Georgia: Land of Myths and Mountains
Group Tour
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9 Days From $2,093
Overview
Georgia’s beauty is legendary and takes many forms. From the cobbled streets and hidden squares of old Tbilisi to the rock hewn monasteries at Vardzia and the breathtaking Caucasus mountains, it is a varied destination and bound to delight even the most hardened of travellers.
This trip takes in the highlights of the country along with some of the lesser known gems, allowing you to explore ancient churches, wander through picturesque mountain towns, marvel at the opulence of the ...
Georgia’s beauty is legendary and takes many forms. From the cobbled streets and hidden squares of old Tbilisi to the rock hewn monasteries at Vardzia and the breathtaking Caucasus mountains, it is a varied destination and bound to delight even the most hardened of travellers.
This trip takes in the highlights of the country along with some of the lesser known gems, allowing you to explore ancient churches, wander through picturesque mountain towns, marvel at the opulence of the Georgian State Museum and sip world-class wine in the vineyards of Kakheti. There’ll also be the opportunity to drive a newly repaired stunning route through the Lower Caucasus to Akhalsikhe from Tbilisi and also to visit the remote Davit Gareja desert complex, near the border with Azerbaijan.
Add to this mouth-watering cuisine, friendly locals and great hospitality and you have the makings of a truly memorable trip.
HIGHLIGHTS
At a glance
MEALS
7 x Breakfasts7 x Lunches7 x Dinners
TRANSPORT
Minibuses
GROUP SIZE
Maximum: 12
CARBON CONTRIBUTIONS
A carbon-offsetting contribution to Eco Act for all bookings
EXPERT TEAM
The full services of a Wild Frontiers Tour Leader with local guides where appropriate
ACCOMMODATION
2 nights x Premium
3 nights x Superior
3 nights x Simple
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. The accommodation on our tours in Georgia and the Caucasus varies dramatically from smart hotels in Tbilisi to family homestays, where there may be basic shared facilities. On this particular trip we will be in hotels, guesthouses and spend one night in a local farm cottage (homestay). Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.
ENTRANCE FEES
All entrance fees for sights mentioned in the itinerary
FITNESS RATING
Low
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.
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
Meet at the joining hotel and overnight in Tbilisi.
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 - TELAVI
DAY 3: TBILISI- DAVIT GAREJA - TELAVI
In the morning we travel to David Gareja cave complex (6th century) located in a stark, semi-desert landscape. Here we will see Lavra Monastery and dramatic views across to Azerbaijan. On the way to Telavi we will visit a unique 300-year-old wine cellar. The wine is produced and stored here, and we’ll learn more about the wine-making process and sample several Kakhetian wines. We’ll also see how Georgian bread is baked. We can try freshly baked bread, Georgian cheese and the local sour yoghurt – Matsoni.
DAY 4: TELAVI - KAZBEGI
DAY 4: TELAVI - KAZBEGI
Before leaving Telavi we will visit the local market before heading on to the New Shuamta Nunnery. After which we will drive to Khevi region via the picturesque Gombori Pass. We will stop at Ananuri to visit two fortified churches beautifully situated on the Jinvali water reservoir. As we follow the Georgian Military Highway we will enjoy wonderful views of the Great Caucasus Mountains. Before we reach Kazbegi we will visit a local master who will tell us more about Georgian ‘Teka’ (felt) making.
DAY 5: AROUND KAZBEGI
DAY 5: AROUND KAZBEGI
Today we set out on foot from Kazbegi for a three-hour walk up through beautiful valleys and woodland to Gergeti Trinity Church (14th century) located at 2170m. Weather permitting you may catch a glimpse of one of the highest glaciers in the Caucasus on Mt Kazbegi (5047m). After lunch in Kazbegi we then drive through the dramatic Dariali Gorge, where we have the opportunity to walk to Gveleti waterfalls before heading to Gudauri for the night.
DAY 6: KAZBEGI - MTSKHETA - GORI
DAY 6: KAZBEGI - MTSKHETA - GORI
Today we will drive to 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. After which we will visit Uplistsikhe Cave Town (1st millennium BC) – one of the main points along the Great Silk Road before continuing on to the town of Gori in the heart of the Kartli region, the birthplace of the most famous Georgian of all times – Josef Stalin. This evening we will have dinner in a local restaurant.
DAY 7: GORI - VARDZIA
DAY 7: GORI - VARDZIA
This morning we will visit the surreal Stalin Museum, his house and private carriage. Afterwards we will drive to Akhaltsikhe where we visit the beautiful citadel of Rabat. We will continue our journey, on our way we will see the Khertvisi Fortress (10th century) before driving onto Vardzia where we will spend the night.
DAY 8: VARDZIA - TBILISI
DAY 8: VARDZIA - TBILISI
This morning we will visit the town of Vardzia, a magnificent 12th century cave town carved out of the hillside in the Golden Age of Georgia, and one of Georgia’s highlights. As we head towards Tbilisi, we’ll be able to admire the beautiful Lake Paravani, where we will be able to see the sky and the hills around reflecting in the water. Our last visit before reaching Tbilisi will be to visit the Poka Nunnery. For our last night we’ll head out for dinner in a local restaurant.
