Visit Georgia | Tours in Georgia and the Caucasus

WHY WE SHOULD NOT BUY FORBIDDEN SOUVENIRS

Nina Karkalaia — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 14:29:13 +0000

Even if they appear appealing initially, whether they’re items crafted from animals, cultural artifacts, or other unique objects, they conceal hidden stories. Many travelers are unaware that buying these souvenirs supports a dark business – one that involves illegal trade, environmental harm, and cultural exploitation.

Reasons to Avoid Purchasing Forbidden Souvenirs

Forbidden souvenirs might seem tempting, but buying them leads to serious problems. Think about the animals in danger, hunted for their tusks or skins, because people want exotic trophies. This makes their numbers go down. Also, imagine ancient places being robbed for money and losing their history. Each purchase of these souvenirs keeps causing harm, making it harder to protect nature and risking the special places we love.

How to Avoid Buying Forbidden Souvenirs

When you’re drawn to a souvenir, don’t rush to buy it. Instead, consider where it came from. Your ability to spot illegal souvenirs is crucial here. It’s best to follow guidelines in such situations:

Understand local regulations and research the specific laws about souvenirs before you buy
Always request proper documentation for any artifact or item you plan to purchase
Refrain from buying products made from endangered species, as it contributes to illegal wildlife trade
Choose vendors with a commitment to ethical and legal business practices
Ask our guides or local authorities about the legality of souvenirs

Forbidden Souvenirs in Georgia:

During the process of obtaining Travelife Partner Status, we made efforts to compile a list of potential illegal souvenirs in Georgia. While the list may not cover all options, it can still offer insight into the types of illegal souvenirs you might encounter while traveling here.

Bear pelt
Fox hide
Wolf hide
Horns of Caucasian ibex
Horn of Alpine chamois
Any type of taxidermy trophy
Fragment of stalactites and stalagmites
Seeds of plants facing the threat of extinction.
Coins, paintings, jewelry, inscriptions, and armor with cultural heritage significance
Any stolen art items

Summary

VisitGeorgia understands that eliminating the harmful practice of buying and selling forbidden souvenirs is extremely challenging. However, through our partnership with Travelife, we are committed to our best efforts to spread awareness, provide essential information, and equip our guides and travelers with the necessary skills to avoid purchasing items that harm our natural environment, historical artifacts, culture, and other sensitive aspects of life.

VisitGeorgia Guides Academy Celebrates 25th Ceremony!

Nina Karkalaia — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:51:05 +0000

VisitGeorgia Guides Academy

Celebrating our 25th Guides Award ceremony, we proudly introduce 17 new guides who’ve completed their training and are ready to showcase Georgia’s beauty and culture.

As part of their four-month journey, our guides embarked on practical training, which was described as more engaging and intensive. Alongside practical sessions, they also received first-aid courses to enhance their capabilities. They demonstrated dedication and passion for the profession. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our mentors for their guidance and support along the way.

This graduation marks a significant milestone for us, demonstrating our commitment to fostering the next generation of tourism ambassadors. We sincerely wish the new guides success as they embark on their journeys.

VisitGeorgia’s Journey to Travelife Partner Status: Committed to Sustainability

Nina Karkalaia — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 13:59:36 +0000

For Sustainable Tourism Development

The global tourism industry is undergoing a significant shift towards sustainability, driven by companies with a clear vision for long-term development. These companies are focused on minimizing negative environmental impacts, supporting local communities, preserving traditions, embracing digital technologies, and creating healthy work environments for their employees. VisitGeorgia is proud to be part of this movement, joining a growing network of sustainable-oriented travel agencies worldwide. This expansion of the network marks a pivotal moment where tangible positive changes in the industry become more apparent.

VisitGeorgia has always been a pioneer in promoting sustainable tourism practices in Georgia, taking a leading role in this direction. We have implemented numerous projects aimed at empowering local families, making our tours nature-friendly, and digitalizing our internal operations, among other initiatives. Our actions have been guided by rational logic and a deep understanding of the importance of responsible practices that prioritize the well-being of local people affiliated with VisitGeorgia. In 2019, we began actively working to systematize and frame our sustainability vision, mission, and activities. We created our first Sustainable Tourism Policy and, with the active engagement of all staff members, embarked on many sustainable tourism-oriented actions.

Sustainability Practices

In 2023, VisitGeorgia experienced a significant turning point in its commitment to promoting sustainability practices. Recognizing the need for enrichment in our experiences and approaches, we turned to Travelife as our guide in this journey. Our goal was to align with international standards regarding sustainability, and Travelife, as the leading international sustainability certification body in the travel sector, became our partner in this endeavor. Acquiring Travelife Partner Status was a lengthy but rewarding process for VisitGeorgia. It provided us with essential skills and knowledge to make our sustainability-focused activities more effective and impactful. We were introduced to international best practices, regulations, and various policies, which broadened our perspective on sustainability. Today VisitGeorgia adheres to international standards and has a common sustainable language for communicating with our international partners.

