However, the popular affection belongs to two gods: soccer and wrestling. Georgia has its own traditional wrestling (chidaoba), which is thriving and is practiced in the Georgian villages to this day. Its techniques still remain a unique weapon of the Georgian wresters in various types of wrestling: it is certainly difficult to count all the champions of the world, Europe, and Olympics living in the Georgian villages, one could even organize a special tour to this end.

Prizes are old and traditional too, for example, one sheep, which the winner will put on his shoulders and leave the ring in such a manner amid the universal festivity.

2. Tbilisi Dynamo Soccer Club has become part of the country's history and culture of the 20th century as were the Bagrationi royal dynasty in the Middle Ages and Niko Pirosmani's canvases in the modern age.

Throughout the Soviet period, Dynamo with its style and its southern temper, which made it different from other teams, gathered 80,000 spectators for every one of its games.

And on the night of winning the European Cup Winners' Cup 13 May 1981, there was a spontaneous popular celebration unheard of for the Soviet rules and lifestyle.

3. More than a century separates legendary wrestler Kula Gldaneli and Athens Olympic champion in judo Zurab Zviadauri. However, they are united by the immense popular affection.

Cultural Tourism

If you are looking for something radically different and attractive for your journey, consider what Georgia has to offer. Familiar and mysterious at the same time, this country, with its ancient history, adventures, and new impressions can offer you a great variety of choices for your travel and recreation. We will show you the best of what this beautiful land has to offer, we will take you to the places that are still unknown.

Discover the land where different cultures and ancient history astonishingly intertwine with each other: the crossroads of the ancient trade routes and Silk Roads, wonderfully delicious cuisine, and a wide variety of wines, harmony of polyphonic singing and fiery dancing, warm, hospitable, and tolerant people.

We will see Tbilisi, a friendly city, which is renowned for its cheerful and sophistic citizens, tangled narrow streets, museums and exhibition halls, cozy cafes and numerous restaurants, diverse bazaars and sulfur baths.

We will see Metekhi's cross-shaped dome and Sioni -- the cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Karvasla -- the old house of traders, the 6th century basilica of Anchiskhati, Ethnographic Museum in the open air, the unique collection of the Museum of Silk -- the only such museum in the Caucasus, Pirosmani's paintings, the symbol of Tbilisi -- Mtatsminda, various religious and architectural monuments -- a mosque, a Zoroastrian temple, a Catholic church, a synagogue.

We will meet modern artists and street musicians on Rustaveli Avenue, walk into the shops selling rugs, and go to the bazaars full of hand-made items where people of all kinds of tastes can find something interesting. You will try freshly baked bread, visit sulfur baths, and be a guest at the Georgian feast.

We will travel to the David Gareji desert where a beautiful landscape mixes with more than a dozen monastery complexes carved into rocks. We will go to Georgia's eastern province, Kakheti, which s considered a homeland for vineyards and wine and where numerous kinds of grapes are cultivated; the ancient rules of winegrowing and winemaking described in Ancient Greek and Roman writings are still applied there.

We will visit a graceful temple of Alaverdi, the medieval Iqalto Academy, old and new Shuamta, Nekresi and Khirsa founded by the Assyrian Fathers. From bulwarks and towers of Sighnaghi, we will look at the Gremi Fortress, Alazani Valley, and the Caucasus Mountains.

We will continue to the UNESCO-protected Mtskheta and Gelati and visit the oldest cave cities -- Uplistsikhe and Vardzia, will see impressive frescoes of Sioni Temple of Ateni, and Ubisa monastery complex decorated by Damiane. We will meet generous hosts in Kutaisi, enjoy the local folklore, visit archaeological excavations in Vani and Nokalakevi, and pass by the enchanting villages of Imereti. We will turn to Samtskhe-Javakheti where olive gardens and vineyards are laid out on the terraces: the Georgian kings fought many great battles to protect this land. Then we will go to Batumi from the point where the Greek and Roman caravans took off to the East.

Our journey will follow the route taken by Jason and the Argonauts from the coast of the Black Sea to the legendary province of Kolkheti. Following the track of the ancient gold diggers, we will reach Svaneti ensconced in the high mountains of the Caucasus. In this area that is difficult to access, an ethnic group of the Svans still lives according to their mysterious rituals: worshiping spirits, organizing festivities related to the sun- and fire-worshipping, telling legends about Dali, golden-haired goddess of hunting.

A world mystical and full of surprises will open before us with its unique manuscripts and extraordinary examples of iconography and embossing.

One can list a lot more: opulent treasuries, an antique mosaic of Dzalisa that is not very well known, Bolnisi's ancient inscriptions, and astounding discoveries in Dmanisi.

Diverse cultural points of interest await visitors in Georgia.

Adventurous Journey

Whether you are an experienced explorer who has been in thousands of places or a traveler who got to Georgia by chance, whatever the aim of your journey and your physical state for walking long distances, if you are interested in hard-to-access mountain villages, gorges, and yet unbeaten paths, a new and a very interesting adventurous journey awaits you. You can choose between hiking, trekking, biking, or taking a car; the 4X4 adventures, rafting, horseback riding, visiting unexplored caves, and mountain-climbing. This is everything that can satisfy any enthusiastic traveler.

