Location highlights from this tour
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.
The tour starts at Holy Trinity Cathedral — Sameba — one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world, rising above the city. From there you'll visit the clifftop Metekhi church, perched above the river, then ride the cable car up to the Narikala fortress for the view over the whole of Tbilisi. Walking down from the fortress, you'll pass through Abanotubani, the district of brick-domed sulfur bathhouses the city was built on and named after, then wander the Old Town lanes to the leaning clock tower of the Rezo Gabriadze theatre. Free evening in Tbilisi.
East today, into Kakheti, Georgia's main wine region. You'll start at Bodbe, a hilltop convent above the Alazani valley, then wander Sighnaghi, the small walled "City of Love" with its cobbled streets and long views. On the way to Telavi you'll stop at a winery for a tasting, before settling into Telavi, the heart of the wine country, for the night.
The day starts with a walk through Telavi — the old town, the giant 900-year-old plane tree, and the Batonistsikhe castle, the former royal residence of the kings of Kakheti. Then out to the Tsinandali estate, the 19th-century home and gardens of Prince Alexander Chavchavadze, and a local winery where you get hands-on with a qvevri — the buried clay vessel Georgians have fermented wine in for millennia. A last stop in Vardisubani, known for its qvevri-making, before heading back to Telavi for the night.
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.
North today, up the old Georgian Military Highway into the Caucasus. First stop is Mtskheta, Georgia's spiritual heart — the great Svetitskhoveli cathedral in the town, and Jvari monastery on the hill above it, both UNESCO sites. Then a pause at Ananuri, a fortress standing over the turquoise Jinvali reservoir. Further up you'll stop where the black and white Aragvi rivers meet, their two colours running side by side before they blend into one, and again at the Gudauri Panorama for the wide view back down the valley. From there the road climbs to Kazbegi, a small town under the snows of Mount Kazbek where the air changes completely.
The morning goes up to Gergeti Trinity, the lone church at 2,170 metres with Mount Kazbek behind it — best in the early light. Later you'll walk out to the Gveleti waterfalls, an easy hike of about an hour and a half there and back through the valley, and stop at the Dariali gorge near the Russian border, a dramatic cut in the mountains. Back in Kazbegi for the night.
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 — a walk of around five hours through alpine meadows, past clear streams and big open views. You stay the night in a local guesthouse, high up and far from anywhere.
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.
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.
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.
A long drive today takes you from Kutaisi up into Svaneti, the remote highland region in Georgia's northwest. On the way you'll make a short stop at the Enguri Dam, one of the highest arch dams in the world, for the view over the reservoir and the gorge below. From there the road climbs into the mountains to Mestia, the region's main town, set among medieval Svan towers under the peaks.
A day out to Ushguli, a cluster of villages and one of the highest permanently inhabited places in Europe. The rough mountain road is half the experience, and at the top the stone towers stand under Mount Shkhara, Georgia's highest peak, with the little Lamaria church on the hillside above the village — a working chapel that has watched over Ushguli for centuries. Back in Mestia for the night.
A half-day up to the Koruldi Lakes, high on the ridge above Mestia. A 4WD vehicle takes you most of the way up the rough mountain track, and from the top it's a short walk to the little alpine lakes, with the great wall of the Caucasus — Ushba above all — spread out in front of you. It's one of the finest viewpoints in Svaneti, weather permitting. Back in Mestia for the night.
A relaxed day on the coast. You'll start north of the city at the Batumi Botanical Garden, a hillside of plants from all over the world spread across a green headland above the sea. Back in town, you'll take in Europe Square and the Italianate Piazza, then head down to the water for the moving Ali and Nino statue, two steel figures that slide through each other by the shore, and the Alphabetic Tower nearby, its tall helix wrapped in the letters of the Georgian alphabet. From there it's a stroll along the seafront Batumi Boulevard and a ride up on the Argo cable car for the view over the city and the coast. The evening is free.
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.
A design-forward boutique hotel housed in a converted Soviet-era publishing house on the banks of the Mtkvari River. Rooms Hotel Tbilisi is a cultural landmark in its own right, blending industrial-chic aesthetics with warm Georgian hospitality, a vibrant lobby bar, and a celebrated restaurant.
A colorful and contemporary hotel right on Tbilisi's main Rustaveli Avenue. Ibis Styles Tbilisi Center offers reliable international-standard comfort with a playful design, complimentary breakfast, and an unbeatable central location for exploring the capital.
A cheerful budget-friendly hotel tucked into the winding streets of Tbilisi's Old Town. Ginger Hotel offers clean, comfortable rooms with a warm atmosphere and friendly staff, making it a great-value base for travelers who want to be in the heart of the action.
