Georgia: Wine Traditions, Cave Cities and Nature
Accommodation in Georgia
Georgia can be discovered in many different ways: in ancient cave cities, on trails through forests and alpine landscapes, or by exploring its long wine tradition. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, it is therefore helpful to decide first what you want to focus on during your trip. Culture enthusiasts will find different inspiration from guests who want to hike, cycle or learn about Georgian wine.
Panoramic view of Tbilisi from Narikala Fortress.
Photo: Diego Delso via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
History in Cities and Cave Complexes
The Historical Monuments of Mtskheta comprise Jvari Monastery, Svetitstkhoveli Cathedral and Samtavro Monastery. From the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD, Mtskheta was the ancient capital of Kartli, the eastern Georgian kingdom. In 337, Christianity was declared the state religion of Georgia there. These historical connections give a clear sense of the period: for centuries, Mtskheta was an important place in the history and religion of the region.
Uplistsikhe also brings history together with a distinctive setting. The cave city was already an important spiritual centre in the 4th century BC. Visitors can walk along streets and through squares, and see public spaces, temples, theatres, pharmacies, wine presses and wine cellars carved into the rock. Vardzia, in turn, is a 900-metre-long fortress city carved into a cliff face. Its multiple levels are connected by tunnels. The Dormition of the Virgin Church still stands at the heart of the complex, with frescoes painted across its interior.
The Svaneti Museum offers another way to explore cultural history: its Christian treasury includes manuscripts, gospels, Georgian translations and the Lahili Gospel. The ethnographic exhibition focuses on the everyday life of the people of Svaneti. Those especially interested in historic sites and collections can give these visits greater priority when choosing destinations.
Forests, Wetlands and Wildlife
The Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands comprise ancient Colchic broadleaf rainforests and wetlands, including percolation bogs and other types of peatland. The area is home to 19 threatened animal species and serves as a stopover site for globally threatened migratory birds. In Kazbegi National Park, forests, alpine meadows, snow-covered peaks and inaccessible cliffs alternate, providing habitat for rare animals and birds.
Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park is also notable for its wildlife and plant life. It is home to, among other species, Caucasian black grouse and lynx, and also has relict stands of yew. Mist-shrouded Colchic forests shape the landscape of Mtirala National Park. A lake and Tsablnari Waterfall can be explored there on foot or on horseback. These natural areas offer different ways to get to know Georgia beyond its historic sites.
Active Trips and Choosing a Focus
Activities in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park include hiking, horseback riding, cycling, snowshoeing, and cultural and educational tours. Marked trails, overnight cabins, picnic areas and campsites are suitable for multi-day trips. Mtirala National Park offers one- to two-day hikes along marked trails, with picnic areas and campsites; accommodation for tourists is available along the two-day trail. Hikers can choose between different trip lengths and the overnight options specified for each.
Gudauri offers a range of winter activities. Besides skiing, there is snowboarding, freestyle skiing and heli-skiing, which involves taking skiers by helicopter to mountain peaks to ski off-piste. Gudauri has twenty ski runs, divided into four European difficulty grades. The drive from Tbilisi to Gudauri usually takes about 2 to 2.5 hours. If Gudauri is the focus of your trip, this approximate journey time is a useful guide when planning where to stay.
Cyclists will find routes on the Kakheti Wine Route for different fitness and ability levels. The best time to go is considered to be from April to October. Kakheti is Georgia’s leading wine-producing region. Georgian qvevri wine-making began 8,000 years ago, has been preserved to this day and was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2013. At Iago Winery, visitors can walk through organic vineyards, visit the qvevri cellar, sample wines and seasonal local produce, and learn about qvevri wine-making. These experiences make wine and local produce a possible focus in its own right, alongside nature and cultural destinations.
For regional orientation: Shida Kartli, Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti, Imereti, Inner Kartli, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Adjara, Abkhazia, Kvemo Kartli, Lower Kartli, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Guria, Samegrelo and Upper Svaneti, Tbilisi, Adjara and Kakheti.
