From Kazbegi's lush green meadows and majestic peaks to Svaneti's glacier-dressed valleys and dense woods, Georgia's mountains are an incredible feast for the eyes and a real hiker's paradise, whether you're looking for a pleasant day walk or a demanding multi-day excursion. This is absolutely one of the things to know before traveling to Georgia.

These pockets of wildness may undoubtedly be experienced in a more leisurely manner by people who aren't enthusiastic hikers, with the continually improved roads making it simpler than ever to visit the most distant regions of the mountains. Do you require some motivation? The difficult climb to Gergeti Glacier and the magnificent 4-day walk from Mestia to Ushguli were two of my favorite treks in the nation. Georgia's mountains provide spectacular summit vistas, from the soaring summits of Brasstown Bald and Rabun Bald to the undulating expanse of Arabia and the jagged ridgeline of Pine Mountain.

The state's biggest peaks are found in North Georgia's Southern Appalachians, with more than 20 summits rising beyond 4000 feet. Several rocky summits in the Atlanta region also make for great summit hikes, however they aren't quite tall enough to make our list. The Arabia, Panola, and Stone Mountain monadnock mountains rise above the undulating countryside east of downtown Atlanta and provide stunning views from their rocky, wide domes.

Georgia is the kind of place where a simple addition of spices and salt transforms a humble heirloom tomato into a masterpiece, where walnuts and eggplants are ground, grilled, and intertwined to create a melt-in-your-mouth symphony of flavors, and where an arm-length boat of airy, slightly salted, oven-fresh bread or veggie options is the ideal afternoon snack.

The wonders of Georgian food is washed down with handcrafted lemonades laced with mint and tarragon, freshly squeezed pomegranate juice from a rickety street vendor, or a full-bodied glass of red. This is absolutely one of the things to know before traveling to Georgia. You can almost always count on a substantial and lip-smackingly superb meal, whether you're staying in a guesthouse in a secluded nook of the highlands or dining at a top-notch restaurant downtown Tbilisi.

The cuisine is very delicious! Meals in Georgia are frequently shared with others. The supra – feast – is an important aspect of the culture, and it's not unusual to sit down to family dinners at homestays or to discover menus full of tiny plates meant to be shared among a group. A 10-15% service fee is sometimes added to restaurant bills, especially at more touristic establishments or in large cities. You are not required to tip on top of that.

There are over 120 public transport systems in Georgia, including big systems in Atlanta and complete bus networks in towns like Savannah, Macon, Columbus, Rome, Athens, Albany, Hinesville, Rome, and Augusta. More than 100 small bus and van services operate in Georgia.

While bus terminals in Georgia are notorious for being hectic and overwhelming (especially those in Tbilisi), if you figure out how everything works, the public transport is really rather well organized. This is absolutely one of the things to know before traveling to Georgia. Marshrutkas — compact, often battered minivans – will be your bread and butter of transportation, as they are in most of Central Asia, and are the most convenient way to get around, while taxis are just as excellent, though a bit more costly, for shorter excursions.

Most major routes have a set timetable for departures, which is generally advertised at the bus station, but others leave when they are completely packed. The railway is another alternative for long-distance travel in Georgia, with the sluggish overnight service from Tbilisi to Zugdidi for Mestia and Batumi being the most popular routes. International trains also go to Armenia's Yerevan and Azerbaijan's Baku.

Georgia is one of those places that is a budget-friendly destination where you can either live like a king for very little money or skimp and yet get by fine. This is absolutely one of the things to know before traveling to Georgia. For less than €10, you can have fantastic multi-course dinners, a bed in Tbilisi's top hostel, a couple of excellent bottles of wine, and an overnight train.

During your 6-week vacation, you spent an average of €25 per day, and while you were still on a tight budget, you nearly always stayed in a private room rather than a dorm, went on the occasional planned day excursion, and ate well. You might easily get by on a fraction of this if you're traveling on a limited budget and forego some of these amenities.

Because it is a budget-friendly destination, there is no greater value than a Georgia State Parks vacation. Canoeing is available at George T. Bagby State Park & Lodge, archery is available at Panola Mountain State Park, horseback riding is available at F. D. Roosevelt State Park, and water studies are available at Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge. You may purchase everything you need for your vacation and get help setting it up with the first-time camper program.

You can arrive hot and sweaty at your guesthouse after a lengthy marshrutka ride, sitting on the green patio and plied with pancakes and scalding hot cups of tea, without inquiry or payment, on your first foray outside of Tbilisi. This, it turns out, is a rather common event in Georgia that is gave by the hospitable people.

In reality, it appears that this is the best approach in the majority of cases. The guesthouse is completely filled or you're utterly lost and in need of a driver to get you to your destination: three cups of tea, two slices of cake, and one extra for the road. While these acts of kindness of hospitable people were frequently carried out in a matter-of-fact manner and with a harsh demeanor, they remain among the most memorable memories of many tourists' journeys.

For ages, Georgians have had a reputation for being a pleasant people. At home, in the village, and on the street, the hospitality is evident. Georgians also have a national monument, Kartlis Deda (Mother of Georgia), which is a symbol of kindness and hospitality and overlooks the metropolis.

Georgia is, on the whole, a very safe place to visit. Tbilisi is ranked as one of the safest cities in the world. Despite its safety, the country is not without its social concerns, and events do occur from time to time, most of which are simply a case of poor luck.

