8 days
4-16 persons
15.07 - 15.10
Flights to Kutaisi
8 days
4-16 persons
15.07 - 15.10
Flights to Kutaisi
Week-long expedition through 6 regions of West Georgia
It is a unique combination of five regions (Imeretia, Megrelia, Rača-Lechkhumi and Adjaria) with the raw, majestic beauty of the sixth region of western Georgia - Svanetiya. Svaneti is the land of „a thousand towers”, where time has stopped and the highest peaks of the Caucasus are at your fingertips. Our trip will culminate in Ushguli, the highest permanently inhabited settlement in Europe (UNESCO), at the foot of Georgia's highest peak, Shkhara (5193m). In Kutaisi, our home will be the legendary guest house Hostel Kutaisi by Kote, which has been hosting travellers from Poland for 15 years. In Ushguli, a family guest house overlooking the Shkhara!
Grape fields at sunset
Tamada statue on the Kolchian fountain in the centre of Kutaisi
Day 1 - Arrival in Georgia, Georgian supra!
In Kutaisi, after the transfer from the airport, you will be welcomed at our guest house in Georgian with a glass of natural wine! We will explore the city of Kutaisi, visiting the local bazaar which is vibrant and colourful. This is the perfect place to stock up on Georgian spices. In the evening, a delicious Georgian dinner awaits us. Hostess Mrs Ruso will show us how the iconic dishes are prepared. Imeretin khachapuri, pchali and other dishes you will be able to try to prepare yourself! We will introduce and familiarise you with the Georgian tradition of feasting. At the Georgian supper there will be toasts and tamada! The table will be full of dishes! You will get to know the full range of cuisine of Imeretia region famous for its variety of dishes.
Day 2 - scenic canyons and a cave. Megrel cuisine and wine!
On the second day we will go to the picturesque caves, waterfalls, canyons in Martvili, which are already in the Megrelia region. These are the territories of the ancient Lazika. This region, its culture, its own language already existed thousands of years ago!
You will experience the unique Megrel cuisine, fantastic dairy products, Sulguni cheese, Gebjalia (mozzarella-like cheese with mint), Elarji, Kupati (liver) ...and local Megrel wine varieties such as Egudzguri and Ojaleshi. We will experience these flavours in a boutique restaurant with a vineyard surrounded by luscious green mountains and grape fields.
Martvili Canyon and the traditional megrel dish of Elarji
Raczynski grape fields
Day 3 - The mountainous regions of Racha and Lechkhumi
On the third day we take you to the mountainous regions of Racha - Lechkhmi, the hidden gems of Georgia. It is here that two of the most expensive and desirable - red semi-sweet wines - Usakhelauri, Khvankchara - are made from over 600 grapes. With us, you won't buy them in a shop, but from Rakhine families making these wines for generations, pure without chemicals, full of flavour!
Georgia, with its 8,000-year-old tradition of winemaking, is the motherland of wine. At Mrs Manoni's, you will additionally learn about the Georgian bread tradition, which has been inscribed on the UNESCO list! You will discover the fantastic taste of bread made from flour created from ZANDURI - an endemic species of Georgian wheat that has been preserved unchanged since ancient times! Here, under the watchful and helpful eye of your hostess, you will be able to try your hand at preparing Georgian dishes. Finally, we will sit down to a table of dishes served piled high. Another supra and pleasant evening awaits us!
Ghvirshi waterfall and lechkhum cuisine at Mrs Manoni's house
Georgian flavours of the sea and the city of Batumi
Day 4 - The Black Sea and Batumi!
The fourth day is time for the coastal gem, the city of Batumi on the Black Sea. We will show you the fantastic Dendrological Park or Botanical Garden. For lunch, we will have local Black Sea fish cefal and barabulka. Not in a regular restaurant, but we'll choose the fish at the market first!
Later, in the restaurant next door on the seafront, they prepare them for us! We will show you around the Batumi promenade and the picturesque old town. You will also have free time to yourself. For those still hungry for local flavours, we recommend trying adjar khachaupri!
Day 5 - High Caucasus expedition to the Svaneti region
On the fifth day we start our 3-day adventure in Svaneti! We set off from Kutaisi along a scenic route through the Lechkhumi region and the town of Lentekhi. We will cross the spectacular Zagaro Pass (2800m), from where we have a view of the Caucasian giants. On the way we will see the Rakhcha waterfall. Around noon, we will arrive in Ushguli. This is a magical place, full of medieval defensive towers (koshkas) that used to protect families from invasions and the law of bloody revenge. We will accommodate in a local guest house.
