Travelling is one of the best ways of making your life full of memories, it gives people the chance of discovering world with their own eyes and discovering themselves in the new environment too. The benefits are not just a one-time thing, because travelling changes you physically as well as psychologically.
Unfortunately, travelling is a privilege and not everyone has a lot of money to fully enjoy themselves- at least that is what a majority thinks. The question is-how true is it? Do we need to have stacks of dollars and Porsche in our garages to be able to travel? The answer is – NO.
Having little time or money is not a valid excuse. In today’s article I am going to give myself a challenge- I will make a list of some things you can do in Georgia with a budget of $10! Sounds crazy and unreal right? Well, I am about to prove you wrong.
Visit Vardzia
Vardzia – Monastery complex, carved in a rock, is a XII-XIII Century Georgian picturesque monument. It definitely is something you have never seen before- fortress is arranged as storeys. No matter how hard I try to write about all the details, there is no chance of imagining the actual picture- you have to see it with your own eyes.
Whilst walking through the caves, you will find yourself in a “maze”- it seems that our ancestors used to build up rooms with low ceilings. Vardzia is a place where you get to face time-travelling: With the environment you are thrown back in the past and get to become part of the Georgian history.
The cave-town is included in the UNESCO world culture heritage list as one of the most unique rock-hewn town.
It’s time for the main question- Will I get to see this amazing place for $10? You can get on a “Marshutka”(local mini-bus) and travel from Tbilisi to Akhaltsikhe for $3.50(11 Lari) and then from Akhaltsikhe to Vardzia for $1.50(5 Lari). Fortunately, getting inside of Monastery complex is free. The final cost for this trip is exact $10! And this money is totally worth it.
Vardzia looked so beautiful wearing its coat of snow! Despite the freezing cold, it was worth the visit! Especially since there was almost no-one around, except for a few locals who visited the church to pray.
Journalofnomads.com
Dadiani Palace
If you love buildings with peculiar architecture which defines the they were built in, then you should definitely visit Dadiani Palace located in Zugdidi, Samegrelo. In the beginning of XIX century the building was a residency for the governors of Samegrelo(a region of Georgia). Later on royal family decided to build up their own palace on this place with its surrounded garden that nowadays is known as Botanical Garden Of Zugdidi.
The building is not hard to find as much as it is located in the center of the city. The architecture would be defined as the mixture of classical and Georgian elements, in some aspects you can see Eastern influence too. There are thousands of displays you can see after entering the palace: Ancient archaeological findings, religious displays, manuscripts from XV century, paintings and precious crockery.
What is the price to see it all- you might ask. Marshutka from Tbilisi to Zugdidi will cost you $4(12 Lari) and the entrance fee is $1(2 Lari). After doing the math you will get the cost of $9. Impressive right? We are not even done yet.
The manor of Dadiani princes is also known for its garden. To plant it Princess Dadiani, the ruler of Mingrelia, (maiden name Chavchavadze, sister of Nino Chavchavadze, widow of Alexander Griboedov) invited eminent European gardeners and ordered rare plants from Europe in the middle of the 19 th century.
Today Dadiani garden is called Zugdidi Botanical Garden. Its total area totals 26.4 hectares. Some trees in the garden are about 200 years old are unique for Euroasian continent.
Advantour
Experience Flying
If you have never experienced flying before now it is your chance. Zip-Line Tbilisi is another cool thing to do while being in Georgia, which will take you from Narikala fortress to Tbilisi Botanical garden in the matter of seconds.
Little extreme is never too much: Suspended 30 meters high above the heart of Old Tbilisi this 279 meters long zip-line is an unconventional but great way to discover the city. You get to observe the scenery from a bird’s eye perspective while a zip line is running above the botanical garden.
The price is not more or less than $10(30 Lari), which is nothing compared to the feelings you are going to get out of that experience.
Visitors and citizens of Tbilisi, who love that rush of adrenaline, can now enjoy a fantastic view of the city while taking the zip-line from Narikala Fortress down into the Botanical Garden. Zipliners will be able to choose between slow and fast modes.
Georgiatoday.ge
Batumi Botanical Garden
In case you are going to spend your Georgian trip in Batumi I have just the right thing for you.
Batumi Botanical Garden is one of the largest and richest botanical gardens in the world, founded in 1912. You can find thousands of species of plants there and the garden definitely is the best place for nature lovers just to relax and have a good time.
What is so special about it- you might ask and think that it is just a typical botanical garden- which is not true. Batumi Botanical Garden does not have an analogue in the world; Due to the exceptional climate environment, absolutely different species from the different parts of the world co-exist together: In this magical garden Canary date palm thrives as fantastically as Japanese Sakura.
You will need to pay $5 (15 Lari) before entering .You can even eat an Adjarian Khachapuri- local dish in the change of $5. As you see our budget of $10 is more than enough.
Batumi Botanical Garden, located at the distance of 9 km from the center of Batumi, occupies the area of 108, 7 hectare of approximately 1 km stripe of Southern-Western section of the coastline located between the river Chakvistskali estuary and the Green Cape, being spread to the height of 0-220 meters from the sea level, which not long time ago was totally covered with Kolkheti type forest (beech, chestnut, linden) and evergreen sub-forest.
bbg.ge
Amazing Things to Do in Georgia with only 10 bucks
These are just some examples of what you could do with your $10 in Georgia. As you can see it is not as little as it may seem. Travelling clearly is not for the rich people, especially in the 21st century- when everything is way easier and accessible than before!
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