Georgia, A Cultural Walking Tour

Georgia ~ a Cultural Walking Tour

Georgia’s geographical position at the heart of the Greater Caucasus defines its history and culture, placing it at the crossroads of Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East. Invaded over the centuries by the Greeks, Romans, Vikings, Mongols, Persians, Ottoman Turks, Russians, Armenians and even the British (in 1919), Georgians have survived with a very strong sense of identity, expressed through their heritage of defensive towers and splendid, very early, churches - and above all, in their love of wine and feasting and in their legendary hospitality to visitors.

On a two week cultural walking tour in June, coinciding with breathtaking displays of wildflowers in the mountain meadows, we explore the old caravanserai district of Tbilisi (an important stage on the Silk Route), visit many beautiful stone-carved churches and monasteries in remote settings, taste wines in vineyards close to the Azerbaijani border and walk in high mountain valleys peppered with ancient stone towers.

TRIP ITINERARY

DAY 1

After arriving late in the evening at Tbilisi airport, we have a brief transfer to our 4 star historic hotel, ideally set overlooking the river in the old city centre.

DAY 2

B, L, D included

Partly on foot and partly with private transport we explore the city, first seeing the Botanical gardens and the fortress of Narikala, then walking down through the restored caravanserai area with its carpet shops, traditional baths, mosque, synagogue and the 13C Metekhi church. After lunch we see the collection of naïve paintings by Pirosmani in the National Gallery and the fabulous prehistoric gold displays in the National Museum. There is time for a swim in the rooftop pool of our hotel before dinner - an introduction to Georgian cuisine with its emphasis on fresh herbs, walnut and sharp plum sauces, cheese pies and lamb baked with garlic and vegetables in clay pots.

DAY 3

B, L, D included

We set off by road, heading southeast into the steppe, a starkly beautiful area of dry hills, covered with flowering grasses in June and patrolled by short-toed eagles and Egyptian vultures. In the remotest part we walk up to the Davit-Gareja monastery complex, founded in the mid 6C, with churches built into the sandstone caves. Continuing east, our destination is the walled hilltop town of Signaghi where we walk through cobbled lanes, lined with wooden balconied houses, to our small 3 star hotel on the main square.

DAY 4

B, L, D included

In nearby Tsinandali we visit the manor house museum dedicated to the Georgian Romantic poet Alexander Chavchavadze, then stroll round the fascinating market in Telavi. In a local house we try our hand at making traditional Georgian bread and enjoy a particularly good lunch before visiting the frescoed 11C Catheral of St. George at Alaverdi and the Persian-influenced citadel of Gremi. This evening a wine tasting introduces us to the unique wine-making traditions of Georgia, entirely different to the rest of the world!

DAY 5

B, L, D included

Returning by road to Tbilisi, we walk around the excellent open-air ethnographical museum and have lunch in one of the restored wooden houses before continuing west to Kutaisi in central Georgia. We visit the beautifully sited Cathedral of the Virgin, built in the 12C and with a particularly fine Byzantine mosaic, then settle into our comfortable guesthouse where we enjoy the hospitality and home cooking of our very friendly Georgian hosts.

DAY 6

B, L, D included

After an early morning walk around Kutaisi to see the market and the ruined 11C Bagrat cathedral, we set off up into the high Caucasus, switching to 4WDs after lunch en route. The scenery gets ever more spectacular as we climb up into Svaneti, the wildest and most remote region of Georgia, in whose stone towers the country’s greatest treasures and icons were always hidden in times of invasion. Our boutique hotel rooms all have balconies with panoramic mountain views.

DAY 7

B, L, D included

This morning we walk beside the Mulkhura river and follow a good track gradually rising through the tower-dotted and flower-filled alpine pastures - overlooked by the 4,710 m twin peaks of Mt. Ushba, nicknamed the Matterhorn of the Caucasus. After a picnic we return to Mestia and visit the Museum of History and Ethnography with its fine 9C - 13C manuscript Gospels and early icon collection.

