# Bakhmaro

Bakhmaro (ბახმარო) is a health resort in Southwestern Georgia.

## Understand

Bakhmaro is popular in summer, it is nationally famous for long mountain walks and for the traditional horse races, which takes place every year on 19 August. The resort is located in the basin of the upper reaches of the river Bakhvistskali. Bakhmaro was discovered in early 1890s. The majority of buildings in Bakhmaro are wooden bungalows that are inhabited in summer, especially July and August, by travelers.

## Get in
### By bus

You can catch a marshrutka from Tbilisi, Ozurgeti or Chokhatauri or minibus going to Bakhmaro during summer season.

### By car

Well developed regional road connects Bakhmaro to Chokhatauri. The approximately 50 km road from chokhatauri is paved and in good condition. Bakhmaro is difficulty accessible only from November to April. Riding a car lasts from one and a half hours from Chokhatauri. To reach the resort you have to be careful that the radiator does not begin to cook on the downhill, the brakes are not hot.
An alternative route of driving is there from Khulo in Adjara, but this is not much more than a track and therefore only accessible by jeep.

### On foot

There are several mountain paths going to Bakhmaro from villages of Guria. The best of them are Vakijvari-Bakhmaro,Mtispiri-Bakhmaro and Gomismta-Bakhmaro

## Get around

You can easily walk in and around Bakhmaro. But you can also rent a horse (20 lari per hour) or quads.

## See

Of course, the great mountain panorama is the main attraction of the town and its immediate surroundings.
* 41.85377842.3180191 Spring of Beauty (სილამაზის წყარო). Very cold water source. The path starts from Vakijvari Street and goes down in the woods. (updated Aug 2015)
* 41.84342.32442 Lonely Stone (ობოლი ქვა). Very cold water source. The path starts from Vakijvari Street and goes down in the woods. (updated Aug 2015)

## Do

* 41.846542.33381 Attend Horse Race (დოღი). August 19 (the day of the Transfiguration of Our Lord) is an important day in Bakhmaro, where the large traditional horse race will be held. The spectacle attracts several thousand visitors from the region but also from other regions too. The beginning of the race is usually about 13:00. (updated Aug 2015)
* 41.850342.35672 Watch Sunrise (მზის ამოსავალი). from a "Sunrise hill". You have to at 02:00 and reach the highest point of the mountain. (updated Aug 2015)
* 41.813742.3543 Zotikeli (ზოტიყელი). Path to an aul Zotikeli from mountain resort Bakhmaro goes in the beautiful gorge of river Bakhvistskali. Every 12 August a horse race is held in Zotikeli. (updated Aug 2015)
* 41.864842.31924 Watch Sunset (ჩასავალი გორა). from a "Sunset hill" (updated Aug 2015)

## Buy

Apart from a few small mini markets in the resort, there is no shopping. However you can buy some delicious homemade milk products and wooden toys from local people. There is also a market where fruits and vegetables can be bought.

## Eat

There are a few places offering food. One restaurant is just down the bazar area and another one further down the main road and close to the river. The latter serves draft beer for 3 lari and is open 24/7 according to its owners.

## Sleep

Most of the accommodation consists of simple wooden cabins (bungalows). The toilets are outside the house, the water comes from a source nearby. They are rented usually only a weekly or seasonal basis. However, there is only one proper hotel in Bakhmaro.
* Guesthouse by Nino, ☏ +995 555 34 71 17. 30 lari for a double. (updated Jul 2018)
* 41.846442.34261 Hotel Bakhmaro (სასტუმრო ბახმარო). US$50 per night/person. (updated Aug 2015)

## Stay healthy

There is some pharmacies and a small Hospital "Mamkoli".

## Stay connect

The reception of the mobile networks is excellent in the resort, there are some dead spots in the mountains.

## Go next

* Ozurgeti
* Chokhatauri
* Khidistavi
* Nabeglavi
* Mtispiri