Sarpi: Coast, Border Crossing and Laz Culture

Sarpi is a coastal town whose character is shaped by its fine-pebble beach, Laz culture and border crossing into Turkey. When looking for a hotel in Sarpi, these different interests may influence your choice of destination: the coast and maritime activities, cultural heritage, or a trip where crossing the border on foot is important. Sarpi has an international road border crossing with Turkey; it is also possible to cross on foot. Border procedures and operating conditions may change. Check the latest information before your trip.

Coast and maritime activities

Sarpi Beach is around three kilometres long and has a fine-pebble shore. Mountain ridges lie very close to the sea, so the coast and mountain landscape are closely adjacent features of the town. This provides concrete points of comparison when choosing a destination: the length and character of the beach, and how close the mountains are to the sea.

The coast offers a range of maritime activities, the availability of which may vary depending on the season and conditions. Options include cliff jumping into the sea. According to the Adjara Tourism Department, Sarpi is the only place in Adjara where this activity is offered. Check availability and safety conditions locally before planning to take part.

Laz culture and architecture

Laz culture is another distinct aspect of Sarpi. Laz people live in the town and preserve their ancient culture; Sarpi is also connected to this cultural heritage through the Laz Ethnographic Museum. For travellers who consider cultural interests alongside the coast when choosing a destination, this is another concrete point of interest.

The Church of St. Andrew the First-Called in Sarpi is a cross-domed church and is regarded as an example of post-medieval Georgian architecture. It stands near the Georgian-Turkish border; its location close to one of Georgia’s most important borders has symbolic significance. The church’s architecture and border location give it distinct cultural and geographical associations.

Adjara as a wider setting

Another regional point of interest in Adjara is the Waterfall of St. Andrew the First-Called. It is considered a natural and cultural attraction; a monument to St. Andrew stands at the waterfall. The waterfall adds a distinct landscape dimension in Adjara to Sarpi’s coastal and cultural themes.

Hiking and nature experiences in Adjara also vary in terms of route format and landscape. In Mtirala National Park, the marked Tsablnara hiking trail is seven kilometres long, rated easy and designed for a day hike. Machakhela National Park, in the Khelvachauri Municipality area, has two hiking trails connected to roads accessible to motor vehicles. The Kobuleti Ispani Protected Area has three easy trails: Ispani 2, White Moss and Drosera. The area is a refuge for migratory birds as well as nesting and wintering birds. Special wooden skis can be rented there for walks across the marsh; check availability before your trip. This lets you distinguish regional nature experiences in Adjara by day hike, road access, or bird and marsh landscapes.

Discover more destinations: Kvariati, Chakvi, Tsikhisdziri, Kobuleti, Gonio, Tkhilnari, Makhinjauri, Batumi

For the main travel overview: Adjara.