Zagaro Pass 2800 m
Route to the Shkhara Glacier
Day 6 - Trekking to the Shkhara Glacier
Day six is dedicated to a close encounter with the power of the mountains. After breakfast, we will set off on a trek (or horse/jeep tour) up to the Shkhara Glacier itself. The trail follows the valley floor along the Enguri River, offering views of the mighty white wall of Georgia's highest peak. On our return, we will visit the historic ninth-century Lamaria monastery and ethnographic museum to better understand the rugged Swan culture. The evening will be spent chatting over a Swanese table.
Day 7 - Ushguli and return to Kutaisi
We will spend the third day in Ushguli until noon you have time to walk around these beautiful areas once again. Visit the towers of Queen Tamar. The winter residence, located in the village, and the summer residence (called the black tower), which is reached by a trail towards Latpari Pass. From it, a view of the whole of Ushguli opens up. You can use your time as you wish. You can also relax in nature amidst unearthly views! After lunch, a picnic, we return to Kutaisi at 14.00 at the latest.
The return journey takes about 4 hours. Along the way we have scheduled stops with beautiful views. In Kutaisi we will host you at our family guest house Hostel Kutaisi by Kote. We will invite you to a Georgian supra, a farewell party where the table will be overflowing with the number and variety of dishes. We will celebrate and reminisce about our mountain trip, savour the flavours of Georgian cuisine and wine! There will be toasts, there will be tamada!
Georgian supra
Bagrati Cathedral
Day 8 - Transfer to the airport
After breakfast, depending on your departure time, we will arrange a transfer to the airport.
*Programme subject to modification due to arrival and departure times.
It is a culinary journey, but also a sightseeing one! Each way to a culinary gem is a fantastic adventure through mountains, picturesque valleys. We visit beautiful places and monuments!
Price:
- Depends on the number of people in the group 4-6, 7-16.
The price includes:
- Programme and organisation of the expedition
- 5 nights in Kutaisi in a guest house. Rooms for 2 or 3 persons with private bathroom or bathroom opposite the room
- 2 nights' accommodation in Ushguli in a guest house. Rooms for 2 or 3 persons with private bathroom
- Food:
-
- 7 breakfasts
- 2 homemade dinners in Kutaisi with regional dishes and natural wine
- Dinner in a bio vineyard combined with tasting of local wines
- Dinner in Batumi
- Dinner in a boutique restaurant in the mountains
- Wine tasting in the Racha region
-
- Transfers from and to Kutaisi airport
- Care of a Polish-speaking pilot throughout the trip and during the trekking
- An insured car adapted to the size of the group
- Ride with a professional driver
- Fuel for the entire journey and parking fees
Price not included:
- Travel insurance
- 2 dinners in Ushguli
- An additional jeep tour or horseback excursion to the Shkhara Glacier
- Admission tickets:
- Prometheus Cave 25 gel
- Martvili Canyon 20 gel admission, 20 gel pontoon crossing.
Informations:
- The tour begins and ends in Kutaisi.
- The order of tours cannot be changed.
- In monasteries it is obligatory to wear proper clothing - a headscarf for ladies, covered legs, men - long pants. In most monasteries scarves are available on site.
- If you follow a special diet let us know in advance. Georgian cuisine is full of vegan or vegetarian dishes.
- This is the perfect trip, for everyone (of legal age)! For a group of friends, family or someone looking for a group where they can join alone! It is also possible to book an entire date for a private group.
Deadlines:
You can join the expedition by signing up for a date from our CALENDAR OF EXPEDITIONS :
- 03-10.09.2026
- or INDIVIDUAL for the group, then we will agree a detailed date with you.
To book a tour contact get on with it!
Day 1 - Arrival in Georgia, Georgian supra!
Day 2 - scenic canyons and a cave. Megrel cuisine and wine!
Day 3 - The mountainous regions of Racha and Lechkhumi
Day 4 - The Black Sea and Batumi!
Day 5 - High Caucasus expedition to the Svaneti region
Day 6 - Trekking to the Shkhara Glacier
Day 7 - Ushguli and return to Kutaisi