DAY 8

B, L, D included

4WDs take us even higher into the mountains to Ushguli, reputedly the highest permanently inhabited settlement in Europe at an altitude of 2,200 m, filled with 11C towers and a UNESCO World Heritage site. We visit the museum in one of the towers before a walk along a wide valley with (cloud permitting) fine views of Georgia’s highest mountain, 5,068 m Shkhara. En route back down to Mestia we visit the frescoed 12C churches of Ipari and Kvala.

DAY 9

B, L, D included

An early start for a 2 hour walk up through forest for views of Mt. Ushba, then we start our return drive back down the spectacular mountain road, picnicking along the way. We switch back to a normal minibus as we near Kutaisi and we stay the night again in the same welcoming and comfortable guesthouse.

DAY 10

B, L, D included

Heading east, we reach Mtskheta, at the heart of Georgia’s spiritual identity, where the Royal family converted to Christianity in AD 337, and visit both the enormous 11C cathedral and the splendidly sited 6C church of Jvari. After lunch we travel up into the mountains again, following the celebrated Georgian Military Highway, and stay overnight in the ski resort of Gudauri at 2,196 m. An afternoon walk takes us through swathes of wildflowers (mainly Caucasian endemic species) to a viewpoint across to the 12C Fire Cross Tower.

DAY 11

B, L, D included

This morning we follow a spectacular riverside trail through the Khada gorge (with scarlet rosefinches much in evidence and the chance of wallcreeper), picnic, then continue by road over the highest pass on the Georgian Military highway up to Kazbegi, close to the Russian border. 4WDs take us on up through the forest to visit the wonderfully sited 14C Sameba (Trinity) church, with magnificent views of the 5,033 m Mt. Kazbegi. Our new small hotel is linked to the Institute of Alpine Ecology and has ring ouzels and quails in the gardens.

DAY 12

B, L, D included

We drive high up a side valley to commence our walk in the village of Jutta - a path leads up into a remote valley, filled with wildflowers and bounded at its head by the snow-covered peaks of Chaukhi mountain - lammergeiers and eagles often patrol overhead. Returning to Kazbegi we visit the museum home of the poet Alexander Kazbegi and have some free time to shop for local woolly socks and wild sheepskin hats from the stalls on the square.

DAY 13

B, L, D included

As we descend towards Tbilisi we pause to walk part of the old Military Highway and to visit the fortified 17C church at Ananauri with its interesting pagan and Persian- influenced carvings. We reach the city shortly after lunch, settle back into our 4 star hotel by the river and have time to shop for carpets etc before a farewell dinner (with authentic, traditional polyphonic music) in an excellent local restaurant.

DAY 14

B included

We transfer to the airport after an early breakfast.

Price includes:

All accommodation for Days 1 through 14 on a twin shared basis

All meals (with wine/beer at lunches and dinners) as listed in the daily notation

All land transportation in a private vehicle with drivers (minibus and 4WDs) as described except during free periods

All entrance and sightseeing fees as described except during free periods

Services of an English-speaking local guide plus Kudu Travel tour leader

Gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff

Visa and Health Requirements

Visitors from the EU and USA currently require a valid passport, but not a visa, for entry to Georgia. If you are a national of any other country, please check visa regulations with your nearest Embassy of Georgia.

At present there are no specific and compulsory health requirements for entry to Georgia, but you may wish to consult your doctor (at least 6 weeks before you travel) about updating your immunisation against Hepatitis A, polio, tetanus and typhoid, or anything else they consider advisable. You may also wish to check the advice given to travellers by the Department of Health and the FCO.

Insurance

It is essential, and a condition of booking, that you protect yourself with a suitable travel insurance policy as soon as you book a trip. Follow this link for a quote for a policy available to UK residents.

If you are already insured or a non-UK resident, please inform us of your policy at the time of booking.