Borough in Samtskhe-Javakheti, Georgia
Photo: Yasuhiro Kojima, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Abastumani is a small Czarist-era spa town and Soviet-built astrophysical observatory in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region.
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Walk in the dark forest surrounding the observatory and look for animals such as bear and wolves.
Visit the astrophysical observatory and look at the stars and moon through the old telescopes. The moon is best seen when it is half because you can see the shadows of the craters better.
Hike the Abastumani loop trail in the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park.
Visit the Czar's Bath at night and get the caretaker to let you soak in the therapeutic spring water with friends and some local wine.
Rent mountain bikes from the Abastumani Tourism Association and ride down the mountain from observatory to the town.
Ride up (or down) the Soviet-era cable car from the town to the observatory and get a bird's eye view of the surrounding region.
Stay with a local family and eat the traditional Georgian food and hospitality.
Rent horses and have a guided ride in the forest.
Explore the ruins of Tamara's Castle sitting on the ridge high above the town.
Abastumani is reached by either taxi or marshutka (mini-bus) from the Akhaltsikhe bus station.
Read in the guideThe lower town is 7 km from one end to the other and relatively flat so it is easily walkable. The observatory is 4 km above the town.
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