20 Sep - 8 Oct 2024 (19-days, accom 17 nights) Go Georgia with Tusheti National Park
(Tbilisi, Upper Omalo, Kakheti, Okatse Canyon, Mestia, Karoldi, Ushgu Kutaisi Winery, Vardzia)
Cost per pax Rm7,500 (15-18 pax group) based on 1 Georgian Lari = Rm1.72352 as at 20 Dec 2023.
Final adjustment on the cost is based on the exchange rate at time of final collections.
EXCLUDES INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT BELOW (QATAR FARE: RM3650 22/2/24)
20 SEP 2024 FRI KUL TBS 0225 1320
7 OCT 2024 MON TBS KUL 1435 0750(+1)
Update 21 Feb 2024. Please do not book flights until advised by us. For assistance, Trip Handlers WhatsApp LEEMIN 016 2209033 OR YEOWLIM 016 2093360...
Note all meals in 4 nights stay Tusheti NP included in trip cost. And breakfast dinners in 4 nights stay Mestia and 1 night Kutaisi Agro Guesthouse.
NOTE 6-DAYS ARMENIA EXTENSION FLY OUT YEREVAN FOR THOSE WHO WANT. PLEASE INFORM TRIP HANDLERS.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This is meant to be a "free and easy" adventure trip. Participants should be relatively fit, with a good sense of humor, and above all, have the right attitude for close travel with others through possibly some trying times. Most definitely, this is not a trip for prudes, whiners, fuss-pots, and other similarly assorted types! We had a couple of those before and it wasn't pleasant for us or them. Although every effort will be made to stick to the given itinerary, ground conditions may change and cause some disruption and/or deviation from the norm. Otherwise, have fun.
Tusheti National Park - opens only 5 months in a year.
Trip involve many walks and treks, including 4 nights in Omalu, base of Tusheti National Park. We hire 4WD vans for Tusheti and a Mercedes Sprinter for rest of trip, led by a Georgian guide and local driver(s) for the duration of this trip. We stay budget hotels and local guesthouses. We use smaller chartered 4WD vehicles for some mountain areas. Large sized 28 inches luggage ARE NOT ALLOWED on Yongo trips. Many Yongers manage with 22 inches but most will use 24 inches trolleys. Note trip cost covers full board at Tusheti National Park 4-nights stay (breakfasts, packed lunches and dinners); half-board at Mestia 4-nights half-board at Kutaisi Winery stay (breakfast2 and dinners).
In Greek mythology, Georgia was the home of the Golden Fleece. Today, a more spirited fame is Georgian wine, as Georgia is also referred to as the “Cradle of Wine”, with wine samples dating back 6000 years! Whatever, let’s enjoy Georgia’s mountains, edifices, dances, good food and of course, great wine……and brandy! Opened only from late-May to early Oct, Tusheti is one of of the highest and remotest mountain areas, often considered the Holy Grail of Georgian travel - the final frontier. By YONG LEE KENG.
DAY 0 KLIA. Meet at KLIA by midnight THU 19 SEP for Qatar Airlines departing past midnight.
DAY 1 KLIA Doha Tbilisi. Flight departs FRI 20 SEP KUL (0255) lands DOHA (0515), fly time 7:20hr. Transit 3:55hr before flight DOH (0910) to TBS (1320) fly time 3:10hr. Transfer to Hotel for Overnight (ON).
DAY 2 Tbilisi Walking Tour. Explore Tbilisi on a pleasant walking tour and free and easy afternoon. Our Georgian Guide will bring us for a walking tour of Tbilisi main sights, including lunch stop at the Old Town, Narikala Fortress, major monuments, Cable car ride etc. PM : Free and easy for rest of afternoon, and a good evening Georgian experience would be to catch an exuberant Georgian Folk Show (own cost) with great food and wine. ON Tbilisi (B).
DAY 3 Tusheti Natioinal Park 4 nights. After breakfast, go on a relaxing drive before we begin ascending twists and turns and high adventure as we take 4-5hours to cover about 70km of mountain roads in our sturdy 4WD vans. This is one trip where it is really about the journey, and not so much the destination. But make no mistake, the destination on first sight is breathtaking, and its offerings nothing less than awesome. We stay at Upper Omalo, some 2000m, to explore pristine Tusheti, one of the the most remote regions in Georgia. ON Upper Omalo (B D).
