Cycling Tour in Georgia

Tusheti, Republic of Georgia

Itinerary

Day 1
17 August, Saturday
Upon arrival at Tbilisi International Airport, you will be greeted by our tour guide. Bus transfer to hotel Beaumonde. Later during the day we get acquainted with our fellow travellers. In case you have opted for a rental bike, get familiar with your best friend during our bike tour in Georgia. In case you have your own bike with you – it’s time to prepare it. Otherwise: day at leisure. In the afternoon we will explore the old town of Tbilisi and arter that we will draive to the beautiful city of Mtsketa, where we will have a nice dinner at the restaurant Armazis Tskaro.
Overnight at hotel Beaumonde (or similar).
Dinner included.

Day 2
18 August, Sunday
We are off to mountains for the day! From Telavi we drive up to Abano Pass, which is the highest point on our route (2,850 m). Abano pass is the only passage for vehicles to Tusheti. It is passable only during the summer months from May to October. The scenery on the way up to the pass is unforgettable. It changes from low-land plains and vineyards to lush forests and finally to Alpine meadows. We start our biking here. It can be freezing cold up here, so be prepared and stock up with warm clothing. Luckily it warms up considerably fast after 15 min or so of downhill. While you reach the bottom of the valley, there is no need for warm clothing anymore. The downhill from Abano pass is one of the highlights of our trip – it is long, scenic and enjoyable. Picnic lunch en route. OK, it is not only downhill cycling: reaching the bottom of the valley in village Khiso, we will encounter our first serious uphill. We will be biking up to the village Lower Omalo, where we will end today’s bike tour. We can rest and settle down in our cosy guest house. Here we can enjoy some of the best views in Omalo (with or without a glass of wine) over the village itself and the nearby mountains, while waiting for dinner prepared by our hosts.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 3
19 August, Monday
We’ll start our day by visiting a 17th century fortress on the top of the mountain in Upper Omalo. This type of fortresses (Keselo towers) found here are distinctive to Tusheti only (and to some bordering areas in Dagestan and Ingushetia in Russia).  The fortresses provided escape for the villagers from raiding tribes during the middle ages. The views from the fortress are superb – several surrounding villages, mountains and valleys can be seen from here. We continue by car to a small village Ilurta. This village is a good introduction to Tushetian local lifestyle with its modest houses and neatly cultivated valleys. Our biking route for today starts here and goes back to our ”base” in Omalo. Picnic lunch en route. The way from Ilurta back to Omalo is a winding up-and-down road that follows the Valley of Gometsari Alazani River and its tributaries. The whole ride is rewarding as the views to the mountains and valleys here are among the best in Tusheti. Back in Omalo: dinner prepared by our hosts, wine and cha-cha on the house. Overnight at a guest house in Omalo.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 4
20 August, Tuesday
Today we bike from Omalo to the villages of Shenako and Diklo. First there is a nice downhill ride from Omalo to the valley of Pirikiti Alazani and then a strenuous ascent to Shenako. It’s perhaps the toughest uphill of our cycling tour, so it is recommended (at least to consider) taking it with the aid of our support vehicle. Shenako is a charming village with nice ancient architecture. An old church of Holy Trinity on the top of a hill provides a perfect stop for photos, lunch and rest. We continue on bikes towards Diklo which is the returning point to our base in Omalo. However, the bravest ones can continue towards small villages of Chero and Intsukhi, near the border of Dagestan, Russia. This is an area where tourist foot nearly ever set. Now it’s time to return home. Overnight at a guest house in Omalo.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 5
21 August, Wednesday
We are off to “pastures new” today. We start from Omalo on bikes and cycle towards a new valley – Pirikiti Alazani. Our first stop will be in village Dartlo, which is rich in medieval defence towers and houses alike. It is perhaps the most picturesque village in the whole Tusheti with its narrow winding streets up and down the village and stone houses still being built in traditional way. Picnic lunch en route. Dartlo will be the place where we’ll spend the night with our Tushetian hosts in a charming guest house. But not yet: we will bike until the village Chesho, which is further up the valley, set along the banks of Pirikiti Alazani. It’s another fine example of traditional villages of Tusheti and our furthermost point in Tusheti. We can explore the village by foot and have a rest before cycling back to Dartlo. Once we’ve settled down at our guest house, we’ll have the chance to observe or actively assist our host family in preparing a delicious Tushetian dinner. Overnight at Guesthouse Samtsikhe (or similar).
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 6
22 August, Thursday
Farewell Tusheti! We’ll pack our bags and drive from Dartlo to Abano Pass. There is an option for the masochists-- a very early wake-up call a long and strenuous bike trip up to Abano pass. A choice for the brave! From the pass, it is a long, long descent (more than 2,000 m of vertical drop) until the Kakhetian plains. It’s a bike ride full of adrenaline! From there on the road is long but easy and flat. We will be biking through the famous Kakhetian vineyards. Just before Telavi the road starts to ascend. Be careful, the ascent seems gentle as it is not as steep as in Tushetian mountains, but it is long and deceptive. Overnight at Hotel Rcheuli Marani in Telavi (www.rcheulimarani.com) or similar
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 7
23 August, Friday
This day is about wine, sightseeing and more wine. We are in Kakheti, a region famous for its vineyards and world-class wines. First we drive to Kvareli to visit a traditional winery. Kvareli is famous for its “Kindzmarauli” (try to pronounce it!) wines, which were the favourites of Jossif Stalin. Our trip continues to the royal town of Sighnaghi, built in the 18th century by the Kakhetian king Erekle II. The town is surrounded by a defence wall with 23 gates, through which Georgia was connected to Asia by numerous trading routes. Fascinating views open over Alazani valley from the small and cosy streets of Sighnaghi. The town itself is renovated and resembles more a Mediterranean town than a Georgian one. Here in Sighnaghi we visit a winery “Pheasant’s Tears”, which is renowned for its hand-crafted natural wines, prepared according to the ancient Georgian principles. From Sighnaghi we continue towards Tbilisi. Schedule permitting, we’ll visit the Monastery of Davit Gareja, dating back to the 6th century. The monastery consists of caves and chapels and is located in a semi-desert area bordering Azerbaijan. In the evening well enjoy a dinner with traditional Georgian songs and dances at a restaurant in central Tbilisi. Overnight at Hotel Cruise in Tbilisi (www.cruise.ge) or similar.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 8
24 August, Saturday
Our day starts with a sightseeing tour in Tbilisi. It is a city of diversity – within a walking distance you can find a Turkish mosque, Jewish synagogue, Roman Catholic, Armenian Gregorian and of course Georgian Orthodox churches. Up on the hill between the sulphur baths and the botanical gardens of Tbilisi an ancient fortress Narikala is overlooking the old town and the Kura River that can easily be explored by foot. The afternoon will be spent by everyones own choice  - time to do some last minute souvenir shopping etc. The day and our cycling tour will end with a festive dinner in the evening at restaurant Puris Šakli (or similar).
Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 9
25 August, Sunday
Departure day. Transfer to Tbilisi international airport 2 hours prior to your departure marks the end of your cycling holiday.
Breakfast included.