16 Things To Do in Samegrelo – Ultimate Guide to Best Places

This western region of Georgia, nestled along the Black Sea neighboring Svaneti and Guria, is much more than its capital Zugdidi. Formerly known as Odishi, there are spectacular things to do in Samegrelo, from visiting untouched nature, historical landmarks, and surreal mountain lakes, to name a few. 

A short history of Samegrelo

Throughout the history of Georgia, Samegrelo was a strategically important region of the country. In ancient times, the area was part of the Colchis Kingdom, and before the modern era, Samegrelo was also called Lazika and Egrisi. The political and cultural center of that time, Samegrelo was Archeopolis (today’s Nokalakevi). According to the myth of Argonauts, Archeopolis is the place Jason stole the Golden Fleece. 

Romans ruled the region for almost 400 years. Then, it was united into the Kingdom of Georgia until the 11th century. Once the United Kingdom broke into three independent states (Kartli, Kakheti, and Imereti), present-day Samegrelo became the Odishi principality and covered the entire modern-era Samegrelo. From the mid-12th century till the 19th century, Dadiani Dynasty governed Odishi.  

When eastern Georgia became part of the Russian empire at the end of the 18th century, Odishi soon followed and became a protectorate of Russia in 1803. However, when Georgia declared independence in 1918, Samegrelo became part of the new democratic republic. 

In English, the region is also known as Mingrelia, based on a Russian exonym, not a local endonym. 

People who live in the region are called Megrelians in Georgia and have their own language different from the rest of the country. 

Best time to visit Samegrelo

Based on its climate, Samegrelo is always warmer than the eastern part of Georgia. Spring comes early and winter late. Autumn has warmer days than elsewhere in the country. The season lasts quite long, and locals enjoy a swim in the Black Sea till October. 

Samegrelo gets hot during summer and cold in winter. July and August see lots of locals enjoying the sun and the Black Sea coast in its coastal towns of Anaklia and Ganmukhuri. Summer months are also great for hiking the Tobavarchkhili surreal lakes. Although, July is not a great month to hike to these lakes due to frequent rains. 

I recommend visiting Samegrelo either in autumn or spring for milder temperatures, clear skies, and a better chance of visiting as many places on your list as you can. 

How to get to Samegrelo

Getting to Samegrelo is easy thanks to well-connected public transport. As Zugdidi is the capital of Samegrelo, the best way to explore the region is to base yourself in Zugdidi for several days and make trips from there to some of the places mentioned below. While you can get to Zugdidi from any major city in Georgia, here are quick transportation tips from Tbilisi to Zugdidi.

Tbilisi Zugdidi Train

The day train from Tbilisi to Zugdidi runs daily once a day. The ticket costs 16 GEL for the second-class carriage. Check the Georgian Railway website or Tkt.ge to check the availability, timetable and purchase it online. The train takes around 6hr to get from Tbilisi to Zugdidi. Unfortunately, Georgian trains are not fast.  

Tbilisi Zugdidi Marshrutka

Like the train, marshrutka from Tbilisi to Zugdidi runs daily but is more frequent than trains. If you choose to travel with a minibus, you’ll need to get to the Didube Bus station at the Didube Metro stop and ask where vehicles to Zugdidi stand. Once you find it, you’ll secure your seat, pay the driver, and be ready to go. 

Traveling to Samegrelo by car

The best way to explore Samegrelo is with your own car. The roads are in good condition and have light traffic, depending on the year. 

If you plan on renting a car in Tbilisi, I recommend LocalRent.com. The company works with small car rentals and aggregates local companies offering reasonable, sometimes cheaper, prices than other car rental companies. Plus, most of their vehicles come with comprehensive insurance and require no deposit. 

If you don’t feel confident driving a car in Georgia, another service I recommend is to book a driver with GoTrip. A one-way private transfer from Tbilisi to Zugdidi starts from 76 USD, depending on your departure date and who’s available. However, you can choose another drop-off destination. One of the most significant advantages of this service is flexibility in departure time, pick-up from anywhere, and unlimited stopovers along the road. 

