Georgia
Old Tbilisi's balconies, monasteries on mountain ridges and wine made in clay jars, all a few hours' drive apart.
- Best time to visit
- May–Jun and Sep–Oct
- Getting around
- Car with driver
- Currency
- Georgian Lari (GEL)
- Ideal length
- 6–8 days
Georgia packs the Caucasus into a week
Georgia has quietly become a favourite with Indian travellers, and for good reason: it's compact, friendly and far less expensive than Europe. Tbilisi is the base, with sulphur baths, a hilltop fortress and a food scene built on khachapuri and wine. From there, mountain roads climb north to Kazbegi and the Gergeti Trinity Church under Mount Kazbek, and east to the vineyards of Kakheti.
May to June and September to October are the sweet spots, with green valleys in spring and the grape harvest in autumn; winter brings snow and skiing at Gudauri. A week covers Tbilisi, the mountains and wine country at an easy pace. Add a few days for the towers of Svaneti or the Black Sea at Batumi.
The country, region by region
-
Tbilisi & Mtskheta
Old Tbilisi's carved wooden balconies, the sulphur baths of Abanotubani, the cable car to Narikala Fortress and late dinners with live polyphonic singing. Twenty minutes away, Mtskheta, the old capital, has two of the country's holiest churches: Svetitskhoveli, and Jvari on its hilltop.
-
Kazbegi & the Military Road
The road north passes Ananuri fortress on its reservoir and the ski slopes of Gudauri before reaching Stepantsminda, where the Gergeti Trinity Church sits on a ridge below Mount Kazbek. Best for a night or two, not a rushed day trip.
-
Kakheti wine country
Georgia's main wine region, east of Tbilisi: family cellars still fermenting wine in clay qvevri buried in the ground, the walled hilltop town of Sighnaghi and views across the Alazani Valley to the Caucasus.
-
Kutaisi & Imereti
The west's main city, with Gelati Monastery, Prometheus Cave and boat rides through the Martvili and Okatse canyons nearby.
-
Svaneti
A remote high valley in the northwest, reached by a long drive or a short flight to Mestia. Medieval stone defence towers, glaciers and some of the best summer hiking in the Caucasus.
-
Batumi & the Black Sea
The subtropical coast: a seaside boulevard, botanical gardens and a modern skyline, with tea and citrus country in the hills behind. Best from June to September.
Things worth actually doing
Tap the ones you would like on your trip.
Good to know before you go
Visa: check your passport
Indians with a valid visa or residence permit from the US, UK or an EU/Schengen country can usually enter visa-free. Everyone else applies on the official evisa.gov.ge site; we handle it.
Carry travel insurance
Georgia asks for insurance covering your whole stay, and border officers can check it. We include it in the paperwork.
Vegetarian is easier than you'd think
Bean stew (lobio), walnut-and-vegetable pkhali, cheese bread and mushroom khinkali. Jain food needs more planning; we brief the guides.
Build in a spare mountain day
The road to Kazbegi can close after heavy snow, and Svaneti is a long drive. We leave slack in the route.
