Hello everyone. On the third day of our trip to Georgia, we arrived at a village nestled in the mountains. We spent a peaceful and serene holiday here. This trip was entirely spontaneous. We didn’t prepare at all but knew there were beautiful places to explore. The village is called Milisi and we booked a hotel here for a few days. We stayed at a place called Château Milisi. This spot attracts many tourists because the hotel offers a sauna, breathtaking views and stunning mountain landscapes. On our way here, we passed by many beautiful places.
Château Milisi is a 4-star, panoramic, modern hotel. The weather in Batumi was lovely and generally, it was nice throughout Georgia, though it was a bit windy in the mountains. We brought jackets. But we didn’t need them much at the hotel since it had a heated pool, a spa and heating systems throughout. We settled in quickly. Our room was on the 4th floor, spacious and bright. The highlight of the room was its panoramic view. Everywhere you looked, there was nature, greenery and mountains. It’s truly fantastic and seems like a perfect option for nature lovers.
This place is also ideal for relaxation and meditation, including yoga. It reminded me a bit of a retreat we visited in Lithuania. One of the best features of the room, apart from the panoramic windows, was the terrace or balcony. Mountains surrounded us from every angle. This small village Milisi, has stunning views. Just standing there, I felt a sense of happiness because such beautiful scenery instantly lifted my mood.
The price for one night at Château Milisi was 70 euros, including breakfast. If you’re looking for a holiday immersed in mountains and nature, this place is just 30 km from Batumi. We came by taxi, which cost us 40 Lari. A reasonable price, though most visitors probably come by car. The hotel also has a barbecue area. Unfortunately, we didn’t plan for this in advance. We could have bought some meat from Batumi since there are no shops in the village.
Getting here was quite a journey. We traveled along winding mountain roads. It took about an hour from Batumi, maybe slightly less. The mountainous terrain made the road feel longer. I had seen photos of this place. But upon arriving, I was convinced everything was ten times more beautiful. Honestly photos can’t fully capture the atmosphere and emotions here.
We put on our swimsuits and headed to the seventh floor. First we decided to visit the spa area. There’s a space for table tennis and a billiards table, along with a pool that offers a stunning view. I believe the sauna was prepared for us when we arrived. The temperature was 26 degrees. I don’t use saunas often, but I was in the perfect mood to relax in such an environment.
There are also tables where you can enjoy drinks or cocktails from the restaurant while soaking in the beautiful scenery. It was incredibly quiet. There was no one around. On the other side, in the restaurant area there were some people, possibly there for lunch.
We swam in the pool for a while, relaxed in the sauna and then went to the restaurant for lunch. Everything here comes with panoramic views. The weather changed a bit while we were in the sauna and the sky became overcast with clouds.
Looking at the map, we noticed that hiking in the village was possible. Exploring the mountains on foot was an option. But the best way to get here is by car. It makes visiting waterfalls or arranging a driver in advance much easier. There are places to visit in the village, such as springs filled with clean water flowing from the mountains. You can even drink this water.
Our meals arrived. Once again we ordered Adjarian khachapuri (Ajara-style khachapuri). This is one of the most popular dishes in Georgia because it’s packed with cheese. The cheese used here is Georgian cottage cheese, which is incredibly tasty. It’s rich, buttery and full of flavor. They told us the proper way to eat it is to mix the cheesy mixture first, then tear off a piece of the bread and dip it into the cheesy, eggy sauce. It was absolutely delicious. The dough was crispy and the cheese was perfectly balanced, not too salty. The last khachapuri I had was a bit salty, but this one was flawless.
The best part of this restaurant was enjoying the mountain views while eating. While waiting for our order, we discussed when and where to go hiking. Luckily we still had phone service, so using navigation was possible. Exploring nature and walking around were enjoyable activities.
Our second dish, shashlik was juicy and generously portioned. It came with a flavorful onion-based sauce that was exactly what we wanted. The sauce was fantastic, one of the best we’ve had. The skewers were perfectly cooked. Not too fatty and grilled just right. The stunning views made the food taste even better. Honestly, I wish we had bought more meat. We could have grilled a kilogram of shashlik ourselves. Thankfully the restaurant had a variety of Georgian dishes. They also offered pasta, pizza and salads, including chicken and shrimp Caesar salad. The menu was diverse. But I believe trying local dishes in Georgia is a must because everything here is incredibly delicious.
