12-Day Georgia & Armenia Tour: Live Like a Local

Route: Tbilisi → Badiauri → Bodbe → Sighnaghi → Kakheti
Program: Georgian bread, wine culture, religious heritage and regional food
Travel east into Kakheti, Georgia’s principal wine-growing region and one of the most important destinations for understanding the country’s food and wine traditions.
In Badiauri, participate in a traditional bread-baking experience and taste freshly baked Georgian bread together with local cheese.
Continue to Bodbe Nunnery, an important pilgrimage site associated with St. Nino, before visiting the hilltop town of Sighnaghi.
The day combines the cultural landscape of Kakheti with regional wine and food experiences, giving you an introduction to rural life and the culinary traditions that are closely connected with Georgian hospitality.
A visit to Khareba Winery adds another perspective on Georgian wine before the day concludes in Kakheti.

Route: Telavi → Tsinandali → Qvevri workshop → Alaverdi
Program: Farmers market, Georgian wine history and traditional qvevri craftsmanship
Begin the morning at the Telavi Farmers Market, where local residents shop for fruit, vegetables, cheese, spices, churchkhela and other regional products. The market provides a direct look at the everyday food culture of Kakheti.
Continue to Tsinandali and visit the historic estate and museum associated with the Chavchavadze family, an important name in Georgia’s cultural and winemaking history.
The day then focuses on one of the country’s most distinctive traditions — qvevri winemaking. Visit local qvevri makers and learn how the large clay vessels used in traditional Georgian wine production are made.
Later, continue toward Alaverdi for wine and regional product tastings, connecting Georgian monastic heritage with the long history of winemaking in Kakheti.

Route: Kakheti → New Shuamta → Jinvali → Ananuri → Pasanauri → Gudauri → Stepantsminda
Program: Georgian Military Highway, khinkali masterclass and Caucasus landscapes
Leave Kakheti and begin the journey toward the Greater Caucasus Mountains.
The first cultural stop is New Shuamta Monastery, surrounded by forest near Telavi. Continue toward the turquoise waters of Jinvali Reservoir and the historic Ananuri Fortress Complex.
In Pasanauri, take part in a khinkali-making masterclass and learn how one of Georgia’s most famous mountain dishes is prepared and folded by hand.
The Georgian Military Highway then climbs toward Gudauri, approximately 2,200 meters above sea level. Stop at the panoramic monument overlooking the mountain valleys before continuing farther north.
By evening, arrive in Stepantsminda, commonly known as Kazbegi, at around 1,700 meters above sea level.
Dinner and overnight at a local guesthouse.

Route: Stepantsminda → Dariali Gorge → Gergeti Trinity Church → Stepantsminda
Program: Greater Caucasus, mountain heritage and traditional crafts
Explore the dramatic mountain landscape around Kazbegi, beginning with Dariali Gorge in the northern part of the region.
Continue to Gergeti Trinity Church, one of Georgia’s best-known mountain landmarks. The church stands high above Stepantsminda, with broad views across the surrounding Caucasus landscape and toward Mount Kazbek when weather conditions are clear.
The day then returns to the Live Like a Local theme with a traditional felt-making masterclass and a tasting of locally made jams.
These activities introduce another side of life in Georgia’s mountain regions, where local crafts and food traditions remain an important part of community culture.
Overnight in Stepantsminda.

Route: Stepantsminda → Mtskheta → Jvari → Svetitskhoveli → Tbilisi
Program: Ancient Georgian capital, Christian heritage and UNESCO monuments
Travel south from the mountains toward Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia and one of the country’s most important religious centers.
Visit Jvari Monastery, located above the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, before continuing into the historic center of Mtskheta.
Here you will explore Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, one of the most important religious monuments in Georgia. Jvari and Svetitskhoveli form part of the Historical Monuments of Mtskheta UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After exploring Mtskheta, continue back to Tbilisi.

