Wanderlust Journeys: Discover Georgia with Dario Ghirlanda
Group Tour
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Overview
Lying at the crossroads of trade and tradition for centuries, Georgia is one of Europe’s best kept secrets. It’s a country of breath-taking landscapes, with cuisine that is as delicious as it is undiscovered, and a rich national history stretching back over 5,000 years.
On this exciting journey, designed exclusively for Wanderlust readers, we will travel with Wanderlust award-winning tour leader Dario ...
Lying at the crossroads of trade and tradition for centuries, Georgia is one of Europe’s best kept secrets. It’s a country of breath-taking landscapes, with cuisine that is as delicious as it is undiscovered, and a rich national history stretching back over 5,000 years.
On this exciting journey, designed exclusively for Wanderlust readers, we will travel with Wanderlust award-winning tour leader Dario Ghirlanda as we sample delicious home-cooked food and local wine, discover ancient cave towns and historic churches, and get lost in some of the world’s most spectacular mountain scenery as we venture deep into the lesser known Tusheti region.
The journey begins on the banks of the Mtkvari River, in Georgia’s charming capital, Tbilisi, from where we head into the celebrated wine region of Kakheti. Journeying into the mountainous Tusheti region, we then explore on foot as we discover this isolated and immensely characterful part of Georgia, with the Tolkeinesque towers, turquoise lakes and primal forest framed by snow-capped peaks. We will then visit Georgia’s ancient capital – Mtskheta, and the unusual city of Gori, the birthplace of Joseph Stalin, as well as the rock hewn monasteries at Vardzia and the beautiful Rabat citadel at Akhlatsikhe, before spending out last night back in Tbilisi.
HIGHLIGHTS
At a glance
MEALS
TRANSPORT
On this tour we will use minibuses and 4WDs.
GROUP SIZE
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
ENTRANCE FEES
FITNESS RATING
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip. On this particular trip we will be in a good 3* hotels, apart from in Tusheti where we will be in local guesthouses. Here the facilities will be basic and shared, as we are accessing a remote region of Georgia, however the warm hospitality and stunning surrounding landscapes more than make up for the basic accommodation. Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.
FITNESS RATING
LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.
MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.
MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
Map & Itinerary
Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below
Day 1 Tour starts in Tbilisi
Day 1 Tour starts in Tbilisi
Our journey begins in Tbilisi, Georgia’s historic capital. Those on the suggested group flights (see the GETTING THERE section below) will arrive late this evening/early next morning and be transferred straight to our hotel. For anyone arriving earlier, rooms will be available from early afternoon.
Day 2 Tbilisi
Day 2 Tbilisi
The pre-departure meeting will take place this morning at the hotel, after which we will have a city tour including all of Old Tbilisi. From the Metekhi Church (13th century) overlooking the river Mtkvari to the Narikala Fortress (4th century), one of the oldest fortifications in the city, we’ll also pay a visit to the Sulphur Baths, the synagogue, the Anchiskhati Church (6th century) and Sioni Cathedral (6/7th century). In this cathedral the cross of St. Nino – the woman who brought Christianity to Georgia – is preserved. All these sights are in close proximity and it’s a pleasant walk. Afterwards we visit the stunning treasures of the National Museum and have the rest of the day to soak up the café culture of Tbilisi, relax and shop.
Day 3 Tbilisi – Davit Gareja – Kvareli
Day 3 Tbilisi – Davit Gareja – Kvareli
In the morning we travel to Davit Gareja cave complex (6th century) located in a stark, semi-desert landscape. Here we will see Lavra Monastery and dramatic views across to Azerbaijan. For lunch we will enjoy a picnic before continuing on to Kvareli. We will stop along the way to visit a unique wine cellar, where the wine is produced and stored, and we’ll learn more about the wine-making process and sample several Kakhetian wines. We will then end the day with a visit to a local family and enjoy a delicious home-cooked dinner, where we can see how Georgian bread is baked and sample the famous Georgian cheese and the local sour yoghurt – Matsoni. Note: The walk up to Udabno Monastery requires a good level of fitness. (Approx. walking time 3hrs)
Day 4 Kvareli – Gremi – Omalo
Day 4 Kvareli – Gremi – Omalo
After visiting the beautiful 18th century site of the Gremi complex we continue north into the stunning mountainous region of Tusheti National Park. This off-road drive is not for the faint-hearted as we navigate the narrow windy roads of this mountainous region, but the journey will be well worth it as we reach a part of Georgia that many visitors do not get to see. Crossing over the Albano Pass, the highest drivable mountain pass in the Caucasus, we will reach Tusheti, located on the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, a remote part of the country accessed only by one dirt track, and is now recognised as a protected landscape and is managed by the Tushetian people. The Tusheti region is famed for its cheese which we can certainly sample while we’re here. On arrival we will settle into our family-run guesthouse for the evening. Note: the guesthouses in Tusheti National Park are basic and people will be expected to share rooms and bathroom facilities. What Tusheti lacks in high end accommodation it more than makes up for in rural beauty and warm local hospitality.
