Springtime in the Caucasus
Holiday Highlights
- Remote mountain scenery in a country which has only recently opened its doors to tourists
- Ushguli, the highest permanently inhabited village in Europe
- Gergeti, Mtskheta and Gelati churches
- Uplistsikhe and Vardzia Cave “Towns”
- Historic Tbilisi
- Stalin Museum and railway carriage
- Narrow gauge electric train from Borjomi to Bakuriani
- Many meals from locally sourced organic produce
Tour Dates:
May 2021 - Dates TBC
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Stunning snow-clad mountains, meadows teeming with wild flowers and a rich and interesting history are brought to you in our tour to Georgia, a fascinating and friendly country at the extremities of Eastern Europe.
ITINERARY
Day 1 – London to Tbilisi
Mid-morning flight from Gatwick to Tbilisi, arriving late evening. Transfer to our centrally located hotel.
Day 2 – Tbilisi
Morning guided walk in the old city followed by cable car to the Narikala Fortress for panoramic views of Tbilisi. Visit the treasury of the Georgian History Museum and stroll along Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi’s main street.
Day 3 – Through the High Caucasus to Kazbegi
Drive up the Georgia Military Highway visiting Ananuri en route. Here we find two churches and a fortress overlooking a huge reservoir. We continue over the Cross Pass to Kazbegi where we lunch with a village family before driving up to Gergeti Church. A day of stunning mountain scenery concluding with dinner and overnight in Kazbegi.
Day 4 – Return to Tbilisi
Visit the ancient capital of Mtskheta and its Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari Monastery. Take the funicular railway to Mtstsminda for wonderful views of Tbilisi.
Day 5 – Gori, Uplistsikhe and Bakuriani
We take the train from Tbilisi’s main station to Gori, Stalin’s birthplace, for a visit to his museum and the Uplistsikhe cave dwellings. Drive to Borjomi to join our charter train on the narrow gauge electric railway through the forest to Bakuriani (approx 2 hours). Overnight and dinner in Bakuriani.
Day 6 – Akhaltsikhe and Vardzia
A day of wonderful mountain and forest scenery including a visit to the fortress at Akhaltsikhe and the amazing cave dwellings at Vardzia. Lunch at a guest house near Vardzia and evening meal on our return to Bakuriani.
Day 7 – Kutaisi
Drive to Khashuri to catch the train to Kutaisi. We then visit the UNESCO World Heritage Gelati Church. Dinner and overnight at a family run guest house with en suite facilities.
Day 8 – The Mountain Province of Upper Svaneti
Drive to Zugdidi for lunch and visit the Dadiani Palace followed by a drive through the mountains to Mestia. Overnight and dinner at a small family guest house.
Day 9 – 4WD to Ushguli
We travel by 4WD vehicles over 44 kilometres of rough mountain road to Ushguli which, at 7,910ft above sea level, is Europe’s highest permanently inhabited village. Lunch with village family before returning to Mestia for dinner and overnight.
Day 10 – The Black Sea Coast
Drive down to the coast to the port resort of Batumi. Lunch en route in Zugdidi. Free time to relax on arrival.
Day 11 – Train to Tbilisi
Morning main line train from Batumi to Tbilisi, arriving at lunchtime. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 12 – Tbilisi to London
Mid-morning flight from Tbilisi via Istanbul to Gatwick, arriving late afternoon.
Tbilisi and the two cave dwellings need to be explored on foot (including climbing and descending steps) and, whilst they don’t form an essential part of this itinerary, their omission would obviously remove some of the value and enjoyment.
Click here to view our blog of the research trip for this holiday.
Tour Route
Selected Hotels
Citrus Hotel, Tbilisi
Rooms Hotel, Kazbegi
Crystal Hotel, Bakuriani
Argo Palace Lali’s Guesthouse, Kutaisi
Guesthouse Ushba, Mestia
World Palace Hotel, Batumi
Please note - hotels can be subject to change
Price Includes
- Flights in Economy Class by scheduled airline
- Rail travel as specified
- Other travel by private coach (4WD vehicle where appropriate)
- Hotel accommodation in Tbilisi, Kazbegi, Bakuriani and Batumi
- Other accommodation in good quality guest houses with en-suite facilities
- All breakfasts, 5 lunches and 6 evening meals
- Entrance fees to churches and museums where applicable and to the cave dwellings
- Airport and other transfers
- Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour plus local professional Georgian guide
Price per person
| Escorted holiday: | £TBC |
| Single room supplement: | £TBC |
| Deposit for this holiday: | £TBC |
