Tbilisi

Arrive in Tbilisi, the cultural heart of Georgia and the Caucasus. After immigration, meet your private guide and driver in the arrivals hall and transfer by luxury sedan to your hotel. Check in and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. This is an ideal time to begin absorbing local life, whether with a gentle stroll through the Old Town, a café stop, or a first look at the city’s mix of historic streets and modern energy. This evening, choose one of Tbilisi’s best local restaurants for an introduction to Georgian cuisine, with classic dishes and regional wines to set the tone for the journey.

Tbilisi

Begin with a guided tour of Tbilisi, where East meets West. Visit Metekhi Church for Old Town views, then wander cobbled lanes past wooden balconies, artisan shops and Soviet-era buildings reinvented as cafés. Take the cable car to Narikala Fortress for panoramic views over the Mtkvari River, then follow a scenic path to the Mother of Georgia statue and down into the sulphur bath district. In the afternoon, focus on khachapuri, learning regional styles and tasting authentic versions made by locals. Finish at the Bagrationi factory for a private tour of sparkling wine production from indigenous Georgian grapes, followed by a guided tasting.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Tbilisi

Kakheti Wine Region

Depart Tbilisi for Kakheti, Georgia’s famous wine country. En route, visit the David Gareja complex, a 6th-century rock-hewn monastery carved into the slopes of Mount Gareja. Continue to Udabno, a Soviet-era settlement, for a home-cooked lunch with a local Svan family and an introduction to Svanetian specialities, including kubdari (meat-filled bread). After lunch, visit vineyards and a traditional wine cellar in Kondoli to taste natural wines made in clay qvevri. Meet a qvevri maker to learn the craft behind these vessels. End at the Chavchavadze Estate in Tsinandali for gardens and historic winemaking, then overnight.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Kakheti Wine Region

Start at the bustling Telavi market, sampling seasonal fruits, fresh breads, local spices and Georgian sweets such as churchkhela. Continue to Gremi, a 16th-century royal citadel and church complex that reflects Kakheti’s historic power. Head to Kvareli, renowned for wine culture and excellent cheese pairings. Lunch is a traditional Georgian barbecue on a family farm, with simple, flavourful beef or lamb prepared in local style, alongside homemade breads and sweets. In the afternoon, visit a family-run winery to explore traditional Kakhetian viticulture and the qvevri winemaking process, ending with a relaxed tasting of regional vintages.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Kakheti Wine Region

Tbilisi

Return to Tbilisi via the scenic Gombori Pass, then begin the day at Dezerter Bazaar, the city’s largest farmers’ market. Meet Teona, a local cook, who guides you through seasonal produce, regional meats and artisanal staples such as pickles and cheeses. Continue to her home for a hands-on Georgian cooking class, with khinkali dumplings as the highlight, alongside classics like eggplant with walnuts and pomegranate. In the afternoon, visit Mtskheta (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to see Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. On the return, stop in Chardakhi for a wine tasting at a renowned cellar whose wines are served at the Ritz-Carlton London.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Kutaisi

Drive west through changing landscapes to the Imereti region. Stop in Gori, birthplace of Joseph Stalin, to visit the Stalin house-museum, then continue to Uplistsikhe, the rock-hewn cave town and former Silk Road stopover. In Merjevi village, visit a century-old wine cellar set on a mountain slope, learning about western Georgia’s winemaking traditions. Lunch is at a local farmhouse for authentic Imeretian cuisine, with pkhali (vegetable pâté with walnut paste and herbs) as a standout. Continue to Chiatura, an industrial town with Soviet-era character and its distinctive cable car system. Arrive in Kutaisi for the evening.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Kutaisi

Explore Kutaisi, one of Georgia’s oldest cities, with a walk through the Old Town and a visit to Bagrati Cathedral, its turquoise dome visible across the city. With your local guide, hear about Georgia’s musical heritage, including polyphonic singing traditions. Continue into Samegrelo, known for spicy Megrelian cuisine, and visit the dramatic Martvili Canyons, best experienced by boat beneath steep cliffs and waterfalls. Enjoy lunch with a local family, tasting regional wines and elarji (cornmeal porridge with cheese). End at Gelati Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famed as a medieval academy and the resting place of King David the Builder.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Kutaisi

Head into the Racha highlands, a beautiful region of the upper Rioni valley backed by the Greater Caucasus. Explore forested scenery, waterfalls and mountain villages, then taste Racha specialities such as lobiani (bean-filled bread) and shkmeruli (garlic chicken). Visit Nikortsminda Church and stop at a local wine facility to sample Khvanchkara, the region’s celebrated semi-sweet red. Lunch is with a local family, followed by a practical Racha cooking session to learn regional flavours first-hand. Return to Kutaisi in the afternoon, carrying the taste of Racha’s food, wine and highland hospitality.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Tbilisi

Return to Tbilisi, stopping in Mukhrani to visit the estate of Ivane Mukhranbatoni, a key figure in modern Georgian winemaking and early sparkling wine production. Enjoy lunch at the estate restaurant with a guided wine tasting and chakapuli (lamb stew with tarragon, sour plums and garlic), often served with tkemali plum sauce. Afterwards, join a wine-painting masterclass for a creative take on Georgia’s vineyard culture. Back in Tbilisi, the evening is free. Unwind in the historic sulphur bathhouses with an optional soak, massage, or traditional kisi exfoliation.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Tbilisi

TBILISI - DEPARTURE

Breakfast in Tbilisi, then free time to explore the city or do some last minute shopping in the boutiques. When you are ready to depart, a private transfer will take you to Tbilisi International Airport for your onward journey.

Meals Included: Breakfast