Guide

Local guide

Transport

We travel in a private bus or minibus, depending on group size. Most of the driving is on reasonable roads, though some are potholed, especially on minor roads. Due to the mountainous nature of the terrain, there are many bends.

Accommodation

On this Georgia adventure, we stay in a range of hotels, all of a mid-level standard. We start and end at a centrally located boutique hotel in Tbilisi. During our travels through the country, we stay in three more well-located hotels including one within the walls of a castle, one in the mountains and another in the heart of the wine country. Below are the typical hotels we use for this trip. Tbilisi: Address Boutique Hotel (start and end of the trip) In the heart of old Tbilisi, the most atmospheric part of the city, the Address Boutique Hotel is a great base for our explorations. It has 28 rooms, all furnished in a modern style, while attractions within walking distance include the Presidential Palace and Kura River. Akhaltsikhe: Gino Wellness Rabath (nights 3-4) Within the walls of the historic Rabath fortress, this hotel has a hard-to-beat setting. Inside, the rooms are modern and have an exterior seating space for a bit of relaxation. You’ll also find a wellness centre with a variety of saunas and a hot tub, plus a restaurant-bar serving Georgian and European dishes. Gudauri: Marco Polo Gudauri (nights 5-6) Surrounded by the Caucasus mountains, this traditional resort-style hotel has great views. There’s also plenty of entertainment, including an indoor pool, a selection of bars, and a 250-seater restaurant with a terrace. Telavi: Holiday Inn (night 7) In the town of Telavi in eastern Georgia, the Holiday Inn is a good stopover on our exploration of the wine region. There are 85 rooms, a restaurant, bar and terrace, plus a swimming pool.

Others

Meals

All breakfasts, four lunches and three dinners are included. Georgian specialities include khachapuri (cheese pies), khinkali (meat dumplings) and lobio (bean stew with herbs and spices). There are many sauces made from walnuts to accompany cheese or meat dishes. Churchkhela (walnuts in solid grape juice) is a typical local sweet. Local beer, wine, vodka and cognac are readily available. Still and sparkling water is easy to find, as are other soft drinks. Vegetarians can be catered for, as there are lots of fruit and vegetables, cheese and other dairy products, various local breads and dumplings. Vegans or those with a wheat or dairy intolerance will find there is far less variety but can be accommodated. Walnuts are ubiquitous in salads and sauces, so those with nut allergies should be aware. Please advise us at the time of booking if this affects you.

Not included:

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Flights

Flights are not included

Insurance

Insurance is not included

Others

— Travel insurance — Visas or vaccinations — Single supplement

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Day 1 Day 1: Start Tbilisi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Start Tbilisi

Our trip starts in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Our hotel is a short walk from the wonderfully restored historic centre, which has relaxing pavement cafes and bars. You can check into the hotel from mid-afternoon, though many flights don’t arrive until the early hours of tomorrow. Accommodation: Address Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 Day 2: Easy Morning; Afternoon Tour Of Tbilisi (Breakfast,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Easy Morning; Afternoon Tour Of Tbilisi (Breakfast,Dinner)

We have the morning to rest at our hotel following what, for most people, will have been either a late-night arrival yesterday or early morning arrival today. If you prefer to make the most of your time, you can take in art galleries, markets or cafes on your own before the tour starts. This afternoon, the tour begins. Much of Tbilisi can be visited on foot. We explore the old town to see the ancient sulphur baths, Sioni Cathedral and the beautifully decorated synagogue, built in the early 20th century. We also visit Rustaveli Avenue, the main artery of the city, and the Treasury of the State Museum, which has a fantastic collection of pre-Christian gold artefacts and jewellery. This evening, we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodation: Address Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Day 3 Day 3: Gori And Uplistsikhe Rock Town; To Akhaltsikhe (Breakfast,Lunch)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Gori And Uplistsikhe Rock Town; To Akhaltsikhe (Breakfast,Lunch)

Our first stop is the town of Gori, birthplace of the dictator Joseph Stalin. After visiting Stalin Square, where a huge statue of him once stood, we take a guided tour of the museum, which paints a very favourable view of his life and the role he played in the Soviet Union but is interesting nonetheless. Stalin’s bulletproof train carriage, which he used to travel to the Potsdam Conference in 1945, lies in the museum grounds. We have lunch at a local restaurant, then drive to Uplistsikhe, an enormous rock-hewn town with pre-Christian roots. It sits by the Mtkvari River and is notable for its unique rock-cut style and the co-existence of pagan and Christian architecture. Ancient temples and theatres can still be identified, and we walk up sandstone steps for a view across the river and plains. We continue to the mineral town of Borjomi and, finally, to the historic town of Akhaltsikhe, where we stay the next two nights. Over the course of today, we spend about five hours driving. Accommodation: Gino Wellness Rabath (or similar)
Day 4 Day 4: Rabati Castle And Vardzia Cave Town (Breakfast,Lunch)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Rabati Castle And Vardzia Cave Town (Breakfast,Lunch)

