Grand Georgia Tour

Destination: Caucasus

Geography of the trip

Difficulty

Comfort

13 Days

Highlights

Visit Georgia - one of the first Christian countries in the world

Discovery of Tbilisi - the larsgest and ancinet city of Gerogia

Admire beautiful views of Caucasus Mountains and Alazani Valley Sighnaghi town

Acquaintance with the traditions of Georgian winemaking, which is already about 8000 years old

Discover wonderful, wild and remoted regions of Georgia, such as Kazbegi

Explore UNESCO world heritage sites from Jvari Monastery & Svetitskhoveli Cathedral to Mestia town in Svanetia

Discover natural wonders of Okatse Canyon and Martvili Canyon

Feel the modern rhythm of the largest city Batumi located on the Black Sea coast

Visit of the remoted authentic village of Svanetia - Ushguli

Touch the walls of the ancient cave cities built 2 B.C.

Visit Rabati Fortress and Borjomi Park and taste famous mineral water Borjomi

Acquaintance with the hospitable local people

Tour Overview

In 2022 we are exploring further the Caucasus so we would like to offer one of the best destinations for holiday - majestic Georgia, the country of contrasts and amazing diversity. It’s no wonder that many people call Georgia an Eden of the Caucasus, located in the western Transcaucasia, on the Black Sea coast.

Georgia is famous for its thousand-year history and interesting traditions. Could you imagine that some of the oldest human remains on earth were found here, that dated 1 million 770 thousand years old! There are also many references from the middle of the first millennium BC about the ancient Colchis state on the territory of modern Georgia. Every sight of Georgia is permeated with rich history, covered with ancient legends and tales. Also, it is one of the first Christian countries in the world. Now on the territory of the country there are many magnificent Orthodox churches and monasteries, which have an ancient history and are distinguished by beautiful architecture with excellent forms and carvings.

Georgia is not only about rich history, but, first of all, it is about amazing nature combined with mountain landscapes, alpine meadows, grape plantations and the shining Black Sea coast. Traveling to Georgia you will find many places with wildlife, and so far untouched by man landscapes, which makes the country even more attractive to tourists.

We begin our journey with the main capital of Georgia – Tbilisi that is more than 1500 years old, as well as the ancient capital of Georgia - Mtsekhta with its famous UNESCO world heritage sites like Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Then take an enjoyable trip to the village of Kazbegi along the picturesque Georgian military road with a plenty of instagram locations. Let's not forget about Kutaisi - one of the oldest cities in the world, the capital of the Kingdom of Colchis with the unique natural canyons of Okatse and Martvili... Do not miss the majestic mountainous province - Svaneti, the land of a thousand unique towers. Then, we will descend from the snowy mountains to the blooming southern resort city - Batumi, if the soul craves the sea and fresh breeze. Finally, we will enjoy the cool climate of the resort town of Borjomi with its mineral springs and touch to the history of the ancient fortress Rabat and the cave city of Vardzia.

And what about wine? Of course, many people associate this country with the famous Georgian wine, because the local traditions of making wine are already 8000 years old. Now, the country produces many varieties of wines, popular both at home and abroad. During our tour, we will look into the province of Kakheti - the cradle of Georgian winemaking and the mecca for winemakers and wine lovers.

When it comes to Georgian hospitality, you won't feel like a stranger. Georgians believe that "the guest is by the Lord" and therefore warm hospitality is well known for all guests. Generous Georgian feasts, beautiful toasts, a huge variety of delicious dishes are unlikely to leave anyone indifferent. How is fascinating Georgian cuisine! Food for Georgians is not a simple meal, it is part of the national culture.

Talking about the beauty and diversity of Georgia can be endlessly…. It is better to see everything with your own eyes, so we offer a Grand tour through all Georgia, combining all the best, so as not to rush and discover more and more delights of this region, like a magic box, filled with various treasures….

