A quick escape to the birthplace of wine, fantastic mountain scenery and cobblestoned old town.
As an expatriate in the Middle East, one of the benefits of having two days off work is the opportunity to travel to nearby tourist destinations such as Georgia. A quick escape to the birthplace of wine, with its fantastic mountain scenery and cobblestoned old towns.
As they say, an unplanned trip is often the best, and this journey was no exception. With just a week to prepare and plan the itinerary, and a last-minute tour guide recommendation, we felt relieved as renting a car was a bit out of our budget.
I highly recommend our local tour guide, Irakli, whom I contacted solely through Facebook Messenger. You can check out his page here for tour rates and other inquiries. After providing him with my itinerary, he offered recommendations that I immediately embraced. Although visiting all the planned places—Gudauri, the Kakheti region, and Tbilisi—seemed impossible in just two days, to our surprise and thanks to his efforts, it became possible. Just let your tour guide know if you prefer a relaxed or extreme tour. For us, it was extreme, and we were able to experience almost everything in Northern Georgia in just one day.
THE TOUR:
Day 1 in the North
Jinvali Dam - sightseeing, free entrance
Ananuri Castle - free entrance, castle view of Aragvi River
Pasanauri River – this is where we did the Water Rafting, 250$ for 3 persons and free for our tour guide
Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument - sightseeing, free of charge
Mineral Spring
Gudauri - for paragliding it cost 250$/person
Day 2 Wine Tour
Wine tour in Kakheti modern wine factory
Vineyards - we just stopped in one of the wineyards on the way.
Sighnaghi Fortress
Sighnaghi Great Wall
Bodbe Monastery
*All of the above tour is free entrance.
Day 2 extras (not included in the itinerary, but Irakli insisted we visit these planned places):
The Bridge of Peace
Rike Park
Cable Car to Narikala Fortress
Leghvtakhevi Waterfall
Walk to Erekle St.
FOOD:
After a long day of touring, our guide took us to one of the best restaurants to sample traditional food. Salobie, located in the old capital of Mtskheta, served us delicious Khinkali and Khachapuri. The food was fantastic and reasonably priced. Oh, and we also tried their locally made brandy, Chacha. It was so strong that my friend got drunk after just two shots! 😊
ACCOMMODATION:
Accommodation was affordable; we rented an apartment for $72 for 3 nights for 3 persons. Its location is next to Rustaveli Metro, offering the convenience of a morning walk along Shota Rustaveli Avenue down to the Bridge of Peace. I suggest finding a hotel or apartment with both a full room and a separate living room so you can prepare in the morning without disturbing your friends who may still be sleeping.
Overall expenses for 3 persons excluding the Air Ticket is 850$.
Is it worth the money and time? YES!
FACT:
Georgia is one of the most beautiful countries on earth for those who love nature like me. From its green valleys spread with vineyards to its old churches and watchtowers perched in fantastic mountain scenery. A great destination for walkers, horse riders, cyclists, skiers, rafters and travelers of every kind. Locals are kind, high-spirited, generous and hospitable.
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