In September 2019 I flew with Vanilla Sky on Georgian domestic flight from Natakhtari to Ambrolauri in Racha region. Natakhtari Airfield is often considered practically Tbilisi as it is just some 20km away and minibus transfer between Tbilisi-Natakhtari is included with plane ticket.
Flight between Natakhtari-Ambrolauri was incredibly scenic and took about 30 minutes over mountains. Single ticket with 15kg baggage allowance cost 50 lari or ~16€ (!!!).
Transfer details are included with ticket order. Brief summary - Transfer pick-up point in 2019. September was across the road from bicycle statue, near Raddisson Blu Iveria Hotel in Tbilisi center.
What was the flight like? This story starts after having checked in at small Natakhtari Airport.
We walked towards the plane past Natakhtari hotel and its pool. Plane spotter's paradise.
Vanilla Sky's Let L-410 4L-LSA plane is ready for boarding.
Passenger's luggage is secured in the cargo area behind seats.
Can you find some differences compared to larger aircraft?
Tons of knee space - why?
... because this is emergency exit row.
Let's talk safety!
First officer held a short in-flight safety instructions talk at first in Georgian and then in English. He was in really good mood and safety brief was light-hearted.
And we are off!
Short takeoff run at Natakhtari airfield - runway there is just 948 meters long.
The plane climbed up faster than would have guessed. Shortly we were this high up!
We flew over the main east-west highway through Georgia.
Georgia from above is beautiful!
Minutes after landscape changed from green and lush to less so, with patches of cultivated land popping up here and there.
This view was specially interesting, contrast after contrast.
Flying over Gori city
City of Gori is located about half way between Kutaisi and Tbilisi and apparently makes a good day trip from Tbilisi. Visiting Gori is still in my to-do list.
After few minutes finally the views I had been waiting for weeks - to fly over mountains!
We flew past mountain tops
Georgian nature is really diverse and I didn't expect to see so much on the flight! Or well, sort of did.
Georgian mountain villages and reservoir in the background. Autumn is coming and trees were getting their 50 degrees of yellow on.
Approaching Ambrolauri
Plane made a sharp turn left approaching Ambrolauri and looking down at the trees was amazing! The river was quite dry - imagine what it must be like during spring!
Last turn to the left before Ambrolauri. The airfield can already be seen.
I was among last passengers exiting plane and asked airport personnel if they allow me take few tiny steps and get a photo of the plane. They were cool with that.
Last photo of the plane
Our bags were loaded to a truck.
Leaving airport two taxi drivers tried to get my attention - no luck this time. I walked towards Ambrolauri.
Very modern airport building
Ambrolauri airport was built in 2016-2017 and stands out from the surroundings. Across the road are datchas with grapes growing in every garden.
Making a friend
One stray dog adopted me near airport and followed me for five minutes.
This some 2 km stretch of road leads to Ambrolauri city.
I followed the couple walking far in front of me. They had been on the same flight. We ended up in same restaurant just down the road.
Hay truck drove past. Doesn't the load look like a specific haircut?
Welcome to Racha, the most sparsely populated and probably least touristic region in Georgia!
First version of this story was published in Estonian in accelerista.com web magazine.
