National Parks of Georgia Slow Adventure Trip

On this National Parks trip we will hike 6-10km at a relaxed pace on moderately steep terrain with occasional steep sections.

^{From May to November}
^Hotels
^{10 Days / 9 Nights}
^{Max altitude 2,450}

Explore the natural beauty of Georgia at a leisurely pace on our Slow Adventure Tour of the National Parks. This tour is designed for those who want to take their time and fully immerse themselves in the wilderness.

We’ll visit some of the most breathtaking national parks in Georgia, including the famous Javakheti volcanic plateau, the area with high altitude lakes and a large migratory bird population, the beautiful Machakhela National Park, and a rainforests of Mtirala and Kolkheti national parks.

This tour is perfect for those looking for a more relaxed and contemplative experience in the great outdoors. Join us on this journey and discover the natural wonders of Georgia at your own pace.

Highlights

Visit 7 national parks of Georgia with a small group in a 4×4 minibus, driving through the open meadows and high passes of the mountains of the South Caucasus.
Daily short hikes to explore the local flora and fauna, soaking up the tranquility of the national parks with their varied terrain that changes from region to region.
Learn about the solitary life of the people in the South Caucasus mountains, see how they make cheese, harvest tobacco and cook amazingly delicious food, which you will share with your fellow travelers.

Trip Details

PRICE

$1,630 USD (twin share)

$350 deposit
Lifetime Deposit. If you need to cancel, your deposit is transferable to other trips.
Twin Share: we’ll match you with a roomie if you’re travelling solo.
Private supplement available: $580 USD, max 6 spots

TRIP LENGTH

10 Days / 9 Nights
Trip starts and finishes in Tbilisi city.

DATES

May 2024
5 booked • 7 spots left
Starts: 14 May 2024
Finishes: 23 May 2024

June 2024
2 booked • 10 spots left
Starts: 4 June 2024
Finishes: 13 June 2024

STARTING POINT

Tbilisi International Airport or Freedom Square

ENDING POINT

Tbilisi International Airport or Freedom Square

GROUP SIZE

Max 12 persons, Min 3 persons.
Trip will be confirmed once 3 deposits have been received.

Gallery

Tour Plan

The tour begins as you land in Tbilisi, where you’ll be warmly welcomed by your tour guide who will be waiting for you at the airport. They will take you to your hotel, giving you a chance to relax and get settled in before embarking on your adventure.

Accommodation: Hotel

We’ll begin our tour of Tbilisi city, starting with a walk through the charming old city. We’ll take in the sights and sounds of the city, immersing ourselves in the local culture. Afterwards, we’ll ascend to the Tbilisi Botanical Garden and take a stroll through the lush greenery, admiring the diverse array of plants and flowers. From there, we’ll make our way to the slope of Mtatsminda mountain, and visit Mama Daviti church, one of the oldest churches in Tbilisi. The church offers a panoramic view of the city, and it’s a great spot to capture the beauty of Tbilisi. After visiting the church, we’ll make our way back to the city center, where the day’s tour will come to an end.

Walking: 6-7km
Accommodation: Hotel

We’ll set out on a scenic drive from Tbilisi to the Javakheti volcanic plateau, known for its wide-open fields covered with meadows and lakes. The plateau offers a unique landscape, with its rugged terrain and colorful wildflowers, making it a great destination for nature enthusiasts and photographers. After a short photography walk in the Javakheti National Park, we will descend down to Vardzia village, a historic cave town built in the 12th century, for a chance to explore this unique and ancient site, and also to take some great photos .

Walking: 3-4km
Accommodation: Hotel

On the fourth day, we’ll start with a hike through the Vardzia caves, a complex of caves and tunnels that were carved into the cliffside in the 12th century. The caves offer a glimpse into the past and a chance to explore the unique architecture and history. Afterwards, we will hike towards Tmogvi castle, famous for its beautiful poppy fields in the spring. The castle offers a great opportunity to capture the natural beauty of the area and the colorful flowers, as well as to take in the rich history of the castle. After taking in the sights and enjoying the hike, we’ll descend on the other side of the valley and head back to the hotel, ending the day’s tour.

Hiking: 8.5km; ↑ 325m; ↓ 370m
Accommodation: Hotel

On the fifth day, we’ll depart from Vardzia and head to Akhaltsikhe, a small town in the southern region of Georgia. Once there, we will walk around the Rabati Castle, a medieval fortress that was built in the 13th century. After visiting the castle, we will take a ride further to Goderdzi Pass, a picturesque mountain pass known for its beautiful views. We will take a lunch break and in the afternoon we will take a hike on the Goderdzi mountain ridge, where you can take in the stunning views of the surrounding landscape and take some great photos. We will end the day with a hike back to the hotel.

Hiking: 6.8km; ↑ 315m; ↓ 315m
Accommodation: Mountain Hotel

As the tour continues, we’ll venture into the stunning Adjara mountains, known for its remarkable natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Our first stop of the day will be a visit to a local family-owned winery where you will see grapes being harvested on steep slopes, learn about traditional winemaking methods and sample some of the delicious wines. Afterwards, we’ll take a leisurely walk through a charming village near Keda and then make our way to the seaside city of Batumi. Here we’ll take a stroll through the charming old city, taking in the sights and sounds of the lively atmosphere and admiring the architecture. The evening is the perfect time to explore the city and take in the sights and sounds of the city.

Walking: 5-6km
Accommodation: Hotel

On our seventh day, we’ll begin by leaving the city of Batumi behind and heading to the Batumi Botanical Garden. The garden is a well-preserved oasis, home to a wide variety of indigenous and foreign plants, and offers spectacular views of the Black Sea shores. After taking in the sights and sounds of the garden, we’ll drive to the nearby town of Kobuleti. Here we will visit the Kobuleti Nature Reserve, an important living environment for migratory birds and home to a diverse range of flora, including the rare white moss and sundew. This is a great opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the area and capture some beautiful photographs of the local flora and fauna.

