15 best tours in Georgia

This former Soviet republic on the assembly level of Asia and Europe affords all the pieces from the rugged Caucasus Mountains to lovely seashores on the Black Sea. Hikes right here will be scenically overwhelming, with mountain landscapes and distant valleys the place golden eagles circle overhead. You can go to medieval monasteries and church buildings with historical frescoes, and the Twelfth-century cave city of Vardzia. Georgian wines are extremely regarded, and you’ll tour the vineyards of Kakheti, an historical wine area the place makers nonetheless use conventional strategies. Trek mountain passes, trip by nationwide parks, discover ways to cook dinner Georgian delicacies or discover the wealthy structure and historical past of the capital, Tbilisi. Whether you need a vacation to see the highlights of Georgia, or would moderately strike out on a brand new path, there’s a tour for you.

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Times Travel has partnered with Tourhub to carry our readers a big selection of escorted tours from trusted journey companions. Here, we’ve chosen the very best tours that showcase Georgia. For an even bigger choice, go to Tourhub.

Main picture: the Kakheti wine area (Getty Images)

1. Classic Georgia, Wild Frontiers

This nine-day tour takes in Georgia’s looming mountain passes, lovely valleys, the cosmopolitan capital of Tbilisi and the Unesco websites of Mtskheta and Kazbegi National Park. In addition to seeing the sights, the journey options wine tastings and cooking courses permitting you to discover ways to make Georgian dishes akin to “khinkali” (dumplings) and “qababi” (kebabs). The value consists of all lodging, transfers, meals and entrance charges. You can be a part of a small group tour or pay a little bit extra for a non-public tour, with your individual information and whole flexibility on dates.

Group dimension small group or personal tour
Price ££

wildfrontierstravel.com

2. Georgia in spring, Naturetrek

Lying to the south of the Great Caucasus mountain vary, Georgia affords some great wildlife, and this nine-day tour focuses on the fauna to be discovered in two very totally different areas. After flying into Tbilisi, you’ll journey north to the city of Stepantsminda, whose snowy mountains are residence to birds together with Guldenstadt’s redstart, golden eagles and bearded vultures (or lammergeiers). After that, swoop east to the grassy steppes close to the border with Azerbaijan in search of vibrant birds akin to European bee-eaters and hoopoes. Designed for eager naturalists, the tour runs on the finish of April to mid-May — the best interval for birdwatching. Price consists of all meals and lodging (from good in Tbilisi to snug however extra fundamental in the countryside).

Group dimension 5-12
Price ££

naturetrek.co.uk

3. The mountains of Georgia tour, Esplora Travel

This ten-day exploration focuses on two mountain areas of the High Caucasus: Kazbegi and Svaneti. This is a visit for tradition fanatics — in specific, those that haven’t visited Georgia earlier than — and is designed to supply an perception into the panorama that has formed Georgia’s tradition over the centuries. It consists of visits to the Sixth-century Jvari Monastery, the Gergeti Trinity Church, and the Gelati Monastery close to Kutaisi, with its great frescoes. In addition you’ll get pleasure from a day in Tbilisi, together with a go to to the National Museum — and a few wine tasting in a cellar. The tour departs yearly in September. The value excludes flights, however is in any other case all-inclusive (staying in small lodges), and even covers alcoholic drinks at meal occasions.

Group dimension 5-12
Price ££

esplora.co.uk

4. Georgia: Land of myths and mountains, Wild Frontiers

This nine-day tour is the proper introduction to the attractive nation of Georgia. It options the colorful and vigorous capital of Tbilisi, with its fortress and thermal baths, wine tasting at a standard wine cellar among the many vineyards of Kakheti, and a go to to the Stalin Museum at Gori, which shows Stalin’s personal railway carriage. You’ll stroll by the Great Caucasus mountains to see the well-known Gergeti Church, wander the cave city of Vardzia and study the Georgian artwork of felt-making from a grasp craftsman. Accommodation is in guesthouses, small lodges and homestays, and most meals are included (though flights should not).