Day 1
Gamarjoba! Welcome to Georgia!
Tbilisi
Day 2
Wandering the Streets of Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Day 3
Georgia's Premier Wine Region - Kakhetia
Tbilisi — Signagi
Day 4
Georgian Military Road: steeped in trade, wars, and legends
Signagi — Kazbegi
Day 5
Mtskheta and Uplistsikhe Cave Town in the history of Georgia
Kazbegi — Gory
Day 6
Nature wonders of Georgia
Gory — Kutaisi
Day 7
Svanetia - the Gateway to Georgia's ancient highlands and pristine nature
Kutaisi — Mestia
Day 8
Ushguli - hight mountain community in Svaneti
Mestia
Day 9
Georgia's Las Vegas on the Black Sea
Mestia — Batumi
Day 10
Free day in the city
Batumi
Day 11
The best famous resort of Georgia - Borjomi city
Batumi — Borjomi
Day 12
Vardzia cave city and Rabati castle
Borjomi — Vardzia
Day 13
The end of the tour
Borjomi — Tbilisi

10:00
Transfer from the airport
Meeting at the international airport, transfer to the hotel, currency exchange, accommodation and rest.
13:00
Lunch — Not included
14:00
City tour in Tbilisi
After lunch you will take a walking tour that provides the ideal way to explore Tbilisi. During the tour you will visit: - Meydan square and Shardeni pedestrian street - the center of the old city; - Tbilisi's mineral sulfur baths; - Metekhi Church and Sioni Cathedral. Then, we go to the Peace Bridge in the very center of old Tbilisi, and go down to Rike Park, where the cable car to Narikala Fortress will be waiting for you. Best location for photo shooting with an impressive view of the city. - From the Narikala Fortress we walk to the statue of Mother Georgia, on the way we stop at the observation point. - Sololaki, ones the district of rich merchants and artists, that still captivates the visitors. Here you can see the real, authentic Tbilisi.
19:00
Dinner — Not included
Welcome dinner in one of the city's restaurants in a traditional interior, served with national dishes and drinks, with a musical performance and folk dances (payment on site).
Overnight in the hotel

09:00
Breakfast in the hotel
10:00
Explore "Tbilisi Europe"
Today we will look into “Tbilisi Europe” and go for a walk along the avenues along the route: David Aghmashenebeli Avenue - one of the main avenues in the historical part of Tbilisi, the Dry Bridge with a famous flea market, Rustaveli Avenue - the main thoroughfare of Central Tbilisi that was originally known as Golovin Street, Mtatsminda Park at the top of Mount Mtatsminda overlooking the Georgian capital Tbilisi.
13:00
Lunch — Not included
15:00
Excursion to the Turtle lake
For those who would like to visit more in Tbilisi, we offer an excursion to the Turtle Lake - situated on a 687-meter high hill above the Vake district. It name derives from the fact that numerous turtles used to live in the lake. If you wish, you can visit the Ethnographic Open Air Museum that contains about 70 buildings of traditional Georgian architecture, which were brought from all parts of the country to the open-air museum. In addition to old farmhouses, visitors can admire water mills, watchtowers, a basilica and a family crypt.
19:00
Dinner in the restaurant — Not included
Overnight in the hotel