Walking: 6-7km
Accommodation: Hotel

We’ll head to Kolkheti National Park, just an hour’s drive from Kobuleti. This area is known as the “Jungles” of Georgia due to its vast forest and wild vegetation. We’ll take a boat ride through the channels of the national park, which will provide an excellent opportunity to capture the diverse range of flora, as well as photograph the many migratory birds that call this area home. In the afternoon, we’ll make our way towards the city of Kutaisi. Along the way, we’ll stop to visit Sataplia natural monument, a site that is famous for its caves and the preserved dinosaur footprints. This will be a great opportunity to see some of the unique natural wonders that Georgia has to offer.

Boating: 3-4 hours
Walking: 3-4km
Accommodation: Hotel

On the ninth day, we’ll set off from Kutaisi and head towards the eastern regions of Georgia. Our first stop will be at the Uplistsikhe cave complex, an ancient man-made cave structure that was once used as a stopover point for Silk Road merchants and travelers. This is a great opportunity to learn about the history of the area and explore the unique architecture of the caves. Afterwards, we will drive back to Tbilisi city via Mtskheta town, where we will visit the Svetitskhoveli church, a UNESCO world heritage site and an important religious and cultural center. This will be a great way to end the tour, and you’ll be able to take in the beautiful sights and sounds of the ancient city and reflect on the memories you’ve made during the tour.

Walking: 5-6km
Accommodation: Hotel

On the final day of the tour, we will transfer you to the airport for your departure. It’s been a great pleasure to show you around the national parks of Georgia and we hope that you’ve had an enjoyable and memorable experience. We hope that you’ll take home many great memories of the amazing sights, sounds, and people of Georgia. Thank you for choosing our tour, and we hope to see you again in the future. The tour has now come to an end.

Includes

Guide: 1 English speaking guide throughout the trip.
All entrance fees to sightseeing, museums and national parks.
All Transportation throughout the trip, including airport transfers.
Accommodations for 9 nights in twin room (private supplement available).
All meals, from lunch of the first day to the breakfast of the last day
Culture and Cuisine masterclasses
Winery tours and degustation, including all alcoholic beverages inside.
Any extra activities during the tour.

Not Includes

Flights and travel insurance
Personal expenses, alcohol, souvenirs

Dates & Availability

Departing	Finishing		Total From USD
14 May 2024	23 May 2024	available	$1,630
4 June 2024	13 June 2024	available	$1,630

Dates & Availability

Departing	Finishing		Total From USD
14 May 2024	23 May 2024	available	$1,630
4 June 2024	13 June 2024	available	$1,630

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Want to go private?

Book this tour for your group on your preferred dates. Customize details according to your needs and desires. Get 10% discount for groups more than 10 people.

Amenities & Accommodation

We will be staying in cozy boutique hotels whenever possible, but in Goderdzi we will be staying in a mountain lodge/hotel. This family-run accommodation is comfortable with great food and atmosphere. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available, just let our travel manager know in advance.

Vardzia Resort Hotel
Wyndham Hotel, Grigoleti Beach
Hotel Ticiani 13, Kutaisi
Kenari Hotel, Tbilisi

Difficulty: Medium

This is not a pure hiking trip, but in order to reach some mountain flower fields we will have to walk several kilometers on moderately steep paths. The trip also involves walking on steep stairs in Vardzia and Uplistsikhe, but it is absolutely doable even for children and seniors.

Safety

All mountain passes on this trip are safe and well used by locals and tourists. This is not an off-road trip, but we will occasionally drive on rural gravel roads. Hiking trails in national parks are carefully chosen to avoid accidents due to missteps.

Useful to Know

Money

You can use your credit card throughout the trip, but in some small towns and villages you may need to carry some cash. Usually only local currency is accepted in these places, so be sure to have some Georgian Lari for souvenirs and gifts. Ask your guide in advance when you can get cash for later use.

What to bring with you

This trip is best done in late spring, early summer and fall, which can be either warm or cold. For this reason, we recommend that you bring clothing that can be used in temperatures between 5 and 30 degrees Celsius. Be sure to bring a comfortable, soft pair of hiking shoes for daily walks and wildlife viewing activities.

Weather

South Caucasus mountains are unpredictable in terms of weather and can bring low temperatures with wind as well as warm sunny days. As we move from the Javakheti Plateau to the Adjara Mountains, humidity increases and the group will be greeted by frequent rains in Mtirala National Park (“Mtirala” in Georgian literally means “someone who cries a lot”).

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Solo traveler friendly

Frequently Asked Questions

In general, if you are in good health and have an active lifestyle, all of our tours are acceptable for you. Easy, Medium, Hard, and Very Hard are the four levels of difficulty that we divide up our tours into. We only presume that you have prepared more thoroughly ahead for the Very Hard. Please get in touch with one of our travel managers if you have any questions so they can reassure you if necessary or, alternatively, help you decide which tour is more suitable for you. Unfortunately, those with disabilities mostly cannot participate in our tours. However, it also depends on the kind of disability, so it’s worth speaking with one of our tour managers about this in advance.

We will visit a total of 7 national parks:
Algeti, Javakheti, Borjomi, Machakhela, Mtirala, Kobuleti and Kolkheti national parks.

You can check out raw video of Kolkheti Nationa Park for better understanding.

During the cooking master class, you will participate directly in the entire process of preparing the dishes under the wing of the main cook. It’s not mandatory, but it’s a highly encouraged activity that local families love to host.