VisitGeorgia awarded Travelife status

The year 2024 began with great success for VisitGeorgia, as we became the first travel agency in the Caucasus to obtain Travelife Partner Status. Our goal is to maintain active cooperation with Travelife and gradually expand our coverage of sustainable tourism dimensions. We also hope that our success will inspire other Georgian travel agencies to adopt a sustainability-oriented approach and engage in collaboration with Travelife. We highly recommend the Georgian travel industry seize this opportunity, as it ultimately guarantees a more inclusive environment in Georgia in terms of supporting sustainable tourism practices. While one company can serve as a role model for others, real change requires the involvement of multiple actors in the sustainability process.

As for our future plans, VisitGeorgia aims to deepen collaboration with Travelife, forge meaningful partnerships with other progressive travel agencies, disseminate information about sustainable tourism to our local partners, redesign tour programs, foster the digitalization process, and so on. We remain dedicated to upholding our sustainability-focused strategy and try to make a positive impact in the travel industry.

Sustainability First

Discover our dedication to sustainable tourism development.

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VisitGeorgia at ITB Berlin 2024

Nina Karkalaia — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 13:13:15 +0000

We would like to inform you that from March 5-7, 2024, VisitGeorgia participated in the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show – ITB BERLIN. Our location was in Hall 11.2 at Stands N109 and N112.

Discovering Tbilisi’s Street Art Scene through Murals and Graffiti

Nina Karkalaia — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 08:12:13 +0000

Tbilisi Street Art

Tbilisi, the vibrant capital of Georgia, has long been a hub of cultural expression and creativity. Many are attracted to the city by its historical sites and impressive architecture, yet the colorful street art culture of Tbilisi remains a hidden gem for most. Through a mix of Murals and Graffiti, the city streets tell stories of its past, present, and the dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity.

Graffiti in Tbilisi’s Streets

Street art in Georgia started in the 2000s, the culture has developed and refined in the past few years, as many new artists have appeared.

Graffiti is the only cost-free platform for artists in Georgia. To gain recognition and express their personal opinions, artists find that street art is the most effective way to establish their own identity. Georgian street artists use walls, bridges, and even abandoned buildings as their canvases, infusing the urban landscape with color and creativity. What makes Tbilisi street art unique is its role as a platform for self-expression and social commentary. Many artists use their work to convey powerful messages, addressing issues ranging from politics to cultural identity.

They have transformed the city’s appearance by painting old Soviet buildings, rejuvenating abandoned structures, and adding a fresh touch to underground passages and modern concrete buildings with a vibrant array of colors. These changes not only look visually appealing but also have the power to uplift our moods in our daily lives.

TBILISI STREET ART: URBAN EXHIBITION

Tbilisi Street Art Festival – ‘Fabrikaffiti’

Do you want to know where the young generation in Tbilisi spends their time? You will be surprised because it’s an old Soviet-era sewing factory called – Fabrika. The factory has undergone a remarkable transformation and become a multifunctional urban space, which combines various types of cafes, shops, workspaces, and hostels. This place is for rebellious minds to create and share.

The main feature of Fabrika is its graffiti-covered appearance. Here, you will find the only graffiti shop in Tbilisi, where you will purchase high-quality aerosol paint (spray), markers, and other essentials for street art. The name of the shop is Graffiti Dealers, which supplies artists with materials. Fabrika Tbilisi and CRU Crew are the organizers of the annual international urban art festival “Fabrikaffiti”, which has been held since 2016. Both foreign and local artists repaint the walls of the Fabrika every year. The festival also combines other Hip-Hop elements, such as B-Boy, Djing, Graffiti, Sketch Battle, Breakdance, sharing knowledge, MC and Hip-Hop Selectors, skateboarding, etc. They often organize panel discussions and invite renowned graffiti artists and speakers.

TBILISI STREET ART: URBAN EXHIBITION

The Street Art Movement in Tbilisi

Niko Movement is associated with emerging Georgian artist Niko Pirosmani, who tragically passed away in poverty and was not appreciated in his time despite his enduring talents. Niko Movement is created with the main aim of supporting the development of young Georgian artists with their help and in collaboration with foreign artists to develop the field and the art form in the streets of Georgia. Their art is known for its meaningful stories, hopeful messages, and rich palette of colors. Street art says a lot about a city, country, or society in general, serving as a means of social, political, and cultural expression.

Colorful murals in Tbilisi’s neighborhoods

In 2019, the Mural Festival commenced uniting talents from around the world with local muralists to breathe new life into the city’s once-dull Soviet-era buildings. As you stroll through the streets of Tbilisi, It’s like wandering through an open-air art gallery. Foreign artists get acquainted with Georgian culture, combine their art with Georgia, and create masterpieces that represent a mixture of cultures.

The Festival of Murals also has an App, where all the murals of Tbilisi are combined with their locations on the map. If you decide to visit the urban exhibition, get the app and plan your routes.

Expert adviseDiscover more through our blogs

10 Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Georgia

Nowhere in the world quite compares to Georgia, where the natural and urban attractions are equally spectacular. The country’s hills are alive with snowy ski slopes, pristine lakes, and meadows filled with wildflowers.

