By Shereen Shabnam

Some places impress you with their architecture. Others win you over with impeccable service, wonderful food or luxurious rooms. And then there are destinations that simply make you feel good from the moment you arrive. Lopota Lake Resort & Spa in Georgia was one of those places for me.

Hidden away in the beautiful Kakheti region of eastern Georgia, around 115 kilometres from Tbilisi, Lopota feels like a small paradise tucked into its own valley. Surrounded by the ridges of the Caucasus Mountains, vineyards and an abundance of greenery, the resort is centred around a tranquil lake that very quickly became my favourite part of the entire experience.

I have travelled to many beautiful destinations over the years, but I am still happiest when a place allows me to connect with nature. At Lopota, that connection happens almost immediately.

My favourite time of day was early morning. There was something quite magical about waking up surrounded by nature, stepping outside into the fresh air and going for a walk around the lake. No traffic, no city rush and no pressure to be anywhere. Just the water, the trees, birds and mountains in the distance.

I found myself slowing down naturally. Walking around the lake became one of those simple travel pleasures that stays with you long after you return home. For someone who spends much of the year moving between airports, hotels, events and new destinations, having nowhere to rush to felt wonderfully indulgent. That, for me, is one of Lopota’s greatest strengths. It gives you space.

Breakfast Without the Rush at Lopota was lovely. I enjoyed being able to take my time over the generous selection before heading back outdoors and enjoying the rhythm of resort life. Coffee tastes somehow better when you know there is a lake and a mountain walk waiting outside.

Food plays an important role throughout the Lopota experience, with several restaurants offering everything from Georgian flavours to Italian and Asian cuisine.  For travellers interested in food and locally produced beverages, it adds another reason to spend a few days here rather than treating Lopota simply as an overnight stop.

One thing that surprised me was the scale of Lopota. Although it feels wonderfully secluded, this is far more than a small countryside hotel. The resort stretches across an expansive natural setting with accommodation spread throughout the property, allowing guests to enjoy a feeling of privacy and space.

There are indoor and outdoor swimming pools, spa and wellness experiences, tennis, horseback riding, fishing and quad-bike adventures, alongside plenty of areas where doing absolutely nothing is equally acceptable.

The Forest Spa – Valmont adds another layer to the experience, particularly for guests who arrive wanting to switch off completely. Surrounded by nature, wellness feels very much at home here rather than something added to the resort as an afterthought.

Lopota also makes a wonderful introduction to Kakheti. Georgia had already fascinated me with its history, culture and hospitality, but leaving Tbilisi behind and travelling into the countryside revealed another side of the country altogether.

Kakheti is Georgia’s has a landscape of vineyards, monasteries, villages and dramatic mountain scenery. There is a sense of generosity to the experience. Generous landscapes, generous breakfasts, plenty of activities and, perhaps most importantly, room to breathe. As a travel writer, I am fortunate to experience many beautiful hotels and resorts. Naturally, I notice the rooms, restaurants, spas and facilities, but increasingly I find that my strongest memories of a destination are often the simplest ones.

At Lopota, I remember the mornings. I remember opening the door and seeing all that greenery. I remember walking beside the lake with the Caucasus landscape around me. I remember leisurely breakfasts and having the luxury of deciding that perhaps I didn’t need to do very much that day after all. And I remember feeling genuinely happy to be there.

Lopota Lake Resort & Spa has all the ingredients we associate with a holiday. Beautiful accommodation, restaurants, wellness and activities and a great setting. It felt deeply restorative being surrounded by water, mountains and nature. All I needed was fresh mountain air, a lovely breakfast, comfortable shoes and a beautiful lake to walk around to rejuvenate my senses. I left the resort with a need to return to Georgia just to experience this resort again.

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