Georgia Real Food Adventure

Georgia Real Food Adventure

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8 Days From

$2255

Georgia Real Food Adventure

8 Days Starting and ending in Tbilisi

Visiting: Tbilisi, Telavi, Pankisi Valley, Gudauri, Gudauri / Stepantsminda

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

KFZG

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

Medium

Age range:

15-99 years

Tour operated in:

English
From: $2255

NB: Prices correct on 05-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Taste all the punchy flavours of incredibly diverse Georgia on an eight-day food adventure. Begin the journey among the charming facades of Tbilisi, where the snow-dusted peaks of the Caucasus are the backdrop for a culinary adventure. Get hands-on with cooking classes and kick back on included tastings, mingling with the locals and gaining an insight into Georgian culture along the way. Explore underrated sites like Narikala Fortress, Mtskheta (one of Georgia's oldest cities) and the Ananuri Fortress Complex (which has to be witnessed firsthand to be believed). Spend the night with descendants of the original highland Chechens in Pankisi Valley and wander the lush grounds in the dense foothills of the mountains. On this foodie adventure, you’ll enjoy the region’s most iconic and celebrated dishes, and wash it all down with a delicious array of Georgia’s famous local wines.

Highlights

  • Spend the night in a women-run guesthouse in the Pankisi Valley, surrounded by lush, green mountains, and take part in a zhizhig galnish cooking class to learn the local cuisine.

  • Enjoy cooking demonstrations and masterclasses by local cooks and artisans, including learning how to make churchkhela (traditional candle-shaped candy) and khinkali (Georgian dumplings).

  • Meet local producers at the Telavi markets, then head to a local farm and cheese maker for a tour of the factory and a delicious, included tasting.

  • Take a hike in the striking Caucasus mountains to perhaps one of the best positioned churches in Europe – Gergeti Trinity Church.

  • Taste some of Georgia’s favourite cuisines and dishes with included lunches and dinners, including khachapuri, khinkali, churchkhela and qveri wines.

  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Mtskheta-Mtianeti Regional Hub. Donations help them improve their services and training hub to connect people, who’ve fled their homes due to war or political instability, with their new community in Georgia.

  • Spend the night in a women-run guesthouse in the Pankisi Valley, surrounded by lush, green mountains, and take part in a zhizhig galnash cooking class to learn the local cuisine.

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Tbilisi

Location: Tbilisi

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: dinner

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).

Included Activities:
-Tbilisi - Welcome Dinner

Day 2: Tbilisi

Location: Tbilisi

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

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.

Included Activities:
-Tbilisi - Old Town Walking Tour with Local Guide

Day 3: Telavi

Location: Telavi

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

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.

Included Activities:
-Kvareli - Barbecue lunch with a local family
-Kvareli - Traditional Churchkhela demonstration
-Kakheti - Gremi Architectural Complex
-Kvareli - Qvevri Wine Master visit

Optional Activities:
-Telavi – Batonis Castle
-Telavi - Telavi Historical Museum

Day 4: Pankisi Valley

Location: Pankisi Valley

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner

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.

Included Activities:
-Telavi - Cheesemaker visit
-Pankisi Valley - Chechen cooking class
-Telavi - Local market visit

Day 5: Gudauri

Location: Gudauri

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

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!

Included Activities:
-Pankisi Valley - Kist villages and culture walking tour
-Ananuri - Architectural Complex

Day 6: Gudauri / Stepantsminda

Location: Gudauri / Stepantsminda

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

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.

Included Activities:
-Stepantsminda - Gergeti Trinity Church Hike
-Stepantsminda - Khinkali home-cooking class

Optional Activities:
-Stepantsminda – 4WD to Gergeti Cathedral – from (per car)

Day 7: Tbilisi

Location: Tbilisi

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner

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.

Included Activities:
-Mtskheta - Jvari Church & Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
-Tbilisi - Farewell Dinner

Optional Activities:
-Tbilisi - Open Air Museum of Ethnography
-Tbilisi - The National Gallery
-Tbilisi - Georgian National Museum
-Tbilisi - Thermal Bath House Visit - from
-Tbilisi - Aerial Cable Car One Way

Day 8: Tbilisi

Location: Tbilisi

Meals Included: breaksfast

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.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    Hotel (6 nights), Guesthouse (1 night)

  • 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

show more

What's Not Included

  • Airport Transfers at Destination

  • Tipping and Gratuities

  • International Travel

Included Activities

  • Yerevan - Welcome Dinner
  • Yerevan - Market
  • Yerevan - City Tour
  • Armenia - Geghard Monastery - UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Garni - Lunch in a Local Home
  • Yerevan - Day Trip (Zvartnots & Etchmiadzin)
  • Echmiadzin - Armenian Cooking Class
  • Yerevan - The Armenian Alphabet Monument
  • Aparan - Gntunik Bakery Visit
  • Akhtala - Akhtala Village Visit
  • Tbilisi - City tour
  • Tbilisi - Market Visit
  • Gremi - Architectural Complex (Closed Mondays)
  • Gavazi - Visit Local Family & Lunch (Georgian BBQ)
  • Kvareli - Kindzmarauli Winery Visit
  • Gavazi - Winery Cellar Tour & Tasting (Traditional Kvevri)
  • Gavazi - Traditional Churchkhela Demonstration
  • Mtskheta - Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
  • Ananuri - Architectural Complex
  • Stepantsminda - Gergeti Trinity Church Hike
  • Stepantsminda - Khinkali Cooking Class (Georgian Dumplings)
  • Tbilisi - Khachapuri Cooking Class
  • Tbilisi - Georgian Farewell Dinner

Transport

  • Private vehicle

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.

Important Information

  • 1. A single supplement is available on this trip, subject to availability. Please contact your sales agent if you would like to book this. The single supplement excludes Day 4 (Guesthouse) where you will be in shared accommodation.
  • 2. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip.
  • 3. Due to current border crossing restrictions for different Caucasus nationalities, your Trip Leader may be from nearby countries. Your leader will have in-depth knowledge and extensive travel experience throughout the Caucasus. Local guides from Georgia are represented throughout the itinerary to ensure you receive a diverse and uniquely local range of perspectives.

Mode of Transport

  • Private vehicle

Check out our Q&As

  • Is this trip right for you

    The cuisine of the Caucasus region includes a lot of meat. For vegetarians and vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to the Caucasus region which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements.

    The diversity of the seasons here makes for incredible scenery, but the weather in this region can be unpredictable. It’s best to wear layers at all times of the year in case conditions change. There may occasionally be itinerary changes due to road closures.

    This trip involves a reasonable amount of walking so be sure to bring sturdy walking shoes and comfortable clothes. To make the most of the trip, it's best if you have at least a moderate level of fitness. There is an included hike on Day 6, at an altitude of 2170m. Please refer to the Itinerary for more details.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

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Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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