Map of Armenia & Georgia Real Food Adventure including Armenia and Georgia

Discover the rich flavours and centuries-old Caucasian classics of Yerevan, Tbilisi and beyond

Taste the punchy flavours of Armenia and Georgia on this 10-day food adventure. Begin the journey in Yerevan, contrasting traditional Armenian barbecue, grilled trout and tolma with the many spicy aromas of the local markets. Continue the adventure in Georgia, where the charming facades of Tbilisi and the snow-dusted peaks of the Caucasus are the backdrop for culinary adventures, both hands-on and leisurely. Enjoy the region’s most iconic and celebrated dishes, all washed down with a delicious array of Georgia’s famous local wines.


Start
Yerevan, Armenia
Finish
Tbilisi, Georgia
Destinations
Armenia, Georgia
Style
Original
Theme
Food
Code
KFZG
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Prepare your own tolma (vine-wrapped rice, herbs and lentils) and join a masterclass with a local family to learn how to make khinkali (Georgian dumplings).

  • Join local families for traditional homecooked meals, sampling Armenian trout with a family in Garni and make a Georgian barbecue with a family in the Kakheti region.

  • Take a hike in the striking Caucasus mountains to perhaps one of the best positioned churches in Europe – Gergeti Trinity Church.

  • Taste the region’s most iconic dishes, including chaqafuli (beef or lamb in plum sauce), mtsvadi (meat skewers), churchkhela (nutty Georgian candy) and khachapuri (cheese breads).

  • Enjoy a glass or two of the locally produced wine and learn about the unique Qvevri tradition of using clay pots to create delicious, unfiltered and organic drops.

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 8, at an altitude of 2170m. Please refer to the itinerary for more details.

Itinerary

Welcome to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. After meeting with your guide at 6pm in the hotel lobby, head out with your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner in a local restaurant. Here the main dish is khorovats – skewered and spiced meats, such as pork, grilled on a barbecue. It's the most representative dish of Armenian cuisine enjoyed in restaurants, family gatherings and feasts.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Yerevan - Welcome Dinner
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
After breakfast, set off on a city tour around Yerevan with a local guide. This includes a visit to the local market, the best place to browse the fresh fruits, dried fruits and many aromatic spices that Armenia is known for. Then, visit a local home where you'll learn how to make the traditional Armenian dish known as tolma, delicious parcels of rice, herbs, lentils and tomato wrapped in vine or cabbage leaves, which you’ll then enjoy for lunch.The home also serves as an ethnographic museum, so be sure to have a look around before you leave. The rest of the day is free for your own discoveries. You may like to visit the Zvartnots Temple. Built in the 7th century, destroyed in the 10th century, and excavated in the early 20th, this World Heritage-listed marvel is impressive even in its ruined and partially reconstructed form. Another option is a visit to the Etchmiadzin Cathedral, one of the oldest standing churches in Christendom.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Yerevan - Local market visit
  • Yerevan - City Tour with Local Guide
  • Yerevan - Tolma cooking demonstration
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
After breakfast, visit Geghard Monastery, a magnificent monument of medieval Armenian architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Next up is the Symphony of Stones, a remarkable natural collection of hexagonal and pentagonal basalt columns that resemble the pipes of an organ. From here, head to the Temple of Garni, a monument of the Hellenistic period and an impressive piece of ancient Armenian architecture. Next up, enjoy lunch in a local house, sampling some delectable Armenian grilled trout, accompanied by salads, rice, fruit and tea or coffee. Your hosts will demonstrate how to make lavash, a soft, thin unleavened flatbread so essential to Armenia that it's on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. If you're keen, try making some for yourself. Drive to back to Yerevan and enjoy a free evening – perhaps visit the Armenian Brandy Factory for a taste of various aged brandies, the classic Ararat variety is considered the pride of many generations and a symbol of Armenia.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Garni - Temple of Garni
  • Garni - Lavash making demonstration
  • Geghard - Geghard Monastery
  • Garni - Home-cooked lunch
  • Garni - Symphony of Stones
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s total travel time is approximately 2.5 hours.
Start early today, saying goodbye to Armenia and hopping aboard a public bus to Georgia’s capital city, Tbilisi. Enjoy the scenery or catch up on sleep on the way. On arrival, take some time to settle into your hotel, then head out to a local wine bar to sample wine made by the bar’s female owner. For your first taste of Georgian cuisine, you may like to go out and try one of the country’s oldest and most delicious dishes for dinner. Shqmeruli is a hearty combination of succulent chicken with a garlic and milk sauce.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Tbilisi - Wine Tasting
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total travel time is approximately 6 hours.