09:00
Breakfast in the hotel
11:00
Driving on the beautiful Kakhetia highway
Today we will go to the homeland of winemaking - the region of Kakheti. On the way you will see the picturesque Gombori Pass (altitude 1692 m above sea level), then we will look into Telavi - the ancient city with medieval architecture. surrounded by incredible views of Alazani valley.
13:00
Lunch in Telavi — Not included
14:00
Visit of House-Museum of Alexander Chavchavadze
Excursion to the museum complex, located in the palace of the poet and public figure of the 19th century, Prince Alexander Chavchavadze in the village of Tsinandali (10 km from Telavi).
16:00
Excursion to the Gremi Castle
Standing above the green valley of Alazan, Gremi attracts travelers whose road goes between Telavi and Kvareli. Gloomy and monumental, the castle is the one of the most visited tourist points in Georgia. It is an architectural monument of the 16th century near the village of Gremi. In the 16-17 centuries Gremi was the capital of the Kakheti kingdom. The church complex, located on a hill, is surrounded by a wall with embrasures and towers and includes the church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, the royal citadel, a bell tower and a wine cellar. After visit of Gremy castle, it is possible to go on optional excursion to the winery "Kindzmarauli Corporation", in a historical castle, with a tasting of legendary wines.
18:00
Arrival in Signagi city
In the end of this day our final point is Signagi - a city of love and art with breathtaking views of the Alazani valley. Not far from the city, we will visit the Bodva Monastery, where the remains of the enlightener of Georgia, St. Nino, are buried.
19:00
Dinner — Not included
Overnight in the guest house

08:00
Breakfast — Not included
09:00
Early departure to Kazbegi village
The Georgian Military highway is one of the most scenic high altitude road trips in Europe. Already in the first century BC this road was used by traders and invaders to cross the greater caucasus on their way from Europe to Asia. Today we cross the majestic Caucasus mountain range with superb views on the snow capped mountain peaks. There are lots of interesting places to visit on the Georgian Military highway: from one of the oldest cities - Mtshketa at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, Zhinvali lake - an artificial water reservoir, the 17th century Ananuri fortress, the Russian Georgian friendship monument to the Jvari pass - the highest point of the Georgian Military highway (almost 2400 meters high).
14:00
Arrival in Kazbegi village
We stay for an overnight at the town of Stepantsminda (also called Kazbegi) with charming and a wonderfulnature. There are many guesthouses where locals are happy to treat you like family, rustic and beautiful with views of the mountains.
14:30
Lunch at the local cafe — Not included
16:00
Walking to the Church of the Holy Trinity
Church of St. Trinity in Gergeti at the foot of Mount Kazbeg (2200 m above sea level) is the highest mountain temple in Georgia.
19:00
Dinner — Not included
Overnight in the hotel

09:00
Breakfast in the hotel
10:00
Departure to Mtskheta city
Departure to Mtskheta - also called a"Second Jerusalem". Mtskheta is Georgia's most sacred pilgrimage city and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has been inhabited since before 1,000 BC and was once the capital of the early Kingdom of Iberia (today’s Eastern Georgia).
12:00
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari Monastery
Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Sacred Sites of Georgia: Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari Monastery, representing the culmination of the artistic and architectural aspirations of early medieval art. Please, take of your clothes. Shorts are not allowed for men, trousers and bare shoulders are not allowed for women.
13:00
Lunch in the city cafe — Not included
14:00
Excursion to Uplistsikhe Cave Town
The cave city of Uplistsikhe, built on the high rocky coast of Mtkvari, is the crossroads of many routes of the Great Silk Road. Founded in the late Bronze Age, it was inhabited until the 13th century, and was one of the most important political and religious centers of the kingdom of Kartli. It contains structures connected by tunnels and featuring a unique combination of Anatolian (Cappadocia) and northern Iranian styles of rock cultures, pagan and Christian architecture.
16:00
Continuation of the way to Gory city
Upon arrival, accommodation in the hotel and rest.
19:00
Dinner — Not included
Overnight in the hotel

09:00
Breakfast in the hotel
10:00
Departure to Kutaisi
Kutaisi is the central city of Western Georgia. The road to Kutaisi passes through the Rikoti pass and through the longest tunnel in Georgia (1722 m), which is also considered the border between the western and eastern parts of Georgia.
13:00
Lunch — Not included
Upon arrival in Kutaisi, lunch in the city cafe on your own.
13:00
Medieval Gelati and Prometheus Cave (Kumistavi)
After lunch, we discover Gelati - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a medieval monastery complex and an academy founded in 1106 by King David IV the Builder. Then, we will visit the Kumistavi Cave, also known as Prometheus Cave, a wonderful array of stalactites, stalagmites, petrified waterfalls, underground rivers and lakes.
16:00
Picturesque canyons Okatse and Martvili
Then we go to the picturesque canyons of Georgia. In the Okatse canyon we will walk along the suspension bridge over the abyss, and in the Martvili canyons we will take a boat in the shade of the gorge. Optionally, you can also visit the Kinchkha waterfall.
19:00
Dinner — Not included
Overnight in the hotel

