Transport

Private Vehicle

Others

Tbilisi - Welcome Dinner Tbilisi - Old Town Walking Tour with Local Guide Kvareli - Barbecue lunch with a local family Kvareli - Traditional Churchkhela demonstration Kakheti - Gremi Architectural Complex Kvareli - Qvevri Wine Master visit Telavi - Cheesemaker visit Pankisi Valley - Chechen cooking class Telavi - Local market visit Pankisi Valley - Kist villages and culture walking tour Ananuri - Architectural Complex Stepantsminda - Gergeti Trinity Church Hike Stepantsminda - Khinkali home-cooking class Mtskheta - Jvari Church & Svetitskhoveli Cathedral Tbilisi - Farewell Dinner

Meals

7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Accommodation

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available. Hotel (6 nights), Guesthouse (1 night)

Not included:

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here (https://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance).

Flights

International flights not included.

Others

Intra-vacation flights are not included in the tour price.

Optional

Other activities and services not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Tbilisi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Tbilisi

Gamarjobal! Welcome to Georgia. Your adventure begins in the capital city of Tbilisi – a picturesque city featuring a cobblestoned Old Town reflecting a long, complicated history. With periods under Persian and Russian rule, Tbilisi features diverse architecture, including art nouveau buildings, Soviet Modernist structures and Eastern Orthodox churches. Looking over the city sits Narikala – a reconstructed 4th-century fortress. You’ll have a welcome meeting tonight at 6 pm at your hotel. After, head out for an included welcome dinner with your trip leader and group and try some local favourites like chkmeruli (a traditional Georgian dish of chicken with garlic sauce) and chashushuli (veal, tomatoes and peppers).
Day 2 Day 2: Tbilisi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Tbilisi

Today, you’ll explore Tbilisi with a local guide. Start at the Metekhi Church, which has magnificent views over old Tbilisi, and stroll through winding streets to the city’s main sites. Take in the terraced alleys, colourful houses, patterned balconies and modern architecture all the way to the ancient Narikala Fortress. When you get to the walled fortress, you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the city and its surroundings. After your exploration, head out for an included lunch at a local restaurant where you’ll try dishes like nigvziani badrijani (eggplant with walnuts), soko kecze (stuffed mushrooms), mchadi (cornbread) and salad. The rest of your afternoon and evening is free to explore at your leisure.
Day 3 Day 3: Telavi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Telavi

Travel into the picturesque Kakheti region. Surrounded by snowy Caucasus mountains and fertile valleys, this region is famous for its wines and gracious hospitality. Your first stop is the 16th-century Gremi Architectural Complex, which you’ll explore with a local guide. After, head for lunch at a local family’s home. Immerse yourself in local life and culture as you learn how to make mtsvadi (a famous Georgian barbecue dish) and learn the ritual behind its preparation. Watch a cooking demonstration of churchkhela (a type of Georgian sweet), then give it a go yourself! After lunch, drive to a traditional Georgian wine cellar, where you’ll learn the secret behind their unique method. Tonight, you’ll carry on to Telavi, where you’ll spend the night.
Day 4 Day 4: Pankisi Valley
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Pankisi Valley

This morning, you’ll head out on a leader-led tour of the Telavi markets. Explore the hustle and bustle of the local stalls, then visit a local cheesemaker for a tour of their farm and cheese factory, followed by a tasting of some of their best-selling cheeses. Continue to the Pankisi Valley where your guesthouse for the night sits nestled in the heart of the valley, surrounded by mountains. Your host family are Kists – descendants of the original highland Chechens – and have lived in Jokolo for five generations. When you arrive, take in the lush surroundings and then be treated to a cooking class, where you’ll learn how to make traditional Chechen dishes like zhizhig galnash (handmade short noodles with lamb). Relax this evening in the warm hospitality of your hosts.
Day 5 Day 5: Gudauri
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Gudauri

Set off on a tour of Pankisi Valley and learn about the unique Kist culture and their rural way of life on a walking tour of several local villages. You’ll visit Saint George’s Church in Jokolo, Duisi Old Mosque and the Ethnographic Museum. For lunch, try some chaabilgish (Chechen khachapuri stuffed with pumpkin) and other traditional Kist dishes. Drive on to Gudauri, stopping at the Ananuri Fortress Complex on the way. This collection of churches and towers sits on the teal Aragvi River, making for an out-of-this-world sight. You won’t want to forget your camera today!
Day 6 Day 6: Gudauri / Stepantsminda
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Gudauri / Stepantsminda

Start the day with a drive to Stepantsminda. From here, it’s a 2-hour hike up through beautiful valleys and woodland to Gergeti Trinity Church. Weather permitting, you might catch a glimpse of one of the highest glaciers in the Caucasus – Mt Kazbegi (5047 m). Afterwards, visit a local family in Gudauri, where the host will teach a masterclass on how to make khinkali (Georgian dumplings). Drive back to Gudauri in the late afternoon, where you’ll enjoy a free evening.
Day 7 Day 7: Tbilisi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Tbilisi

Return to Tbilisi this morning, stopping at Mtskheta on the way. This is one of the oldest cities in Georgia and one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world! Explore the Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, taking in the unique landscape and surrounding Mtkvari and Aragvi Rivers as you go, then carry on to your destination. When you arrive, you might like to take a dip in the city’s famous sulphur baths or walk along the river. Maybe grab a coffee and check out the artist pop-ups at Fabrika. Tonight, you’ll head out for an included farewell dinner at a traditional Georgian restaurant and toast to a trip well-travelled.
Day 8 Day 8: Tbilisi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Tbilisi

Today, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. There are no activities included, so you’re free to leave at any time after check out. If you would like to spend some more time in Tbilisi, just speak to your booking agent.
Day 9 Day 9: Tbilisi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Tbilisi

Leave Gudauri this morning and head to Tbilisi for an afternoon at leisure. You may like to take a dip in the city’s famous sulfur baths, take a walk along the river, check out the Tbilisi Concert Hall and Public Service Hall, or grab a great coffee and check out the artist pop ups at Fabrika. In the evening, head out for a farewell dinner at a traditional Georgian restaurant featuring chaqafuli (beef or lamb in a fresh plum sauce).
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 10 Day 10: Tbilisi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Tbilisi

Today your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. There are no activities included on this day and you are free to leave at any time. If you would like to spend some more time in Tbilisi, please contact your booking agent to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).

8 days tour

Georgia Real Food Adventure

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Georgia Real Food Adventure

Day 1: Tbilisi

Day 2: Tbilisi

Day 3: Telavi

Day 4: Pankisi Valley

Day 5: Gudauri

Day 6: Gudauri / Stepantsminda

Day 7: Tbilisi

Day 8: Tbilisi

Day 9: Tbilisi

Day 10: Tbilisi

Experience Style

Accomodation level

Experience Type

Physical Rating

Age range

Who talk about us:

Best cities to travel to

America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania