Georgia Culinary and Wine Tour 2022/2023

Day 1: Arrival in Tbilisi
Arrival at Tbilisi International Airport. Meet and greet with our representative and transfer to your 5* hotel in Tbilisi for check-in. Welcome dinner at “Tsiskvili’ restaurant with Georgian traditional folk music. Overnight in Tbislisi. (D)

Day 2: Tbilisi
After breakfast at the hotel, today you’ll enjoy a sightseeing tour of Old Tbilisi, a charming town built along the twisting valley of the Mtkvari River. Our journey will begin with a tour of the Sioni Cathedral and the 6th-century Anchiskhati Basilica, the oldest church in the city. Next we will visit the city’s History Museum and the imposing 4th-century ruins of the Narikala Fortress, which once dominated the city from its hilltop setting. You will visit the Tbilisi Sulphur Baths as well (17th – 19th c.), the history of which is related to the formation of the city itself. After, we will enjoy lunch and attend a master class at the restaurant, Tabla, where we will learn about the preparation of traditional Georgian food. Overnight at the hotel. (B, L)

Day 3: Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Kazbegi – Tbilisi 
After an early breakfast at the hotel, meet with your tour guide and leave for Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia. There, we will visit the newly-reconstructed City Museum, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th c.), and have lunch at the restaurant. Following lunch, we will have a stunning drive from Mtskheta, along the military highway, and arrive in Kazbegi. On the way we will pass Ananuri Castle and the beautiful Jinvaly Water Reservoir. From Kazbegi, a leisurely 1.5-hour walk through beautiful valleys and woodlands leads us to Gergeti Trinity Church (2170 m.). Return back to Tbilisi for overnight. (B, D)

Day 4: Tbilisi – Kakheti Region – Tbilisi
After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to Kakheti, which is in the eastern part of Georgia. Kakheti is the largest wine-producing region in Georgia and just a couple of hours away from the capital, Tbilisi. Kakheti offers a relaxing retreat and a unique culture of wine and food, and as it is still in the early phases of developing its wine tourism, it’s the perect place to enjoy a few days of wine tours and spas without jostling among hoards of tourists. There, we’ll take a walk in the fortified town of Sighnaghi and taste local wines at a winery. We will also visit Alaverdi Cathedral, where we will take a tour of the monastery winery and taste very special wines made by the monks. For lunch, we will enjoy handmade dishes at a farmer’s house, and after we will see how sweet Georgian Churchkhena (walnuts coated in grape juice and flour) are made and how the Georgian bread, Shoti, is baked. (B, D)

Day 5: Tbilisi – Zugdidi
After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Zugdidi, in the Megrelian region, for master cooking classes at the restaurant, Diaroni. Georgia’s most-famous food, Kachapuri, is a warm yeasted bread stuffed with cheese, and the Megrelian version take on it is to top it with more cheese. More is better here: Megrelian hot pepper relish, Adjika, is hotter and pepperier than in other regions of Georgia; its signature cheese, Suluguni, is creamier and saltier; and its polenta dish, Elarji, takes the everyday Georgian polenta-with-cheese dish, Ghomi, and dresses it up with even more cheese. After the cooking class, we will visit the History and Architecture Museum at the palace of Dadiani, considered to be one of the most eminent palaces in Caucasus. The Palace holds 41,000 museum objects and is surrounded by a gorgeous English garden. Dinner and overnight in Zugdidi. (B, D)

Day 6: Zugdidi – Mestia
After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Svaneti, Georgia’s most mysterious mountain region, which is like a fairy tale come to life. The fabled region is renowned for its enchanting stone villages, punctuated by famous defensive towers, and populated by a fiercely independent race, known as the Svans. We will visit the Svaneti Ethnographic Museum. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Tetnuldi. (B, D)

Day 7: Mestia – Ushguli – Mestia 
Breakfast at the hotel. Later we’ll travel to Ushguli, the highest, permanently-inhabited village in Europe (2200m) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will attend master classes, where we will learn to make  the traditional Svanetian food, kubdari. In the evening, we’ll be back in Mestia for dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Mestia – Batumi
After breakfast, we will drive to Batumi and check in the hotel. W e will embark on a comprehensive walking city tour, which will lead us to some of the most important areas in the old part of Batumi, known for its historic buildings. The highly-qualified guide will take us through the charming streets of the Old City and give us a unique insight into the history of the amazing buildings and breathtaking monuments. Our Batumi Walking Tour includes visits to: Batumi Boulevard and the Musical Fountains; St. Barbara’s Church; St. Nikoloz Church; the Statue of Medea; Piazza; Batumi Sea Port; Alphabetic Tower; and the moving sculpture of Ali and Nino. We will have lunch at a local restaurant and then attend a master cooking class, where we will learn how to make Adjaruli Khachapuri. Overnight in Batumi. (B, L)

Day 9: Batumi – Keda – Batumi
Today we will drive to Keda and visit the Ajarian Wine House, where we will have the chance to visit the winery and its wine cellars, learn about the wine-making process, interact with local wine-makers, and enjoy lunch and a tasting of the local wines. Adjarian Wine House is a small winery with a beautiful location and a 15-minute-drive from the capital of Ajara, Batumi. Built on the ruins of an 18th-century historical winery, the overall mission of the Adjarian Wine House is to restore the historical winemaking traditions of Ajara and to reintroduce some old, unique wines such as Chkhaveri, which are characteristic to this region. New vine species and collection wines are also produced here. Guests have the chance to taste wines produced from unique vine species, get acquainted with Ajarian cuisine and folklore, have a walk around the Chkhaveri vineyards, purchase local folk souvenirs, and participate in wine making. After our visit to the wine house, we will return to Batumi for overnight. (B, L)

Day 10: Batumi – Kobuleti
After breakfast, we drive to Kobuleti and check in the Georgia Palace Hotel & Spa. Enjoy a relaxing day at the spa. (B, D)

Day 11: Kobuleti – Kutaisi – Tbilisi
After an early breakfast at the hotel, we drive to the city of Kutaisi, which dates back to the Argonauts’ time (13th-12th c. B.C). Formerly the capital of Old Colchida, Kutaisi once ruled all of Western Georgia. There we will visit the Bagrati Cathedral, listed as World Cultural Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Drive back to Tbilisi for overnight. (B, D)

Day 12: Tbilisi – Chateau Mukhrani – Tbilisi
After breakfast, drive to Mtskheta and visit Chateau Mukhrani. We will discover the Chateau’s art of winemaking through a Wine Education Master Class, where we will have an overview of wine varieties; learn the art of identifying wines and take the mystery out of wine tasting; receive instruction on wine-tasting etiquette; sample 4 wines. We will also visit Prince Ivane Mukhranbatoni’s Castle (built in XIX c.), where we will explore the garden, the unique underground cellars, and the stable. We will have lunch at the restaurant, Samepo Marani (est. 1878) and return to Tbilisi later this evening for overnight. (B, L)

Day 13: Culinarium
After breakfast we will have a walking tour to Dry Bridge Market, best place for unique souvenir shopping in Tbilisi. This extraordinary flea market will keep you entertained for hours. There you can find original eastern European, Soviet, Georgian and even Armenian or Azerbaijan souvenirs. There are many oil paintings and watercolors, usually full of amazing, bright colors and cheerful spirit. Lunch at Culinarium. The remainder of the day will be at leisure. (B, L)

Day 14 : Transfer to Airport
Breakfast at the hotel and lunch at “Barbarestan restaurant. Transfer to airport for departure. (B, L)

Payment and Refund Policies

If you have any questions or you’d like to book this trip, please contact us.

Custom itineraries available to this or any of the destinations we travel to.

Please check the Resources page for more information on Travel Insurance, Visa Service and other useful links.

SPECIAL AIRFARES: Kutrubes Travel can assist you with your flight reservations to your destination with all major carriers. We offer special rates through our various airline contracts. Please call us or email us with your proposed travel plans and we will be sure to accommodate you and respond quickly.

Kutrubes Travel also offers a variety of other tours throughout this region. Contact us for detailed itineraries and descriptions.