The Best Trips in August / A Luxury Travel Guide To Georgia: The Top Destinations You Won’t Want To Miss / LLM Reporters

Sometimes, the best travel experiences happen when you get off the beaten track, and choosing somewhere different to the usual popular destinations often makes for the most memorable trips of all.

Georgia, nestled between the Caucasus mountains and the Black Sea in Europe, remains an untapped destination that few people you meet will likely ever have visited, yet over recent years, it has been quietly emerging as a worthy choice for those with a penchant for luxury.

Combining breath-taking landscapes, exceptional food and wine and a fast-growing luxury travel scene, if you’re looking for an escape that is varied and still feels authentic, then look no further.

Here, we take a closer look at the top spots you won’t want to miss out on – and why 2026 is the perfect time to go.

Tbilisi

Enjoying a scenic location along the Kura river, in Tbilisi you’ll find medieval charm juxtaposed with decidedly modern energy. Image credit: uskarp/Bigstock.com

Tbilisi is Georgia’s capital, and has been the country’s political, cultural, and economic centre for centuries. Enjoying a scenic location along the Kura river, here, you’ll find medieval charm juxtaposed with decidedly modern energy, making for a rich and varied destination with a lot to see and do.

When it comes to luxury stays in the city, not all areas are created equally, so turn your attention away from the historic old town and look for accommodation in the rather more upscale neighbourhoods of Solokai and Vera to find the best options.

Both are still centrally located and make great bases from which to explore, and close to Solokai you’ll find the ultra-luxury five star Paragraph Freedom Square, a Luxury Collection Hotel boasting lavish suites and an expansive spa, right in a prime location.

In Vera, meanwhile, the Stamba Hotel, set in an old Soviet printing house, offers a unique and authentic experience and a stylish and well-appointed stay.

So what exactly is there to do in Tbilisi? It turns out, quite a lot – but rushing would only detract from the experience. Tbilisi is a city best explored slowly, and a leisurely stroll along Rustaveli Avenue is the very best place to get a feel for what it’s all about.

Here, you’ll be able to take in major sites like the Opera House and Parliament building, marvel at elegant 19th-century façades and take in the general Soviet-era grandeur that’s in evidence here.

Afterwards, you can peruse the Dry Bridge flea market for Soviet-era antiques, then settle into a sophisticated Georgian wine bar to relax and watch the world go by. It might surprise you to learn that Georgia is said to be the original birthplace of wine, with the tradition dating back more than 8,000 years – so it would be rude not to sample some of the nation’s finest.

The Caucasus Mountains

If you’re keen to escape the city and see some more of the country, then the Caucasus mountains are a must

If you’re keen to escape the city and see some more of the country, then the Caucasus mountains are a must – particularly if you’re an outdoor enthusiast or an adventure lover.

The Greater Caucasus region, particularly around Kazbegi and Svaneti, has much to offer, and is surprisingly accessible from Tbilisi. Although the drive takes anywhere between three and four hours, the scenery you’ll take in along the way make it a bucket list-worthy experience in itself, and heading for Stepantsminda will ensure you can check into a luxury mountain hotel like the famous Hotel Kazbegi.

Hiking is a popular activity here, and one that more or less anyone can partake in, with routes well sign-posted and varying options depending on skill level and experience. Visiting the Gergeti Trinity Church, from which you’ll have some of the very best views in the region, are also essential, while horse riding – and paragliding, when the weather permits – both offer some more great ways to take in the beauty of the surrounding landscapes.

The Black Sea Coast

Batumi has plenty going for it when it comes to luxury – including lavish hotels and casinos, and a few notable restaurants

The Black Sea Coast is also worth a visit, but can offer very different experiences, depending on where you go.

Batumi feels flashy and modern, and while not particularly authentic, it does have plenty going for it when it comes to luxury – including lavish hotels and casinos, and a few notable restaurants. Even so, the rapid development taking place here isn’t for everyone, so if you’d prefer to visit somewhere that feels a little calmer, more relaxed and altogether more Georgian, then the sub-tropical landscape of the Adjara region is the perfect place to finish. Here, you’ll find a rich food and wine culture, and an off-the-beaten-track feel that is a world away from the neon lights of Batumi.

Getting around

There is so much to see and do in this little-visited country that securing a luxury car rental in Georgia is essential. Image credit: bortnikau/Bigstock.com

There is so much to see and do in this little-visited country that securing a luxury car rental in Georgia is essential, and will give you the comfort and flexibility you need to explore the country at your own pace.

Major routes are straightforward and easy to navigate, but it’s worth bearing in mind that Georgia can experience extreme weather conditions at times, including lots of ice and snow – so time your visit accordingly.

June to September is the ideal time to go, with warmer weather and calmer conditions – but any time from late May to October can work well as long as you plan your route well and ensure you’re well prepared for the drive.