Where to Stay in Zugdidi

Zugdidi has various accommodation types catering to all budgets. The most common place to stay in Zugdidi are homestays or guest houses. However, if this is not your preferred accommodation type, there are several hotels in Zugdidi too. Here are some of my favorite places to stay in Zugdidi. 

Guesthouse: Casa de Khasia – my preferred stay in Zugdidi by far. The hosts are incredibly welcoming and friendly, and the house is centrally located and close to the city’s main attractions. You can choose from various rooms, either with private or shared bathrooms. Breakfast is included in the room price, and the hostess prepares a delicious and filling meal to fuel you up. Moreover, they have a tiny museum showcasing the everyday items of Megrelians and how they lived centuries and decades ago.

Budget hotel: Garden Palace is an excellent option for those on a budget and who prefer to stay in Zugdidi. The hotel offers a comfortable ambiance and plenty of outdoor seating areas for a nice meal or a cup of beverage with a terrace and a bar. The rooms of the hotel have all the necessary items.

Luxury: LETO Boutique Hotel Zugdidi – this luxurious hotel offers a spa and wellness center, a terrace, and a bar in the heart of Zugdidi. If you come here in summer, you can enjoy a relaxing dip in its outdoor swimming pool. The rooms have air-conditioning, a kettle, a minibar, and a safe for your valuables, to name a few. 

Other places to stay in Samegrelo

Senaki: Manana’s sweet home in Senaki

Anaklia sea town: Anaklia Resort by Pratap’s Signature or Hotel Cruise

Poti port town: Fazis Hotel, Hotel Park Green or Poti Apartments

Martvili: Karma Hostel 

How to get around Samegrelo

Samegrelo is a large region if we include Zemo-Svaneti as well. Even though the major cities are well connected with Zugdidi, getting public transport to smaller villages directly from the capital might be challenging. 

I recommend exploring Samegrelo with a car as some of the things to do in Samegrelo listed below are easier to get to by car.  

Alternatively, you can ask your guesthouse or a hotel to arrange a private taxi transfer. Prices will vary depending on the distance and what you want to visit. 

Things to do in Samegrelo: in & around Zugdidi

The landscape in Samegrelo is diverse, offering unspoiled natural wonders, historical sights, and many exciting places to visit, depending on your preferences. I am sure anyone can find something of interest in Samegrelo. 

While I have a separate post on the best things to do in Zugdidi, I also decided to include the absolute must-dos and highlights.  

Learn more about Dadiani Dynasty in their fairy-tale castle

Any trip to Zugdidi or Samegrelo, especially your first one, should start with visiting Dadiani Palace and its museum to get to know the dynasty and their close ties with French political leader Napoleon. Moreover, this is the only fairy-tale-like castle we have in the country! 

Visit the fortification overlooking Abkhazia

Just around 5km away from Zugdidi lies a historic fortification of Rukhi. Located along the river, this fort played an essential part in the history of Samegrelo. It is also very close to the Abkhazian border, a breakaway region of Georgia. The proximity of this castle enables you to admire this occupied territory from afar, that many locals still call ‘heaven of Georgia.’ 

See the second-tallest concrete arch dam in the world

One of the best things to do in Zugdidi is to take another short trip to Enguri Dam, a hydroelectric dam built on the Enguri River, and admire the world’s second-tallest concrete arch dam. 

The initial idea to build a hydroelectric dam belonged to Soviet President Nikita Khrushchev, who wanted to construct it on the Bzyb River in Abkhazia, his favorite resort. The experts advised him against it. Apparently, building such massive construction on the river Bzyb would have had catastrophic effects and caused beach erosion. Therefore, they decided to make it on the Enguri River instead.

Enjoy the less crowded coast of the Black Sea

Part of the Black Sea coast stretches to the Samegrelo region, where Anaklia and Ganmukhuri beaches are local favorites during the summer months.

Both beaches are pebble ones, located very close to Zugdidi. However, in terms of swimming, Ganmukhuri is the cleanest, as the River Enguri brings a bit of dirt when it connects to the Black Sea in Anaklia.