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“Leader of the Year 2022” – Golden Medal

Nina Karkalaia — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 08:13:03 +0000

“Leader of the Year 2022” – Golden Medal

VisitGeorgia is excited to announce that we’ve received an esteemed international award “Leader of the Year 2022” – Golden Medal (by Swiss Ratings Association).

This prestigious recognition is given to the best companies identified as statistically ranked leading enterprises in the top ratings of UNBR (Union of National Business Rankings) throughout Georgia.

Along with receiving this award, three employees from our company, Nato Chiokadze, Lela Charkviani, and Tamaz Khutsishvili, were awarded as outstanding managers in the field of tourism.

VisitGeorgia at WTM London 2023

Nina Karkalaia — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 07:51:25 +0000

VisitGeorgia was an exhibitor at WTM London 2023, our location was at the stands N7-202 and N6-612. It was great to see you there!

VisitGeorgia: Embracing Sustainability with Travelife Engagement

Nina Karkalaia — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 07:25:01 +0000

VisitGeorgia is happy to announce that we have engaged with the Travelife for Tour Operator & Travel Agents scheme. Travelife for Tour Operators and Travel Agents is internationally recognized and supported by the global travel industry as the preferred sustainability training, management, and certification program for sustainability in tourism. Moreover, Travelife standards are formally recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

Travelife is a three-stage certification program for tour operators and travel agents: (1) Travelife Engaged; (2) Travelife Partner and (3) Travelife Certified. We are at stage 1 – Travelife Engaged. We are working to move forward to stage 2 – Travelife Partner. To reach the Travelife Partner, we must meet the standard of over 100 sustainability criteria that can be grouped into five key areas: Office operations; Product development; Working with suppliers; Customer relations, and Destinations.

Our aim is to strengthen our commitment to sustainability management and to turn it into consistent sustainable business practices in tourism. From an industry ethical perspective, we believe sustainability statements should be third-party justified and certified. That’s why we chose Travelife for Tour Operators & Travel Agents for our sustainability engagement.

Discover the Cave Towns of Georgia

Nina Karkalaia — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 07:47:30 +0000

Georgia Cave Towns

Cave towns are captivating aspects of Georgia’s history that hold great significance. In Georgia, you will discover three unique rock-cut complexes: Uplistsikhe, Vardzia, and David Gareja. By visiting these ancient settlements, we can understand their historical importance and admire the incredible skill and effort put into building them.

The practical advantages of cave dwellings played a vital role in the survival of these communities. The caves also provided insulation, keeping a stable temperature inside and helping people cope with extreme weather.

In addition to their practicality, cave towns held cultural and religious significance. They served as central hubs for community life, creating a strong bond between residents and their surroundings. The caves served as sacred spaces for rituals and gatherings, deepening the connection between people and the environment.

Uplistsikhe: The Oldest Cave Town in Georgia

Welcome to Uplistsikhe, the ancient cave town located just 10 kilometers east of the city of Gori in Georgia, which dates back to the 6th-4th centuries BC, making it a remarkable historical site.

A main highlight of Uplistsikhe is the awe-inspiring rock-cut dwellings, situated on a rocky plateau overlooking the Mtkvari River. These ancient homes, carved directly into the cliffs, provide a glimpse into the daily lives of the town’s inhabitants. Visitors can freely wander through the detailed chambers, rooms, and pathways of these incredible homes carved from rocks, and appreciate the cleverness and skill of the people who created them.

The amphitheater of Uplistsikhe is another remarkable feature for travelers to explore. This open-air venue once hosted gatherings, performances, and communal events, reflecting the vibrant social life that once thrived in the cave town. In the ceiling of the amphitheater, you will find Roman elements – a caisson ceiling, which indicates that the Hellenistic culture was widespread here as well.

Discover an ancient pharmacy store at Uplistsikhe, revealing ancient wisdom in medicine. This site served as a hub for healing herbs and remedies showcasing their dedication to well-being. Furthermore, the ancient residents ingeniously gathered water through a well-designed plumbing system, ensuring a steady water supply for their daily needs.

In Uplistsikhe, many winepresses and cellars show the locals’ involvement in wine production. Despite the rocky terrain making vineyards impossible, seven winepresses and cellars were found. Grapes were likely brought elsewhere to be pressed in this unique location. During medieval times, Uplistsikhe was a prosperous town with 20,000 inhabitants. You might be surprised where so many people fit. Well, the secret lies in the presence of around 700 caves spread throughout the town’s area, and people were also settled around the city.

Uplistsikhe has another entrance – a secret tunnel. It rises from the bank of Mtkvari in the southern part of the city, is completely carved out of the rock, and has a circular shape in the cut. The lower entrance is cleverly camouflaged, often unnoticed by passengers on the road.

Traveling tips for Uplistsikhe

If you plan to visit Uplistsikhe, it’s advisable to leave Tbilisi early to avoid traffic. From Tbilisi, it’s 78 kilometers, and the journey usually takes around half an hour. Wear comfortable shoes for walking on uneven stone surfaces and consider a hat for sun protection. Exploring the cave town typically takes 1.5 to 2 hours, so bring a water bottle with you.