While the vast majority of Georgians are really polite and want you to have a good time in their nation, don't take this as an invitation to throw your street smarts out the window entirely. Scams, robberies, and worse occur in the United States, just as they do everywhere else. Take the customary precautions, don't put yourself in unnecessary danger, and follow your instincts before blindly trusting a stranger solely on the basis of this idea that they must do the right thing for you. They don't have any!

Petty thievery may occur in any nation where the people perceive foreigners to be affluent. Although the danger is smaller than in many other nations, it is still necessary to take measures to ensure your safety. Wear no expensive jewelry or watches, and don't flaunt big sums of money. Also, keep an eye on your belongings at all times. Most instances happen in crowded tourist destinations or on packed public transit. You'll be OK if you keep your guard up in these areas.

Before coming to this country, you have to pay attention to its political situation. Georgia is a multi-party parliamentary representative democratic republic with a parliamentary representative democratic republic. Georgia's President is the ceremonial head of state, while the Prime Minister is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister and the Government. Both the Government and Georgia's unicameral Parliament have legislative power.

The political situation remains unstable, and these are definitely regions to be wary of, following decades of turmoil that culminated in the 2008 conflict between Georgia and the self-proclaimed independent governments of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Many countries warn against visiting, however experienced travelers continue to do so.

This guide on obtaining a visa and traveling in Abkhazia is a great and up-to-date resource. The only way to get to South Ossetia is to go through Russia. You will be sent back if you happen to cross the Georgian border during your wanderings around Kazbegi. This description explains what to expect during a visit.

Georgian is the most widely spoken language in the country, with other languages spoken largely in their native tongues. English, Russian, Assyrian, Svan, and Urum are all frequently spoken languages in the region, in addition to English, Russian, Assyrian, and Svan.

Georgia's official language, Kartuli ena, is a spoken language of the republic of Georgia that differs depending on which dialects are spoken, mostly between East and West. Georgian youngsters learn speaking English the fastest when they are part of the younger generation, but they cannot learn English from their elders until they have firsthand experience.

Although Georgian is a difficult language to master, you may expect to pick up a few words for each place you visit. Sometimes it's difficult to get your tongue around basic greetings and farewells — gamarjoba and mshvidobit, in case you were wondering. The ornate alphabet seemed like a fairly attractive set of squiggly lines that you couldn't even begin to interpret when combined with that.

Many residents, especially the younger generations, speak English in the main towns, but expect to perform a lot of gesticulating and charades dancing in the smaller villages and mountains, with a few unpleasant misunderstandings thrown in for good measure.

Georgia knows how to make wine, whether it's red, white, or amber. The world's oldest wine area, with a reputation for exceptional produce (rumor has it that they used to throw out little bottles of wine to newcomers at customs, how cool is that!). This is absolutely one of the things to know before traveling to Georgia.

In Georgia, you'll be met with a completely new lexicon of grapes as you sit down to your much-anticipated first glass. You may become absolutely addicted after your first taste of the gently sweet Kinzmarauli followed by the trademark Saperavi. You can nearly always find wine on the menu practically anywhere in the nation, and you can almost always bank on it being both tasty and inexpensive.

However, the 'homemade' food sold in certain guesthouses and restaurants is typically poor and should not be compared to the good stuff. It's like a berry cordial with a shot of bourbon. A day or weekend excursion to Signagi and Khaketi is a must on any Georgian itinerary for anyone wishing to sample the complete buffet of Georgian grapes direct from the wineries. Are you looking for something a little more potent? A hefty chacha swig should do the trick!

Georgia is an easy and cheap destination thanks to a growing network of aircraft. Wizzair, in particular, is leading the way with regular, low-cost flights to Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and Batumi, despite their strict baggage policies. When searching on Skyscanner, pick 'Georgia' rather than a specific location to rapidly see possibilities for the lowest connections, and purchase one-way tickets to save time by not having to go back and forth across the nation.

It is not only the ideal location for environment, culture, and history enthusiasts, but it is also an easy and cheap destination to visit and live. For starters, Georgia is highly accommodating when it comes to visa duration. Citizens of the European Union, North America, Oceania, Central Asia, South America (excluding Chile and Uruguay) and Southern Africa are granted a one-year visa-free entry to Georgia. If you come upon a wonderful piece of property and assume it belongs to someone, ask permission first; the owner will almost always say yes. Just be aware of any wild dogs or other creatures.

Enjoy art, cuisine, culture, history, music, and more at Georgia's regional and statewide festivals and celebrations. From the International Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon in the spring to the Georgia National Fair in Perry in the autumn, make plans to visit some of the state's greatest fairs and festivals. Holidays such as St. Patrick's Day in Savannah, Independence Day in Atlanta, and Christmas in Dahlonega are all celebrated throughout Georgia.

Join towns like the Thomasville Rose Show and Festival, Vidalia Onion Festival, Georgia Peach Festival, Plains Peanut Festival, Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay, and Helen Oktoberfest in honoring the things that make them special throughout the year. At the Atlanta Cuisine & Wine Festival and the Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival in Tifton, you may sample some of the greatest food and drinks the South has to offer.

At festivals like the Savannah Music Festival, Blue Ridge Mountains Wine & Jazz Festival, Blind Willie McTell Music Festival in Thomson, and AthFest in Athens, you may hear your favorite performers and meet new ones. Alternatively, visit the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival, and the Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain Park to see work by skilled painters.