Our preference is to buy tickets for the morning bus, but if they are unavailable we will purchase tickets for the afternoon bus, which arrives into Tbilisi in the evening. Delays can occur if there is heavy traffic at the border crossing.
Today you will explore Tbilisi with a local guide. Starting from the Metekhi Church, which has magnificent views over old Tbilisi, stroll through winding streets to the city’s main sites. Enjoy the terraced streets, colourful houses, patterned balconies and modern architecture. End the tour at the ancient Narikala Fortress, with panoramic views of the city and surrounds. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant specializing in khachapuri (cheese breads). Taste several varieties – all different shapes, styles and fillings. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore the sites and tastes of Tbilisi at your own pace.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Tbilisi - Khachapuri tasting
  • Tbilisi - Old Town Walking Tour with Local Guide
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Today you will travel into the Kakheti region, surrounded by both snowy Caucasus mountains and fertile valleys and famous for its wines and welcoming hospitality. Your first stop is the 16th century Gremi Architectural Complex, which you’ll explore with a local guide, followed by lunch with a local family. Familiarise yourself with the local life and make 'mtsvadi', a famous Georgian barbecue dish, and learn the ritual behind its preparation. Afterwards, watch a demonstration on the making of 'churchkhela', a type of Georgian sweet, and give it a go yourself! After lunch, drive to a traditional Georgian wine cellar, where you’ll learn the secret behind the unique method used to create this delicious beverage. Arrive at your night's accommodation in the early evening.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kakheti - Gremi Architectural Complex
  • Kvareli - Barbecue lunch with a local family
  • Kvareli - Traditional Churchkhela demonstration
  • Kvareli - Qvevri Wine Master visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s total travel time is approximately 2 hours.
This morning, join your leader for a walk around the market to discover fresh local produce. Then, drive to Georgia's ancient capital and religious centre, Mtskheta. Here you’ll meet with a local guide and tour World Heritage-listed marvels: Jvari Church, which dates back to the 6th century, and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, dating back to the 11th century (where the Robe of Christ is buried). Afterwards, drive up the famous Georgian Military Highway, which leads to the Georgian-Russian border. On the way there, visit the 17th-century Ananuri architectural complex, as well as the two churches and the fortress that overlooks the Zhinvali water reservoir. The views here are spectacular and the carvings on the churches are some of the best samples of Georgian art out there. Today's drive through the Caucasus Mountains is a memorable one (it can get slow, steep and windy up here). In the evening, sit down to dinner at a local guesthouse in Gudauri (2200m above sea level) where you’ll spend the night.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mtskheta - Jvari Church & Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
  • Ananuri - Architectural Complex
  • Telavi - Local market visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total travel time is approximately 5 hours.
Start the day with a drive to Stepantsminda. From here, it's a leisurely 2 hour walk up through beautiful valleys and woodland to Gergeti Trinity Church. Weather permitting, you might catch a glimpse of one of the highest glaciers in the Caucasus, Mt Kazbegi (5047 m). After the walk, visit a local family located in Gudauri, where the host will teach a masterclass on how to make khinkali (Georgian dumplings). Drive back to Gudauri in the late afternoon, where you will enjoy a free evening.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Stepantsminda - Gergeti Trinity Church Hike
  • Stepantsminda - Khinkali home-cooking class
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total travel time is approximately 1.5 hours.

While today’s hike isn’t long, being at an altitude of 2170m does make it more challenging. If you’d prefer not to hike, it’s possible to hire a 4WD to drive you up to Gergeti Trinity Church. Your leader can arrange this for you, with the additional cost paid locally.
Leave Gudauri this morning and head to Tbilisi for an afternoon at leisure. You may like to take a dip in the city’s famous sulfur baths, take a walk along the river, check out the Tbilisi Concert Hall and Public Service Hall, or grab a great coffee and check out the artist pop ups at Fabrika. In the evening, head out for a farewell dinner at a traditional Georgian restaurant featuring chaqafuli (beef or lamb in a fresh plum sauce).
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Tbilisi - Farewell Dinner
Optional Activities
  • Tbilisi - Aerial Cable Car - USD1
  • Tbilisi - Museum of Georgia - USD5
  • Tbilisi - Museum of Fine Arts - USD2
  • Tbilisi - Sulphur Baths Entry - USD35
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total travel time is approximately 2.5 hours.
Today your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. There are no activities included on this day and you are free to leave at any time. If you would like to spend some more time in Tbilisi, please contact your booking agent to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Meals

9 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners

Transport

Private Bus, Public bus

Accommodation

Hotel (9 nights)

Included activities

  • Yerevan - Welcome Dinner
  • Yerevan - Local market visit
  • Yerevan - City Tour with Local Guide
  • Yerevan - Tolma cooking demonstration
  • Garni - Temple of Garni
  • Garni - Lavash making demonstration
  • Geghard - Geghard Monastery
  • Garni - Home-cooked lunch
  • Garni - Symphony of Stones
  • Tbilisi - Wine Tasting
  • Tbilisi - Khachapuri tasting
  • Tbilisi - Old Town Walking Tour with Local Guide
  • Kakheti - Gremi Architectural Complex
  • Kvareli - Barbecue lunch with a local family
  • Kvareli - Traditional Churchkhela demonstration
  • Kvareli - Qvevri Wine Master visit
  • Mtskheta - Jvari Church & Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
  • Ananuri - Architectural Complex
  • Telavi - Local market visit
  • Stepantsminda - Gergeti Trinity Church Hike
  • Stepantsminda - Khinkali home-cooking class
  • Tbilisi - Farewell Dinner

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Armenia & Georgia Real Food Adventure trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
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 Ukraine or Russia. Your leader will have in-depth knowledge and extensive travel experience throughout the Caucasus. Local guides from Georgia and Armenia are represented throughout the itinerary to ensure you receive a diverse and uniquely local range of perspectives.

Essential trip information

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