Location highlights from this tour
Mountains, monasteries and wine, in eight days. This private trip from Tbilisi runs up to the high Caucasus at Kazbegi, then out into the Kakheti wine country, using a few fixed bases so you're not packing and unpacking every night.
You start in the capital and drive north over the Georgian Military Highway to Kazbegi, spending two nights under Mount Kazbek for the church at Gergeti and the Gveleti waterfall. Coming back through the cave town of Uplistsikhe and Gori, you return to Tbilisi and swing east into Kakheti for two days of wineries, hill towns and old estates, with a free day in the capital to finish.
Wine is the through-line of the second half. Georgians have made it in buried clay qvevri for around 8,000 years, and in Kakheti you'll taste it where it's made — from a grand 19th-century estate to small family cellars.
Some days are long and the driving is real, but the mountains and the wine country are the two things most people come to Georgia for — and because it's private, the pace and the stops bend around you.
You'll be met at the airport and taken to your hotel. Check-in is from 14:00, so if you arrive earlier, we'll begin the city tour first and settle you in afterwards. Either way, 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. After the tour, you'll have free time until the evening. The day ends with a welcome dinner of Georgian food and local wine.
North today, up the old Georgian Military Highway into the Caucasus. You'll stop in Mtskheta, Georgia's spiritual heart — the 11th-century Svetitskhoveli cathedral in the town and, on the hill above, the 6th-century Jvari monastery, both UNESCO sites. Further up, the Ananuri fortress sits over the turquoise Jinvali reservoir, a good place to break the drive before the road climbs to Kazbegi, a small town under the snows of Mount Kazbek.
A day in the mountains, with the same base for the night. The morning goes to Gergeti Trinity, the lone church at about 2,170 metres with Mount Kazbek rising behind it — one of the country's great views, and best before the cloud comes in. Later you'll walk out to the Gveleti waterfall, a short hike into clean mountain air and cold, clear water, before heading back to Kazbegi.
You leave the mountains and head back towards Tbilisi, with two stops on the way. First is Uplistsikhe, a town cut straight into the rock, with cave halls and tunnels that go back to the Iron Age. Then Gori, and its Stalin Museum, in the town where he was born — a museum that has stayed much the same since Soviet times. You reach Tbilisi in the evening.
East into Kakheti today, Georgia's main wine region. You'll reach Telavi, the region's main town, and sit down to lunch with a tasting at a local winery — a proper introduction to how Georgians make wine in buried clay qvevri. In the afternoon you'll visit the Tsinandali estate, the 19th-century home and gardens of Prince Alexander Chavchavadze, whose cellar still holds bottles more than a century old. The night is in Telavi.
More of Kakheti today. First is Sighnaghi, a small walled town of red roofs and balconies on a ridge above the Alazani valley — an easy place to wander for a while. Just below sits Bodbe, the convent built around the grave of St Nino, who brought Christianity to Georgia in the 4th century. You'll end with dinner and a last tasting at a local winery before the drive back to Tbilisi.
Today is a free day to enjoy Tbilisi at your own pace. You may choose to explore the Old Town further, visit museums, relax in the famous sulfur baths, or discover local cafés and restaurants.
Recommended places to visit in Tbilisi during your free day:
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.
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.
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.
Tell us whether you would like to book this tour as shown or adjust it to your travel dates, group size, comfort level, or interests.
8 days / Starting from €1,185A private 8-day route from Tbilisi through Kakheti and Lagodekhi National Park to Kazbegi, with a cooking class in Telavi, hotels, transport and a guide-driver handled for you.
7 days / Starting from €935A private 7-day route from Kutaisi to Tbilisi taking in Gelati Monastery, Prometheus Cave, Kazbegi and Gergeti Trinity Church, with hotels, transport and a guide-driver handled for you.
9 days / Starting from €1,095A private 9-day route from Kutaisi to Tbilisi via Kazbegi and Gergeti Trinity Church, with stops at Prometheus Cave, Uplistsikhe and Martvili Canyon, hotels, transport and a guide-driver handled for you.