Where to relax

After an exciting trip, travelers can unwind and savor delectable Georgian cuisine in Gori. Indulge in local dishes like Khabizgina (potato-filled Khachapuri), Chakhrakina (beet greeny pie), and Goruli Cutlet (roasted meat).

Discover Cave Towns of Georgia

David Gareja: The Monastic Complex in the Desert

David Gareja, an active monastery located in Kakheti within the Sagarejo Municipality, is the second rock-cut complex worth visiting. Monastery was founded by the Assyrian monk David in the early 6th century and served as a significant center for spirituality and learning.

On the way to the monastery, you’ll encounter various-sized brackish lakes formed by the unique local climate and soil mineralization. The colorful “Rainbow Mountains” served as evidence, with abundant Hematite giving the soil a red hue and Limonite imparting a yellow shade. These minerals were extensively used in the middle ages painting school of David Gareja.

The nature and landscape here are extraordinary, serving as a paradise for Ornithologists observing various bird species such as Saker Falcon, Eastern imperial eagle, Eurasian griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, Galbeolus, and Ruddy shelduck. David Gareja’s flora captivates Botanical enthusiasts as diverse plants have adapted to the dry environment. From tough shrubs and strong grasses to unique desert herbs and wildlife, these plants have fascinating water-saving adaptations.

The first monastery founded by David is “Lavra of David”, it is easily accessible and everyone will be able to visit it. It’s known for its remarkable rock-hewn structure, including churches, cells, and chapels. The monastery has served as a center for religious and cultural activities for centuries, attracting pilgrims and visitors alike. If you go down the stairs, you will find David’s small room where he lived.

From the 9th century onwards, the Gareji monasteries played a multifaceted role influenced by Byzantine traditions. They fostered Christian faith, education, and the growth of culture and art. Monasteries served as centers for writing and copying theological books, including the lives of saints.

David-Gareja is located on the border with Azerbaijan, 4 monasteries are on the territory of Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, as a result, travelers cannot explore the other monasteries as the state border passes directly through the monastery’s land.

Traveling tips for David Gareja

It’s about a 1.5-hour car journey from Tbilisi to David Gareja. When visiting, remember to dress modestly due to the monastery’s active status. Also, it’s a good idea to bring sunscreen and water with you when you travel. Grassy areas may harbor risky reptiles, so be careful while walking.

Where to relax

For those continuing their journey, Kakheti, known as the cradle of wine, is an ideal destination. History and wine enthusiasts should explore Kvareli and Telavi, where delightful experiences await. Savor exquisite wines and traditional local cuisines like Mtsvadi (barbecue), Tschaqafuli (meat stew), and Shotis Puri (Georgian bread).

Discover Cave Towns of Georgia

Vardzia: The Cave Monastery Complex

To explore the Vardzia monastery complex, embark on a trip to Georgia’s Samtskhe-Javakheti region, known for its diverse natural beauty. Vardzia cave complex is especially large-scale among the rock-carved cities in Georgia and can be easily seen from afar. With a history dating back to the 12th century, this remarkable site, founded by the visionary Queen Tamar, continues to enchant visitors with its fascinating past and awe-inspiring architecture.

Vardzia is a clear confirmation of how Georgia became stronger in the twelfth century, which is known as the Golden Age. Today, more than 1/6 of the original complex remains and still amazes the visitor with its beauty, scale, and architectural solution. The place accommodated about 50,000 inhabitants, initially, there were about 3000 caves in the complex, and now their number is about 550. In Vardzia there were living quarters, dining rooms, food storage barns, wine cellars, stables, a pharmacy, a library, and all other conditions necessary for life. Also, Vardzia was perfectly provided with drinkable water.

The complex of Vardzia was invisible from the front because it was covered by a thick layer of rock, this layer soon collapsed as a result of the earthquake, and Vardzia also lost its importance as a secret city. Vardzia has a large network of internal tunnels, providing an exciting opportunity for travelers to explore. These fascinating tunnels run through the cave complex, uncovering hidden rooms, connecting different parts, and creating an atmosphere of intrigue.

Make sure to visit the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary at the heart of the Vardzia complex. Although small, the church boasts 17 remarkable paintings. As Vardzia is an active monastery, it’s important to respect religious and cultural customs when entering the church: men should cover their legs, and women should wear long skirts and cover their hair.

Traveling tips for Vardzia

From Tbilisi, it takes about 4 to 5 hours by road to reach Vardzia. Due to limited transportation options, many prefer organized day tours. Vardzia is situated in a remote area, and to reach the monastery complex, you may need to walk a certain distance. Bring comfortable shoes, water, and snacks for the journey. Visiting the entire complex typically lasts 1.5 to 2 hours.

Where to relax

Unwind and dine in Akhaltsikhe, a significant town in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, 60 km from Vardzia cave town. Try dishes like Fried trout, Meskhuri Qada (bread filled with lard and flour), Tenili cheese (preserved, hand-pulled cheese), and Apokhti (dried meat).

Expert adviseDiscover more through our tours

County of Wonders

Georgia is a country of endless discoveries. There are many reasons why traveling to this small country is genuinely worthwhile: untouched nature and wildlife, ancient cities, monasteries, centuries-old towers.

