Georgia - Jewel of the Caucasus

Georgia is a land infused with rich and complex traditions that make it one of Europe’s most exciting destinations to visit. This short trip takes you to the heart of an almost mythical land. We show you not just the highlights, but delve further to reveal the ancient customs and hidden secrets of this enchanting region.
 
From Tbilisi we head to Mtskheta, the spiritual heart of the country famous for some stunning UNESCO listed monuments. We then drive into the High Caucasus Mountains and visit the mythical Mount Kazbek, reputedly the site of the Greek fable to Prometheus. Returning to the lowlands we stop at Kutaisi with its striking religious buildings.
 
We then return again to the mountains and the wild, untamed land of Svaneti. This is one of Europe’s most isolated and traditional areas. Here pagan beliefs mix with Christianity. Dominated by dramatic peaks, we explore stone built villages and ancient watchtowers that loom large over the landscape. We meet the Svan people there to learn about their unique way of life and enjoy some of Europe’s finest scenery.
 
On our return to Tbilisi we explore its multi-cultural influences. From Soviet to Persian and Ottoman, we visit its historic old quarter and the National Museum for an insight into its fascinating history. Georgia is a captivating country where myth and reality intertwine and the past and present blend seamlessly to create an intoxicating atmosphere. Discover an alternative side to Europe with us.
Georgia - Jewel of the Caucasus

Highlights

  • Beautiful monasteries and cathedrals
  • Impressive mountain scenery
  • Explore the region of Svaneti
  • Explore Tbilisi’s old quarter
  • Experience typical Georgian hospitality

Day 1 - Tbilisi

Arrive in Tbilisi and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore. Overnight Sharden Hotel or similar.

Tbilisi

Georgia’s rather charming capital is a bewildering combination of cultural influences, from Soviet Russia to ancient Persia and Ottoman Turkey, but despite being located between these three giants it has managed to carve out a unique identity for itself.

Straddling the Mtkvari River Tbilisi – formerly known as Tiflis by the Russians – has a rather easy going air, with wide boulevards and public squares where old men play board games under the shade of trees, and is a very pleasant place to explore on foot. Georgia’s Christian heritage is evident here and the city is home to a number of fine churches and cathedrals, one of the most impressive of which is the Sioni cathedral dating back to the 13th century.

As well as these, a stroll around central Tbilisi will bring you to old caravanserais and bathhouses, synagogues and mosques – Tbilisi is more cosmopolitan than one might think. The city is also home to some excellent museums – the National Museum, in particular, holds some exquisite examples of early gold jewellery which give credence to the theory that Georgia was the original ‘Land of the Golden Fleece’.

Day 2 - Mtskheta – Kazbegi - Gudauri

Drive to Mtskheta, Georgia’s ancient capital where we visit the UNESCO listed Jvari Monastery and the striking Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. From here we head north along the Georgian Military Highway, crossing the Jvari Pass en route to Kazbegi, surrounded by the High Caucasus Mountains. Hike to the picturesque Sameba Church with views of Mt Kazbek in the background, then drive to Gudauri for the night. Overnight Hotel Alpina or similar. (BD)

Please note – there is the option to travel up to the Sameba Church by vehicle if you’d prefer not to do the hike.


Day 3 - Gori – Uplistiskhe – Kutaisi

Returning to the lowlands we visit Gori, the birthplace of Stalin, and the cave city of Uplistsikhe, dating back to the 7th century BC. Arriving in Kutaisi we visit the UNESCO listed Gelati Monastery, founded in the 12th century, and the Bagrati Cathedral. Overnight Hotel Argo or similar. (B)

 

Please note: Gelati Monastery is currently closed for renovation and although it is often possible to arrange access, this cannot be guaranteed. If we are unable to visit Gelati we will visit the nearby Motsameta monastery complex instead.

