Epic Georgia Trip

Welcome to Georgia! You’ll be met at Tbilisi’s International Airport by your English-speaking guide, who will transfer you to your hotel for the night. Tbilisi has a really cool Old City district, so if you have energy and time this evening, go exploring before leaving the city for the mountains tomorrow!

After breakfast this morning, you’ll take off for the scenic drive to the Georgian countryside and rather quickly ascending into the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains. You’ll get your first taste of Georgia’s rich Chris8an history today, visiting Jvari Monastery on the way out of Tbilisi, which owes it roots to Nino, the first Georgian who accepted Christ and brought Christianity to Georgia in the 4th century. You’ll kick off your adventure with a a 4-wheeler riding along some trails this aHer- noon, and if there’s 8me, some horseback riding as well. We figure you’re going to be sore at some point on this trip, so why not get it out of the way early with a couple of hours on a Georgian horse? You’ll quickly learn to love Georgian food as you fill up on cheese-filled bread and dumplings this evening before giving in to jet lag in the quiet countryside.

Today you’ll continue your outdoor adventure as you head closer to the Caucasus Mountain range, as you’ll be staying near the gorgeous Zhinvali Lake whose turquoise colors are especially stunning in the summer months. One of your planned stops will be at the Monument of the 300 Aragvians, which is notable for its many spears, representing the Battle of Krtsanisi in 1795, when the men of the Aragvi Clan made a last stand against the invading Qajar/Persian army. Of course faith can be an elusive thing and motivator in times of war, but Georgia’s history shows that many times they were willing to defend their faith and even die for it, while refusing to convert at sword point. Today’s adventure includes whitewater rafting in Georgia’s Aragvi River, a landmark that 18th and 19th-century Russian poets romantically wrote about when visiting the Caucasus for the first time.

The Caucasus Mountains will get REAL today, as you drive to Stepantsminda, one of the most beautiful drives in Georgia, past the Zhinvali Reservoir, Ananuri Fortress Complex, Gudauri Ski Resort, and finally to the foot of the Caucasus Mountain Range. You’ll do your first hiking in Truso Valley not far past this scenic mountain town, where you’ll base for several days. It’s a relatively flat but long trek of approx. 22 km, passing rivers, mineral water springs & pools, monasteries, an abandoned village, shepherds & their flocks, and more. Your guide will drive you back to Stepantsminda by early evening, where you’ll be ready for a hearty Georgian dinner and a good night’s sleep after this very full day!

This morning, you’ll take in another beautiful part of the Caucasus Mountains as you drive up towards Juta, the highest-el- evation village in the Kazbegi region. You’ll see the famous “Georgian Easter Islands” statues, including one of Jesus him- self. Depending how hard you push yourselves today, you may see Chaukhi Lake, and will hike under the towering “Georgian Dolomites” towards the Chaukhi Pass before turning back home. Each day you’ll be accompanied by a local Georgian guide who can give you the history of each place, and of course will make sure you’re safe on each route.

Today you get to meet Mount Kazbek up close and personal, Georgia’s most popular peak to be summited. You will take a 20-minute drive up to the iconic 14th-century Gergeti Church with its incredible panoramic views of the Caucasus range and Kazbegi valley. Gergeti Church is Georgia’s most famous church and has deep significance to the Georgian people. It was built in the 14th-century aHer the local Georgian kingdom overcame the Mongols’ attempt to invade the country, and for centuries housed church relics because of its difficult to access by invading enemies. It has been restored since the end of the Soviet Union, and is a site of pilgrimage for most Georgian believers. Once having spent some time in and around this church, then you’ll start your ascent on foot to lower base camp near the edge of the Georgia Glacier at around 10,000 H (3,050 m). As riveting as you will find Kazbek itself, perhaps the surrounding Caucasus range, stretching into Russia and beyond is even more so. The hike today is approx. 5 hrs. of ascent. You have the op8on tonight of camping in a tent or sleeping in the Alti Hut. We recommend a horse porter if camping, to lighten your load.

You’ll continue up majestic Kazbek today to the upper basecamp at 3,650 meters elevation (12,000 feet). Today will be your longest day as you ascend several hours to an elevation where you feel the lack of oxygen, before descending back to Gergeti Church by late afternoon. This is a great challenge today as you put on crampons and climb over the Gergeti Glacier, before reaching Betlemi Hut where alpinists from all over the world climb 16,581 ft high Mt. Kazbek each summer (5,054 meters). You really feel the difference in elevation with the barren landscape and noticeably less oxygen for your non-acclimated lungs. The descent back to Gergeti is a welcome relief to more comfortable confines, while enjoying an incredible sunset. This may be the night you sleep the best on your trip aHer covering so much ground today!

You’ve earned a well-deserved break today as you head back to Tbilisi after a week of daily adventures. Your English-speaking guide will pick you up from your hotel in Stepantsminda this morning and transport you to Tbilisi, where you’ll enjoy a late afternoon city tour of Tbilisi’s famous Old Town: bathhouses, cobblestone streets, old churches, etc. Tbilisi’s Old Town rivals some of Europe’s more famous historic districts. You’ll wrap up the day with your guide having dinner and enjoying Georgian national dance in the beautiful traditional costume. What a way to finish the night!

Pack your bags and say goodbye for now to the Caucasus, a place we hope you will come back to for another adventure very soon. We’ll transfer you in the morning to the airport where you’ll begin your flight home. We hope it was a memorable week of 8me as father & son, and we hope to see you again soon!