Georgia ~ a Cultural Walking Tour in the Greater Caucasus

After arriving at Tbilisi airport in the evening, we have a short transfer to our boutique hotel, ideally set in the old centre of this city founded in the 5th century AD.

Partly on foot and partly with private transport, we explore the city, first seeing the fortress of Narikala, then walking down through the restored caravanserai area with its carpet shops, traditional baths, mosque, synagogue and 13th century Metekhi church. Dinner is an introduction to Georgian cuisine with its emphasis on fresh herbs, walnut and sharp plum sauces, cheese pies and lamb baked with garlic and vegetables in clay pots..

We visit the outdoor ethnographic museum and have lunch under a vine trellis. In the afternoon, we continue exploring historic Tbilisi, which may include the prehistoric gold displays in the National Museum; the collection of naïve paintings by Pirosmani, the 19th century housepainter who became the emblem of the Georgian country school of art, in the National Gallery; the eccentric clock tower designed by a puppet master or the striking Peace Bridge, built recently in steel and glass over the river Mtkvari.

We set off by road, heading southeast into the steppe, a starkly beautiful area of dry hills covered with golden grasses. In the remotest part, we walk up to the David Gareji monastery complex, founded in the mid 6th century, with churches built into the sandstone caves. Continuing east, our destination is the walled hilltop town of Sighnaghi, where we walk through cobbled lanes, lined with wooden balconied houses, to our small 4 star hotel. A wine tasting before dinner introduces us to the unique wine-making traditions of Georgia, entirely different to the rest of the world.

In nearby Tsinandali, we visit the manor house museum dedicated to the Georgian Romantic poet Alexander Chavchavadze, then stroll round the market in Telavi. In a local house, we try our hand at making traditional Georgian bread and enjoy a particularly good lunch before visiting the frescoed 11th century Cathedral of St. George at Alaverdi and the Persian-influenced Citadel of Gremi.

We return by road towards Mtskheta, the town at the heart of Georgia’s spiritual identity, where the Royal family converted to Christianity in AD 337 and visit the splendidly sited 6th century church of Jvari. Continuing north on the celebrated Georgian Military Highway, the drive becomes increasingly beautiful as we approach the high mountains and cross a pass to Kazbegi where we stay for 3 nights at a stylish 4-star hotel with an outstanding restaurant and breath-taking mountain views.

After a leisurely breakfast, 4WDs take us up through the forest to the wonderfully sited 14th century Sameba (Trinity) church, with magnificent views of the 5,033 m Mt. Kazbegi. There is an optional descending two-hour walk, with delightful mountain views, followed by some free time to shop for woolly socks and wild sheepskin hats from the stalls on the square.

We drive high up a side valley to commence our day’s walk from the village of Juta. A path leads into a wild and remote valley, bounded at its head by the snow-covered peaks of the jewel of Georgia, Chaukhi mountain, each named after a Georgian writer, painter or artist. Small herds of horses graze along the stream and lammergeiers and eagles often patrol overhead.

As we drive back over the mountains, we pause to walk on the grassy tracks of the famous Cross Pass and at the fortified 17th century church at Ananuri with its interesting Persian and pagan influenced carvings. Continuing west to Kutaisi, the historic capital of Colchis and one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, we have the option of visiting the Stalin Museum in Gori before settling into our 4-star hotel.

We visit the newly restored, partly Romanesque, Bagrat cathedral that dominates Kutaisi and explore the architecturally interesting centre on foot. As we set off into the high Caucasus again, the scenery gets ever more spectacular on our climb into Svaneti, a region populated by the Svan ethnic sub-group. This is Georgia’s wildest and most remote region, identified by its characteristic stone towers, which were used to hide the country’s greatest treasures and icons in times of invasion. We stay for 3 nights in a small 4-star hotel. There may be time for an early evening walk along country lanes.

This morning, weather permitting, we drive to high meadows, with panoramic views. We have a picnic overlooked by the 4,710 m twin peaks of Mt. Ushba, nicknamed the Matterhorn of the Caucasus. On returning to Mestia, we visit the excellent museum with icons and treasures from the local churches.