Eat lots of Megrelian meals

Megrelian cuisine is known for its hot and spicy dishes rich in aromas and flavors. Here’s my recommendation for those meals you need to try in Samegrelo: 

Ghomi: a cornmeal dish and the staple of the region. To make this simple meal more appealing, you need to put slices of sulguni cheese, a mozzarella-like dairy but saltier, inside and let it sit for a minute or so to let the cheese melt. 

There are more versions of Ghomi, and one comes with a mixture of nadughi (ricotta-like diary) and mint on top of the meal. It’s called Ghomi with Puchkholia cheese. 

Elarji: is another variety of Ghomi and my absolute favorite! The preparation method is very similar to its original dish. Still, the cheese is included in the preparation process instead of putting the cheese slices after serving, making the meal very cheesy and stretchy! Yumminess!

Kupati: a Georgian sausage and a trendy meal all over the country. It has a very distinctive spicy flavor. Imeretian and Megrelian versions of the meal are made either from beef, pork, or pig’s organs such as liver, lung, and spleen. 

Gebzhalia: a cold cheese appetizer and another my favorite regional meal. They make rolls from sulguni cheese filled with mint, salt, and chilies. Then, they place these rolls into a sauce made from milk, nadughi, and sour cream. It’s simply divine! 

Megruli Khachapuri: Megrelian is similar to Imeretian Khachapuri and is topped with additional cheese. Double cheese paradise! 

Kharcho: a meat stew. Usually, both Ghomi and Elarji are served as a side dish to Kharcho. Different varieties of Kharcho in Georgian cuisine are made from beef or chicken, with or without walnuts. The one that goes well with Ghomi or Elarji is the one made from walnuts. All you need to do is dip them into the hot stew and enjoy the meal. Bon Appetit! 

Things to do in Samegrelo beyond Zugdidi

Admire the cute lighthouse in Poti 

This red and white lighthouse is a hidden gem of Poti. Constructed in 1862 by British Company Easton Amos and Sons in London, the lighthouse was transported to Poti, where the first light lit up in 1864 and has never been turned off ever since. 

Around 40 meters high lighthouse was assembled without welding, using only bolts and nuts! 

The circular iron staircase inside the lighthouse leads to the viewing platform thas 160 steps. You can go up and overlook the city and the Black Sea Port. 

Enjoy a boat tour of Kolkheti National Park near Poti

Kolkheti National Park is another jewel of the Samegrelo region located close to the port city Poti, making it one of the fun things to do in Samegrelo. The park was recently enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and includes the east coastline of the Black Sea and Paliastomi Lake and was created to maintain and protect Kolkheti wetland ecosystems and preserve a place for migrating birds.

The National Park is rich in flora and fauna, swamp forests, deciduous wetland forests, and coastal marshes, to name just a few.

In terms of the fauna, the park is home to at least 194 different bird species, from which 21 use it as a seasonal shelter during the migration process.

Compared to the similar parks I have been to, Kolkheti National Park doesn’t have walking trails and is famous for boat rides and kayaks. To visit the park, you need to call them first and notify the visit and what service you’ll be taking. For instance, you need to book a boat in advance, which only takes three people on board. For groups, they have pontoons, which is good for big groups of up to 15 people.

You need to know: I booked a boat ride for us, which, according to a representative and their website, should have taken us for a 2-hour ride in the park. When we were in the boat, the ranger asked us if we wanted to picnic at one of the park’s shores. 

When I refused, he answered that the 2-hour ride includes a picnic where he waits for us; otherwise, the tour was over in an hour! Guess what? NO ONE TOLD ME THIS, even though I called the center a couple of times to ensure they did not cancel our tour due to weather conditions.

Generally speaking, it was a pleasant experience. Did I like it and think it was worth the money? Yes and no. I hadn’t visited such a national park before, so I enjoyed the ride along the swamps. We didn’t get close to anything, except a tiny part the ranger called ‘jungles of the Kolkheti.’ Moreover, we didn’t see any birds or flowers in bloom, so I guess our timing was wrong. I bet it’s much nicer when you know when to visit the park.

