Georgia (Country)
Georgia: Tbilisi, Winelands & Highlands
Program No. 24678RJ
Discover the country of Georgia — a land of ancient history, fascinating culture and stunning landscapes. From old-world charm to modern sophistication, delve into its heritage!
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12 days
11 nights
24 meals
10B 8L 6D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
12
Program Concludes
In Flight
At a Glance
The country of Georgia is a land of towering Caucasus Mountains, lowlands and valleys, wine country, ancient churches, fortresses and architecture. From the capital of Tbilisi to the agricultural region of Kakheti, picturesque towns to small villages, join local experts as they lead you on an educational journey to explore landmarks from a 14th century church — perched on a hill over 7,000 feet high — to Gardenia Shevardnadze — the private gardens of Georgia’s pioneer gardener. Along the way, you’ll learn how unique local delicacies are created, including khachapuri, churchkela, khinkali, fiery chacha and wine that’s been made in clay jugs for thousands of years. Georgia is a classroom come to life and ripe with history!
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 2 miles per day at moderate pace; standing up to 2 hours indoors and out; getting on and off a motorcoach several times per day; cobblestones and uneven surfaces and steps, especially in the capital and town of Signagi; some unpaved village/farm-like conditions for walking and driving when visiting vineyards/gardens/villages; 2 days are spent in the mountains with the hotel at approximately 5,700 feet and one field trip takes you to 7,200 feet for an hour or two.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
What You'll Learn
- Explore the history of one of Georgia’s most-loved sons — a prince, poet, editor, banker and martyr — at the Ilia Chavchavadze Literary-Memorial Museum, and take in a performance of the polyphonic vocal traditions passed down by ear for centuries.
- Crisscross the Kakheti Region — Georgia’s wine country — visiting vineyards and villages to learn about agriculture, sustainability, winemaking, bread baking and community.
- Walk through the charming Old Town of Tbilisi to see the Narikala Fortress, domed sulfur baths, leaning clock tower and stone Anchiskhati Basilica.
Suggested Reading List
(17 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Georgia: Tbilisi, Winelands & Highlands
Program Number: 24678
The Caucasus, An Introduction
A timely, readable portrait of the Caucasus by an experienced journalist working in the region. With historical background, insight into energy production and an analysis of struggles for independence.
Gentlemen of the Road
This medieval adventure by Pulitzer Prize-winner Chabon is set in the Caucasus Mountains, where two thieves for hire are responsible for the fate of the empire of the Khazars.
Russia's Steppe Frontier, The Making of a Colonial Empire, 1500-1800
In this sweeping, scholarly history Khodarkovsky traces Russian imperial adventures in the Caucasus from the decline of the Mongols to the end of the 18th century.
Ali and Nino, A Love Story
The deeply sentimental tale, set in Baku in the years before WWI, of an Azerbaijani Muslim boy in love with a Georgian Christian girl, originally published in 1937.
A Spy by Nature
Introducing the London School of Economics graduate and reluctant British spy Alec Milius. When he lands a prime job for a British oil company, Alec finds himself trapped in a world of secrets and lies that could cost him his life.
Black Sea
In this skillful regional portrait, Ascherson weaves his own travels and impressions with a fascinating account of the Black Sea's history. From ancient mythology to modern politics, he admirably never loses sight of the sea itself.
Caucasus: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan Map
A travel map of the Caucasus at a scale 1:1,000,000.
The Georgian Feast
Historian and food expert Goldstein explores the food, traditions and geography of Georgia, as beautiful as it is bountiful, in this savory cultural history. With illustrations by delightful 19th-century primitivist Niko Pisosmani.
For the Love of Wine
After falling in love with Georgia and its celebrated wine, Alice Feiring travels throughout the country meeting winemakers, farmers, artists and more, collecting both stories and recipes to present a compelling portrait of a stunning country and its remarkable people.
Taste of Persia, A Cook's Travels Through Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, and Kurdistan
Centering on a culinary tradition that is (alas) poorly understood in the West, this cookbook presents 125 recipes from the Caucasus and Middle East, framed with locals' stories and photographs.
Stalin: New Biography of a Dictator
An authoritative, illuminating biography of Georgian Josef Stalin, who ruled the Soviet Union from 1929 until his death in 1953 and caused the death and imprisonment of more than a million Soviet citizens per year.
Caucasus, A Journey to the Land between Christianity and Islam
An engaging account of travels in the Caucasus in the footsteps of Imam Shamil, a Muslim who resisted the Russians in the 19th century. The book is a portrait of the people, land and issues in the region.
Lonely Planet Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan
An excellent practical guide featuring a good overview of culture, history and nature, 16 pages of color photos, 40 maps and a language guide.
Stories I Stole, A Journey to Georgia
Witty, engaging and attuned to the complexities of history and ethnicity, Steavenson, a veteran journalist, spins lyrical tales of the former Soviet Republic of Georgia as it crumbles around her in the late 1990s.
Highlanders, A Journey to the Caucasus in Quest of Memory
In this astute portrait of a complex region in the wake of the Soviet Union dissolution, an Israeli journalist travels into the Caucasus to uncover what fuels the conflicts that divide the region's many ethnic and religious communities.
The Ghost of Freedom, A Modern History of the Caucasus
A professor at Georgetown, King reveals the imperial ambitions, larger-than-life personalities and romance of this strategic region.
Black Sea: Dispatches and Recipes
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