The Borjomi-Kharagauli Nature Reserve, David Gareji Desert, and Birtvisi Canyon, stunning gorges of Tusheti and Qazbegi are the popular places that have always attracted those who like adventures and active recreation. Much more can be offered to those who prefer overcoming more serious obstacles. Some among many are: the summits of Mqinvartsveri, Ushba, and Tetnuldi, inaccessible Shkhara Mountain, crossings and hard-to-reach villages of Racha, towering Chaukhi Mountains.

The spirit of the knights is still living in the ancient villages of Svaneti and Tusheti. In these high-mountain regions, ancient customs have been preserved throughout the centuries. Deep river gorges, pure waterfalls, narrow paths, smoky houses, elegant Caucasian horses, brave riders, and mysterious festivities harmoniously interlace here.

1. Mountain Biking

One of the best ways to see Georgia's beauty, feel its culture, get to know its customs and hospitality is mountain biking. We will traverse Kartli, Imereti, and Samegrelo, and follow the legendary Silk Road. Biking in Georgia is interesting and possible for both the beginners and for the experienced cyclists, who will encounter difficult mountain crossings, long upward slopes, narrow paths, and extreme surprises.

2. 4X4 Adventures

Incredible adventures on 4X4 cars on the crossings and in the gorges of the Central Caucasus, along rippling tea and citrus plantations in Guria and Ajaria Provinces, steppes in Javakheti, or in the gorge of the noisy river of Truso will fascinate expedition participants making an unforgettable impression by its complexity and diversity. Overcoming the off-road difficulties is no less important than the destination point and the process of reaching it: it is a lifetime challenge for the off-road enthusiasts. Meeting new people, visiting ancient monuments on the way, unreachable places, beautiful views, and meals with unpronounceable titles.... Experiencing all of this together with a guide is already an adventure.

3. Horseback Riding

Traveling on the horseback by the bridle-paths in the shade of the green forests, along extremely narrow paths of the mountain regions or in the alpine meadows in Georgia will make your journey interesting and fascinating. Well-trained Caucasian horses will take you to the settlement located at the highest point from the sea level along the beaten paths with no trouble.

4. Winter Tourism

At the crossroads of Europe and Asia, perfect slopes for skiing and wonderful skiing adventures are still concealed from the eyes of those who do not already know about them.

Staying in an alpine hotel of Gudauri or resting in a cozy wooden cottage in Bakuriani, you can enjoy your winter holidays and skiing: you can ski on the trails of various levels of difficulty, on the unexplored slopes, heli-ski, take ski tours, and cross-country skiing. Winter tourism can satisfy all kinds of preferences while the diversity of the trails will suit the beginners and the professional skiers and snowboarders alike.

Ecotourism

A sunrise in the Caucasus Mountains covered by eternal snow, the impassable paths of the virgin forests, and a sunset on the Black Sea coast are so special that they are a must-see for all guests visiting Georgia.

Georgia's intact nature, its semi-deserts, forests buried in verdure, alpine meadows, volcanic plateaus, sky-scraping mountains and glaciers form a harmonious landscape attracting ecotourists. At the same time, we should be very careful to avoid harming a fragile ecosystem.

Hard-to-reach places, such as the mountain regions of Svaneti, Tusheti, Khevi, and Khevsureti, mountainous part of Ajaria, and Trialeti Mountain Range, plateaus of Devdoraki and Maili, are the most attractive spots for ecotourists.

The Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park is precisely the place where a traveler's contact with the wild nature begins. The Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park is the first national park in the Caucasus located in the exceptionally beautiful part of the Central Caucasus. The picturesque crossings of this park are tempting the visitors. Convenient paths of this land run through the mountain slopes and rocks, shady forests, clear springs, deep canyons and gorges, alpine meadows covered with wild flowers.

Bird-watching in Georgia is a special and quite an unusual activity; it is also an immeasurable task since Georgia is one of the countries where there is a great diversity of birds inhabiting a small territory, including endemic and rare species. Some 360 species of birds have been described in Georgia but it is impossible to see more than 200 in the course of two weeks.

South Caucasian and Western Caucasian tur is endemic for the Caucasus region and it is possible to see it almost everywhere in the alpine zones of Greater Caucasus. Black bear inhabits the entire territory of Georgia, mainly the extensive forests and sub-alpine ecosystems.

Recreation and Resorts

Mountain relief, proximity of the sea, good climate, and eye-catching landscapes, natural caves and mineral springs form recreational resources, conditions for resting and health improvement, which attracts holiday-makers and travelers.

There are various climatic and balneal resorts in Georgia. Many of them were founded in the first half of the 19th century: Borjomi, Bakuriani, Shovi, and Abastumani in the mountains; Kobuleti, Ureki, Makhinjauri, and Tsikhisdziri on the Back Sea coast.

The coastline villages of Kvariati, Sarpi, and Gonio with their healthy climate and clear sea have become popular in the recent period. The mountain regions are notable for their fine-looking landscapes, balneal resorts, carbonate mineral springs. The most famous of these resorts are Borjomi, Tsqaltubo, Shovi, Sairme, Nunisi, Utsera, and others. Borjomi and Nabeghlavi are notable among drinking mineral waters for their excellent taste and medicinal qualities.

Sulfur waters too have very strong therapeutic qualities. Medicinal mud is one of the widely used methods in Georgia's special resorts. Akhtala's pseudo-volcanic mud is an advantage of this resort.

Many Georgian spas and resorts provide medical treatment.