A Week in Georgia

Name: A Week in Georgia
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.5 (2 reviews)

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9 Days Excluding Flights From

9 Days from

~~£ 1799~~ £ 1649

4.5/5 from

Culture

Activity Level

Easy & Moderate

Comfort Level

Classic

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Culture

Group Size :

4 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

AXG

Seek age-old churches, cave dwellings and spectacular scenery in this hotspot for in-the-know adventurers

Still relatively undiscovered by mainstream tourism, Georgia is beloved by travellers seeking somewhere a little different. It’s home to some of the oldest monasteries, churches and temples in the world, plus fascinating cave towns, the towering peaks of the Caucasus range, and a wine-making history almost 10,000 years old. Beyond the scenery and historic sites, Georgia is known for its hospitable people, good food and drink. In essence, the ideal destination for a culture and nature-packed adventure.

Highlights

Travel the Georgian Military Highway and see towering Mount Kazbegi
Visit UNESCO-listed churches and fortresses
Walk among pre-Christian cave houses in Uplistsikhe
Embark on a fascinating walking tour of vibrant Tbilisi
Create khinkali dumplings in a cooking masterclass

Key Information

Accommodation: 2 Superior nights (hotel), 5 or 6 Classic nights (hotel, number of nights depends on flight arrival time)
Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
Travel by private minibus

Countries visited: Georgia

What's Included

All breakfasts, four lunches and three dinners
All accommodation

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Visas or vaccinations
Single supplement

Sustainability and Impact

At Exodus, we thrive on travel, and we firmly believe our adventures should help destinations thrive too.

As a certified B Corp, we aim to take a ‘nature positive’ approach across our adventures, including carbon and waste reduction, animal welfare and support for rewilding and conservation. We also seek to contribute to local communities, providing economic opportunity and empowerment.

Learn more about our Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan, including our commitment to rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller
Read about the work of the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation.
Find out how you can travel more sustainably here.

TRIP

AXG - A Week in Georgia

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Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Itinerary

Tbilisi 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.

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.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

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.

Meals included: 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 10^th-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.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

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 16^th-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.

Meals included: Breakfast, 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 take a walk across the meadow and a fairly steep and stony path up to the Tsminda Sameba Monastery – a 14^th-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.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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.

Meals included: Breakfast

We visit the Tsinandali family estate, which once belonged to the 19^th-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.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

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.

Meals included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Is this trip for you?

This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

It involves some long days and drives, due to the state of the roads and an attempt to make the most of our time here. You don’t need to be fit, although there are some walks on uneven paths, and some walks in the city are quite long.

Accommodation varies in quality and, as tourism is still in the early stages in Georgia, you will need a flexible attitude to services such as plumbing, restaurant service, shops and guesthouses, plus the order of the itinerary.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Joining Instructions

Key information

Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at the start hotel anytime between 4pm on Day 1 and 11 am on Day 2. There will be a welcome briefing in the early afternoon of Day 2.
Airport: Tbilisi Airport (TBS)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 30 minutes’ drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are:

Take an Exodus transfer
Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

Make your own way
You can reach the start hotel relatively easily by taxi. On arrival, please make the reception staff aware you are part of an Exodus group and they will have more details on meeting with your leader and group.

If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

There’s a group departure transfer to Tbilisi Airport (TBS) scheduled to align with a flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Location start: Tbilisi
Location end: Tbilisi

Vaccinations and Health

Georgia

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, diphtheria, hepatitis B, rabies and tetanus.

Visa

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Georgia. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through. 

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations
United Kingdom: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html

Food & Drink

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.

Weather

Temperatures are very varied with May to June and September being very pleasant in the cities and lowlands where temperatures can rise to 40C (104F) in July and August. However, these spring and autumn months may be chilly, even cold, in the mountains. July and August should be very agreeable in the mountains. Rain can be expected at all times of the year though it is unlikely there will be long periods of wet weather. Climate change is affecting the Caucasus and temperatures can be unusually high or low compared to previous norms.

TRIP

AXG - A Week in Georgia

Departure Date

Number Of Passengers*

Message*

To enquire about an existing booking click here

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Keep me up to date with news and offers from Exodus by email.

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Find out more about how we use your data

Request a Brochure

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Hotels

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.

TRIP

AXG - A Week in Georgia

Departure Date

Number Of Passengers*

Message*

To enquire about an existing booking click here

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Keep me up to date with news and offers from Exodus by email.

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Find out more about how we use your data

Request a Brochure

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Mary Mihovilovic

Reviewed September 2024

A fascinating week

This was an excellent tour, well paced with variety and surprises every day.

Most Inspirational Moment

Stalin Museum and Tbilisi

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent, highly knowledge, insightful, clear and interesting commentary throughout. Most helpful and attentive to everyone in the group.

M B

Reviewed July 2024

Informative and interesting week in Georgia

A well paced one week exploration of various regions of Georgia. Lots of churches and medieval forts and stunning scenery .

Most Inspirational Moment

No one inspiring moment but a thoroughly enjoyable trip overall.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nico was an excellent group leader, very informative , personable and efficient. Made sure things - i.e group meals and ordering items - ran smoothly . Happy to explain local customs and history .

Advice for Potential Travellers

Tourism , especially in the hospitality industry , is still developing. It is not uncommon , when asking a waiter/waitress a question to be greeted with " WHAT ?". Also when ordering food items be clear to specify the drinks arrive BEFORE the meal, the meal items to arrive TOGETHER ( i.e rice and stew , both items together otherwise the rice will arrive 40 minutes before the stew) . ATMS are widespread outside banks or in hotels and tourist info. However cards are taken widely as payment method.

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A Week in Georgia

4.5/5 from

9 Days Excluding Flights From

9 Days from

~~£ 1799~~ £ 1649