A couple of kilometres south of Kvariati lies Sarpi, the Georgian village that sits directly on the Turkish border. The crossing here — between the Georgian village of Sarpi and the Turkish village of Sarp — is the main land border crossing between Georgia and Turkey, and it's open round the clock. Even if you're not crossing, it's an interesting place to visit: the border literally runs through what was once a single Laz community, split between two countries.
The Laz people — a South Caucasian ethnic group with their own distinct language — live on both sides of this border, and the crossing point has an easy, almost relaxed atmosphere compared to many frontier posts. Georgian and Turkish traders move back and forth throughout the day. A few simple cafés in Sarpi serve strong tea and snacks. The beach at Sarpi is quiet, and the view south into Turkey — where the mountains also drop steeply to the sea — is dramatic.