling. When we reached the top, we saw that we were at an altitude of 2.256 meters. There was a frame that said Crystal Sky, a restaurant and a panoramic cafe at the top. The views from the top were impressive. There are also hiking paths that can take you up the mountain, but since there’s no other ski lift, you have to walk all the way to the top if you want to go up.
The wind made the air quite cool, but the views and nature at this altitude were definitely worth the trip. As we continued to explore, the higher we went, the more beautiful the views became.
Ah, friends, we finally reached the top. Honestly, the ski lift ride was a bit extreme, but we were at the most beautiful panoramic point of Bakuriani. This spot is 2.135 meters high and is a paradise for views. There are benches around and as you look in every direction, you’re greeted by mountains, greenery and nature. The only downside is the strong wind, but this beauty makes it all worthwhile. It would be an injustice not to share this view. When we reached the top, it felt like we had conquered Everest. We took the ski lift up, then hiked a bit on an extreme path and finally reached this breathtaking view. I was incredibly satisfied and this journey was definitely worth it.
Before going up, I saw a sign that said extreme climb, and I thought it was some kind of zipline or fun activity. So, seeing the sign I thought, Let’s see what we’ll find. But had I known that it was actually a challenging trail, I might have thought twice. The path was rocky and slippery, making it difficult for me to walk. I had thought there was something like a zipline there, but in the end, we walked for 20 minutes on this tough trail. However, the views we saw made it all worth it. It was particularly interesting to see tourists from Saudi Arabia running down the trail. If I had tried that, I probably would have rolled all the way down.
Another popular activity in Bakuriani is renting ATVs (quads) and driving around the mountains. We also saw a cafe called Skyline and decided to check out what they had to offer. The views were magnificent. You could sit inside or on the terrace. We chose to sit on the terrace ordered coffee and tea with a view of the mountains. We had green tea and Americano. Tea costs 2 dollars and coffee costs 3 dollars. You can also order a full meal here, but we decided to have both lunch and dinner downstairs instead.
We went down by the ski lift again. The main course prices at the restaurants on the summit were around 15 euros. We decided to look for a more affordable place because I think Bakuriani’s restaurants are among the most expensive in Georgia. There might be cheaper restaurants near the bus terminal, but they don’t offer mountain views. We planned to find a suitable place and have a meal.
One interesting point was that there were many tourists from Saudi Arabia here. We saw Arab tourists almost everywhere in Borjomi, Bakuriani and the Tsagveri area where we stayed. Our host also confirmed this. He said they usually come here to escape the extreme heat.
We learned that the source of Borjomi is right here, in the Bakuriani area. The famous Borjomi water, Bakuriani water and even Likani water, among other healing waters, are all sourced from this region. Especially Borjomi is a water brand that everyone may have tried at least once.
If the ski lift is twice as expensive in winter, I believe the restaurant prices, hotel rates and rental accommodations also probably double. This is because when the season starts, everyone rushes here to ski.
There are many hotels here and we were particularly drawn to the Crystal Resort hotels. They all share the same name and are located right next to the ski lift. This is very convenient because you can leave the hotel and directly board the ski lift. But I think these hotels are the most expensive options due to their location.
We checked the prices at a restaurant near the ski lift called Georgian Flower. Shashlik was 7 euros and Imeruli khachapuri was between 7 and 10 euros. The prices seemed reasonable, but we were looking for a more authentic, local-style place. We hoped to find a simpler place with Georgian-themed tablecloths. For this, we decided to return to the center, to our starting point. There were more cafes and restaurants there and I thought the prices might be more affordable as well. We called a taxi and set off.
In the center, we reached a place near the bus terminal. There were many hotels here as well. It seems like Bakuriani is completely designed as a holiday resort. You don’t come across many houses where locals live. Everything is surrounded by hotels. The view of nature and the mountains is beautiful.
We found a restaurant called Mimino. We went inside and looked at the prices. There were options like shawarma, pizza and burgers. However, the prices were even more expensive than the previous restaurants, so we decided to continue searching. Honestly, we realized that finding an affordable restaurant in Bakuriani was quite difficult. But we still hoped to find a cheaper place near the bus terminal.
On the way, we saw a horse grazing and a few sheep. We learned that you can rent horses to ride around. The sheep were very cute, but they turned their backs and continued grazing.
Finally since we couldn’t find an affordable restaurant, we went to a bakery. We bought four large pastries: one with beans, one with potatoes, one Imeruli khachapuri and one with ham and beans. All of them cost only 5 euros in total. We sat in the park under the shade of the trees and enjoyed these delicious treats. I’m not a fan of bean-filled pastries, but this one was really tasty. The Imeruli khachapuri was smaller and had less cheese than the ones in restaurants, but it was still quite filling. We were happy to get so much food for just 5 euros.
If you want to eat something affordable in Bakuriani, definitely stop by the bakery near the bus terminal. The freshly baked pastries were really delicious.
When we returned to the cottage in the evening, we played table tennis. We had a great time playing with our host’s family and children. I hadn’t played table tennis in a long time, but I had a lot of fun that evening.
The next morning, we left the cottage and set off on a new adventure. I hope you enjoyed my post. See you in new adventures.