Day 5 Omalo – Dartlo – Parsma – Omalo
Day 5 Omalo – Dartlo – Parsma – Omalo
Tusheti is peppered by tiny picturesque villages, turquoise lakes and primal forests, creating one of the best parts of Europe for walking. Today we will spend the day exploring this stunning area (mostly) by foot. We drive up to the heritage village of Dartlo (2300m), passing through lush forests and beautiful meadows as we go. Often described as a “village-museum” due to the traditional houses and buildings crafted with stone walls and slate roofs, the village includes beautiful medieval towers, wooden carved balconies and offers marvellous views of the surrounding landscapes. From here we can walk to the nearby village of Kvavlo before continuing on to the beautiful village of Parsma. We then return by road to Omalo for the evening. (Approx. walking time 6 hours, some sections can be done by road for those not wanting to walk, weather and time dependent)
Day 6 Omalo – Shenako – Diklo – Omalo
Day 6 Omalo – Shenako – Diklo – Omalo
We drive north-east this morning to Shenako, a traditional mountain village with plenty of historical and geographical appeal. The village architecture includes the Russian built 13th century Christian Church of Holy Trinity. From here we will walk along the ridge to the village of Diklo, the last village before the Dagestan border, before returning to Omalo for our final evening. (Approx. walking time 2.5 hours, some sections can be done by road for those not wanting to walk, weather and time dependent)
Day 7 Omalo – Alaverdi – Telavi
Day 7 Omalo – Alaverdi – Telavi
This morning we say goodbye to the peaceful mountains and set off back to the Kakheti region to Telavi. Along the way we can stop and visit the 11th century cathedral at Alaverdi. Today we learn more about the local industries and traditions, with the opportunity to visit a pottery workshop where the clay jars called quevri are made, which have been used in Georgian winemaking for millennia.
Day 8 Telavi – Mtskheta – Gori
Day 8 Telavi – Mtskheta – Gori
This morning we visit the Telavi farmers market before we set off for the ancient capital and religious centre of Georgia, Mtskheta, where we will visit Jvari Monastery (6th century) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century), both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Near to Mtskheta we will visit a well-respected winery for a wine-tasting experience different to that we had in Kakheti. Then we continue to Gori, located in the Kartli region, the birthplace of the most famous Georgian of all time – Josef Stalin. We will settle into our interesting hotel for the night.
Day 9 Gori - Akhaltsikhe – Vardzia
Day 9 Gori - Akhaltsikhe – Vardzia
This morning we will take some time to visit the surreal Stalin Museum, his house and private carriage, before setting off for Akhaltsikhe which is crowned by a fully restored fortress, Rabat, one of the only Ottoman complexes in the country. After some time here we will continue on to the cave city of Vardzia, via the 10th century Khertvisi Fortress.
Day 10 Vardzia – Lake Paravani – Tbilisi
Day 10 Vardzia – Lake Paravani – Tbilisi
Vardzia is a magnificent 12th century cave town carved out of the hillside in the Golden Age of Georgia and is one of Georgia’s highlights. The cave complex, which stretches over half a kilometre, once consisted of almost 3000 caves and was one of the best examples of Georgia’s renaissance. The complex also includes dwellings quarters, refectories, wine cellars, and small hall-type churches, one of which is even hewn out in rock with some stunning 12th century frescoes to admire. As we head back towards Tbilisi, we’ll be able to admire the beautiful landscape at the beautiful Lake Paravani. We will have our final dinner in Tbilisi this evening.
Day 11 Tour ends in Tbilisi
Day 11 Tour ends in Tbilisi
The tour will end this morning at the hotel.
ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR
Old Meidan, Tbilisi
Near the Armenian church and Fortress Narikala is the beautifully restored three-star Old Meidan Hotel. The best feature of this hotel has to be the outstanding views from not only the terrace, but most of the rooms too. Enjoy a coffee on your balcony and watch Tbilisi’s old town waking up, before your own exploration. It won’t just be the views that will take your breath away! Return to the hotel for a barbecue on the sun terrace or a delicious meal in the restaurant, paired with a fantastic glass of Georgian wine from the well-stocked bar.
Rusiko's Guesthouse, Telavi
Located on the top of a hill, overlooking views of Telavi and the surrounding mountains, is Rusiko’s Guesthouse. A short walk from the centre of the town, this family-run property is on a residential street with rooms to the back of the building. This is a comfortable and simple, local guesthouse where you can get a feel for Georgian culture and sample good home cooking on the terrace with vines above you and the mountains standing tall on the horizon. All of the twenty-two rooms have twin beds and private facilities. What the guesthouse lacks in luxury, it makes up with homely hospitality.
Hotel Victoria, Gori
Away from the main road, the Hotel Victoria is one of the older hotels in the region and offers a humble stay. The sixteen rooms are very simple with carpeted floors and modest furniture, some of them also sharing a large terrace. Although the hotel can feel a bit dated, it is reminiscent of the Soviet Era, and offers a comfortable stay, suitable for exploring Gori as it is only a 3-minute drive to Stalin Park and the town’s places of interest. There is also a restaurant and outdoor patio serving local Georgian cuisine.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?
