Sustainability Tour 10 Days

Duration: 10 Days

Best season: June to October

Interests: Sustainable tourism, folklore, craft, cultural heritage, nature, hiking, organic wine and food.

Georgia is a small country with the unique culture and nature, and it is crucial to avoid negative impact of tourism. At Expert Guides, we strongly believe that sustainable and responsible tourism is the only way how tourism should grow in Georgia. Main principles of sustainable tourism are:

1. Protecting the environment, natural resources, and wildlife

2. Providing socio-economic benefits for communities who live in tourist destinations

3. Conserving cultural heritage and creating authentic tourist experiences

4. Bringing tourists and local communities together for mutual benefit

5. Creating inclusive and accessible tourist opportunities

Based on these principles we created a tour program, which reduces negative impact on destinations, supports small eco-friendly businesses: Craftsmen, farmers, winemakers, bread bakers and most vulnerable members of our community: Enamel workshop managed by the refugees from the Russian occupied territories and a social community.

By booking this tour, not only you support sustainable tourism in Georgia, but also benefiting yourself by staying at eco-friendly accommodations with organic food and fresh air and getting authentic interaction with local people.

Tour itinerary:

Day 1.  Arrival

Arrival - transfer to a centrally located hotel in the old part of Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi

Day 2.  Tbilisi - Tserovani enamel workshop - Natural Winery in Tsedisi - Uplistsikhe rock hewn town - Didi Ateni Winery & Guesthouse

Tbilisi – Tserovani – enamel workshop – drive to Tsedisi - visit a natural winery -wine tasting and lunch – visit a local honey maker and try local honey – drive to Uplistsikhe – explore the ancient rock hewn town of Uplitsikhe – drive to Didi Ateni and stay at a local Winery & Guesthouse in the hills full of Vineyards. Enjoy delicious dinner and wine with friendly hosts (BLDWW)

Day 3. Didi Ateni - Mtskheta - Badiauri bakery - Dedoplistskaro - Felt worskhop - Dedoplistskaro eco - friendly Guesthouse

Didi Ateni – Mstkheta – visit 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Svetitskhoveli cathedral and Jvari monastery – drive to Badiauri – visit a small bread bakery – try cheese and bread and interact with the local baker – drive to DedoplisTskaro and visit a local felt making workshop – learn about felt making and participate in a felt making class – Overnight at a local eco-friendly Guesthouse and learn more about the local ecosystem as our host is a guide and a photographer in Vashlovani National Park while enjoying delicious dinner and homemade wine (BDW)

Day 4. Dedoplistkaro - Bodbe nunnery - Sighnaghi - Family winery - Tsinandali Estate - Telavi

Dedoplistkaro – drive to Bodbe – explore Bodbe nunnery and visit their workshop – optional 1-2 hours horse-riding in the nearby village Qedeli visit Sighnaghi – beautiful town located on Gombori mountain range and overlooking Alazani Valley and the Great Caucuses mountains - visit a local museum of the most prominent Georgian primitivism painter Niko Pirosmani – drive to the village Chumlaki lunch and wine at a local family where family members perform Georgian folk songs – drive to Tsinandali and visit Tsinandali estate with 19thcentury palace and a beautiful garden - drive to Telavi and Overnight at a local eco-friendly Guesthouse.

Day 5. Telavi – drive to Tusheti National Park – via Abano pass – photo stop sand lunch picnic on the way – visit visitors center of Tusheti and learn about the local culture, history and unique ecosystem. Overnight at an eco-friendly Guesthouse and enjoy delicious dinner(BLD)

Day 6. Tusheti National Park

We have a few options today:

Option 1. Hiking towards Nakaicho pass to enjoy the view of almost the whole Tusheti National Park and then drive to Dartlo – the most beautiful village of Tusheti.

Option 2. It is to do a horseback riding to the same location and finally end the ride in Dartlo.

Option 3. Rent local mountain bikes and ride to the village Dartlo.

Lunch picnic

Overnight at a local ecofriendly guesthouse with delicious dinner (BLD)

Day 7. Tusheti National Park

Dartlo – horse riding, hiking, bicycle ride to Jvarboseli village – on the way visit Parsma - another beautiful village of Tusheti. Overnight at another ecofriendly guesthouse in Jvarboseli with delicious dinner (BLD)

Day 8. Tusheti - Natural Winery in Zemo Alvani - Bread Bakery - Community Temi - Gombori Pass - Tbilisi

Jvarboseli – drive back to Kakheti region – visit a local natural wine and bread producer family in Zemo Alvani - enjoy a delicious lunch and wine tasting – drive to the village Gremi and visit Community Temi – a social enterprise which started as a grassroots organisation in 1989 and has grown steadily since then. Nowadays, about 70 people with different backgrounds and abilities live and work in Temi. The community aims to provide the best possible life opportunities and care for its members, and to develop its entrepreneurial activities to reach financial independence.  Meet the employs, young Georgian and foreign voluntaries - learn about their life, visit their carpentry, taste locally produced food and visit their workshop - optional bicycle ride with the members of the community - drive back to Tbilisi via Gombori pass. Overnight in Tbilisi (BLW)

Day 9. In Tbilisi

City walking tour of old Tbilisi. Exploring medieval monuments and local workshops and natural wine bars/restaurants. Free Evening. Overnight in Tbilisi (B)

Day 10. Departure

Check out. Airport transfer. Departure (B)

End of the tour

Price of the tour depends on the size of the group and types of hotels used for this tour program. For more details please contact us, as we offer private tours we are ready to make changes in the itinerary and consider your requirements.

What will be included in the price:

- Tour guide

- Transportation

- Accommodation

- Entrance tickets

- Fees for described activities

- Meals as specified in the itinerary: B - breakfast, L - lunch, D - dinner and W- wine tasting

- Costs of the activities which are mentioned in the itinerary