Boat ride: 90 GEL for a boat that fits three people

Note: It’s better to check the price with the administration

How to get to Kolkheti National Park with public transport

Once you get to Poti, you’ll need to take a local marshrutka number 20 from the center of Poti that goes to Maltakva and ask the driver to drop you off at the Visitor’s center of the park. Here, you can spend a couple of minutes learning more about the park, its ecosystem, its history.

After you pay and register, they’ll give you a printed, black and white map and explain how to get from the visitor center to the park’s entrance, which is around 4 km away from here. I recommend following the directions on Google Maps. 

Chase beautiful waterfalls 

Samegrelo has several waterfalls worth chasing after. One of them is Instra, located near the village of Chkvaleri, 36 km from Zugdidi. It is one of the hidden gems of Samegrelo not known to many travelers. 

Apart from the waterfall, you can also admire its canyon landscape covered in box trees and moss, creating a very magical environment. 

The best way to visit the waterfall is by car. The road from the village towards the waterfall is around 1.6 km; then, you’ll need to walk a trail leading through the forest to the waterfall. 

Another one is the gorgeous waterfall of Tkhopra Canyon, located near the village Tsatchkhuru.  It includes 8 waterfalls of different heights, where the tallest is 55 meters high, and the shortest only 12. ⁠

You can get to the tallest one by following this pin on Google Maps. 

Peek in the Martvili Canyon

One of the must-do things to do in Samegrelo is to visit Martvili Canyon. However, in my humble opinion, it’s not worth the trip. Don’t get me wrong, it’s absolutely stunning and one of the most beautiful canyons of Georgia, boasting emerald green waters. But the price, overcrowded boats, and the shortage of things to do in the canyon don’t justify each other. 

If you really want to visit the canyon, I suggest going there off-season, late autumn, or one sunny day in winter to admire it without the crowds. Seeing it in summer is a total nightmare! 

How to get to Martvili Canyon with public transport

Even though Martvili Canyon belongs to the Samegrelo region, getting to it from Zugdidi is a bit of a hustle as there are no direct marshrutkas. So I recommend either renting a car or getting a taxi.  The best way to get to the canyon with public transport is from Kutaisi. → Read more details

Stay at Karma Hostel in Martvili

The quiet village of Martvili hides a spectacular accommodation – Karma Hostel owned by three friends from Belgium and Poland, Max, Emanuela, and Woody. 

Karma Hostel is not only a hostel but a community of awesome people where everyone feels wholeheartedly welcomed the moment you step inside. 

This old family house turned into a chic, trendy, and colorful hostel features a dormitory and private rooms. 

Their leafy garden is full of fruits, cute decorations, and a couple of furry friends, including some sheep. It also features a greenhouse made from old window frame leftovers from the renovation. 

The design elements of the hostel incorporate both modern and vintage finds; some came from an abandoned school nearby. 

Staying at Karma Hostel is a truly magnificent experience and one of my absolute favorite things to do in Samegrelo. 

Enjoy a dip in Gechedili Canyon 

One of the things to do in Samegrelo close to the Karma Hostel is to take a cold dip in Gachedili Canyon’s emerald green water. Even in summer, the water here is absolutely freezing, making it a great way to unwind and cool down on a peeping hot day. 

The canyon used to be a bathing place for the Dadini family and is has a similar landscape as the Martvili Canyon. 

Pay a visit to a family winery Oda in Martvili

Samegrelo is known for its unique vine types. Therefore one of the things to do in Samegrelo is to visit the family-run wineries. Unfortunately, the region is still reviving its wine production traditions that Soviet rule abolished. 

The family winery revives lost unique grape types that Megrelians used in wine production before the Soviet Union. Ojaleshi and Tsolikauri grapes are the most famous varieties of the region. 

Apart from wine, they also offer Megrelian cuisine, so I recommend coming here for lunch or dinner, but book the place in advance. You can do so by sending them a message on their Facebook page. 

