Sairme Resort – An Excellent Retreat You Didn’t Know About
Georgia is home to dozens of balneological and mineral water springs. Just like Borjomi or Likani, Sairme resort was a popular destination for many during Soviet times. Today, it boasts with high standard hotels nested between coniferous and deciduous forests. This small townlet is a perfect getaway from Tbilisi for a weekend or a day trip from Kutaisi. And besides relaxing in the spa, there are a couple of activities you can do to make your stay here even more enjoyable.
Disclaimer: I haven’t stayed in all of those lodgings, but the post is based on thorough research and reviews of those accommodations. The hotels, hostels, and apartments mentioned here are not sponsored. I have selected them based on my preference, budget, design, and reviews.
What makes Sairme resort a special place
Sairme resort, located in Bagdati Municipality, is about 245 km from Tbilisi and an hour drive from Kutaisi. It is considered the only resort with four different water springs and one thermal water, all of them having curative purposes and treating several diseases.
Disclaimer: We were guests of the property, but in the spirit of transparency, we emphasize that the following review reflects our genuine and unbiased opinions and recommendations. Rest assured, every word shared accurately represents our personal experience.
According to a legend, the resort was discovered by hunters who were chasing the wounded deer. They saw that everything was covered with white salt within a certain territory, and the stones had a trace of rust. On the other hand, shepherds noticed that the grass was always green, the snow melted very fast, and the soil quickly dried after the rain. They thought it was a miraculous place.
As I already mentioned, the resort is surrounded by slopes and forests spanning 60 ha of land and features numerous pines, fir, beech, lime, and chestnut centennial trees.
In reality, the reason for this was thermal, slightly sulfuric mineral water rich in nitrogen-methane that scientists discovered in the 1920s. The specimens from Sairme were sent to St. Petersburg for research, and it turned out that this water had completely different curing effects compared to the other mineral waters the world knew back then.
It took only a decade or so to officially assign Sairme the statue of a resort. The infrastructure developed, health centers were built, and the road made to link it to Bagdati. In 1945, the government started to bottle Sairme water and sell it throughout the country and abroad.
What diseases does the Sairme water cure?
Within the current territory of the resort, there are four water booths with different curative purposes. However, do note that Sairme mineral waters are good for your health in general and doesn’t matter if you have any health problems or not. They are good for the central nervous system, bones, and joints, and skin diseases, to name just a few.
Once you get to the resort, you’ll need to go to a small clinic and talk to the doctor who will tell you which one to drink. These are a few of the problems that can be cured at the resort:
- Booth #1: Gallastones – general purposes, mild forms of chronic hepatitis, chronic cholecystitis
- Booth #2: Metabolic disorder – saline diathesis, achrestic diabetes, arthritis, and osteochondrosis
- Booth #3: Gastrointestinal diseases – increased or decreased acidity, ulcerative diseases, and colitis
- Booth #4: Urethral calculi – general purposes, saline diathesis, and chronic renal disorder
Thermal bath at Sairme Resort
The spa and wellness center of Sairme resort has been recently renovated and is equipped with modern machines. It offers any relaxation and rejuvenating procedure to its visitor.
There’s an indoor and outdoor pool, a salt room that is beneficial for cleaning your lungs, a wet and dry sauna, and several rooms used for curative procedures. All of those procedures are done with thermal waters, while both pools are filled with natural, 41 C thermal water. The prices for each procedure are quite affordable and ranges between 15-40 GEL.
Hotels in Sairme, Georgia
Sairme resort boasts international standard hotels, guest houses, and budget-friendly accommodation. Therefore, the resort definitely suits everyone’s pocket.
Sairme Hotels & Resorts
Sairme Hotels & Resorts is a relatively new renovated old Soviet sanatorium that corresponds to a 4-star hotel’s standards. It is located right in the central part of the townlet. The venue features comfortable rooms, a lobby area, and a tranquil environment. Each room of the hotel has a balcony with a view of the surrounding forest and the park.
You can easily walk to these four water booths from here, sit at one of the park’s benches to unwind, or admire the street art done by local artists that adorn the area.
The hotel’s daily service buses take you to the spa and wellness center located around 4km from it.
Check Prices: Booking.com
Best Western Sairme Resort
The hotel is a new addition to the area and is located very close to the spa and wellness center. Similar to Sairme Hotels & Resorts, Best Western Sairme Resort is a 4-star hotel featuring a modern design, comfortable furniture, and a terrace, to name a few.
Compared to the other hotel, rooms here and all the necessary items, have a kettle. Additionally, the lobby has a water dispenser of those four Sairme spring glasses of water at your disposal.
Check Prices: Booking.com
Imereti Hotel
This hotel is the most budget-friendly accommodation option at Sairme resort apart from private guesthouses. However, the standards and the infrastructure are the same as in the old hay day of Sairme.
The prices at Imereti for all seasons ranges between 50-65 GEL per night per person. However, do note that the hotel is closed from October till May.
Check other hotels and apartments if those mentioned above doesn’t suite your needs or budget
What’s the benefit of staying at one of those hotels?
All three hotels are under one management and company, therefore staying at one of them gives loads of benefits to its visitors. Firstly, you get a free consultation at the clinic to start your ‘treatment’ procedures. Secondly, the price includes three meals a day, even in the Imereti hotel. The management concentrates on delivering healthy meals prepared with fresh local products; what I loved the most was that the bread and pastries were yeast-free. Thirdly, you can unwind at the outdoor pool free of charge all day long.
For families coming with kids, the trained staff is willing to take care of them all day long while you relax and get those procedures.
It’s not all about the spa though
Usually, when I visit such resorts in Georgia, there are not so many activities to do due to underdeveloped infrastructure. Luckily, Sairme resort is an exception where you can get a bit of physical exercise and adrenaline rush.
There is a modern, well-secured 800-meter long zip line that starts from the mountains and ends in the park. The activity costs 50 GEL, but it should be noted that the zip line is divided into two parts, so if you want to do only one, you can pay 30 GEL. However, I would highly recommend doing them both; it’s much more fun to ‘fly’ over pine and fir forests and then over the hotel’s roof to end up in the park!
For those willing to overcome a challenge, try the rope city located right next to the spa and wellness center. The cost for one hour is 20 GEL. The rope city has two floors, from which the upper one is more advanced and hard. I only went through the first floor, and it was more than enough for me to get my muscles moving.
And last but not least, a bit far away from all the hotels, there’s a compact sporting area where you can master clay pigeon shooting. The price for one bullet is 2 GEL.
If interested in any of those activities, all you need to do is ask at each hotel’s reception. They will be happy to provide you with transport and trained staff.
What else is there?
Every day, there is a live music event at Sairme Hotels & Resorts and Best Western Sairme Resort to keep you entertained in the evenings. Moreover, there’s a supermarket, a souvenir shop, bakery, and a restaurant within the park’s territory, so I assure you won’t be bored here.
My Favorite Travel Resources
To ease your travel planning, check out all the posts about Georgia travel. Additionally, here are some of the websites and services I use when preparing for my next adventure anywhere in the world.
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🏨 Find budget-friendly deals on all sorts of accommodation types on Booking.com.
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☀ Book in advance some of the best city walks, cultural experiences, and day tours to maximize your stay and experience here.
Want more inspiration?