MEET TODAY’S GUEST
Rhiannon Humphrey-Gaskin: Tech COO and Digital Nomad
Rhiannon has been based in Georgia for 4 years whilst working remotely.
She spends her spare time exploring the countryside in a partially converted UAZ Buhanka, with her husband and dog (sometimes the cat comes too).
Hey there! You’re reading Paths People Take — a newsletter to help you adventure a little differently. Every issue we ask people around the world to design the perfect itinerary for visiting their home. So that you can travel like a local. — The Paths People Take team |
In Racha the wildflowers come out in June
When is the best time to visit?
“June is my favourite month in Kutaisi. The weather is hot (but not yet uncomfortable), the market is full of seasonal fruits and the city and the country is so beautiful in early summer.”
June is also the month Gemo food festival comes to Kutaisi. That’s one of the best weekends of the year.
Gemo Festival in Kutaisi
Describe your perfect itinerary
“Kutaisi itself is a quiet city, but what really makes it special is the surrounding regions. We are within a couple of hours drive of some incredible locations. If I had to pick one, I would do a roadtrip around Racha. Hire a car, book a taxi for the day or hitch-hike.
Start with a 90-minute drive to a secret pool carved into the side of a mountain in the village of Lailashi. The water is very cold but the views are incredible.
Then head to Ambrolouri and arrange a wine tasting at one of the many wineries in town.
From there, it’s a short drive to one of my favourite restaurants in all of Georgia. Kesane (In English - Forget Me Not) might look like a random restaurant on the side of the road, but the food is on-point and they are rapidly gaining an excellent reputation and expanding.
On the way home, stop at Lake Shaori to walk off your lunch and Nakerala Pass for a lovely photo stop. You can tag on a short hike to the top of Tskhradjvari if you’re feeling active - though I must admit that after the wine tasting we decided to skip the hike.”
We got married in Kutaisi last June. Many of our guests had never been to Georgia before and this is the exact day-trip we organised to show them the best of our home.
Lake Shaori in autumn
What do you want people to know before visiting?
“There is more to Georgian food than Khachapuri. The best food in Georgia is in people’s homes, not restaurants - but you can still experience this by choosing to visit homestays or family-run wineries.”
Walking to the pool at Lailashi
TRAVEL STAPLES
Rhiannon’s Top Spots in Kutaisi:
Best breakfast: Doli restaurant for elevated Georgian food
To grab a quick lunch: a sandwich from Juicy Lucy
Dinner with friends: Sakhlshi (At Home) restaurant
For a takeaway: Dolce (pizza) or White Elephant (Indian)
On a special occasion: Sisters Restaurant, especially when they have live music
Best cafe: Miniart
To feel like a local: Chavchavadze market (near the bus station)
Take friends when they visit: Wander around the old town
If you’re alone: WILD bar if I want to meet new people,
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