Day 4 Pririkiti Valley. Drive 15kms to Pirikiti Valley, and hike about 4-5 hrs point-to-point . Parsma,1850m – A remote medieval village, it still retains much of the vestiges of a fortified village. A hilltop fortress ruin invokes a deep sense of the past. Dartlo, 1900m – In terms of history, culture and nature, Dartlo embodies almost everything Tusheti has to offer in one place. ON Upper Omalo (B L D).
Day 5 Gometsari Valley. Drive about 18kms to Gometsari Valley and hike about 4-5 hours. Bochorma, 2345m – The highest inhabited place in Georgia and one of the highest in Europe. In winter, the population can go down to 2 people! Jvarboseli, 1919m – Ringed by lush meadows, this mountain village is an expansive experience to hike and overdose on fresh air! ON Upper Omalo (B L D).
Day 6 Shenako & Old Diklo. Drive about 12kms to Shenako and Old Diklo, and hike about 4-5 hrs Shenako, 2070m – Only 10kms from the Russian territory of Dagestan, it is a comparatively large village. Overlooked by Mt Diklo, the old Holy Trinity Church is iconic in setting and history here. Diklo, 2020m – This depopulated village offers tranquility, freedom and fresh mountain air. A good hike to the old Diklo Fortress with a rich history of battles of a bygone era. ON Upper Omalo (B L D).
Day 7 back to Tbilisi via Kakheti. Enjoy Tusheti mountain meanderings twice over as we head back to Tbilisi. We take a slow drive back to Tbilisi, with a chance to take stock and shoot pics of what we missed while going up few days back. We have a pack lunch around Abano Pass, 2926 asl, for great mountain views while we munch. Enroute to Tbilisi, we stopover a winery around the Kakheti region and have a look at wine making as well as sample the wines on offer. We arrive Tbilisi late evening for a good rest after our 4 nights Tusheti high adventure. ON Tbilisi (B L).
Lake Koruldi Mestia
Day 8 Tbilisi-Kutaisi. After breakfast, drive 23.5KM to the Georgian old capital of Mtshekta. We visit the 6th century Jvari Monastery, a church that has remained almost unchanged, and the 11th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. PM : Continue our journey another 147km to Kutaisi, Georgia’s second largest and most central city, We should arrive early evening in time to catch splendid sunset from Gelati Monastery on a hilltop overlooking Kutaisi. ON Kutaisi (B).
Day 9 Okatse Canyon-Tskaltubo. A short drive will bring us to Okatse Canyon and we will take in a nice and easy 2-3hrs 6km morning walk along a stone path and boardwalk in the Dadiani Forest. Panoramic views from the 20m extended platform will be a highlight. Visit a Soviet-era relic, Tskaltubo Spa Resorts. Once a gem of Soviet Wellness Tourism for the Soviet elites, today most of the palatial buildings are now like ‘lost in time’ majestic monuments.ON Kutaisi (B).
Day 10 Kutaisi-Mestia (4 nights). We take in a scenic 5-6hrs slow drive to Mestia, 1500m asl, along the lower reaches of the Svaneti High Caucacus, with a short viewing stop at Enguri Dam, the world’s second tallest concrete arch dam at the time of completion.Arriving Mestia mid-afternoon, rest of day is free to explore this small serene mountain town on your own. ON Mestia (B D).
Day 11 Chalaadi Heshkili Mestia. High adventure awaits, Chalaadi Glacier hike and Heshkili Swings. A short drive to the trailhead, and a short 1.5hrs 3km hike through pine forest and rocky remains of previous Glacier movements, will bring us to Chaaladi Glacier. After taking it all in, back to the trailhead and Mestia for lunch. PM : We jump into 4wd vans to head up to Heshkili, 1900m asl. In winter, Heshkili is a popular ski resort, but other times, it’s a must-have Instagram swing shot! ON Mestia (B D).
