20-Day Georgia Grand Tour: Wine, Hiking & Culture
Gallery
Location highlights from this tour
Route Map
Narikala Fortress, Tbilisi
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Tbilisi
Sighnaghi, Kakheti
Tsinandali Estate, Kakheti
David Gareja Monastery
Overview
Twenty days, and just about all of Georgia. This is the longest of the private tours — wine, hiking and culture from end to end, taking in the corners the shorter trips leave out: the semi-desert monastery of David Gareja, the Juta trekking valley, the canyons of the west and the Svan towers of the high mountains.
You start with a run through Tbilisi and the Kakheti wine country, then north to Kazbegi for Gergeti and a day's trek up the Juta valley. From there it's west to Kutaisi for its monastery, cave and canyons, on to the palace at Zugdidi, and up into Svaneti for Mestia and Ushguli. The last stretch is the Black Sea at Batumi, with a couple of days to slow down and cook.
It leans on doing as much as seeing — tastings in Kakheti, a proper mountain hike at Juta, boat trips through the canyons, and a hands-on Adjarian cooking class on the coast. Georgians have made wine in buried clay qvevri for around 8,000 years, and their food shifts with every region you cross.
With twenty days there's room to breathe between the long drives, and each leg lands somewhere genuinely different — and because it's private, the pace and the stops bend around you.
Itinerary
You arrive in Tbilisi and, once you've settled in, start getting to know the city. You'll wander the Old Town's cobbled lanes, climb to the Narikala fortress for the view over the rooftops, see the huge Sameba cathedral, and walk through Abanotubani, the domed sulfur-bath quarter the city grew up around. An easy first day before a long trip ahead.
- Arrival in Tbilisi and airport transfer;
- Introduction to Georgia's vibrant capital;
- Explore historic Old Town charm;
- Visit iconic Narikala Fortress;
- Discover stunning Sameba Cathedral;
- Experience unique sulfur baths district;
- Check-in and overnight in Tbilisi.
A day given over to Tbilisi's food and its Soviet-era side. You'll poke around local markets, taste your way through Georgian staples and learn a little about how the dishes are made, alongside the bold Soviet-era architecture and monuments that still sit among the newer city. A relaxed, ground-level day in the capital.
- Dedicated Georgian culinary exploration;
- Visit vibrant local markets;
- Taste authentic traditional dishes;
- Learn Georgian cooking traditions;
- Explore Soviet-era landmarks;
- Experience heritage and modern life blend;
- Overnight in Tbilisi.
East today, into Kakheti, Georgia's main wine region. You'll stop in Sighnaghi, the small walled "City of Love" on a ridge above the Alazani valley, with cobbled streets and long views, then carry on to Telavi, the heart of the wine country, for local markets and your first proper tastings. The night is in Telavi.
A full day in the wine country around Telavi. You'll visit the Tsinandali estate, the 19th-century home and gardens of Prince Alexander Chavchavadze, with a tasting from its cellar, and the Batonistsikhe castle in town, the old royal residence of the kings of Kakheti. More of the region's wine and history, with another night in Telavi.
- Visit famous Tsinandali Estate;
- Authentic wine experiences and tastings;
- Explore historic Batonistsikhe Castle;
- Traditional Georgian winemaking discovery;
- Rich heritage of wine region exploration;
- Centuries-old viticultural culture;
- Overnight stay in Telavi.
Today you head south to David Gareja, a cave monastery cut into a bare hillside in the semi-desert near the Azerbaijani border. It's a striking, remote place — rock-hewn cells and chapels founded in the 6th century, in a landscape that looks nothing like the rest of Georgia. In the afternoon you drive back to Tbilisi for the night.
- Explore ancient David Gareja Monastery;
- Unique semi-desert landscape setting;
- Distinctive site for reflection;
- Spiritual exploration experience;
- Early Christian heritage discovery;
- Dramatic natural setting appreciation;
- Return to Tbilisi and overnight.
North today, up the Georgian Military Highway into the Caucasus. You'll stop at the Ananuri fortress beside the Aragvi, then climb through the mountains to Kazbegi, a small town under the snows of Mount Kazbek, where the air changes completely.
- Travel spectacular Georgian Military Highway;
- Stop at magnificent Ananuri Fortress;
- Continue to stunning Kazbegi region;
- Spectacular Mount Kazbek views;
- Experience raw Caucasus Mountains beauty;
- Iconic highland landscape exploration;
- Check-in and overnight in Kazbegi.
A day around Kazbegi with the mountains to yourself. The highlight is Gergeti Trinity, the lone church on its ridge with Mount Kazbek behind — one of Georgia's great views, and best in the morning light. The rest of the day is the high country itself, at whatever pace suits you.
- Visit stunning Gergeti Trinity Church;
- Dramatically perched ridge location;
- Spectacular Mount Kazbek views;
- Surrounding Caucasus peaks panorama;
- Experience iconic Georgian landmark;
- Breathtaking mountain setting;
- Overnight stay in Kazbegi.
Today is the hike. You head to Juta, a small village at the end of the road deep in the mountains, and trek up the valley beneath the sharp Chaukhi peaks — alpine meadows, clear streams and big open views. You stay the night in a local guesthouse, high up and far from anywhere.
- Visit beautiful Juta Village;
- Ideal mountain trekking opportunities;
- Overnight in authentic local guesthouse;
- Pristine mountain landscapes exploration;
- Authentic highland village atmosphere;
- Georgia's most scenic mountain location;
- Overnight stay in Juta Village guesthouse.
West today, to Kutaisi, one of Georgia's oldest cities, lived in for more than 3,000 years. Up on the hill sits Bagrati Cathedral, an 11th-century church rebuilt in recent years, looking out over the town. You settle into Kutaisi, your base for the western leg, for the night.
- Journey to historic western Georgian city;
- Visit the historic Bagrati Cathedral;
- Discover over 3,000 years of heritage;
- Gateway to western Georgia exploration;
- Experience historical architecture;
- Cultural wonders introduction;
- Check-in and overnight in Kutaisi.
A day of monastery and cave. You'll start at Gelati, founded in the 12th century and on the UNESCO list, its churches lined inside with medieval mosaics and frescoes, then go underground at the Prometheus Cave, kilometres of lit chambers, stalactites and underground rivers. Back in Kutaisi for the night.
- Visit magnificent Gelati Monastery;
- UNESCO-listed medieval architecture;
- Explore impressive Prometheus Cave;
- Spectacular underground chambers;
- Geological formations spanning 11km;
- Medieval and natural wonders combined;
- Overnight stay in Kutaisi.
A day of canyons. First is Okatse, where a walkway juts out over a deep gorge for a long, airy view down, then Martvili, a narrow canyon of green water with a short boat trip through the middle of it. An easy, scenic day out from Kutaisi, back in town for the night.
- Explore scenic Okatse Canyon;
- Adventurous nature exploration day;
- Continue to beautiful Martvili Canyon;
- Boat rides along turquoise waters;
- Stunning natural landscapes;
- Dramatic canyon walls and vegetation;
- Return to Kutaisi for overnight.
You head west to Zugdidi and the Dadiani Palace, once home to the family that ruled Samegrelo — a museum of their belongings and, improbably, one of Napoleon's death masks. It's an odd, interesting footnote to Georgian history, and the last stop before the mountains. The night is in Zugdidi, at the foot of the road up to Svaneti.
Today you climb into Svaneti, following the Enguri valley up from the lowlands into the high mountains. You reach Mestia, the region's main town, set among medieval Svan towers under the peaks — there's time to get your bearings among the towers before the night.
- Travel to highland town Mestia;
- Famous for distinctive Svan towers;
- Home to Svaneti Museum of History;
- Ethnography and cultural heritage;
- Georgia's most preserved mountain region;
- Ancient defensive architecture;
- Check-in and overnight in Mestia.
A day out to Ushguli, a cluster of villages and one of the highest permanently inhabited places in Europe, and a UNESCO site. The rough mountain road is half the experience, winding through spectacular scenery to the stone watchtowers standing under Mount Shkhara, Georgia's highest peak. Back in Mestia for the night.
- Visit highest inhabited European village;
- Ancient watchtowers and architecture;
- Traditional Svan culture experience;
- Breathtaking mountain landscapes;
- UNESCO World Heritage site;
- Perfectly preserved medieval charm;
- Return to Mestia for overnight.
An easier day in Mestia. You'll spend time at the Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography, whose icons, manuscripts and gold work show how much this cut-off region kept to itself over the centuries, and see more of the town and its towers at your own pace.
A relaxed day in and around Batumi. You'll walk the seafront boulevard, visit the Batumi Botanical Garden on its green headland above the sea, and see the moving Ali and Nino statue, two steel figures that slide through each other by the water. The rest is the squares, the cafés and the coast, at your own pace.
- Explore vibrant Batumi Boulevard;
- Visit world-renowned Botanical Garden;
- Diverse plant collections in coastal setting;
- See famous Ali and Nino statue;
- Experience lively city squares;
- Modern architecture and old-world charm;
- Overnight stay in Batumi.
Today you cook. Adjara has its own take on Georgian food — above all the boat-shaped acharuli khachapuri, filled with cheese and topped with butter and an egg — and in a hands-on class you'll learn to make a few regional dishes before sitting down to eat them. The rest of the day is yours by the sea, a gentle close to the trip.
- Dedicated Adjarian cuisine cooking class;
- Learn regional specialty preparation;
- Traditional Black Sea coastal dishes;
- Hands-on culinary education;
- Relax by serene Black Sea;
- Reflect on 20-day Georgian journey;
- Final overnight in Batumi.
Today is the long transfer from the coast back to Tbilisi International Airport, timed to your flight home. It's a full drive across the country, one last look at the landscapes you've crossed over the past three weeks, before you say goodbye to Georgia.
Accommodation
Pricing
Classic
Mid-Range
Premium
"From" prices are per person, based on 4 travelers in the Classic package. Final price depends on travel dates, hotel availability, group size, and any customization.
What's Included
- Accommodation in double or twin rooms, with breakfast included;
- Transfers as per the itinerary in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle, with an English-speaking guide driver;
- Entrance fees as per itinerary;
- Still water;
- 2 lunches, 2 dinners and 3 wine tastings.
What's Not Included
- Full board;
- Additional hotel expenses;
- Travel insurance.
Route Map
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