4WDs take us even higher into the mountains to Ushguli, reputedly the highest permanently inhabited settlement in Europe at an altitude of 2,200 m, filled with 11th century towers and a UNESCO World Heritage site. We walk along a wide valley with (cloud permitting) fine views of Georgia’s highest mountain, 5,068 m Shkhara and visit the frescoed mediaeval church of St. George before a farm lunch.

On the last leg of our journey, we drive for 5 – 6 hrs to reach Batumi on the Black Sea. Founded on the site of an ancient Colchis trading colony, Batumi is the second largest city in Georgia with a population of 183,000. Its roots as a major seaport for Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, Ottomans and Russians are still reflected in its modern harbour and extensive range of 19^th century buildings in its old town.

Our last day is started with a guided tour of Batumi showcasing the legends of Medea and the Golden Fleece; the church of St. Nicholas, built in the 19th century to signify the end of Ottoman domination; the Armenian church used as a planetarium during Soviet times and the story of Ali and Nino, a love story first published in 1937 and translated into more than thirty languages. The afternoon is free for last minute shopping or a further exploration of this city.

Day 15
B included
A morning transfer to Batumi airport concludes our holiday.

Please note that the single room supplement is imposed by the hotels and not by Kudu Travel. We shall endeavour to obtain double rooms for single occupancy whenever possible.

• Accommodation for 14 nights, on a twin shared basis
• Meals (with wine/beer at lunches and dinners) as listed in the daily notation
• Land transportation in a private vehicle with drivers (minibus and 4WDs), as described except during free periods
• Activities, entrance and sightseeing fees, except during free periods
• Services of an English-speaking local guide plus Kudu Travel tour leader throughout
• Gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff (appreciation for tour leaders is discretionary)

• Flights to Tbilisi and from Batumi
• Trip cancellation, medical or other insurance
• Immunisations, prescriptions or other medical requirements
• Passport, visa and health documentation
• Personal expenses (laundry, alcohol besides wine/beer with group lunches and dinners, free time activities, etc.)
• Meals noted as excepted in the daily notation
• Transport and transfer of excess baggage
• Georgian departure tax (if any)

VALUE FOR MONEY - SO MUCH IS INCLUDED
On Kudu trips, you will only need money for postcards, presents to take home, the odd G & T or an irresistible ice cream. Festival and opera tickets, museum and gallery entrances, National Park fees, all meals (with a very few exceptions specified in individual itineraries), wine with lunch and dinner, access to specialist books carried by the guides, gratuities for porters and hotel and restaurant staff, boat rides, train trips, internal flights, wine tastings, 4WDs with drivers, the services of skilled local guides and trackers etc are ALL INCLUDED in the cost of your holiday. 

We are confident that, like previous very satisfied guests, you will discover that our tours give you excellent value for money.

• 3 nights in Tbilisi, in a 4-star boutique hotel ideally set in the historic city centre

• 2 nights in Sighnaghi, in a small 4-star hotel

• 3 nights in Kazbegi, in a stylish 4-star hotel with an outstanding restaurant and breath-taking mountain views

• 1 night in Kutaisi, in a 4-star hotel

• 3 nights in Mestia, in a 4-star hotel

• 2 nights in Batumi, in a 4-star hotel

Visitors from the UK, EU, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand currently require a valid passport, but not a visa, for entry to Georgia. If you are a national of any other country, please check visa regulations with your nearest Embassy of Georgia.

Normally, there are no specific and compulsory health requirements for entry to Georgia, but you may wish to consult your doctor (at least 6 weeks before you travel) about updating your immunisation against Hepatitis A, polio, tetanus and typhoid, or anything else they consider advisable. You may also wish to check the advice given to travellers by the Department of Health and the FCO.

Insurance
It is essential, and a condition of booking, that you protect yourself with a suitable travel insurance policy as soon as you book a trip. Follow this link for a quote for a policy available to UK residents.

If you are already insured or a non-UK resident, please inform us of your policy at the time of booking.

Size of party
This trip will run with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 14 guests.