All group tours can be taken on a private basis.
Additional Details
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Reducing Single Use Plastic
We recognise the environmental issues and challenges around single-use plastic in many countries we visit and are actively working with our partners on the ground to reduce plastic waste on our tours and within the hotels and restaurants we visit. You can help to reduce your personal plastic waste by taking a refillable, filtered water bottle with you on your trip. Filtered water bottles can be refilled from water sources including your hotel room and restaurant taps, drinking fountains and refill stations. Every time you refill your bottle without the use of single-use plastic, you will be helping to reduce waste and protect the environment. Filtered Water Bottles | Wild Frontiers (wildfrontierstravel.com)
Supplementary Information
Dario Ghirlanda: Born in Rome from an Italian/Ethiopian family, Dario moved to Ethiopia at the age of seven. After graduating in 2002, his Ethiopian origins and the fact that he is multilingual helped him find work as a freelance translator/guide around Ethiopia. What started off as a part time job, ended up turning into a passion for travel.
By the age of 21, Dario was working with different Ethiopian tour operators and organising tours and had traveled extensively throughout Ethiopia. However, in 2005 Dario decided to continue his studies and moved to London to complete a BA Hons degree in Travel and Tourism at the University of Westminster. His love for travel could not keep him in the UK once completing his studies and went back to do what he loved, travel! Dario is also a keen swimmer with a life saving badge and plays football during his free time.
He was also involved in voluntary work in Ethiopia such as giving swimming lessons to HIV/AIDS orphans and teaching English to children suffering from polio.
Dario Ghirlanda
In 2013 Dario was awarded Bronze in Wanderlust's World Guide Awards.
Getting There
If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.
If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
| Flight Code | Departing | Arriving |
|---|---|---|
| TK 1986 |
London Heathrow (LHR) 16:35
24th July 2021 |
Istanbul (IST) 22:15
24th July 2021 |
| TK 386 |
Istanbul (IST) 23:55
24th July 2021 |
Tbilisi Airport (TBS) 03:05
25th July 2021 |
| TK 387 |
Tbilisi Airport (TBS) 05:55
3rd August 2021 |
Istanbul (IST) 07:20
3rd August 2021 |
| TK 1979 |
Istanbul (IST) 08:40
3rd August 2021 |
London Heathrow (LHR) 09:50
3rd August 2021 |
Visas
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact our recommended visa agency, Travcour www.travcour.com
For this tour UK passport holders currently do not require a visa for Georgia.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
Further details will be sent out to you on booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Extensions
If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Alternatively, you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.
The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries*. Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your requirements.
*Please note bespoke, tailor-made itineraries need to be a minimum of 7 days and we can only offer them in countries where we have a tailor-made expert
Georgia
Why not visit western Georgia and explore the stunning mountainous area of Svaneti?
Allow 3-6 days.
Azerbaijan
Take a trip east to see Georgia’s very different neighbour. The Silk Road crossroads town of Sheki and the bizarre capital of Baku are just some of the highlights that await.
Allow 4-6 days.
Armenia
With ecclesiastical architecture to rival that found in Georgia and an amazing history, Armenia has much to offer.
Allow 5-12 days
Governmental Travel Advice
Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.
Key Information
CLIMATE
The Greater Caucasus range moderates local climate by serving as a barrier against cold air from the north. The relatively small territory covers different climatic zones, which are determined by the distance from the Black Sea and by altitude. The climatic zones are ranging from humid subtropical to snow and glaciers. In the spring and autumn the weather can be very changeable ranging from 10C-23C - often in one day. In the summer, you can expect temperatures to be at least 5-10C more. Please prepare for all eventualities, including rain.
IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?
It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. All our tours have a fitness rating as a guideline but you should check the day-by-day itinerary carefully. In certain instances we may ask you to complete a travel questionnaire before confirming your booking in order to ensure your suitability. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER
For walking in Tusheti you will need to be in a decent state of health and have a good level of fitness. You will be accessing a more remote region of Georgia with more basic accommodation and so must be comfortable sharing facilities. The drive up to Tusheti is along a narrow winding mountainous road and so a sense of adventure is definitely a requirement as it can get hairy at times! That said, the remoteness of the region means you will be rewarded with beautiful landscapes and welcoming people, so the journey will be worth it. Please be advised that on this trip vegetarians can be catered for but the selection and variety may be limited.
THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL
We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.
TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip.
On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights apart from Tusheti due to the limited number of rooms available there.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
INSURANCE
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. If you choose to purchase the Wild Frontiers bespoke policy through Travel & General (currently available to UK residents only) then please note for this trip the minimum required level of cover will be the Standard policy. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
General Information
TOUR PRICE
All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.
DEPOSIT
A £200 (or equivalent) deposit is required to confirm your booking.
PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY
For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page
WILD MILES
This tour will earn you 4406 Wild Miles
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY
If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events.
WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.