Georgia In-depth

• Mtskheta, the spiritual heart of Georgia
• Magnificent mountain landscapes of Kazbegi
• The food and wine of the Telavi region

Georgia has a unique Caucasian culture, a rich Christian Orthodox heritage, dramatic mountain scenery, excellent food, superb wines and a deeply rooted tradition of generous hospitality and song. This 13 day tour provides ample opportunity to experience all of these different elements of Georgian culture and history, with additional opportunities to meet our Georgian hosts. 

Day 1  London/ Tbilisi – Fly to Tbilisi.

Day 2  Tbilisi - Enjoy gentle city sightseeing, including a walking tour of the Old Town.

Day 3  Tbilisi, Kutaisi - Depart for Kutaisi visiting fascinating Mtskheta and UNESCO Jvari Church en route. Continue via the towns of Khashuri and Surami and the Rikoti Passto Kutaisi. Visit to Sataplia Nature Reserve, if time permits.

Day 4  Kutaisi, Mestia - Head west to the city of Zugdidi and continue to Mestia driving through the Svaneti region in the foothills of The Caucasus. Visit the Museum, Academy of Gelati and Svanetian house and watchtower.

Day 5  Mestia, Ushguli - Continue deeper into the mountains for a day trip to the UNESCO village of Ushguli, purportedly the highest inhabited village in Europe.

Day 6  Mestia, Bakuriani - Drive to Bakuriani with sightseeing en route at Latali and Ubisa Churches, the latter offering some of the best frescoes in Georgia.

Day 7  Bakuriani, Vardzia - Drive along the Kura Valley to Khertvisi Fortress, one of the oldest fortresses in Georgia. Visit fascinating Vardzia, the cave town, with its maze of 600 remaining chambers.

Day 8  Bakuriani, Gudauri - Visit Timotesubani Church before continuing to the pretty spa town of Borjomi, then on to Gori, birthplace of Stalin. Explore the cave city of Uplistsikhe, a prominent Silk Route site, before continuing up the Georgian Military Highway to Gudauri.

Day 9  Gudauri, Kazbegi - Drive to Kazbegi. Optional walk up to Trinity Church for fine mountain views or at leisure to explore the town. Drive to Dariali Canyon and visit the Gveleti waterfall.

Day 10  Gudauri, Tbilisi - Drive back to Tbilisi. On route visit Ananauri Fortress, one time home of the tyrannical Aragvi dynasty. Afternoon at the Open Air Museum of Ethnography.

Day 11  Tbilisi, Telavi - Depart for Telavi, Georgia’s biggest wine growing region, via the atmospheric David Garedzhe desert monastery, Bodbe Monastery and the fortified walled hill-town of Signagi. In Signagi sample some of the local wines and enjoy fine views of the Kakheti area and eastern Caucasus summits.

Day 12  Telavi, Tbilisi - Morning sightseeing in Telavi including the Palace of King Irakli II and the farmers market. Return to Tbilisi for free afternoon.

Day 13  Tbilisi/ London – Morning flight back to UK.

EXTENSION IDEA: Add a few days in Azerbaijan, arranged on a tailor-made basis. Please call to discuss.

William Taylor

William Taylor is a writer and broadcaster on the Islamic world and Orthodox Churches. He has travelled extensively throughout the Balkans, Middle East and Central Asia and speaks Syriac, Arabic and Turkish.

His publications include Light from the East, Christians in the Holy Land and Antioch and Canterbury. His PhD was on Orthodox Churches in the late Ottoman period.

Other tours led by this lecturer:

• Mongolia - Mongols and Monks

"William is an excellent leader, and so knowledgeable that he is hard to keep up with at times! He had infinite patience with us and our questions. I certainly know a lot more than when I started, which is the sign of a great holiday."
Trish Newman