Great Georgian Discovery with Trekking Extension - 13 days (GE-11)

Georgia awaits as you approach its capital Tbilisi by air. Our representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall, ready for your adventure to begin. An included transfer will take the stress out of the journey to your city centre hotel. You’ll have time to settle in and perhaps explore a little of your surroundings. Overnight Tbilisi. (Dinner)

Few European capitals are as charming as Tbilisi, with its magnificent wooden buildings, thermal baths and historic churches. Today, we’ll help you understand a little of the city’s history and what makes its residents tick. We think the best place to start is at the Methekhi church. It has stood beside the River Mtkvari since the 13th century. Beside this historic structure is a statue of Tbilisi’s founder, King Vakhtang Gorgasali. Look up and you’ll see the imposing 4th century Narikala Fortress; we’ll head up there for a selfie with Mother Georgia, a huge statue on the cliff top. Also on today’s itinerary are Antchiskhati Church, Sioni Cathedral, Tbilisi’s synagogue, the Georgian National Museum and the capital’s busiest shopping street, Rustaweli Avenue. Breakfast, dinner and overnight Tbilisi.

Once, Mtskheta was the capital of Georgia and that storied past is evident in its historical legacy, not least in its UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We’ll show you around the 6th century Djvari church and also the 11th century Svetitskhoveli cathedral which are both worthy of their places on this prestigious list. Afterwards, we’ll drive to Kutaisi, Georgia’s second city. Just outside lies the impressive Prometheus Cave, which is crammed with stalactites and stalagmites. Breakfast; dinner and overnight Kutaisi.

This morning we’ll set out after breakfast to visit one of Georgia’s farmers’ markets. Agriculture still plays an important role in the country and it’s fun to watch the locals interact with traders. Once we’ve absorbed the sights, smells and sounds - and perhaps bought a snack or two - we’ll continue on to the Gelati monastery complex, founded by King David IV in 1106 and another of Georgia’s compelling UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There too, we’ll find Bagrati Cathedral, a magnet for pilgrims. There’ll be time to fit in a visit to the Academy complex, which dates from the 12th century, before driving over to Akhaltsikhe where we plan to stay overnight. Breakfast, dinner and overnight Akhaltsikhe.

As we board the minibus this morning, we’re in for a real treat - the road to Vardzia is one of the most dramatic and spectacular in the country. Our driver will skillfully navigate the steep-sided canyon of the upper Mtkvari River leaving us free to concentrate on the extraordinary scenery that we see out of the window. Vardzia too won’t disappoint. This impressive complex boasts somewhere in the region of 300 caves, hewn from the rock in ancient times. Each of these painstakingly carved spaces had its own distinct purpose: wine cellars, refectories, churches and so on. Last up today is a visit to Rabati Fortress where we’ll tour the Ethnographic Museum. Breakfast, dinner and overnight Akhaltsikhe.

Today, we’ll retrace our steps to Tbilisi, and our first stop is in the spa town of Borjomi. It has a pretty park, so we’ll stretch our legs and take a break from the road in leafy surroundings. Afterwards we’ll continue on to Gori. It may surprise you to learn that this is the birthplace of Joseph Stalin, the infamous 20th century leader of the Soviet Union. In the town’s museum, learn about his formative years following his birth in 1878. You can see the wooden hut in which he was born and the railway carriage he worked in when he grew important enough to have his own train. Before we head back to Tbilisi, we will tour another cave city, this time Uplistikhe. Back in the capital, before we turn in for the night, we’ll dine in a traditional restaurant and enjoy a folk dancing or singing performance. Breakfast, dinner and overnight Tbilisi.

Today’s excursion unlocks the secrets of Georgia’s longstanding tradition of winemaking, which dates back around 7000 years. The most productive region for this is Kakheti and that’s where we’re heading. First though, we’d like to show you around Gremi Fortress and Alaverdi Monastery. Once we’ve admired these two historic places, we’ll drop you off in Napareuli for a wine tasting. Arguably we’ve saved the best for last as we visit Signagi this afternoon. This gorgeous town is partially enclosed by stone walls linking fortified towers; the views from the walls over the surrounding countryside are remarkable. Rather than rush off, we’ve opted to stay overnight, so you can explore a little more as you walk off dinner. Breakfast, dinner and overnight Signagi.

We don’t need to travel far for this morning’s excursion as Bodbe Monastery is right on Signagi’s doorstep. This complex is dedicated to St Nino and is a delightful place to walk around, with a beautiful church and swathes of flowerbeds in its well-tended grounds. It will be a wrench to leave such a pretty place but we’re bound for Tbilisi once more. Breakfast, dinner and overnight Tbilisi.

This morning we set off north along the Georgian Military Highway. Our first stop is at Ananuri, a castle complex at the head of a reservoir, where we’ll explore crenellations and castle rooms. We’ll hit the road again, bound for Gudauri. This is one of Georgia’s top ski resorts in winter and in summer, the sight of the surrounding mountain landscape is worth a stop. But the main draw lies further into the snowcapped mountains of the Great Caucasus. At Kazbegi, also known as Stepantsminda, we’ll swap our wheels for 4x4 jeeps that will carry us up a bumpy track to Gergeti Trinity Church. This church dates from the 14th century and sits in glorious isolation at 2170 metres above sea level. The views from up there are simply magical. Eventually, we’ll come back down to Kazbegi where our overnight hotel awaits. Breakfast, dinner and overnight Kazbegi.

It’s back in the jeeps this morning to tackle the Sno Valley. Our destination will be the mountain village of Jutta, which sits at an altitude of 2165 metres above sea level. Traditions persist here, and the way of life has changed little over the centuries. This is the starting point for our hike to Mount Chaukhebi, a 3842 metre peak that’s as beautiful as any in the Great Caucasus. We’ll be on our feet for about 5 hours, ascending and then descending around 500 metres, but in scenery this wonderful we reckon you’ll hardly notice your aching calf muscles. Breakfast, dinner and overnight Kazbegi.

Hiking notes: ↑↓500m, walking time 5 hours, distance 6-8 km.

Well rested, we’ll set off again this morning to explore more of the Kazbegi region’s stunning countryside. It’s another five hour hike, but this time to the Truso Valley, a place known for its colourful travertine deposits, situated close to the border with South Ossetia. You’ll be well off the beaten track, striding through an almost abandoned landscape littered with mineral springs, ancient towers and ruined settlements. A few souls still make their home up here, but this is a remote, unspoilt and photogenic place to spend a few hours. The elevation gain is similar to yesterday’s around 400 metres up and then downhill. Breakfast, dinner and overnight Kazbegi.

Hiking notes: ↑↓400m, walking time 5 hours, distance 6-8 km.

Today we’ll drive back down the Georgian Military Highway as we return to Tbilisi. We’ll probably break our journey in Gudauri, but there’ll be time in Tbilisi for some last minute shopping and one more dinner of deliciously tasty Georgian food. Breakfast, dinner and overnight Tbilisi.

All good things must come to an end and so your tour of Georgia must too. Our driver will take you to the airport in plenty of time for your flight. We hope that you have enjoyed your tour and made lasting memories of Georgia. (Breakfast)