Day 4 - Svaneti

Drive to the almost mythical region of Svaneti, high in the Caucasus Mountains and home to the Svans, perhaps Georgia’s most traditional ethnic group. We head to the town of Mestia, known for its typical architecture and dominated by defensive stone towers. Overnight hotel Ushba or similar. (BD)

Svaneti

The remote region of Svaneti, high up in the Caucasus mountains, is a throwback to a bygone age when this was a truly wild frontier of Europe. Populated by the Svan people, the medieval style villages here consist of stone built houses clustered around imposing watchtowers, most of which are between 800 to 1000 years old and served as a lookout post to warn of potential invaders.

The Svan people make up a distinct ethnic group and have always been fiercely protective of their independence, functioning as a de facto autonomous state in the days before Soviet rule. They have their own complex set of traditions and customs, and in the past have been known as an aggressive and hostile group, suspicious of outsiders and renowned as warriors.

Many of the churches in the region hold fine frescoes but the Svan are more traditional than the Georgians of the lowlands, and in places you can still find evidence of earlier, non-Christian beliefs. As Svaneti was never conquered by the Mongols during their rampage through this region, Svaneti became a repository for many of Georgia’s religious artefacts.

The scenery here is truly stunning, as you might expect from Europe’s highest mountain range, with snow-capped peaks ranging up to 5000 metres, forests and gushing rivers, and offers excellent opportunities for hiking. Both the landscape and the cultural traditions have led to Svaneti being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Svaneti is also home to Europe’s highest permanently inhabited village Ushguli, situated at 1800m and with great views of the mighty Mt Shkhara, at 5201 metres the highest peak in Georgia. This is a rather magical place, full of the traditions of yesteryear and the hospitable ways of the Svans make this an experience you are unlikely to forget.

Day 5 - Svaneti

A full day exploring this stunning region. Drive to the village of Ushguli with its medieval buildings, watchtowers and the Lamaria church, and with a backdrop of Mt Shkhara, Georgia’s highest mountain. We explore the landscape on foot, taking easy walks nearby and also visit a local house to learn more about the unique customs of the Svan people. Return to Mestia for the night. Overnight Hotel Ushba or similar. (BD)


Day 6 - Tbilisi

Return to Tbilisi, arriving early evening. Overnight Sharden Hotel or similar. (B)


Day 7 - Tbilisi

Explore this interesting city and learn about its long and fascinating history. Visit the old town, the Metekhi Temple and the fortress of Narikala before heading to the impressive National Museum with its rich collection of cultural artefacts. We also explore the 11th-century Sioni Cathedral and take in the sights of Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi’s main thoroughfare. Overnight Sharden Hotel or similar. (B)


Day 8 - Tbilisi

Transfer to the airport for departure. (B)


Please note that this trip is part of a longer three-week tour travelling overland through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia and so while some people will be starting their tour in Tbilisi and visiting only Georgia, others will arrive overland from Azerbaijan and be continuing on to Armenia. If you would like information about our tour combinations in the Caucasus region please let us know.

Ushguli village, Caucasus Mountains - Svaneti tour
Traditional Georgian church
Kazbegi church - Georgia holidays

What's included?

  • Airport transfers

    We include arrival and departure transfers regardless of whether you book flights yourself, or we book them for you. If you’re booking them yourself, then please let us know the details so that we can arrange the transfers. Please note though that if you arrive earlier than Day 1 of the tour, and leave after the final day, we may need to make an additional charge for an airport transfer.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation as listed in the dossier. The nature of the destinations that we operate may sometimes mean that we need to change hotels, but we’ll always endeavour to keep the same standards. Please be aware that as we operate in many countries where tourism is in its infancy, hotel standards may not be the same as you’re used to elsewhere.

  • Guides

    You will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide.

  • Meals

    As listed within the itinerary / dossier (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner). These will vary from trip to trip – in some areas it makes sense to include all meals while in others there is a good choice of restaurants and we feel people might like to ‘do their own thing’ now and again.

  • Entrance fees

    Entrance fees are listed for those sites that we mention within the itinerary. If there are any other sites that you’d like to see, these would be at your own expense.