Our lunch cost 50 Lari in total, around 15-17 euros, including two main dishes, water and a 10% service fee (likely taken as a tip). After lunch we set out on an adventure because we didn’t want to just sit at the hotel. In front of the hotel there was a beautiful swing, another pool, pergolas and newly built villas. The hotel is only six months old and still developing. Most visitors come by car since there’s parking available and people use their cars to visit the waterfalls. We came by taxi, so exploring on foot was a bit challenging. There were swings with seating on both sides and breathtaking views. The rest of the village extended into the mountains, with more houses and trails. Using navigation we tried to find our way and hoped to at least reach a store about 7 km away.
I was glad I brought my jacket because the weather in the mountains can change quickly. While walking in open areas, the wind was quite cold, but my jacket kept me warm. Near Batumi the weather is very unpredictable. It can be sunny one moment and suddenly pour rain.
It’s best to come prepared with a coat and hood because regular clothes might leave you drenched. There’s so much to see here. We even saw an elderly couple carrying a large pile of bread back up the mountain. They had likely gone down to the store. If you’re considering a weekend trip here, driving is the best option, as there’s much to explore. Walking through nature and the mountains is fun, but driving to waterfalls and other attractions is more convenient.
The village is filled with farmhouses, trails and cows. The sunsets here are stunning. The road to the village is well-maintained. Our taxi driver brought us here without any complaints. Usually mountain villages lack proper roads, which can damage tires or rims, but everything here was great. This place is ideal for spending quality time, whether with family or friends. However, it’s not suitable for nightlife or parties. The hotel has a strict rule against loud music after 11 pm and fines are imposed for noise disturbances.
After about half an hour of walking, we passed a few more villages, each with its unique charm. Descending we came across a small waterfall or stream. Initially we were a bit worried as the journey seemed long, but we eventually started to enjoy the hike.
If you’re wondering why we didn’t call a local taxi or Bolt, there are no taxis here. While we easily arrived by taxi from Batumi, returning was not an option. Fortunately the hotel offers transfer services, including taxis, tours and excursions.
Finally we reached our destination. At the base there were restaurants, tours, hiking activities, go-karts and horseback riding. We managed to find a store near a bridge crossing. We bought some chocolate, sausages, cola, Sprite and bread. Looking back, we could have bought these in Batumi, but we didn’t think of it. Next time we’ll be more prepared. Thankfully it turned into a pleasant hike and an interesting adventure. On our way back, a local offered us a ride and didn’t even charge us. I gave them 5 or 10 euros, but they kindly refused and wished us a good journey.
The next morning we went down for breakfast. It was a buffet-style spread with Georgian bread and pastries.
After eating, we explored the hotel. It had a beautiful wine cellar with paintings of human figures on the walls. A very elegant decoration. The area was arranged like a bar, with tables where you could sit. You could buy wine by the bottle or from barrels, including famous Georgian wines like Saperavi and Rkatsiteli.
Drinking wine from a horn is quite popular in Georgia. I haven’t tried chacha yet. A strong Georgian spirit with 60-70% alcohol content. We had some but found it very strong. Before buying wine, you can sample it. Chacha costs 35 Lari per liter, while Mtsvane dry white wine and Rkatsiteli cost 12 Lari and Saperavi is 25 Lari. The wine cellar was colorful and stylish, unlike any we had seen in Batumi. It felt like stepping into a Georgian home.
This place is stunning and people often come here for wedding photos. The sunsets are incredible.
Later we went for a swim in the pool, which had a beautiful mountain view. The pool was a bit cold, but the room temperature was high, so it didn’t bother us. We spent 2-3 hours there and then watched the sunset. However, the weather changed suddenly and it started raining, obscuring the mountains. Luckily the indoor pool allowed us to swim without getting affected by the rain. Unfortunately we couldn’t see the sunset on our last evening, but the view the previous night was unforgettable.
