Nauryz in Georgia from Almaty: tours

Nauryz in Georgia is celebrated by the Kazakh and Turkic diasporas: concerts and gatherings take place in Tbilisi and Batumi, less often in Kutaisi and Gori. The day is not a public holiday, and posters appear two to three weeks in advance. March is the shoulder season: it is rainy on the coast, frosty in the mountains at night, but prices are lower than in summer. Regular flights operate from Almaty, and accommodation on the holiday dates is booked a month ahead.

How is it celebrated and where to look for events?

The holiday in Georgia is an event of the diasporas, not a public holiday. It is celebrated in large cities, where Kazakh communities gather.

Holiday events in Tbilisi and Batumi

In Tbilisi and Batumi, concerts, exhibitions, and community gatherings draw several hundred guests. The Kazakh diaspora of the Georgian capital rents halls in the center, while in Batumi the venue is more often a space near the seaport. Posters appear two to three weeks before the date. Entry is sometimes free, but a dinner with national dishes requires registration. The holiday program usually runs for one evening, less often two. Guests from Kazakhstan are welcomed here as their own, and this is the main reason to go specifically to the large cities.

Cultural centers and diasporas: how to find out the program in advance

The program of the holiday in Georgia is worth looking for a month before the trip. Kazakh cultural centers of Tbilisi and Batumi publish announcements on social media, while the communities of Kutaisi and Gori do so less often and more modestly. It is useful to write to the organizers directly: they will tell you the date, venue, and dress code. Hotels in the center of the Georgian capital are booked in advance for the holiday dates, because March is already a noticeably busy tourist month. If there is no poster, focus on the day of the holiday itself: small gatherings take place without wide announcement as well.

When to go on the holiday dates?

The dates of Nauryz are fixed, but the weather in Georgia on these days varies. The choice of destination depends on what you expect — sea or snow.

March weather on the coast and in the mountains

On the coast in March it is damp and windy, the air warms up weakly, and rains are frequent. In Batumi and Kobuleti it is cool during the day, colder in the evening, and walking without a waterproof jacket is uncomfortable. In the mountains the contrast is sharper: warm during the day, frost at night, and in Svaneti the roads to high-mountain villages are often blocked by snow. Borjomi at this time is quiet and calm, while in Kutaisi and Gori there is less rain than on the shore. Plan the trip so that half the days are left for cities and museums, not the beach.

Ski resorts at the end of the season

Gudauri and Bakuriani still welcome skiers in March, but the snow becomes heavy and wet. In the morning the slopes hold, by midday they soften, and by evening they freeze over — skiing requires caution. Lines at the lifts are shorter than in February, and accommodation in Gudauri is cheaper. In Bakuriani, by the end of the month some runs are closed due to melting. For a beginner this is not a bad option, for a confident skier it is a lottery. Take a mask with a dark filter and a spare pair of gloves.

What a tourist from Almaty should consider

Flights from Almaty to Georgia operate regularly, but the route and expenses require calculation. Below is what should be decided before buying a ticket.

Visa, passport, and length of stay

The entry rules for Georgia for citizens of Kazakhstan should be checked before the trip. Lengths of stay, document requirements, and border crossing procedures change, and we do not have a verified official source. Look at the information on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and on the resources of Georgian agencies. Apply for your passport in advance: in Almaty, appointments at the migration service are sometimes booked weeks ahead. Keep copies of the document separate from the original.

Money, cards, and exchanging lari

Cards from Kazakh banks are not accepted everywhere in Georgia, especially outside Tbilisi and Batumi. In Kutaisi, Gori, and Kobuleti, some cafes and guesthouses work only with cash. It is better to exchange lari at banks and exchange offices in the city center, not at the airport: the rate there is noticeably worse. Keep a supply of cash for two to three days of the trip. Do not carry large sums in one place, and small bills will come in handy for taxis and markets.

Insurance and medical expenses

A medical policy is not mandatory for entry to Georgia, but doctor expenses here are high. A visit to a private clinic in Tbilisi or Batumi costs more than in Almaty, and emergency care in the mountains requires evacuation. Take out insurance with coverage for active recreation if you are going to Gudauri, Bakuriani, or Svaneti. Check whether the policy includes exacerbations of chronic illnesses. Keep the insurance number and policy on your phone and on paper.

Visa and entry rules change: check with the primary source — the Embassy of Georgia in the Republic of Kazakhstan, https://kazakhstan.mfa.gov.ge/en/e-visa-portal. The information on this page was verified on 14.09.2026.

How to prepare for the trip

March in Georgia is the shoulder season, and preparation differs from summer. It is better to pack your things and book accommodation before departure.

Clothes and shoes for a rainy March

A waterproof jacket with a hood and waterproof shoes are the foundation of a March wardrobe in Georgia. In Tbilisi and Batumi rains are frequent, and sidewalks in the old quarters are slippery. Take layered items: a T-shirt, a sweater, a light down jacket. In the mountains of Gudauri and Bakuriani it is cold at night, so a hat and gloves are not superfluous. An umbrella in windy Batumi is useless, a raincoat is better. Sneakers for the city and trekking shoes for Borjomi and Svaneti.

Booking accommodation and transport

Book accommodation in Tbilisi and Batumi for the holiday dates a month in advance. In Kobuleti, Kvariati, and Ureki, some guesthouses are closed in March, so confirmation must be obtained in writing. Renting a car is convenient for traveling around the regions, but parking in the cities is difficult. A train runs between Tbilisi and Batumi, and minibuses run between Kutaisi and Gori. Train tickets sell out in advance, especially for weekends.

Where to go besides the holiday cities

If the lineup did not come together, Georgia still offers options. Here are destinations where March is calm and inexpensive.

Calm destinations: Borjomi, Kutaisi, Gori

Borjomi in March is quiet and green, and entering the park and tasting mineral water take half a day. Kutaisi is interesting for its cathedrals and market, and there are noticeably fewer tourists here than in the capital. In Gori, it is worth stopping by the museum and fortress, and accommodation will cost less than in Tbilisi. The road from Tbilisi to Gori takes about an hour, which is convenient for a day trip. Rain in these cities is weaker than on the coast. For a calm route, two or three days are enough.

Shoulder season on the coast: Kobuleti, Kvariati, Ureki

In Kobuleti, Kvariati, and Ureki, March is still shoulder season. Some cafes and guesthouses are closed, the beaches are empty, and the sea is cold for swimming. But accommodation prices are several times lower than in summer, and walking along the promenade is pleasant without crowds. In Ureki, some sanatoriums with magnetic sands are open. In Kvariati, it is worth checking whether your guesthouse is open before booking. This kind of holiday will suit those who are going for silence, not for the beach.

High mountain areas and closed roads

In Svaneti in March, roads to high mountain villages may be closed due to snow. Mountain passes are opened not according to schedule, but according to the weather, and plans have to be changed on the spot. Mestia is accessible more often than remote communities, but delays are also possible there. For a trip to Svaneti, you need winter shoes, warm clothes, and extra time. If the route is date-critical, choose Borjomi or Kutaisi. Gudauri and Bakuriani are more accessible than the high mountains at this time.

In brief

• Nowruz in Georgia is a holiday of diasporas, not a public day off.
• Look for concerts and community meetings in Tbilisi and Batumi.
• Lineups appear two to three weeks in advance; it is worth writing to organizers in advance.
• In March, it is rainy on the coast, and frosty at night in the mountains.
• Gudauri and Bakuriani are operating, but the snow is wet and heavy.