09:00
Breakfast in the hotel
10:00
Road to Svaneti
Departure to the "capital" of Svaneti, the city of Mestia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the way, we will enjoy magnificent landscapes - alpine meadows and deep forests, ancient glaciers and high mountains. We go along the endless Enguri River, past gorges and Svan villages dotted with stone watchtowers built in the Middle Ages. On the way, we will stop by the Inguri hydroelectric power station to admire the beautiful landscapes.
13:00
Lunch on the roadside cafe — Not included
16:00
Arrival in Mestia and accommodation at the hotel
We will take a pleasant walk to discover the cosy city and definitely climb the roof of the ancient Svan tower - one of the main symbols of Svaneti.
19:00
Dinner in the local cafe — Not included
Overnight in the hotel

09:00
Breakfast in the hotel
11:00
Excursion to Ushguli village
If the weather is favorable, we will go to the village of Ushguli, a mountain community in the Svaneti region at an altitude of 2200 m above the sea, under the protection of UNESCO. Due to the remote location, the Svan cultural identity has been preserved, an archaic Georgian dialect, a version of Orthodox Christianity according to early beliefs. Here you will discover the sights of Ushguli: the Svan towers towering over the village of Zhibiani, the temple of Lamaria (Virgin Mary) with amazing frescoes, with a tiny chapel of the Virgin Mary built in the 10th century, the Church of St. George and the Church of the Savior.
13:00
Lunch in the local cage with traditional dishes — Not included
Don't miss the chance to try Kubdari - Svan khachapuri with meat.
15:00
Time at leisure
Take a walk through winding lanes past silently wandering cows and stone-wooden buildings. You can climb to the castle of Queen Tamar, go to the museum of icons or the ethnographic museum. Return to Mestia village.
19:00
Dinner — Not included
Overnight in the hotel

09:00
Breakfast in the hotel
10:00
To the Black sea cost
Today we descend from the mountains and go to the Black Sea capital of Georgia - Batumi.
13:00
Lunch at the roadside cafe — Not included
On the way we will visit the black sand beach in Ureki, try the famous lodochki-khachapuri, because we are in their homeland, in Adjara.
15:00
Arrival in Batumi
Start of city tour. We will walk along the boulevard - the famous Batumi embankment, with its fountains, sculptures, towers and skyscrapers. Let's visit the old part of the city. Discover the boulevard with singing fountains,monument of Ali and Nino, Piazza Batumi. Free time in the city and rest.
19:00
Dinner — Not included
Overnight in the hotel

09:00
Breakfast in the hotel
11:00
Time at leisure
Take the opportunity to discover the city, relax on the Black Sea coast or get a close look to the sights of the city.
13:00
Lunch — Not included
19:00
Dinner — Not included
Overnight in the hotel

09:00
Breakfast in the hotel
10:00
Transfer to Borjomi city
Departure to the city of Borjomi, located in the picturesque Borjomi Gorge, in the east of the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, famous for its mineral water springs, unique nature and many historical monuments.
14:00
Lunch in the city restaurant — Not included
Upon arrival in Borjomi, we will have a lunch at the local restaurant on your own.
15:00
Exploration of the city
Then, we have a time to discover the city sights. Tasting healing water directly from the sources located in the city. It is possible to take an easy hike to the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, which features a variety of ecological zones, landscapes, flora and fauna.
19:00
Dinner — Not included
Overnight in the hotel

