General tips for birdwatchers in Georgia
The tourist infrastructure of Georgia is not yet well developed. In the countryside, most of the roads are in poor condition, and only very basic accommodation is available. While planning your birdwatching trip, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the facilities available at the site you plan to visit. It is better to settle all potential problems in advance with a tourist firm or guide. In any wildlife area throughout the country it is better to travel with a local guide: first of all, not many people in the countryside speak English (some Russian is spoken by a large part of the population, but the colloquial language is Georgian). There are two conflict areas, Abkhazeti (Abkhazia) in the northwest and Tskhinvali region in the north–central area, where visits are not recommended at all. In some other areas, such as the Svaneti region, a local guard is strongly recommended and should be arranged in advance.
The easiest way to reach Georgia is by air. The Tbilisi airport has connections with most of the major European cities. The average price of a round trip from Western and Central Europe (e.g. Frankfurt, Vienna, Amsterdam, or London) varies between 500–700 Euros; trips from the USA are more costly and usually exceed $1,000. International travel agencies usually provide information about flights with large international air companies, such as British Airways, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, or Aeroflot; however, it makes sense to check the Internet site of Georgian air companies, such as Airzena, which usually provide tickets for a cheaper price. The alternative way to reach Georgia is regular bus traffic between Istanbul and Ankara, Turkey and Tbilisi. Bus tickets are relatively cheap, but the travel takes usually over 24 hours and is tiring. Another possibility, if coming from eastern Turkey, is to cross the border at Sarpi and take a train or minibus from Batumi to Tbilisi. Bus tickets from Trabzon, Turkey to the border are relatively inexpensive. Travelers crossing overland should obtain Georgian visas in advance at Georgian consulates in Turkey. Travelers arriving by air can obtain a visa at the airport.
The national currency of Georgia is the Georgian Lari (GL). The exchange rate of GL is relatively stable: 1 GL is equal to about 50 US cents. Foreign currency is not accepted in most places, but exchange points are found almost everywhere in cities.
Accommodation in Tbilisi is possible in a great variety of large and small hotels, with price per day varying between $10 and $150–200, depending on the facilities available, location of the hotel etc. Reasonably good accommodation is also possible in most of major Georgian cities such as Kutaisi, Batumi, Poti, Telavi, and in well–known hiking or skiing resorts – Kazbegi, Gudauri, Bakuriani etc. In these resorts the prices are relatively high and usually vary between $ 20–50 per day, depending on the season, whereas they are substantially lower in other district centers.
The mode of travel within the country depends on how much you are willing to pay. Tbilisi is connected to almost every city and town in the country by regular minibus traffic. Minibuses are cheap (prices of the most distant routes rarely exceed the equivalent of $10), but less comfortable. They leave from several stations in Tbilisi; the largest one is Didube bus station. One can also rent a car in Tbilisi (or better– a car with a driver), but usually the price of this exceeds $50 per day. In the countryside, it is strongly recommended to have or to rent a four–wheel–drive car, due to poor quality of roads. It is important to have a road map even with a driver.
Small restaurants, pubs and cafés are found almost everywhere, both along the main roads and in towns and cities. One should remember that the selection of food in the countryside restaurants is limited, and Georgian food is very heavy and filling. If one prefers diet food it is better to equip yourself before the trip in a shop or supermarket. Restaurants are rare in small villages and do not exist near the most of birdwatching sites, thus equipping yourself with some food is recommended.
People in Georgia are generally friendly and hospitable, and open for conversation. If a group of Georgians has a picnic, it is a general custom to invite any stranger to the “ table.“ You can accept the invitation, but you run the risk of spending many hours drinking Georgian wine. It is possible to delicately reject the invitation, however.
Hopefully you will enjoy your first trip to Georgia.
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