Sarpi is a border village on the Georgian-Turkish frontier, about 12 kilometres south of Batumi. The border crossing itself is hard to miss — a futuristic swooping building by Georgian architect Jurgen Mayer H. that looks wildly out of place in this sleepy coastal settlement. It is one of the busiest land crossings between Georgia and Turkey, used by traders, truckers, and travellers heading to or from Trabzon and the eastern Turkish coast.
The village has a small pebbly beach that is less crowded than the beaches closer to Batumi, and a couple of simple restaurants serving Turkish-influenced Georgian food — the proximity to the border means the cuisine blends both traditions. There is a mosque here as well as a church, reflecting the mixed Muslim and Christian population of Adjara.
If you are crossing the border, Sarpi is straightforward — the process is usually quick on both sides. Minibus 16 runs regularly between Sarpi and Batumi, taking about 30 minutes. The coast road south from Batumi through Kvariati to Sarpi is scenic, hugging the shoreline with the mountains rising steeply behind.