Eco-cottages

What an eco-cottage is

In Georgia an "eco-cottage" often means a wooden house in nature, away from the city. Some really are ecological - solar power and local food - while others are simply beautiful wooden houses.

Both can be good for us, but we tell you honestly which is which. The word "eco" is often marketing here.

Who it is for

For a couple who want two or three quiet days. For a family showing their children the forest and animals. For anyone who needs a break from screens.

It is not for those who need a shop, a restaurant and a taxi close at hand. Living in nature takes a little planning, and we help with that.

What we check under "eco"

We ask where the electricity and hot water come from, how rubbish is handled and where the food comes from. Some places proudly show you their solar panels and vegetable garden.

If ecology is a principle for you, we choose places where it really happens, not just in the name.

If the main thing is quiet and nature, the formal "eco" matters less. We decide that together with you.

Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park

The Borjomi area is the most popular region for forest cottages: pine forest, mineral springs and national park trails at the door.

The park has day trails and multi-day trails, and some cottages stand right at a trailhead. For a keen hiker it is an ideal base.

Borjomi is a few hours from Tbilisi, and in winter Bakuriani is close too. The forest under snow is beautiful in a completely different way.

Lagodekhi

The Lagodekhi reserve lies in the east of Kakheti, at the foot of the Caucasus - old forest, waterfalls and trails up to a mountain lake.

A cottage here combines well with a wine route: a day in the cellars, a night in the forest. Two different Kakhetis in one trip.

The trail to the waterfall takes a few hours and is suitable for families. The high lake, though, is a serious multi-day hike.

Mtirala and the Adjarian forest

The Mtirala area is close to Batumi and is one of the rainiest places in Georgia. That is where the green of the forest, the mist and the waterfalls come from.

A cottage here is a good change after the sea: coolness, the smell of the forest and silence. In the summer heat it is especially pleasant.

Rain is normal here, so waterproof clothes and shoes are essential. We remind you before you arrive.

Kazbegi mountain cabins

In recent years many wooden cabins with big windows have appeared around Kazbegi, from which Mount Kazbek is visible from bed. It is the most popular photo of all.

The cabins are often small - for two or three people - and stand next to each other. If you want complete solitude, we look for a detached one.

In winter a cabin with a fireplace and snow is a fairy tale, but the access road must be checked. We always do this.

Racha and its lakes

Racha has forest, rivers and mountain lakes together, and a cottage by the water is an ideal place for a quiet break.

In some places you can take a boat or go fishing; in others you simply sit on the terrace while the mist drifts slowly over the water.

Racha is little developed for tourism, and that is its virtue. But services are simple, and supplies need buying in advance.

A winter cottage

In winter a forest cottage with a fireplace, snow and mulled wine is a special experience. Around Bakuriani and Borjomi it is a popular format.

But in winter the access road, heating and a stock of firewood are critical. We always confirm them separately with the host.

To some cottages the last stretch in winter is on foot or in the host's vehicle. We tell you in advance so you can pack properly.

Glamping

Glamping is a tent, but with a real bed, linen, lighting and often its own bathroom. Nature is close; discomfort is not.

It mostly runs from May to October. At night in the mountains it is cool even in summer, so we check whether there is heating.

Glamping is good for couples and for families trying camping for the first time. That way a child gets to know nature with pleasure.

A farmhouse

A farm cottage comes with animals, a vegetable garden and often home-made cheese, eggs and honey. Breakfast comes from the yard.

For children it is the best format: feeding the chickens, milking the cow, riding a horse. A city child remembers it for a long time.

Farms are often in Kakheti or Imereti, close to the wine regions. So we often combine them with a wine route.

The road in

To many cottages the last few kilometres are unpaved. In dry weather an ordinary car gets through; after rain, not always.

So we check the state of the road for your arrival date and tell you whether you need a jeep.

Some hosts will bring guests up from below in their own vehicle. We agree this when booking.

Water and electricity

Some cottages are off-grid: electricity from solar panels, water from a spring, hot water from a wood or gas heater.

That is lovely, but it has limits: on a cloudy day there is little power, and a hairdryer or electric oven may not work.

We state this in advance. If you have devices or medical equipment that need electricity, we choose accordingly.

Heating and the fireplace

In a forest cottage heating is often a fireplace or wood stove. It is beautiful and warm, but you need to add wood at night too.

The host usually prepares the firewood and shows you how to light it. If you would rather not, we look for a cottage with electric or gas heating.

Safety by the fire matters, especially with children. We check whether there is a fireguard and a smoke detector.

Food

Some cottages have a kitchen and you cook yourself; at others the host brings dinner; at others there is a restaurant nearby. These are three quite different experiences.

If you cook yourself, mtsvadi over the fire or a dish cooked in a pot in the yard is part of being in nature. There is often a barbecue.