Group dimension 4-12
Price ££

5. Georgia horse safari, Ride World Wide

What higher solution to discover Georgia than on horseback? This ten-night tour will get you off-grid, heading southwest from Tbilisi into the countryside. You’ll be accompanied by an area information who’s enthusiastic about horses on an actual cross-country problem. This is a visit for skilled, match riders solely. You’ll canter previous native herders, picnic in the shadow of historical church buildings and “sleep easy” on the finish of every day in fundamental cell camps or guesthouses and homestays. This isn’t a vacation about luxuries — it’s an invigorating expertise that brings you nearer to rural Georgians and their traditions and way of life. Price consists of lodging, most meals, native guides and transfers, however not flights. Set departures from May to October (and personal teams on request).

Group dimension 2-8
Price ££

rideworldwide.com

6. Glorious Georgia small group tour, Regent Holidays

This small-group tour is a superb introduction to Georgia for first-time guests. Starting and ending in Tbilisi, the 12-day itinerary is full of selection, taking you from deep inside caves to excessive into the mountains. You’ll keep at respectable lodges in Kazbegi, Kutaisi, Bakuriani and Vardzia, go to three Unesco world heritage websites, be a part of native households to get a style of home-cooked meals, attempt native wines at an award-winning property, and head into the hills alongside an old style narrow-gauge railway. The tour is led by famend Regent tour chief Carl Meadows, who is aware of the area nicely, and can swimsuit each {couples} and singles. Departs in May. Price consists of flights, lodging, excursions and most meals.

Group dimension 6-15
Price ££

regent-holidays.co.uk

7. Luxury Georgia vacation, Corinthian Travel

This personal, chauffeured eight-day tour — best taken anytime from June to September — is a perfect introduction to one of many standout locations in the Caucasus. Your bases would be the capital Tbilisi and the mountainous space of Kazbegi, with lodging in fashionable boutique lodges. Among the journey highlights are a vibrant tour of Tbilisi, a go to — together with wine tasting — to the romantic hill city of Sighnaghi, an opportunity to attempt your hand at making an area delicacy, and a visit to the distant Gergeti Trinity Church. Price consists of lodging, personal transport in Georgia, excursions and most meals, however flights value further.

Group dimension Private tour
Price ££

corinthiantravel.co.uk

8. Armenia and Georgia — the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Titan Travel

You’ll get the possibility to spend time with native households, trek to hilltop castles and monasteries, and journey deep into the Caucasus mountains on this particular 12-day journey. Georgia has a deserved repute for the standard of its wines — nonetheless produced in the normal approach — whereas in Armenia you’ll discover a number of the oldest church buildings in the world. Your journey will characteristic wine-tastings, cookery courses, metropolis tours of Tbilisi and Yerevan, and visits to Khor Virap Monastery, Echmiadzin Treasury Museum, Geghard and Sevanavank monasteries and the Temple of Garni. You’ll be led by native guides all through. Price consists of flights, lodging, excursions and most meals.

Group dimension Maximum of 35
Price: ££

titantravel.co.uk

9. Best of Georgia and Armenia, G Adventures

Fall in love with the character and tradition of the Caucasus on this nine-day tour of Georgia and Armenia. Begin at Yerevan in Armenia, exploring historical monasteries and rugged canyons, earlier than heading to the foothills of the Tsiv-Gombori Range in Georgia to style a number of the area’s famend wines. Continue by Kakheti province, having fun with views of the Kizikhi space and Sighnaghi; transfer on to Tbilisi, with its outdated city and fortress; and journey the Georgian Military Road to Unesco-listed Mtskheta, for visits to the Jvari Monastery and Svettiskhoveli Cathedral. You’ll additionally see Uplistsikhe, a cave settlement relationship again 1000’s of years. Price consists of lodge lodging, some meals and tours. Flights excluded.

Group dimension 4-12
Price ££

10. Svaneti and Transcaucasian Trail, Mountain Kingdoms

The stretch of the Transcaucasian Trail by the Upper Svaneti area of Georgia is among the many most lovely and putting of this long-distance trekking route. This difficult 11-day mountain climbing vacation will swimsuit match and energetic travellers. You’ll go by unspoilt alpine landscapes, going from valleys to mountain passes, by sleepy villages with medieval watchtowers, and keep in easy guesthouses. Luggage can be transported individually, and the mountain climbing can be led by an area strolling information. There will even be time to discover the capital of Tbilisi on a strolling tour. Departures in June, August and September. Price consists of lodging, most meals and guides, however not flights.