09:00
Breakfast in the hotel
10:00
Excursion to Rabat fortress
On the territory of the city of Akhaltsikhe, there is a historical and architectural museum complex - the Akhaltsikhe fortress, also known as the Rabat fortress. The fortress is a complex of buildings of the 16th-18th centuries. On the area of 7 hectares, it includes a citation, the historical and ethnographic museum of Samtskhe-Javakheti, the Ahmadiyya mosque with a dazzling golden dome, a minaret, a madrasah, a synagogue, a church, and a well-developed tourist infrastructure .
13:00
Lunch — Not included
15:00
Visit of Vardzia city
60 kilometers from Akhaltsikhe, there is a magical place with the medieval cave city of Vardzia, carved into the rocks of Mount Erusheli above the Mtkvari River in the “golden age” of feudal Georgia. In the past, up to 50,000 people lived in it. In total, 13 levels were built with caves containing monastic cells, grandiose foyers, a cathedral and a treasury, libraries, stables, bakeries, swimming pools and so on.
17:00
Return to Borjomi city
19:00
Dinner — Not included
Overnight in the hotel

09:00
Breakfast in the hotel
10:00
Transfer to Tbilisi
Departure to Tbilisi (about 2 h 20 min by car). Transfer to the airport/ hotel. The end of the programme.

Detailed description

New departures available soon

Price includes

English-speaking guide
Russian-spaking guide
Accommodation as per itinerary
Excursions and visits as per itinerary
Nature reserves and parks entrance permissions
Meals according to the program

Price does not include

Meals as per itinerary
Personal expenses and tips
Airline tickets

For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.

Note

Price is indicated for the small group of 4 people. The price is indicated for the group of 4 people. If there are less people, the price is following: 1400 USD per person for the group of 3 people 1800 USD per person for the group of 2 people

Reviews

No reviews anymore or no reviews at all for this tour. Below reviews for destination:

Caucasus

This is my first time using Baikal tours for my travels in Russia. I would say I did not regret one single moment booking a tour in the Caucasus. The guides and tours were simply amazing! Although the tours were in Russian, it was a great practice for me to listen and speak in Russian. The tour guides were hospital in ensuring my trip was good and assisted me whenever I could not communicate well with

My trip with Baikal Nature was amazing, with Pavel as our guide. All the logistics were taken care of and everything ran smoothly. The food was great, and there was always plenty of it. We were given a mix of facts about each place we visited, as well as photography advice and help. I would happily travel with Baikal Nature and Pavel again!!

We have just returned from our fascinating adventure to Dagestan with Pavel and Baikalnature. I cannot recommend visiting this region with Baikalnature highly enough. We feel honoured and privileged to have had such a great guide. Right from our initial inquiries, Olga was very efficient in replying to emails. We could customize tour and Olga was able to tailor it to our own interests and schedule.

Le voyage a été un réel plaisir et une très belle organisation si ce n est nôtre premier. Guide , Anna , qui était médiocre : aucune connaissance culturelle de la région, elle n a aucunement assuré les traductions quand nous étions accompagnés de guides locaux et elle ne faisait aucun rassemblement de groupe pour partager les informations ! Enfin elle pouvait même se moquer de notre groupe lorsque

4.67

Total score

5.00

Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support

4.00

Quality of accommodation

5.00

Quality of transport / transfers

4.00

Quality of meals

5.00

Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management

5.00

Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events

Wendy

From 5 June 2019 to 25 June 2019

Destination: Lake Baikal, Trans-Siberian Railway, Caucasus

Custom tour: Journey Across the Russian North Caucasus+Lake Baikal

Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!

Our North Caucasus trip was very professionally organised and the tour was excellent with a good balance of attractions, historic and geographical sites. Most impressive was our friendly and highly competent tour manager Anna's attention to detail and ability to tailor the program exactly to our needs - not an easy task with older, experienced people with very exacting demands! Anna also organised

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