Today, we venture further into the southwestern region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, named after two of the first Georgian tribes, the Meskh and Javakhs and often described as the cradle of Georgian culture. We visit Rabati Castle, which, developed under the influence of different cultures, includes a church, mosque, minaret and synagogue. We continue along the road to Vardzia, past arid and stone-terraced landscapes and the famed 10th-century Khertvisi Fortress. The history of Vardzia is inextricably linked to Queen Tamar, Georgia’s most famous and loved royal, who reigned during the 12th century. Crowned as co-ruler by her father, Giorgi III, she became the first woman to ascend to the throne of feudal Georgia and is credited with extending and unifying Georgian rule with successful defeats against Muslim and Turkish forces. With Georgia’s strong economic and political position, she founded the cave town of Vardzia, which became the cultural hub of Georgia. We explore the monastery to view remarkably well-preserved frescoes depicting the young queen. After visiting Vardzia, we return to Akhaltsikhe for the night. We’ll be driving for about two hours today. Accommodation: Gino Wellness Rabath (or similar)
Day 5 Day 5: Ananuri Fortress And The Georgian Military Highway (Breakfast,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Ananuri Fortress And The Georgian Military Highway (Breakfast,Dinner)

We head north today and travel along the Georgian Military Highway, the main road linking Georgia with Russia into the mountainous provinces of the Greater Caucasus. Our first stop is Ananuri to see the 16th-century fortress complex built by the warring dukes of Aragvi to control the main road. We spend the next two nights in Gudauri, a popular winter mountain resort-town. There are about 5hr 30min of driving today, much of it very scenic. Accommodation: Marco Polo Gudauri (or similar)
Day 6 Day 6: Mount Kazbegi And Khinkali Masterclass (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Mount Kazbegi And Khinkali Masterclass (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Continuing our journey up and north through alpine meadows and mountain passes dotted with medieval watchtowers, we reach Dariali Gorge, a 9mi (14km) gash in the earth. We marvel at the snow-capped Mount Kazbegi (the highest mountain in Georgia), an extinct volcano that surrounds us and reaches to just over 16,500ft (5,047m). We drive to the base of the hill and then walk across the meadow leading to the Tsminda Sameba Monastery – a 14th-century church built on a mountain peak at 7,200ft (2,200m). We have a khinkali masterclass at lunchtime today, in which we see the making of this Georgian speciality, a type of dumpling stuffed with spiced meat, fish or vegetables, and we try the result. Later, we return to Gudauri for the night. There are about two hours of driving today. Accommodation: Marco Polo Gudauri (or similar)
Day 7 Day 7: Visit Mtskheta, The Ancient Capital Of Eastern Georgia; To Telavi (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Visit Mtskheta, The Ancient Capital Of Eastern Georgia; To Telavi (Breakfast)

We journey down from the mountains today stopping in Mtskheta, the ancient capital of eastern Georgia and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Georgia’s conversion to Christianity occurred in Mtskheta in 337 CE and it is now considered one of the most important religious centres in the country. We visit the Church of Jvari, which is perched on a cliff overlooking the city, and the Sveti-Tskhoveli Cathedral, the first Christian church built in Georgia and its largest functioning cathedral. Later, we continue to Telavi, a picturesque and fertile part of Georgia bordering the Great Caucasus range, which is known for wine making. There are around 500 varieties of vine in the country and the history, culture and lifestyle of Georgians are embodied in their wine. It is a symbol of Georgian hospitality, friendship, tolerance and perhaps a key to the mystery of Georgian longevity! We have about five hours of driving today. Accommodation: Holiday Inn Hotel (or similar)
Day 8 Day 8: Visit Tsinandali Family Estate; Wine Tasting And Lunch In Sighnaghi; To Tbilisi (Breakfast,Lunch)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Visit Tsinandali Family Estate; Wine Tasting And Lunch In Sighnaghi; To Tbilisi (Breakfast,Lunch)

We visit the Tsinandali family estate, which once belonged to the 19th-century aristocratic poet Alexander Chavchavadze. The residence consists of a summer home, garden and winery. We then continue to the town of Sighnaghi, where we have lunch and a wine tasting with a local family, before returning to Tbilisi. We’ll be driving for about three hours today. Accommodation: Address Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Day 9 Day 9: End Tbilisi (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: End Tbilisi (Breakfast)

Our adventure ends in Tbilisi this morning. If you’d like to explore a little more, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

9 days tour

A Week In Georgia

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip A Week In Georgia

Day 1: Start Tbilisi

Day 2: Easy Morning; Afternoon Tour Of Tbilisi (Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 3: Gori And Uplistsikhe Rock Town; To Akhaltsikhe (Breakfast,Lunch)

Day 4: Rabati Castle And Vardzia Cave Town (Breakfast,Lunch)

Day 5: Ananuri Fortress And The Georgian Military Highway (Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 6: Mount Kazbegi And Khinkali Masterclass (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 7: Visit Mtskheta, The Ancient Capital Of Eastern Georgia; To Telavi (Breakfast)

Day 8: Visit Tsinandali Family Estate; Wine Tasting And Lunch In Sighnaghi; To Tbilisi (Breakfast,Lunch)

Day 9: End Tbilisi (Breakfast)

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