Location: Tbilisi
Program: Free day and independent exploration
After six days of guided travel through eastern Georgia and the Greater Caucasus, today is deliberately left free.
Use the day to explore Tbilisi at your own pace, revisit neighborhoods that interested you during the first day, discover cafés and local restaurants, shop for Georgian products or simply relax before the Armenian part of the journey begins.
This break also provides a natural transition between the Georgia and Armenia sections of the tour.
Overnight in Tbilisi.

Route: Georgia → Armenia → Pottery House → Mendz Er Cave → Odzun
Program: Pottery, Armenian carpets, local food and Odzun heritage
Today the Armenia section of the tour begins.
After entering Armenia, start with an interactive visit to the Pottery House, where you can learn about traditional pottery and Armenian carpet-making through hands-on activities.
Continue to Mendz Er Cave for a distinctive lunch experience before visiting Odzun Monastery, one of the historic religious landmarks of northern Armenia.
The local experience continues at your accommodation in Odzun with activities connected to Armenian barbecue and traditional homemade spirits.
The day gives you your first introduction to Armenia through a combination of craft, food, religious heritage and local hospitality.
Overnight at Odzun BB.

Route: Odzun → Dsegh → Dilijan area → Berkri Gastro Yard
Program: Village landscapes, cheese, tea and Armenian cooking
Begin the day in Dsegh Village, surrounded by the landscapes of northern Armenia and nearby lakes.
Continue with a traditional Armenian cheese-making experience followed by lunch at Wow Glamping.
At Nektaro Tea House, learn more about local tea preparation and enjoy a tasting before traveling to Dilijan, one of Armenia’s best-known historic resort towns.
Explore the old part of Dilijan before returning to Armenian food traditions with a cooking experience focused on gata and Garni Yarakh.
At the end of the day, transfer to Berkri Gastro Yard for the overnight stay.

Route: Yenoqavan → Haghartsin → Lake Sevan → Yerevan
Program: Horseback riding, Armenian cuisine, homemade wine and mountain scenery
The day begins at Berkri Gastro Yard in Yenoqavan, a mountain area known for its natural surroundings.
Start with horseback riding before continuing with lunch and a masterclass in preparing Armenian dolma. The experience also includes tasting homemade wine.
Continue to Haghartsin Monastery, surrounded by the forested landscapes near Dilijan, before traveling toward Lake Sevan, one of Armenia’s defining natural landmarks.
The culinary theme continues with a fish-cooking masterclass, connecting the day’s visit to Lake Sevan with local food traditions.
After the activities, continue to Yerevan for the overnight stay.

Route: Yerevan → GUM Market → Garni → Symphony of Stones → Geghard → Ashtarak → Yerevan
Program: Armenian food, ancient heritage, crafts and local markets
Begin the day at GUM Market in Yerevan, where you can see a wide variety of Armenian dried fruits, spices, sweets, cheeses and other local products.
Continue to Garni Temple, one of Armenia’s most recognizable ancient monuments, before visiting the nearby Symphony of Stones, a dramatic natural rock formation in the gorge.
The day includes another important Armenian food tradition with a lavash-making masterclass.
Continue to Geghard Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Armenia’s major medieval religious monuments.
Later, visit Yeganyants Gastro Yard for a wine tasting before continuing to Ashtarak Garden, where you will participate in a sujukh-making masterclass accompanied by the sound of the duduk, Armenia’s traditional wind instrument.
Finish the cultural program at Yerevan Vernissage, the capital’s well-known open-air market, where handicrafts, artworks, souvenirs and traditional objects bring together many of the craft traditions encountered during the journey.

Route: Yerevan → Airport
Program: Departure transfer
Your Georgia Armenia tour concludes with a transfer to the airport for departure.
Across twelve days, the journey connects two neighboring South Caucasus countries through their historic cities, monasteries and mountain landscapes, but also through the traditions that are still part of everyday life — bread and wine, local markets, family meals, pottery, textiles, cheese, tea, cooking, music and traditional crafts.