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Reviews Shared by Our Travelers

Nina Karkalaia — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 10:27:08 +0000

“

Wir sind am Sonntagabend pünktlich und voll von vielen positiven Eindrücken aus Georgien zurück nach Hause gekommen.

Ein großes Danke an Dich für die ausgezeichnete Zusammenstellung der Reise, sie war sehr ausgewogen in Bezug auf Kultur und – wie von uns gewünscht – mit einem Schwerpunkt auf georgischen Wein.

Beides hat uns sehr beeindruckt.

Ein besonderer Dank gilt aber Nino, die uns mit sehr viel Wissen und Information durch diese Woche geführt hat. Sie ist sehr einfühlsam auf unsere Wünsche eingegangen und war sehr bemüht, uns diese zu erfüllen. Wir glauben, es hat auch ihr Spaß gemacht, uns zu begleiten, da wir aufgrund unserer langjährigen Freundschaft untereinander immer eine sehr „Spaß betonte“ Unterhaltung hatten.

Natürlich hat das schöne sommerliche Wetter dazu beigetragen, dass sich Georgien uns perfekt präsentieren konnte. Die jahrhundertealte Kultur, stark geprägt von der orthodoxen Kirche, aber vor allem auch von den vielen Kriegen gegen verschiedene „Eindringlinge“ nach Georgien, wird lange in unserer Erinnerung bleiben.

Die gute Mischung der ausgesuchten Weinbetriebe, kleine Familien-Weingüter sowie Großbetriebe, haben uns einen sehr guten Eindruck der Kveri- Weine verschafft. Wir konnten klar den Unterschied europäischer Produktionsmethoden im Vergleich zu den uralten Methoden in Georgien „herauskosten“. Nino hat uns dabei perfekt unterstützt.

Die Besuche der Familienbetriebe mit den dort angebotenen Speisen hat uns sehr gut gefallen. Ein Danke auch an Euch, auf unsere Knoblauch-Unverträglichkeit Rücksicht genommen zu haben. Ohne dieser Vorinformationen hätten wir vermutlich sehr wenig essen können.

Zusammengefasst – es war eine großartige Reise!

21-28 April

“

Os copio los comentarios de los clientes que acaban de llegar de Georgia:

Hola Carolina,

Queríamos comentarte el trato recibido por parte de Nino, la guía asignada en Georgia.

El trato sólo lo podemos considerar EXCELENTE, desde el primer momento fué cercana, empática, muy diligente y organizada.

Queremos que transmitas nuestro agradecimiento a la empresa de Georgia para que lo tengan en cuenta y que además cuenten con nuestro agradecimiento.

Y por nuestra parte, mil gracias por el trato la nuestros clientes y a nosotros en la venta, lo hacéis fácil y agradable.

¡¡¡Enhorabuena!!!!!!

Carolina

12 – 19 April, 2024

“

I have just had the pleasure of having your employee Sophie as a guide for a group of Danish tourists – what a fantastic, knowledgeable, pleasant, and skilled woman you have hired.

I am full of respect for the calm, proper and nuanced description of your beautiful and fantastic country, Georgia, that Sofie gave us.

As a guide, it is difficult to combine the professional with the personal, but Sofie succeeded to a very high degree. Great respect for her / and congratulations on having such a talented employee.

Jens

10 – 16 October, 2023

“

I spent 8 days in Georgia / 14.-23.6.2023/ with the travel agency from Czech and Visitgeorgia. our guide was Mr. Luka. Thank you for his kindness, helpfulness, his guiding knowledge and ability to help us all day. He made our stay in beautiful Georgia very pleasant. He is a very capable tour guide, to whom we owe our great thanks.

Eva R, MD, PhD., Prague

“

I am back home again in Cornwall in the southwest of the British Isles and full of the best memories of my two weeks in Georgia.

What an extraordinary and extraordinarily beautiful country you have. The history was as fascinating as it was complicated, the architecture and heritage of the Orthodox churches and monasteries was breathtaking, and the insights into the archaeology and pre-Christian settlement were amazing. I am running out of superlatives and I haven’t even mentioned the beautiful and beautifully varied landscapes or indeed the food.

The quality of those memories is in no small part due to the excellence of the Visit Georgia tour. I have never done anything like it previously – I normally arrange my own itineraries and occasionally book a city walking tour – but I am so delighted that I booked this one.

I could not have wished for a better or more companionable guide than Luka who was not only enormously knowledgeable but very skillful in communicating that knowledge in his fluent English. It was a real pleasure to spend time in his company. Kakha and Paata were excellent drivers and Kakha and Luka introduced me to all kinds of delicious Georgian dishes at our lunch and dinner stops!

There is so much to learn and appreciate about Georgia but I have been given the best possible introduction. Thank you and I look forward to booking something else on a future trip.

Sally

“

Antes de nada informarte que hoy han venido nuestros viajeros del código 143 (5 al 11 de mayo) para comentarnos que han quedado muy contentos con todo lo del viaje. Muchas gracias a vuestro equipo por todo Maia y hablaron muy bien de la guía Ani. También le agradecemos a ella.

Todavía no nos has dicho el nombre del guía del código 144, no puede ser Ani?