DAY 9: TOUR ENDS IN TBILISI
DAY 9: TOUR ENDS IN TBILISI
The tour will end this morning at the hotel.
ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR
Sharden Hotel, Tbilisi
The three-star Sharden Hotel is a turn of the century European style building, ideally located in the centre of the Old Town, and within easy reach of most places of interest. All eighteen rooms are spacious, the décor is simple and there are modern amenities to make your stay comfortable. Sharden's restaurant serves Georgian and continental cuisine in a Georgian wine cellar environment. In the summer, you can enjoy snacks from the pleasant roof terrace café and admire the view over the red roofs and turrets of Tbilisi.
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.
Porta Caucasia, Stepantsminda
Travel through the Caucasus range towards Mount Kazbegi to reach the four-star Porta Caucasia Kazbegi Hotel. Standing 1740 metres above sea level, the hotel has fantastic picturesque mountainous landscapes on all sides, as well as thirty-three rooms, each with a seating area, air-conditioning, a desk, flat-screen television and a private bathroom, while some have the added luxury of a terrace overlooking Mount Kazbegi. Guests can enjoy the large breakfast spread on the shared terrace with views of the church. The Georgian restaurant is open for dinner and pairs well with a flavourful wine from the hotels own wine shop. The Spa, sauna, massage rooms and hair/beauty salon will ensure you are pampered after a long day exploring the surrounding mountains.
Marco Polo Hotel, Gudauri
Marco Polo Hotel is situated in the Gudauri ski resort and is one of the best hotels in the area. Each of the 123 spacious rooms are decorated in a simple yet modern style to match the many modern facilities, some also feature private balconies with breath taking mountain views. The hotel also has an indoor pool, spa, sauna and hot tub, as well as a fitness centre. A selection of Caucasian and European specialities is served in the hotel’s classically styled restaurant and bar with detailed artwork and interiors. There is also a games room complete with bowling alleys, billiards tables and tennis courts for guests to enjoy at an additional cost. For younger guests there is a play area outside and a kid’s club (seasonal). Outside the hotel activities, spend your time in the mountains horse-riding, trekking, cycling, rafting, ice-climbing and skiing.
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.
Valodia's Cottage, Vardzia
Valodia's Cottage has a lovely, large garden area which hosts the three buildings of the accommodation. Amongst the flowers there is a summer bar and a small private seating area around the ponds. Enjoy a wine tasting event in the guesthouse's own wine cellar, used to produce Mesketian, a local wine, stored in traditional Georgian Pitchers or Qvevri. Stay in either a pretty wooden cottage or in a room within the stone buildings. The balcony rooms provide even more opportunity to take in the stunning natural surroundings and colourful garden, which grows all the ingredients for the kitchen. The restaurant is spacious and serves fresh produce in delicious Georgian dishes, perfect with a glass of Mesketian wine!
Superior
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places
Premium
Excellent standards without the big price tag
Premium
Excellent standards without the big price tag
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places
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.
REVIEWS OF THIS TRIP
Dhala Campbell
One word for Georgia - Gorgeous-stan! A truly amazing country, from the landscapes to the people and the food.
Jean Dawes
I thoroughly enjoyed this holiday including the drives through interesting and beautiful scenery.
Cynthia Buckwell
Land of Myths and Mountains gave us the opportunity to visit a country where travelling on your own would be challenging.…
Susan Millican
The expertise by the guides surpassed any other trip
Janet Roberts
The scenery, the people and the whole trip were just mind-blowing
David Saunders
This astonishing tour took in valleys and mountains, city and country, past and present, sacred and secular, wine and…
David Imperiali in Georgia
Unique range of landscapes; excellent food.
Additional Details
Responsible Travel
Responsible travel and sustainable tourism are fundamental ideas that Wild Frontiers has been committed to since our birth. It is our strong belief that these words should not be simply ‘tagged on’ to itineraries and websites but should be at the very core of each trip, and our adventures are therefore designed with the local people, culture and eco-system in mind. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our clients, but that it also benefits the peoples whose lands we are privileged to visit. For more information, please see our responsible travel page.
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) 16:20 | Istanbul (IST) 22:05 |
| TK 386 | Istanbul (IST) 23:55 | Tbilisi Airport (TBS) 03:05 |
| TK 379 | Tbilisi Airport (TBS) 10:30 | Istanbul (IST) 12:05 |
| TK 1971 | Istanbul (IST) 14:35 | London Heathrow (LHR) 16:40 |
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.
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? Or 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.
Below is just a small sample of what you could do. Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your individual requirements.
Armenia
Head across the border to Armenia and we would be happy to tailor-make any itinerary for you in this fascinating country.
Svaneti
If you enjoy mountain walking, you could visit the north-west of Georgia to experience one of the most stunning parts of the Caucasus region. Allow 7-10 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.
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 10-23C - 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.
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, as many of the activities are optional. 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 of the tour.
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.