Location highlights from this tour
Wine and the high Caucasus, in nine days. This private tour pairs Georgia's big mountains with its oldest wine region, run from three easy bases so the driving stays manageable.
You settle into Tbilisi first, with a city day and a run out to the UNESCO churches of Mtskheta and the Ananuri fortress. Then it's north into the Caucasus for three nights at Kazbegi — the church at Gergeti, the Gudauri viewpoints, the Truso valley — before turning to Kakheti for the wine: tastings, the hill town of Sighnaghi, Telavi and the great Alaverdi cathedral.
The wine is the other half of the trip. Georgians have made it in buried clay qvevri for around 8,000 years, and in Kakheti you taste it where it's made, in a landscape of vineyards under the mountains.
A free day back in Tbilisi rounds it off. One or two days carry some real driving, but each leg lands somewhere 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.
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.
A day in the mountains around Kazbegi. The highlight is Gergeti Trinity, the lone church at 2,170 metres with Mount Kazbek behind it — one of Georgia's great views, best in the morning light. The rest of the day is the high country itself, at whatever pace suits you.
A day on foot in the Truso valley, one of the quietest corners of the high Caucasus. A 4WD vehicle takes you to the trailhead, and from there it's a walk of around four to five hours through a wide glacial valley of mineral springs, coloured travertine pools and abandoned stone hamlets, with the Zakagori fortress standing guard where the valley narrows near the Russian border. The vehicle stays with you throughout, so you can drive part of the way in or back and shorten the hike at any point. Back in Kazbegi for the night.
A long drive east today, leaving the mountains for Kakheti, Georgia's main wine region. On the way you'll stop in Sighnaghi, the small walled "City of Love" on a ridge above the Alazani valley, and taste at a local winery — the country's qvevri tradition goes back some 8,000 years. You reach Telavi, the heart of the wine country, in the evening.
A last morning in the wine country before the drive back to the capital. You'll visit the Tsinandali estate, the 19th-century home and gardens of Prince Alexander Chavchavadze, with its old cellar of well-aged bottles. Then lunch and a tasting at Shumi Winery, where you can see how Georgian wine is made the traditional way, in buried clay qvevri. In the afternoon you drive back to Tbilisi for the night.
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.
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.
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.
3 days / Starting from €590A private 3-day wine and culture tour of Kakheti from Tbilisi — qvevri winemaking, up to 6 tastings, and cultural stops at Tsinandali, Gremi, Sighnaghi and Bodbe, with hotels, transport and a guide-driver handled for you.