Khati

“

Gestern sind wir von unserer Georgien-Rundreise zurückgekommen.

Es war unsere dritte Reise in diesem Jahr – und wieder können wir in jeder Kategorie und in jedem Aspekt nur Bestnoten vergeben. Vor allem unsere Reiseleiterin Eka war menschlich, fachlich und in jeder anderen erdenklichen Hinsicht großartig und das Kennenlernen war für uns ein unvergessliches Erlebnis. Bitte geben Sie diese Bewertung an sie weiter…!

Simon

“

We are four women, childhood friends, that toured Georgia from 21/5/2023 until 29/5/2023.

You have a beautiful country, very nice people, and tasty food. We booked a tour with your company, Visit Georgia, and in this letter would like to express our appreciation to our guide, Zura, and the driver, Paata. Zura was exceptionally pleasant and helpful throughout the entire tour. He is very knowledgeable and provided us with details and information about every question we asked him. He did this with patience and gracefully.

He solved all the small and big problems that arose. When one member of our group had physical difficulties walking uphill, he provided alternate transportation to take her to the destination. Zura made us all feel welcome and was always with a ready smile, encouraging us to enjoy the tour. One of the things we appreciated was the fact that every morning he told us about the travel plans for the day, about the sites we were about to see, and, most importantly, when we would have time for a coffee and restroom break. Due to his excellent English and charm, it was easy to communicate with him and discuss our needs.

Paata the driver was also very nice and pleasant, and a proficient driver. Even when the roads were rough and bumpy, he stayed calm and did his best to make the ride smooth. He conveyed a feeling that we were always safe and in good hands, even on curvy and dangerous roads that we would have been frightened to drive on. The good relations between Zura and Paata contributed to the success of the tour and to our enjoyment.

If any of our friends will plan to visit Georgia, we would gladly recommend your company and especially the guide, Zura.

Please make sure to communicate this letter to Zura and Paata.

Rachel, Miriam, Rina, and Hana

“

We’re back at home. We really enjoyed our trip, through Georgia. The hotels you picked were fine and well-situated. We had the impression we normally got the best rooms, perhaps because of the few tourists at that time. The itinerary of our trip, the organizational details, the car, the mobile phone… all great!

But most of all we appreciated your personal service. It really is amazing!

Willems

“

Nous sommes très heureux du tour. Magnifiques sites ! Incroyable aujourd’hui à Ushguli. Nourriture fabuleuse ! Très bons hôtels et surtout notre Guide Misha est fantastique ! Jamais vu quelqu’un d’aussi gentil et doux, attentionné, empathique et agréable. Très bon chauffeur également.

Au final le temps est beau et agréable donc tout va bien.

Sidney

“

I did have a wonderful tour! Tamta was a very cheerful girl, correct, knows what she did, concerned, and very pleasant company! And hereby I want to thank you for all your good care and perfect arrangements! Thank you!!

Pether

“

Today we had a lovely city walk with Ani. She is a very intelligent and developed young woman. Great compliment for her job as a guide and person.

Ketelaar

“

Our hotels were all good to very good. Our favorite Hotel was Rooms Hotel in Kazbegi – charming staff, excellent service and atmosphere and fab breakfast.

Overall we ate very well – especially in Georgia. Suggest checking out Restaurant Archive in Tbilisi – recently opened in the wine museum by chef Levan Kobiashvili. Our favourite meal of the trip. Especially enjoyed the market visit and cooking class in Tbilisi and lunch at people’s homes, winery and qvevri visits. Our guide in Georgia also scheduled in nice lunch stops at local places which nicely broke up the day.

Tamta in Georgia was an absolute delight and really put her customers first and wanted to ensure we were happy and had the best time ever. She engaged with us on a personal level – so we had very interesting conversations with her and the driver. I would rate our driver Nikoloz in Georgia a 10. Very skilled and experienced. Although he understood some English he did not speak it – but we engaged with him a lot through our guide Tamta as an interpreter, as he was a former history teacher and had a lot of knowledge to share with us all.

Lisa & Kenneth

“

I just wanted to give you some feedback on our recently completed two week trip around Georgia.

It was an amazing experience which we thoroughly enjoyed, made possible by the outstanding professionalism of our guide Ana and our driver Lascha.

There was not one occasion when Ana was unable to answer our questions and boy did we ask a lot of them! They were both so helpful and willing, it made the whole experience that much more enjoyable. Ana is a real asset to your company. Whatever you are paying her, it is not enough!

Thank you for organising the trip for us so well. We look forward to using your company on a revisit, should our health and World events permit it.

Anthony

“

Some of the other highlights are too numerous to mention – the amazing food, friendly people, wine tastings at wineries small and large, the incredible history of the area, lots of new birds, and the unexpectedly beautiful scenery.

I think everyone’s favorite guide was Sophie in Georgia. She gave us lots of information about the places we saw, taught us a few phrases in Georgian (our favorite was “shemomechama” which translates to “I didn’t mean to but I accidentally ate everything”!), and knew when we’d had enough talking.

