Hot Springs in Georgia You Must Visit

Some legends pin Tbilisi’s very foundation to a fifth-century king whose hunting falcon dived into sulphurous springs while chasing a pheasant. They might be those bubbling up in the heart of Old Tbilisi, where the Tbilisi Balneological Resort opened in 1938. The modernised rehabilitation and healing complex of today features a panoply of treatments and therapies, along with more than 30 doctors and other medical professionals.

In the hot subtropical plains of lowland Georgia near Kutaisi, Tskaltubo’s fountain-fronted complex with an imposing columned entrance hall stands in parkland near the town centre. The radon-rich waters have long drawn the Soviet elite, from Stalin to Gorbachev, and its multiple baths and pools reputedly treat everything from skin conditions to cardiovascular disorders.

Barely a kilometre from the resort, this hotel’s facade faintly resembles a 19th-century Italianate mansion, complete with twin belvedere towers. However, the accommodation embraces contemporary pared-back design and sensible furniture. Timber accents, pendant lamps in the bar and a stripped floor in the restaurant lend more style and colour. There’s a fountain and occasional live music on the patio and a decent pool for some downtime if you’re not indulging in the hotel’s spa, which aims to complement the springs’ various therapies.

Almost a kilometre high in the thickly forested Lesser Caucasus Mountains, the Sairme waters were discovered by deer hunters in the 1890s. The resort of today (which features a deer-antler logo – sairme means “place of deer”) covers 60ha (148 acres) and has several healing springs. A substantial redevelopment project completed in 2018 saw upgraded access roads and a state-of-the-art rehabilitation centre.

Wedged into a tight valley beside the slender Tsablaristskali River, the Best Western Sairme Resort resembles an alpine apartment complex and overlooks a small recreation park dotted with trees. The outdoor heated pool, playgrounds, volleyball and basketball courts, zipline and even a shooting range all lend a relaxed feeling to the resort. Unfussy rooms feature contemporary decor with wood detailing, bare walls that feel a touch austere and balconies.

On the spectacular mountain road linking northeastern Georgia’s Alazani Valley with the remote Tusheti region, a short rough-track detour near the 2,826m (9,272ft) Abano Pass leads to a lonely tin-roofed house. Just below, a thermal spring emerges from the hillside, its waters crudely funnelled into a few pools and one rudimentary bathhouse with a tiled tub and great valley views.

Cradled by a little foothill spur of the Caucasus in the Kakheti region, the Lopota Lake Resort and Spa overlooks a pretty private lake near the Lopota River. What began as a relatively modest family enterprise in 2008 has grown into a substantial 186-room resort with several pools, restaurants, basketball and volleyball courts, stables and horse riding. Château Buera – a mock French château-style winery and tasting terrace – was also added. While its numerous blocks and buildings have faux-rustic tiled roofs and timbered balconies, rooms are contemporary and pleasingly commodious.