Georgia Real Food Adventure

8 Days | Discover the rich flavours and centuries-old Caucasian classics of Tbilisi and beyond

4.9 out of 5 based on 16 reviews submitted.
Food
From
CAD $2,508
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Taste all the punchy flavours of incredibly diverse Georgia on an eight-day food adventure. Begin the journey among the charming facades of Tbilisi, where the snow-dusted peaks of the Caucasus are the backdrop for a culinary adventure. Get hands-on with cooking classes and kick back on included tastings, mingling with the locals and gaining an insight into Georgian culture along the way. Explore underrated sites like Narikala Fortress, Mtskheta (one of Georgia's oldest cities) and the Ananuri Fortress Complex (which has to be witnessed firsthand to be believed). Spend the night with descendants of the original highland Chechens in Pankisi Valley and wander the lush grounds in the dense foothills of the mountains. On this foodie adventure, you’ll enjoy the region’s most iconic and celebrated dishes, and wash it all down with a delicious array of Georgia’s famous local wines.

Trip overview

Map of Georgia Real Food Adventure including Georgia
Start
Tbilisi, Georgia
Finish
Tbilisi, Georgia
Theme
Food
Destinations
Georgia
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
KFZG
This trip generates 45 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Spend the night in a women-run guesthouse in the Pankisi Valley, surrounded by lush, green mountains, and take part in a zhizhig galnash cooking class to learn the local cuisine.
  • Enjoy cooking demonstrations and masterclasses by local cooks and artisans, including learning how to make churchkhela (traditional candle-shaped candy) and khinkali (Georgian dumplings).
  • Meet local producers at the Telavi markets, then head to a local farm and cheese maker for a tour of the factory and a delicious, included tasting.
  • Take a hike in the striking Caucasus mountains to perhaps one of the best positioned churches in Europe – Gergeti Trinity Church.
  • Taste some of Georgia’s favourite cuisines and dishes with included lunches and dinners, including khachapuri, khinkali, churchkhela and qveri wines.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Mtskheta-Mtianeti Regional Hub. Donations help them improve their services and training hub to connect people, who’ve fled their homes due to war or political instability, with their new community in Georgia.

Is this trip right for you?
  • The cuisine of the Caucasus region includes a lot of meat. For vegetarians and vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to the Caucasus region which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements.
  • The diversity of the seasons here makes for incredible scenery, but the weather in this region can be unpredictable. It’s best to wear layers at all times of the year in case conditions change. There may occasionally be itinerary changes due to road closures.
  • This trip involves a reasonable amount of walking so be sure to bring sturdy walking shoes and comfortable clothes. To make the most of the trip, it's best if you have at least a moderate level of fitness. There is an included hike on Day 6, at an altitude of 2170m. Please refer to the Itinerary for more details.

Itinerary

Map of Georgia Real Food Adventure including Georgia

Inclusions

Meals

7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (6 nights), Guesthouse (1 night)

Activities
  • Tbilisi - Welcome Dinner
  • Tbilisi - Old Town Walking Tour with Local Guide
  • Kvareli - Barbecue lunch with a local family
  • Kvareli - Traditional Churchkhela demonstration
  • Kakheti - Gremi Architectural Complex
  • Kvareli - Qvevri Wine Master visit
  • Telavi - Cheesemaker visit
  • Pankisi Valley - Chechen cooking class
  • Telavi - Local market visit
  • Pankisi Valley - Kist villages and culture walking tour
  • Ananuri - Architectural Complex
  • Stepantsminda - Gergeti Trinity Church Hike
  • Stepantsminda - Khinkali home-cooking class
  • Mtskheta - Jvari Church & Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
  • Tbilisi - Farewell Dinner
Add on activities
  • Telavi – Batonis Castle - GEL2
  • Telavi - Telavi Historical Museum - GEL5
  • Stepantsminda – 4WD to Gergeti Cathedral – from (per car) - GEL60
  • Tbilisi - Open Air Museum of Ethnography - GEL20
  • Tbilisi - The National Gallery - GEL25
  • Tbilisi - Georgian National Museum - GEL30
  • Tbilisi - Thermal Bath House Visit - from - GEL70
  • Tbilisi - Aerial Cable Car One Way - GEL2

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available on this trip, subject to availability. Please contact your sales agent if you would like to book this. The single supplement excludes Day 4 (Guesthouse) where you will be in shared accommodation.
2. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip.
3. Due to current border crossing restrictions for different Caucasus nationalities, your Trip Leader may be from nearby countries. Your leader will have in-depth knowledge and extensive travel experience throughout the Caucasus. Local guides from Georgia are represented throughout the itinerary to ensure you receive a diverse and uniquely local range of perspectives.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 based on 16 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Shelagh · Traveled October 2023
My first time travelling with Intrepid and I won’t hesitate to travel with them again. I understand now why they have a very loyal and growing group of travellers who travel with them again and again! I would recommend them in a heartbeat and I look forward to exploring the world with them again soon!
Review submitted 14 Oct 2023

Kelly · Traveled October 2023
When trying to decide on a trip in this region, the food tour really stood out to me as I wasn't very familiar with dishes from these countries. Safe to say, this trip really highlights the importance of food in this region and the amazing scenery & history that you encounter & learn about. I had such a great time exploring these wonderful places!
Review submitted 12 Oct 2023

Rachel · Traveled September 2023
This was the first tour I went on that emphasizes food and it was excellent. More meals are included than in other tours, and many of the meals were in home settings, which was really nice. The market visits, wine tastings and cooking demos - stuffed grape leaves, lavash, dumplings, walnuts dipped in grape paste - were very good. This is an active tour - you visit a lot of sites with interesting history - and the scenery is beautiful in both Armenia and Georgia. By chance, there was a group of women singing in Geghard church/monastery when we visited - it was amazing! The Tour Leader, Ani, is from Georgia. She was great company, taught us a lot about the region and ensured that the tour went smoothly. We also had an excellent local guide in Armenia. There are some long bus and mini van rides, but they were very comfortable.
Review submitted 26 Sep 2023

Clare · Traveled September 2023
Great tour which gives you the highlights of two countries, and extra insights into local food and drink traditions. Safe travel in a sometimes unstable region.
Review submitted 27 Sep 2023

Robin · Traveled September 2023
Outstanding! I have a new understanding and appreciation for the people, food, and culture of the Caucasus. Thank you to Yulia for making this a fun experience.
Review submitted 16 Sep 2023
Georgia Real Food Adventure
From
CAD $2,508