Lois

“

Collectively, I really enjoyed the food and wine on this tour in all countries, and the demonstrations we had of bread-making, and visits to wineries. Honestly, you could highlight this as a “foodie” tour for all the wonderful, natural, local and delicious foods we sampled.

Marilyn

“

It was an excellent, educational trip of countries, that are changing and some of them are still in turmoil. I think we probably all liked Sofi the best. She was kind, informative, organized, flexible – just the right amount of information.

Tom

“

As a nice surprise to me, the trip provided very special, local “culinary experiences” which should be advertised for next group of participants as a one of the trip highlights. I enjoyed the bread making in all three countries (some differences), making dumplings, preparing local desert, visiting wineries, learning about history and different methods of making wines and of course tasting. I like “hands on” activities.

Alison

“

In Georgia: Caucasus Mountains are spectacular! Visiting everywhere advertised Gergeti Trinity Church and hike to the Gveleti Great Waterfall were my favorite. Also the view of the mountains and the church from Rooms hotel’s was unforgettable!

I enjoyed the half day “at leisure” in Tbilisi.

Anne

“

Two highlights for me: Stepantsminda, which was beautiful and dramatic. Getting there was an adventure in itself, especially interesting because of the current situation of truck overuse on the main highway (due to embargoes on Russia). I was affected by the altitude, despite taking the meds, so I didn’t have quite as full an experience and could not do much hiking. But the views were awesome, Gergeti Church was intriguing, the felt-making was fun, and the dumpling-making was a great start to lunchtime–especially since Georgian food ended up being my favorite of the three cuisines.

Ian

“

The Georgia guide seemed to have a better sense of how much to say and when to let us have our own thoughts. All of the guides put in loads of time with us and were quite willing to answer questions/show us special things. An added shout-out to our drivers, who were dependable and resourceful and had great reflexes.

David

“

Everything went smoothly due mostly to your excellent partners in Georgia, Visit Georgia, whose employees were totally professional and well organised as well as being very knowledgeable and good company. Every day was a new adventure that we looked forward to.

In return our guide – Ana was full of praise for the itinerary you had provided, describing it as unusual, interesting and comprehensive… This in turn was the result of the consultation and fine tuning that we had with you for all the destinations. We look forward to continuing this working relationship for our future trips… Thank you all.

Anthony & Marion

07-25 June, 2023

“

A wonderful start to my Monday morning receiving 10/10 feedback across the board from this couple. Including the below kind words which I ask you please pass on.

Our guide in Georgia, Tamta is the best among the three guides we met. Tamta, a student of International Relation in a top Georgian university, has broad knowledge of her country: history, culture, nature and architecture etc. She is 20 years old young girl but mature. The most invaluable of her is Tamta has an unbiased view on the situation of her country, the present and the past. This is important to the visitors who willing to know but not to be educated. Tamta look after us well and we getting on very well. Part of the reason is she looks after her mum at home and she know about the need of old people very well. By the way, my wife and myself are both 74 years old this year. We appreciate the service provided by Tamta and the driver and wish her a bright future.

Thank you for all of your help with this one and a huge thank you to Tamta!

Natalie

14-20 June, 2023

“

Our guide Gabi was truly outstanding and made the holiday. She was so obliging, interesting and amiable. I arrived knowing next to nothing about Georgia and left as an expert. She was like a friend who had all the answers to your queries and did all the organisation. Just brilliant!

Lovely smooth Lincoln car with leather seats and air con.

Our driver David was very skilled at and calm about tackling the traffic in Tbilisi and potholed Georgian military road.

Thank you and please pass these kind words to Gabi and David!

Paul and Bertie

19-29 June

“

Alex was one of the best guides I have worked with in all my travels. His knowledge, friendliness, and flexibility was outstanding. Everyone had a great time and I hope our organization will run another trip to your beautiful and fascinating country in the future.

Dan

June 13-July 2.

“

Liebe Lela,

ich hatte jetzt ein längeres Gespräch mit Herrn Poppe und was soll ich sagen: ER WAR MEGA BEGEISTERT!

Diese Tour war eine seiner schönsten Gruppenreisen und er spricht nur voll des Lobes von euch als Agentur und vor allem von der Reiseleitung, die Du eingeteilt hast.

Eka muss grandios gewesen sein und der Abschied von ihr fiel der gesamten Gruppe sehr schwer! Sie hat die Gruppe erstklassig begleitet und vom schönen Georgien begeistert.

Landschaftlich ein Traum und wirklich noch vom Massentourismus entfernt.

Vielen Dank für alles und herzliche Grüße

Claudi

5-15 June, 2023

“

Ana Hi. We are before the flight from Georgia to Israel. It’s time to thank you and VisitGeorgia for the beautiful and charming planning of the trip. The wonderful, knowledgeable, professional guide David is undoubtedly the number 1 guide in all of Georgia. The trip with David was special and one of a kind. We call him King David … and of course the driver who led us, a safe driver Omar who led us the whole way and also helped us a lot. Georgia is a beautiful and fascinating country and with your help we were able to see it. There is no doubt that I will recommend your agency and you Ana to our friends and acquaintances, and of course David our guide , the knowledgeable professional guide who helps and advises us all the way. We will be in touch in the future. Thank you very much Ana. “

Naftali

8-15 July, 2023

“

Un grand merci à Katia notre guide et David notre chauffeurs. Ils sont formidables et nous ont fait aimer la Géorgie.

