Georgia: Why it is Europe’s Best-Kept (and Most Affordable) Wellness Secret

After a whirlwind of travel in 2025, my life suddenly shrank. Since early November, health issues had kept me grounded, and the four walls of my bedroom had become my entire life. Travel felt like a distant memory, and to be honest, not something I was chasing as I concentrated on recovery. Until February 2nd arrived. I found myself in Georgia, feeling like a prime candidate for a wellness reset, and the service on offer was exceptional.

A First Look at Georgian Wellness

Not only was the service exceptional, but the cost-effectiveness was staggering, rivalled by the best in Europe. I discovered the healing process I desperately needed. 

Without going into specific details of my health, let’s just say that when I had the opportunity to travel for wellness with the Georgian National Tourism Agency, I snapped up the offer with both hands. And, I had never been to Georgia before, so there was an excitement to travel there for the first time. When I arrived in Tbilisi, the capital, I was very much looking forward to the spontaneity of my well-being programme. 

Georgia as a whole, having travelled a little from Tbilisi to the third-largest city, Kutaisi, and Tskaltubo, was such a pleasant experience. A really charming vibe and very different from what I was expecting, given it’s an old Soviet bloc.

The Palm of Your Hand

As I wasn’t tied to a wellness resort for this trip, with various spots for my consultations and treatments, my first port of call was at the stunning 5-star Bioli Wellness Resort. Situated about 30 minutes southwest of the city centre, I met with Dr Mikhail Kochiashvili. A doctor who has been working in the field of health medicine, SPA (science per aquam), and wellness for over 30 years. 

During his time, he has participated in the development and training of more than 30 wellness and spa resorts. His proprietary programmes have been implemented in many medical and wellness centres. It was safe to say I was in good hands. 

After speaking with him about my current condition, Dr Kochiashvili performed an Oligoscan, an advanced device that measures mineral levels from your palm. Once upon a time, to complete this test, as a patient, you had to provide a sample of your nail, hair, along with blood or urine. No longer the case with the state-of-the-art technology available today. 

The process is very quick, a matter of seconds, to be precise. Although the results turned out to be a little alarming, as my oxidative stress levels were far too high, and my Oligo-mineral was too low. Oxidative stress, according to the doctor, can cause inflammation, cell damage, chronic disease and, worst of all, cancer. 

Dr Kochiashvili explained to me, ‘The key feature of our procedures and one-day packages is that we always conduct an initial consultation and diagnostic assessment. This allows us to fully personalise all treatment parameters for each guest’. Which was perfect, because all subsequent treatment was tailored to my needs. 

From Field to Cup

According to Dr Kochiashvili, one important factor in the effectiveness of any programme is the use of herbal teas and minerals before and after procedures, which enhances the physiological impact. Every wellness trip I’ve been a part of emphasises how important herbal teas are. He showed me a room full of crops and plants that they harvest in spring and summer to provide their clients throughout the season. And the room went on as long as my eyes could see. 

For their courses of treatment, he explained to me, ‘The long-term effectiveness of our programmes directly depends on the client’s duration. For programmes lasting 7-14 days, the results are maintained for six months to one year, whilst detox programmes can provide benefits lasting up to two years. Many guests start with a three-day detox programme and then return within the same year for a longer course’.

His description of their wellness resort is very similar to the messages I’ve heard from other wellness resorts I’ve visited. The main thing now was to follow procedures tailored to my body’s needs. 

Trading Medication for Mineral Waters

Staying in Tbilisi, the two treatments I received, and I felt my body, which had been going through severe pain over the months, helped to the point that I reduced the need for my medication. And I have been relying on medication every four hours every single day. 

As I mentioned, according to Dr Kochiashvili, the Oligoscan test suggested my minerals were low, so I headed over to the Tbilisi Balneological Spa Resort, founded on the city’s natural resource: its unique sulfur mineral waters, which have been used for centuries for therapeutic and preventive purposes. These waters contain hydrogen sulfide and various mineral components, widely recognised and accepted in balneotherapy (therapeutic, mineral-rich baths to treat diseases, injuries, and pain). 

The sulphur mineral had a positive effect on my skin health, as it is commonly prescribed for conditions such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, and other chronic dermatological issues. The procedure I underwent helped reduce joint and muscle tension, relieve pain, and improve my mobility. The following day, no joke, I was able to lift heavy at the gym, which I hadn’t been able to do in months. It made me believe in miracles. 