Group dimension 4-12
Price ££

mountainkingdoms.com

11. Culture and delicacies of Georgia, Regent Holidays

This 11-night personal guided tour focuses on the wine area of Kakheti, supplying you with an perception into the traditions and strategies of one of many world’s longest wine-producing nations. You’ll go to cellars and have tastings at prime wineries, eat home-cooked meals with native households, browse farmers’ markets and tour a museum dedicated to Qvevri wine. Learn learn how to make Georgian cheese and dumplings in Kazbegi, and see a neighborhood venture in Kutaisi the place they’re reviving long-lost grape varieties. Perfect for lovers of meals, drink and tradition. Price consists of flights, lodging, most meals, and a information and driver.

Group dimension personal tour
Price ££

regent-holidays.co.uk

12. Georgia journey, Intrepid

Take an energetic, 11-day tour to Georgia that begins and ends in Tbilisi — and features a guided strolling tour of the capital to see its eclectic structure and study its fascinating historical past — whereas additionally getting out to the snow-capped mountains of the Svaneti area and mountain climbing to the Shkhara glacier. The journey options visits to the Narikala Fortress and the medieval cities of Kutaisi, in addition to a cookery class and tastings of Georgia’s wonderful wine. The hikes attain an altitude of two,200m, and so require a average stage of health, though different actions will be organized for many who don’t want to hike. Departs May to October. Price consists of lodging (lodges and guesthouses), inner transport, actions and a few meals. Flights excluded.

Group dimension 1-12
Price ££

13. Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Wendy Wu

Take a journey from Baku by the Caucasus to discover a area the place Eastern and Western cultures collide. The 23-day tour options the treasures of Icheri Sheher — Baku’s walled outdated metropolis, which is so essential to Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage — and continues by the mountains to the traditional metropolis of Shamakhi. You’ll go to the vineyards and wine villages of Georgia, in addition to Tbilisi and the Gelati Monastery. In Armenia you’ll be able to loosen up at Lake Sevan, and admire the monastery of Sevanavank on the shoreline — a very alluring sight at sundown. Wonder on the prehistoric website of Karahunj — “Armenia’s Stonehenge” — with its 200 megalithic stones, and end your tour on the capital of Yerevan. Price consists of flights, four-star lodging, all meals and actions.

Group dimension 8-28
Price £££

14. Gems of Georgia, Wendy Wu

This 11-day tour focuses on the basic sights, conventional tradition and food and drinks of Georgia. Your journey will embrace a cable-car trip to the Narikala Fortress above Tbilisi and the Mtkvari River, journey by lovely surroundings to the Unesco-listed Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, a go to to the Bronze Age cave city of Uplistsikhe, and nights in Mestia, with its looming mountains. You’ll see Kutaisi and the Gelati Monastery, attempt the therapeutic springs at Borjomi Park, tour the Twelfth-century cave monastery of Vardzia and discover the mountain gorge of Dashbashi Canyon. Price consists of flights, four-star lodging, all meals and actions.

Group dimension 8-32
Price ££

15. Secret Georgia, Jules Verne

Going from Tbilisi to the coast, and visiting spots away from the crowds, this ten-night journey is ideal for getting beneath the pores and skin of Georgia. The itinerary options strolling tours of the capital’s outdated city, visits to Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari Monastery in Mtskheta, nights at Borjomi (famend for its mineral springs), stops on the Vardzia cave monastery and Rabati Castle, tours of Bagrati Cathedral and the Unesco-listed Gelati Monastery, a ship trip on the underground lake on the Prometheus Caves, and far more. You’ll get pleasure from wine tasting, lunch with an area household, and make associates for all times. Departs September and October, with no single complement on some dates. Price consists of flights, lodging, some meals, actions and guides.

Group dimension 6-25
Price ££

vjv.com