Discover Ureki

Ureki is located in Guria, a region full of pristine nature along the coastline of the Black Sea. The town is famous because of its magnetic black sand, widely believed to contain healing properties for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and certain skin disorders.

The sanatoriums of Ureki were very popular during the Soviet times, the majority having been built in the 1970s and offering health and beauty treatments to people from all over the USSR. The most significant sanatoriums are Kolkhida and Megabroba, which are still currently in operation.

Ureki Beach is also known as 'Magnetiti' by the locals and as I was told, if you walk barefoot all along the coast from the mouth of Supsa to the Sepa river, “you will enjoy a ong and healthy life”. This may not be true but rest assured that the walk is pleasant, especially at sunset time.

If you are trying to avoid the crowds, I recommend travelling between the end of August to early November, when Ureki once again becomes a peaceful fisherman’s village. By this time, some restaurants, bars and cafés will be closed, but the weather is nice and the water is still warm, making it perfect for taking a refreshing dip in the sea, followed by a sunbathe or a sand bath.

You can visit Ureki as a day trip from Batumi. To get there, you can take a public minivan or marshrutka in front of the Sea Port for less than 3 dollars. If you’d like to stay in a hotel or guesthouse, be aware that summer is the peak travel season, so booking a room in advance is recommended. For those who love to be in direct contact with nature, don’t forget to bring your tent because camping is permitted in the designated areas near the estuaries, the best places to watch the sunrise and twilight.