To top this, and part of my health issue I’ve had as of late is on my lungs, I had a treatment known as halotherapy (salt therapy). It’s a natural, drug-free room made out of salt, which had a tremendously positive effect on the functioning of my respiratory system. My breathing had been such a problem, having asthma as well, that it felt like it was back to normal. 

When I spoke to Operative Manager Anna Gachechiladze, she explained why the salt therapy is used as part of the comprehensive programme for guests. ‘The procedure is recommended for chronic respiratory conditions, including chronic bronchitis. Salt microparticles help improve breathing. It also helps with allergic rhinitis (hayfever) and sinusitis, and common colds’. 

In London, treatments like this would set you back a fortune, but here they are much more affordable and have benefited my health. When I met with the CEO of the resort, Salome Kvavilashvili, she added, ‘We are a SPA association member, and we are in reconstruction to make this the top spot in Tbilisi’. It is already a top resort, but it will be fascinating to see it once the reconstruction is complete. 

The Rocky Balboa Method: Finding Wellness with an Axe

I explained that my oxidative stress levels were high. What could I do to help it? I was told, why not try chopping wood outside.  We then headed out of the capital and into a family house serving great food, Lia Deida, Argveta, which is about 2 hours away. I thought, ‘Chopping wood, in an old Soviet Bloc, as Stallone did in his film Rocky, I’m in’. What were these benefits to your body, you may ask? 

Chopping wood is a classic example of functional fitness. Instead of sitting in a sauna or having a massage, I took the opportunity to get outside and swing an axe. Physiologically and psychologically, it has a massive impact on your stress levels. During the course of chopping wood, it actually increases your oxidative stress because your body is working hard. However, it’s great for long-term wellness because it hinges on a concept called hormesis. Think of it as the “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” principle of biology. 

It’s definitely not the conventional treatments I had during my time there, but I found it one of my most enjoyable, as it offered a welcome alternative to my wellness routine. Plus, I got to feel like one of my idols growing up, Rocky. Not quite the bulging biceps like him, but it helped reduce those cortisol (stress) levels down, and I felt good about myself. 

Healing in the Shadow of History

You know what, let me tell you something that I found absolutely wild at the heart of Georgia. I’m now in Tskaltubo, a town famous for these grand, Soviet-era spas. I visited Spring Number 6 for some pelotherapy (hot mud therapy). Above the door before you enter, there is a carved figure of Joseph Stalin, a well-known Georgian dictator. Now, walking into a building with a dictator’s face carved over the door is a bit surreal, but the healing inside? That’s the real story.

This was the building that had once been a premier bathhouse, built in the 1950s, specifically for Soviet leader Stalin and high-ranking officials to enjoy the town’s warm, natural mineral waters. Now, I was about to have my body covered in thick, mineral-rich mud (it’s often peat-based or sulfurous), which is packed with goodness from the local springs. I found it highly beneficial for my circulation and helped with my joint pain. The procedure takes only 25 minutes, and that’s all you need to reap the benefits. 

I didn’t just stop there. I went to the Prometheus Spa to try pressotherapy. I’ve never done this before, but just imagine sliding into a futuristic inflatable suit for a high-tech lymphatic drainage massage. The suit inflates around your legs, arms, and core, using air pressure to provide a deep, rhythmic squeeze. 

This treatment was also ideal for me, as it helped detoxify my body and ease fluid retention.

Why Georgia Rivals Europe’s Best 

How would I describe my time in Georgia’s facilities, and how would I weigh it up compared to other wellness providers around Europe? From the high-tech diagnostics at Bioli to the ancient sulfur water of Tbilisi to the futuristic suits in Tskaltubo, this was an amazing system reset. The value of it all. The medical expertise and facilities rival the best in Europe, but the cost-effectiveness is staggering. I couldn’t believe how much it was for the healing I got. 

My breathing felt clear, my overall health, from my joints, was pain-free, and my medication intake since I came back has been reduced. That was the key takeaway. Plus, my “Rocky” moment chopping wood actually worked. 

Overall, I had no idea when I would ever feel this good again, and you can’t put a time or a price on it. My only wish is that the UK National Health Service prescribes these treatments to patients rather than just medicines. That’s an idea I hope comes into fruition one day, as I am not bound to my bed anymore after this trip.