Bertrand

16-21 July, 2023

“

Une organisation parfaite, ponctualité et gentillesse de l’ensemble des intervenants. De très belles rencontres au cours de notre séjour, le haut Caucase est magnifique, Tbilisi une ville à découvrir, le vin Géorgien parfois surprenant peut être très qualitatif. Un seul conseil aux futurs voyageurs, les déplacements prennent beaucoup de temps pour des distances qui paraissent sur une carte assez courtes, il faut donc en tenir compte. Merci à tous en particulier à Natia, Nika et nos chauffeurs.

Sylvain

15-25 July, 2023

“

Just wanted to pass on this feedback we received from Margaret about Luka 😊

Hi Charlotte, just wanted to let you know that the Georgia trip was amazing! If you can find a way of cloning Luka and have him guide all your tours then you’ll have the best travel company ever. I’m sure all your guides are great but he was exceptional. Everything, everywhere, all at once! That should be his bio.

Charlotte

22 August, 2023

“

Liebe Marina,

vielen Dank für deine ausgezeichnete und rasche, unseren Vorstellungen entsprechende Planung unserer Georgienrundreise, welche wir vom 23.6. bis

8.7.2023 gemacht haben.

Leider komme ich erst heute dazu mich zu bedanken.

Es war eine so schöne, abwechslungsreiche Reise durch Georgien, welche uns sehr gut gefallen hat. Angefangen mit der Abholung durch Noe unseren Fahrer, der uns die ganze Zeit über, verantwortungsvoll, umsichtig, vorausschauend mit seinem sehr gepflegten Auto durch Georgien gefahren hat.

Frau Nata war uns eine so nette, sympathische, hilfsbereite Reiseleiterin, welche uns sehr ausführlich über Georgien, die Sehenswürdigkeiten informiert hat. Sie wusste sehr viel über die Geschichte, Kultur, Gepflogenheiten und konnte auch alle unsere Fragen zu unserer vollsten Zufriedenheit beantworten. Sie spricht perfekt Deutsch und hat mit viel Begeisterung diese Reise mit uns gemacht. Sie liebt auch das Wandern und konnte ihre Liebe zur Natur mit uns teilen. Zudem hatten wir großes Glück mit dem Wetter und konnten alle Wanderungen bei herrlichem Wetter machen. Die Blumenpracht zu dieser Zeit war phänomenal und wir werden dies alles niemals vergessen.

Die Unterkünfte und das Essen in den Gästehäusern waren ganz in Ordnung. Das georgische Essen hat uns überall sehr gut geschmeckt und auch die Portionen waren gerade recht. Besonders gut hat uns die Unterkunft in Mestia gefallen. Wir waren sehr positiv überrascht von dem neuen Gästehaus mit wunderschönen Zimmern mit Balkon, der schönen Aussicht auf den Ort und den deutsch sprechenden Chef des Hauses.

Gerne kann ich Freunden und Bekannten die Reiseorganisation empfehlen.

Vielen herzlichen Dank nochmals für Alles und bitte geben sie das große Lob an Noe und Nata weiter!

Mit lieben Grüßen

Annemarie

23.06.2023

“

Ce voyage en Géorgie était profondément désiré. J’en rêvais depuis si longtemps! Dès que le contact a été établi avec Visit Georgia et Natia, j’ai tout de suite compris que mes attentes singulières seraient comprises et pleinement satisfaites. J’ai eu la chance de faire ce voyage, lequel était initiatique avec deux êtres d’exception, la guide francophone Tamar et le driver Simon. Tamar a une connaissance pointue et profonde de son pays, son histoire sacrée comme profane. Elle porte un tel amour à son pays que cet amour ne peut que vous porter et vous transfigurer, Simon est d’une patience et d’une maîtrise et tout de joie. Voyager avec eux n’est pas un simple voyage du corps, mais un voyage du coeur et de l’âme. Je m’étais documentée auparavant sur la Géorgie, mais rien n’était à la hauteur de la connaissance profonde et incarnée que représentait Tamar. La Géorgie est donc bien des paysages grandioses, des monuments d’une grande beauté esthétiques mais elle est surtout le pays des Géorgiens, Kartvelio, eux qui portent leur histoire dans leur coeur immense et intelligent. Pour les amoureux de l’histoire, du voyage qui du sens, des beaux paysages, de la peinture, de la cuisine, Visit Georgia, Tamar et Simon sont les êtres les plus idoines que l’on puisse avoir pour partir à la découverte de ce joyau qu’est la Géorgie. Je pourrais écrire tant de chose sur Tamar à travers laquelle j’ai pu pénétrer l’âme d’un pays. Douceur, compétence, générosité, dévouement. Je la remercie donc de tout, du fond du coeur et partant, je remercie Visit Georgia de l’avoir choisie pour me guider tout au long de ce voyage qui relève bien du merveilleux.

Saloua

July 18 – August 25, 2023