Set within the legendary 19th-century Tsinandali Estate, this Radisson Collection property is the pinnacle of luxury in Georgia's wine country. Surrounded by historic gardens, a renowned wine cellar, and the Caucasus foothills, it offers an unforgettable blend of heritage, wine culture, and world-class hospitality.
A modern and comfortable hotel set amid the lush greenery of the Tsinandali area in Kakheti. Park Hotel Tsinandali offers a peaceful retreat with well-appointed rooms, a lovely garden terrace, and easy access to the region's famous wineries and historic estates.
A vineyard hotel in the village of Ruispiri, a few kilometres from Telavi, welcoming guests since 2018. Hotel Arge has its own wine cellar for tastings, an outdoor pool and a garden restaurant, with most rooms opening onto balconies that look out over the Alazani Valley and the Greater Caucasus.
A design masterpiece set against the dramatic backdrop of Mount Kazbek. Rooms Hotel Kazbegi is one of Georgia's most iconic luxury retreats, offering floor-to-ceiling mountain views, a crackling fireplace lounge, an indoor pool, and a spa — the ultimate mountain escape.
A comfortable mid-range hotel in the heart of Stepantsminda with warm hospitality and mountain views. Northgate Hotel provides a cozy retreat after a day of Caucasus adventures, with a welcoming restaurant serving hearty Georgian cuisine and well-appointed rooms.
A budget-friendly guesthouse-style hotel in Stepantsminda offering simple, clean rooms and genuine Georgian warmth. Hotel Horizon is perfect for travelers who want to explore the Kazbegi region without breaking the bank, with home-cooked meals and a friendly atmosphere.
A stylish and modern hotel in the center of Kutaisi, Georgia's second-largest city. Newport Hotel offers spacious rooms with contemporary interiors, an excellent restaurant, and a prime location for exploring the region's UNESCO World Heritage sites and natural wonders.
A charming boutique hotel in central Kutaisi named after the legendary Argonauts who sailed to ancient Colchis. Boutique Hotel Argo offers comfortable rooms, warm service, and a great location for discovering Kutaisi's rich history and the stunning natural attractions of Imereti.
A welcoming hotel in the heart of Kutaisi featuring lush gardens and a BBQ area perfect for relaxing evenings. Hotel West Way serves as the ideal base for exploring the magnificent Prometheus Cave, Sataplia Nature Reserve, and the ancient Gelati Monastery.
The premier hotel in Mestia, the capital of the legendary Svaneti region. Hotel Posta offers refined mountain hospitality with panoramic views of medieval Svan towers and snow-capped Caucasus peaks, a superb restaurant, and a warm fireplace lounge perfect after a day of alpine adventure.
A welcoming mid-range inn in Mestia offering comfortable rooms with traditional wooden interiors and mountain views. Mestia Inn serves hearty Svan cuisine and provides a warm, family-run atmosphere that embodies the legendary hospitality of the Svaneti highlands.
An authentic Svan family guesthouse in Mestia offering a genuine highland experience. Lileo Inn serves delicious home-cooked Svan meals, provides simple but clean rooms, and gives guests a taste of the warm family hospitality that Svaneti is famous for.
The crown jewel of Batumi's waterfront, Rooms Hotel Batumi is a luxury design hotel with a stunning rooftop pool overlooking the Black Sea. With world-class dining, impeccable service, and interiors that blend industrial chic with coastal elegance, it's the finest address on Georgia's coast.
A polished mid-range hotel in the heart of Batumi offering modern rooms, many with balconies and sea views. Hotel Monarch combines comfort and value with a convenient location near Batumi Boulevard, making it an excellent choice for exploring Georgia's sunny Black Sea coast.
A cozy and affordable boutique hotel tucked into a quiet street in Batumi. Boutique Hotel 32 offers a personal touch with tastefully decorated rooms, friendly staff, and a location that puts you just minutes from the seaside promenade and Old Town attractions.
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9 days / Starting from €935A private 9-day route from Tbilisi to Batumi via Kutaisi, Gelati Monastery and the Vardzia cave monastery, with hotels, transport and a guide-driver handled for you.
9 days / Starting from €975A private 9-day route from Tbilisi through Kazbegi, Truso Valley and Kakheti wine country, with stops in Sighnaghi and Telavi, hotels, transport and a guide-driver handled for you.
5 days / Starting from €495A private 5-day route from Tbilisi through Kazbegi, Telavi and Kakheti wine country, with a stop in Sighnaghi, hotels, transport and a guide-driver handled for you.