What's not included?

  • Visas

    We don’t arrange visas for our travellers, but if an invitation letter is necessary then we will arrange this for you. If you need any advice with visas then just give us a call, or alternatively, a visa agency such as Travcour can assist.

  • International flights

    Many of our travellers arrive from different destinations and so we don’t include international flights in the cost of our tours. If, however, you would like us to book flights for you, then just give us a call and we’ll be happy to discuss your options.

  • Travel Insurance

    If you need any assistance with this, then let us know – although we can’t arrange it ourselves, we can point you in the direction of a reputable provider that can assist.

Visas

Americans, Australians and most European nationalities, including British citizens, no longer require a visa to enter Georgia. Visa regulations can change however and so we recommend that you contact your nearest embassy for the most up to date information.

Health and vaccinations

We are not medically qualified and so we recommend that you speak to your doctor or nearest health professional for advice concerning recommended vaccinations. However, there are no compulsory vaccinations needed to enter either country. For more advice on vaccinations, you can also visit www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk.

If you have any physical limitations that might impact your ability to participate in the planned tour activities, it’s essential that you make us aware as soon as possible so that we can discuss this with you.

Insurance

It is a condition of joining our tours that you have suitable travel insurance in place, and we cannot accept travellers without insurance. All policies differ in terms of what they will cover, but as a minimum you need medical and health cover, which will cover you for the whole time that you are away. Most policies will also include cancellation cover, which will cover you if an unforeseen circumstance obliges you to cancel your trip. We recommend that you obtain your insurance as soon as you book your trip.

Please note that government travel warnings often affect the validity of your travel insurance, and you should check this with your insurance company.

From 1 June 2024, the Georgian authorities have also made it compulsory to obtain travel insurance when travelling there, and you may be asked for proof of this upon arrival.

Money

Georgia’s currency is the lari, and it’s unlikely you will be able to obtain this from your local exchange bureau. We recommend taking either US dollars or Euros to exchange – British pounds will be much harder to change.

Changing money is fairly simple – many hotels will offer this service and there are also banks and exchange bureaus in larger towns. Your guide will be able to advise of the best option. In Tbilisi there are also ATMs which accept foreign cards, although don’t count on these always working. Credit cards are not used as widely here as they are in other European countries, so you should only think of this as a back up rather than the main source of obtaining money.

Local conditions

When travelling in countries such as Georgia, which are comparatively underdeveloped in places, it’s important to understand that things won’t always work here as we’re used to them working at home. Travelling in underdeveloped and untouristed destinations requires both patience and a sense of humour. There may be problems with infrastructure, attitudes may be different, and maintenance may not be as high a standard as we would always like, but this is very much part and parcel of travelling in such a place. We aim to resolve any issues as quickly as possible, and thank you for your patience.

Travel advice

We keep a very close eye on the travel advice issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office so that we can keep you up to date with any warnings. At the time of writing, there are no warnings against travel to the parts of Georgia that we visit.

This relates to advice from the British government – other nationalities need to check the stance of their own governments.

Please note that the information contained above is highly susceptible to change, and while we endeavour to keep up to date we recommend that you use this as a guide only. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Ushguli village, Caucasus Mountains - Svaneti tour
Traditional Georgian church
Kazbegi church - Georgia holidays
Date(s)
Price (PP) Exc. Flights
Single Supplement
Trip Status
Date -
10 May 2025
Price (PP) -
£1,399
Single Supplement -
£180
Trip Status -
Full
Date -
17 May 2025
Price (PP) -
£1,399
Single Supplement -
£180
Trip Status -
Guaranteed
Date -
13 September 2025
Price (PP) -
£1,399
Single Supplement -
£180
Trip Status -
Guaranteed
Date -
09 May 2026
Price (PP) -
£1,525
Single Supplement -
£190
Trip Status -
Available
Date -
12 September 2026
Price (PP) -
£1,525
Single Supplement -
£190
Trip Status -
Available

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