Stroll down the area Jason stole the Golden Fleece from

If you are a history lover and looking for exciting things to do in Samegrelo, you’ll need to pay a visit to Nokalakevi Archeological Museum-Reserve. The complex is one of the brilliant examples of Georgian architecture. It was an early medieval royal capital of Egrisi during the 4th-8th centuries. It is closely linked to the history of the Kingdom and its adoption of Christianity.

The complex spans 20 ha of land, divided into a lower city and the citadel along the river Tekhura. High walls surrounded the area and included several rectangular towers of different sizes.

The first two palaces in the eastern part of the city date back to early Christian times, while the third, known as the Dadiani Palace, was built in the late Middle Ages. Here, you’ll also find early Christian civil and Roman-style royal baths. Additionally, a tunnel leads to the river in case of an emergency exit.  

According to some scholars, the mythical city of Aia was located on the territory of the current Nokalakevi, a town from where Jason, Medea, and Argonauts stole the Golden Fleece.

Unfortunately, the studies haven’t determined the city’s urban structure, but scholars believe there should have been streets and dwellings for the city residents. Archaeological excavations have found local and imported items made of clay, bronze goods, jewelry, and gold coins, to name just a few. You can see those items at the museum located next to the city’s ruins.

How to get to Nokalakevi Archaeological Museum-Reserve with public transport

From Zugdidi, you should take public transport from the bus stop at the bazaar towards Senaki. The price of a ticket costs 3 GEL one way. The driver will drop you off near the railway station in Senaki. Then, you must cross it and find a bus stop on the station’s right side to take another marshrutka to Nokalakevi. This will cost you 1 GEL one way.

Treat yourself to natural hot springs in Nokalalkevi

One of the things to do in Samegrelo is to enjoy peeping hot springs very close to the Nokalakevi complex. This natural sulfur water comes out and slowly overflows into the Tekhura river. 

The water is boiling hot, and you can’t stand inside without burning yourself. Therefore, some locals have created natural pools by putting big rocks to allow the water to fill the area and let the river cool down the hot springs. 

And if you are a sauna lover, you can sit at the nearby stone or a tree branch right at the massive waterfall of the hot springs and let the steam do the magic to your skin. 

I visited this place on a hot summer day and still enjoyed it. But I can only imagine what an experience it is during cold winter months when you can also put a small fireplace next to your artificial pool. 

Adventurous things to do in Samegrelo

Go Canyoning

Are you feeling adventurous? Then go canyoning in some of the best and hidden canyons of Samegrelo with Akha Club. 

What is canyoning? It is an activity that enables you to explore the canyon, jump off the waterfalls, or slide into whitewater with special equipment, rope, and carabiners. ⁠

Even though I haven’t tried this myself, I have seen the guys behind the club in action on a project I worked on two years ago. They all got their certification and training abroad and are very professional with a high sense of responsibility. 

They can take you to various canyons of Samegrelo and show you the untouched hidden beauty of their region while experiencing the adrenaline rush. 

Hike to surreal Tobavarchkhili Lakes

Tobavarchkhili is a general term for six alpine lakes found in the highlands of the Samegrelo region. Translated as ‘Silver Lakes’ in English from the Megrelian language, these natural wonders lie at the center of the Egrisi mountains. 

Didi Toba, or the Big Toba in English, is the most distinguished one with its unique beauty, location among the glaciers, and width. 

The calm lakes reflect the mountains like a mirror creating surreal scenery. 

However, according to one legend, the lakes were guarded by wood goblins who banned touching and drinking from these lakes. Thus, if someone disobeys, a terrible storm starts the second, even if the sky is crystal clear without any clouds. 

Hiking to these lakes is considered one of the hardest hikes in Georgia, as you need to walk for three days to reach the lowest lake. It’s also one of the most dangerous hikes as well, so I highly advise getting a guide who knows these places like the back of their hands.  

My friend Emily is a guide who hikes to Tobavarchkhili every year, taking various tourist groups several times a year. Therefore, you’ll be in good hands with her. 

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