Day 12 Koruldi Lake Mestia. Another day of high adventure by 4WD and marvelling at mountainous landscapes. 4wd Vans will bring us on an exhilarating 1.5hrs drive on narrow twisting mountain roads to expansive and enchanting Koruldi Lakes at 2750m. We have a few hours to enjoy the freshest mountain air and scenery. Those with energy can hike up to the many small peaks abounding to take in even more majestic views. PM : We drive back to Mestia on a downhill exhilarating 4wd van ride to reach mid-afternoon for late lunch, just in time to take in a village walk. Clambering up on of the iconic Svaneti watch towers is a must-do! ON Mestia (B D).
Day 13 Ushuguli Mestia. Culture and history at Ushguli. At 2100m , it's one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe, and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take away all the modern features, and you could be in a Game of Thrones setting! We will use 4wd vans for the 1.5hr drive to Ushguli, have a walkabout in the village, and lunch at a local village restaurant. After lunch, we drive back to Mestia and rest of the afternoon free and easy for some shopping, strolling and self-sightseeing. ON 4th night Mestia (B D).
Varadzia UNESCO. And great wild trout lunch.
Day 14 Kutaisi Korena Agro Guesthouse. 136kms to Zugdidi to visit Dadiani Palace. Once considered one of the most eminent palaces in the Caucacus, today it house a History and Architecture Musuem. We should arrive at our agro hotel nicely located in the lush Kutaisi countryside, by early afternoon. Wine and dine will be the order of the rest of day with cultural folk performance, Georgia is after all, the ‘cradle of wine’ with wine-making evidence found here dating 8000 year. ON Kutaisi Agro Guesthouse (B D).
Day 15 Borjomi Vardzia. Pet adorable Georgian sheep dog puppies, walk the park and enjoy Georgian rural hospitality. Drive 130km to Borjomi Park, with a short stop enroute at the Georgian Sheep Dog Sanctuary. At Borjomi Park, we have an easy stroll in the park and have a nice lunch at the many garden restaurants abounding. PM: Drive another 110kms to Vardzia, with stops to view Khertvisi Fortress and a short stop to walk through the Saro Megaliths. We have a one night stay at a Farmhouse Homestay to experience rural Georgian hospitality with homemade wine served by the jugs! ON Vardzia Farmstay (B D)
Day 16 back to Tbilisi. Cave tales of old and wild big trout lunch before back to Tbilisi. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Vardzia Caves Monastery Complex date back to the 12th century, The caves hug the cliffs for up to nineteen tiers. We explore this marvel of stone steps, tunnels, medieval cave ingenuity, and soak in its history. PM : Lunch will be big wild trout at a nice riverside restaurant beside the caves complex. After that, it’s a picturesque 226km drive to Tbilisi, passing pastures, small settlements and the biggest lake in Georgia. ON Tbilisi (B)
Day 17 More Tbilisi. Chill and cheers day at Tbilisi, home of 25% of the total Georgian population. A free day for self-exploration, shopping, strolling, or all three. Suggested walkabout.....Flea Market, National Museum, modern Galleria Mall, Clock Tower, Peace Bridge…and end the day with happy hours and delicious dinner around the Peace Bridge vicinity. O/n Tbilisi (B)
Day 18 Airport. Transfer to airport at 1030AM for flight MON 7 OCT departs TBS (1435) lands DOH (1640) fly time 3:05hr. Transit 2:35hr then depart DOH (1915).
Day 19 Home. Lands TUE 8 OCT 2024 KUL (0750) fly time 7:35hr.
UNESCO list Ushguli Village in Mestia
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Cost cover accommodation, town-to-town travel and tours/entrances specified in the itinerary.
- Accommodations will be in local guesthouses and budget hotels. Note meals provided indicated in itinerary B-breakfasts, L-lunch and D- dinner.
- Not covered are airfare, meals (Rm100 x 11 days = Rm1100) and other entrance fees not specified in the itinerary,
- Optional activities and In-town taxis are not covered except for transfers to and from airport to our place of stay.
- Cost is subject to change depending on fluctuations in exchange rates.
- A Non-refundable deposit of Rm2050 is payable to confirm your place.
Email: tanyeowlim@gmail.com OR yongo123@gmail.com
Whatsapp Phone: Yeowlim 016 209 3360
WhatsApp Phone: Lee Min: 016 220 9033