Kvariati is a small seaside village located between the villages of Sarpi and Gonio, 15 km from Batumi and only a few kilometers from the Turkish border. Kwariati is divided into two halves: one near the water, the other on the hillsides above the highway. This quiet village surrounded by green mountains is considered one of the best seaside resorts in Ajara. This fact can be explained by the fact that it is still one of the cleanest, quietest, and most pleasant neighborhoods near Batumi.
Kvariati beach is not very large – only about a kilometer, but it is covered with fairly clean sand and pebbles. In the north, it turns into Gonio Beach by itself, and in the south it ends with rocky cliffs that separate it from Sarpi Beach. Kwariati differs from the latter in a favorable way because the local highway runs quite far from the beach, so noise and din do not reach here. And the air is cleaner. If you want privacy but stay near the sea, there is nothing to stop you from walking the entire beach to the south and finding yourself in the rocks, where there will surely be almost no one.

Despite its modesty, Kvariata has everything a person needs for a peaceful and not too boring beach vacation. In particular, there are sun loungers with umbrellas on the coastal strip of sand, and children’s inflatable rafts and jet skis for adults in the water. There is also a restaurant on the beach.
And another exclusive advantage of Kvariati is that it is the first and only diving center in the country.
Batumi Diving Center is located in the southern part of the beach, near the rocks. It teaches not only diving but also snorkeling and provides PADI certificates. The center also organizes transportation to sunken ships for diving. Frankly speaking, the neighborhood is far from coral tropical reefs, but why not diversify your vacation?

Kvariati neighborhood

From Kvariati, you can walk to Sarpi by the sea if you wish. It is a border crossing point, and the village itself is divided in two by the border with Turkey (the Turkish half is called “Sarp”). At the same time, Sarpi is also a resort: there is a small but very decent pebble beach. The advantage of Sarpi Beach is that it is surrounded by picturesque mountainous landscapes. There is even a rock in the water, which is rare in Ajara, from which you can dive. And the water is quite clean. Moreover, those who want to walk to Turkey can afford to do so. However, there is not much to do in this part of Turkey. But in Sarpy itself, the infrastructure is richer than in Kvariati: there are cafes, shops, exchange offices, and more.
On the way from Kvariati to Sarpi, you can come across a secluded wild beach – quite nice if you close your eyes to the fact that it is located literally under the highway.

If you move in the other direction, along the coast to the north, you can get from Kvariati to Gonio, which is about 2 km away. Today, this village is experiencing a real surge in tourism. And there are reasons for this: proximity to Batumi combined with cleaner water and a pleasant climate. And one and a half kilometers further beyond Gonio is the fortress of the same name (or Gonio-Apsar). This building was built by the ancient Romans: the first mention of it dates back to the 1st century AD. е. Nowadays, the fortress is in a state of ruins, but it is still interesting to see it. Archaeological excavations are underway here, and, according to some speculation, the grave of one of the four evangelists, the Apostle Matthew, may be located here.

What to see:

First and foremost, sunny and ancient Tiflis, as well as the ancient city of Mtskheta located in its vicinity. It is worth going on an excursion to the rocky Vardzia Monastery, founded by Queen Tamara in the 12th century, to the miniature fortress of Tmogvi, which is sculpted into an almost sheer cliff, and to the magnificent Khartsvisi Castle. The unique fortified settlement of Sighnakhi is also considered the “Pearl of Georgia.”