With the population of almost 5 million Georgia is disposed over the cross road between Europe and Asia, holding the area of 69,700 sq. kilometers. Currently Georgia in known with its rapidly developed infrastructure. Travel opportunities are being advanced ahead of time providing following means of tourism: cultural tourism, agro tourism, eco-tourism, adventure tourism, wine tourism, speleo tourism, culinary tourism, archeological tourism, bird-watching, educational tourism, etc. For tourism destination, Georgia was ranked sixth between 52 top countries by The New York Times.
In terms of ecological diversity, Georgia is one of the most broaden in the world. Together with one of Europe’s considerable national parks, Georgia possesses absolutely untouched primeval forest and the vast climate zone representing whole range from subtropical to half- desert. Georgia’s diverse aeries with mountains and fen lands composes a good fortune for bird watchers, but this is not all, in the thick forests you can come across with Caucasian Fir and animals such as bears, deer and even leopards.
Whatever interests might visitors have, Georgia can provide something to satisfy them. With the resources beginning from cultural tourism continuing with opportunity of visiting the most low-cost ski resort in Europe, even discovering ancient cave towns and caverns, and finally exploring the unique technique of wine producing – Georgia makes it possible.
A number of archeologists convince that about 8 000 years ago the productive valleys of the South Caucasus area, where Georgia is disposed must have been the root of world’s 1st wine production and civilized grape varieties. Even today the tradition of wine production and is indivisible from the country’s national character. Leaving wine in buried hollow clay pot called Kvevri represents a unique Georgian wine-making method which was admitted by UNESCO as the piece of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013.
Georgia composes itself as a destination of year-round type, representing a top winter destination with assured snow until the end of April while providing the prolonged seasons of swimming in Europe. Maybe not with Himalayas, but in terms of the height of its peaks Caucasus Mountains of Georgia are comparable with the Alps of Europe. You can enjoy a trekking and cultural adventure in the magic region of Svaneti, where you will come across with the peaks of higher height than Blanc, for instance Mount Ushba of 4,710 meters and Mount Shkhara of 5,201 meters. Mount Shkhara is the highest point over Georgia. This same mount is symbolically believed to be the guardian of the highest outpost in Europe – Ushguli, which is disposed over an elevation of more than 2100 meters above sea.
Georgia is rich with UNESCO Heritage Sites. Along all, including ancient city of Mtskheta with its marvelous Svetitskhoveli Cathedral of XI century, mountainous region of Upper Svaneti with tower-houses called Koshki, and villages of medieval years, and Gelati Monastery and Bagrati Cathedral disposed in the second city of Georgia – in Kutaisi. The Cathedral of Bagrati has an appreciable role in the history of Georgia, as it represents the symbol of first unification of Georgia by the king Bagrat III. The construction of this monument started in theend of 10th century and endured till the beginning of 11th century.
All in all, there are many possessions what makes Georgia unique. Above all, between 14 autonomous alphabets existing worldwide, Georgian is an outstanding one. The oldest example of Georgian Asotmtavruli dates with 430 AD.