If you would rather not cook, we look for a cottage where the host provides breakfast and dinner. We agree this in advance.

The shop and supplies

From a forest cottage the nearest shop is sometimes half an hour away. So supplies should be bought in town - food, water, wine.

We send a list of what is in the cottage and what you should bring. During the transfer the driver will stop at a shop.

Some hosts buy supplies before the guest arrives, from a list. That is the most convenient option, and we arrange it.

Internet and a digital break

In a forest cottage internet is often weak or absent - and for many people that is exactly why they go.

If connection is essential, we check the mobile signal and Wi-Fi. In some places there is signal only in one corner of the terrace.

Tell family at home in advance that you may be out of contact. We always have the host's phone number.

Forest residents

Georgia's forests are home to bears, wolves and jackals. They usually avoid people, but the smell of food attracts them.

So do not leave food outside at night, and store rubbish as the host tells you. That simple rule avoids most problems.

There are ticks in the forest and grass too, especially in spring. Checking yourself after a hike is normal practice.

How many nights

One night in a forest cottage is often too little: the journey, settling in and supplies take time, and the calm only begins on the second day.

Two or three nights is ideal - one day for hiking, another simply for the terrace and the fireplace. Many guests say afterwards they wanted one more night.

If the route is tight, we place the cottage in the middle of it as a rest stop. Between cities it restores your energy.

Safety at night

A forest cottage is dark at night - there are no street lights. A torch or phone light is essential; look over the terrace steps in advance.

The door and windows lock, and the host usually lives nearby. In an emergency 112 works if there is signal.

When you arrive we send the exact coordinates, so an ambulance or our driver can find the place easily.

Children in nature

For a child a forest cottage is an adventure: the fire, the forest, the river, the stars. Screens are forgotten on their own.

We check the terrace railing, how close the water is and the fireguard. A river or lake is lovely, but with a small child it needs constant attention.

A farm or a family cottage with animals is often better for a family than deep forest. We choose according to the children's ages.

With a dog at a cottage

Eco-cottages often welcome dogs gladly - a big yard, the forest close by. It is one of the best formats for travelling with a dog.

But in the forest a dog is better on a lead: wild animals, shepherd dogs and livestock may be nearby.

Tick protection matters especially for a dog. We remind you in advance.

Hiking from the cottage

Many cottages are at a trailhead, and in the morning you walk straight from the door into the forest. The host usually knows which trail is worth it.

Hiking in a national park sometimes requires registration at the visitor centre. It is for safety, and we help you with it.

For a multi-day hike or an unfamiliar trail we recommend a guide. Losing a trail in the forest is easier than it looks.

Season

Spring in the forest with flowers and waterfalls, autumn with its colours - these are the two most beautiful seasons. Summer is for coolness, winter for the fireplace.

Some cottages work only in the warm season, especially glamping and lakeside places. We check this before booking.

At weekends in autumn forest cottages fill quickly. For October booking early is better.

Weather and a plan B

In nature the weather changes the plan. On a rainy day a book and games by the fire are better than a wet trail.

If the weather makes the road dangerous, we decide with the host what is best - moving the arrival or another place.

We suggest rainy-day options nearby: a museum, mineral baths, a wine cellar. That way the day is not lost.

Neighbours and quiet

In some places there are several cottages on one site. That is convenient, but a neighbour's music or party can be heard even in the forest.

If you want complete quiet, we look for a detached cottage or a place with a strict rule - quiet at night.

At weekends groups are common. On weekdays the forest is calmer.

Rubbish and respect for nature

The main rule of being in nature is simple: leave it as you found it. Rubbish is disposed of as the host directs, or you take it with you.

Fires only where there is a place for them. In the dry summer a fire in the forest is dangerous and sometimes banned.

Hosts who look after nature expect the same from guests. It always improves the relationship.

Transfer

We arrange the transfer to a forest cottage in a vehicle that suits the road - sometimes a jeep for the last stretch.

On the way we stop at a shop for supplies, and the driver knows the exact place. Finding a forest cottage in the dark is not always easy.

If you are driving yourself, we send the exact coordinates and a description of the road with photos.

What we need from you

Dates, guests and children's ages. Whether you have a dog.

What you want: complete quiet, hiking, a farm, a lake, a mountain view. Will you cook yourself, or would you prefer the host's food?

How you are travelling: your own car, our transfer or a jeep. That tells us which cottage is really within reach.

Price

The price depends on the place, the season, the size of the cottage and whether food is included. Autumn and the winter holidays are the most expensive.

The suggestion shows the night, food, firewood, jeep and transfer separately, if they are paid separately. There should be no surprises on site.

Our service is a separate line, and the host receives the full amount. For a small host in nature that matters especially.