The Crossroads of Civilizations: Georgia, The Cradle of Culture

We open at Narikala Fortress, taking the cable car up from Rike Park. We explore the remarkable religious diversity of Tbilisi by visiting the Ashtega Zoroastrian temple, the mosque, the synagogue, and Armenian, Catholic, and Orthodox churches — all standing in one district as a testament to centuries of coexistence. We then pass through Abanotubani, the sulfur bath district, whose dome-topped bathhouses and rising steam explain why the city's name derives from the Georgian word for "warm."   We continue to the Georgian National Museum, tracing the country's emergence as a bridge between continents, and then descend into the old quarters. At Anchiskhati Basilica — Tbilisi's oldest surviving church, dating to the 6th century — the walls are unrestored and the atmosphere is genuinely ancient.   For lunch, we enter the culinary world of Chef Tekuna, the Mother of Georgian Fusion Cuisine and a defining figure in contemporary Georgian gastronomy. Set within one of the World's 50 Best Restaurants, a hands-on masterclass explores the craft behind iconic dishes such as khachapuri and khinkali.   The day concludes in Tbilisi's Old City at the restaurant Shadow of Metekhi, renowned for one of the finest panoramic views over the city's historic skyline. Here, we gather for a traditional Georgian supra — a ceremonial feast where hospitality becomes an art form — accompanied by exceptional local wines and live performances of polyphonic singing and traditional dance. Overnight — Tbilisi

Today we explore Tbilisi through its architectural language, tracing a city shaped by layered histories and shifting ideologies — from the intimate fabric of the Old Town to the commanding forms of Soviet Brutalism.   In the early morning, we visit the Chronicle of Georgia — a monumental Brutalist masterpiece standing above Tbilisi. This striking structure, often called "Georgia's Stonehenge," tells the story of the country's history through massive sculpted columns depicting kings, queens, and religious figures.   We then take a walking tour through the narrow, traditional streets of Tbilisi, where layers of architectural history remain closely interwoven. Along the way, we encounter examples of modernist design before turning to the 19th century, examining distinctive residential buildings and their elaborately designed entryways.   The day concludes with dinner at Margalita in the Old City, where a guitarist performs a selection of romansi — Tbilisian urban songs that emerged in the 19th century, shaped by Persian lyricism, Georgian melody, and the social life of courtyards and taverns.   Overnight — Tbilisi

Today's journey leads into the deep historical layers of Georgia, where sacred tradition, early civilization, and modern memory converge. We begin in Mtskheta, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, we explore the spiritual heart of Georgian Christianity, while also reflecting on earlier belief systems that shaped the region's religious landscape. We then ascend to Jvari Monastery, set high above the confluence of rivers, where architecture, geography, and faith intersect within a commanding panorama.   We then shift to the complexities of modern history with a visit to the Stalin Museum, examining the life and legacy of one of the 20th century's most consequential figures within the context of his Georgian origins.   The day concludes in Nika Vacheishvili's wine cellar, where we explore Georgia's ancient winemaking practices — recognized as one of the oldest continuous traditions in the world. Over dinner, wine becomes both subject and experience, offering a final reflection on continuity, identity, and cultural expression.   Overnight — Tbilisi

Today we journey east into Kakheti, the heartland of Georgian wine culture, where landscape, tradition, and identity are inseparably intertwined. This region, with over 8,000 years of continuous winemaking, offers one of the oldest living viticultural traditions in the world.   We begin at a traditional family-owned estate — Dimitri's family cellar and museum — where winemaking is practiced according to ancient methods preserved across centuries. Here, we are introduced to the qvevri technique: large clay vessels buried underground, in which wine ferments and matures in a process recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. Through guided tasting, we explore the distinctive textures and expressions that define Georgian wine.   We then travel north into the Alazani Valley, where the Caucasus begin their rise and the landscape opens into something older and quieter. At Alaverdi Monastery — one of the great religious monuments of the Christian world — the cathedral, built in the 11th century, stands among the tallest medieval structures in Georgia.   The journey continues to Schuchmann Winery & Château, set against the backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains. Depending on the season, guests may take part in the grape harvest. For those who choose, the experience can extend into the wine spa — a quiet, sensory connection to the landscape and its traditions.   Overnight — Telavi

We descend back into the valley and continue to Tsinandali, where the Radisson Collection Hotel is set within the historic Tsinandali Estate, once the residence of the Chavchavadze family — one of Georgia's most influential aristocratic dynasties and a key site in the development of modern Georgian winemaking.   We visit the estate's historical enoteca and wine cellar, descending into a space where centuries-old stone walls and vaulted passages preserve the depth of Georgia's winemaking tradition, tracing methods and continuity that stretch back over 8,000 years.   The afternoon is devoted to a blind wine tasting — a structured exercise in pure attention. Stripped of labels and appellations, the wines speak only through the glass. A guide leads the tasting across a selection of Georgian varieties, drawing out the distinctions between regions, vessels, and vintages.   Lunch follows at the estate, where the table extends the morning's themes — refinement, provenance, and the pleasure of things made with care.   Overnight — Tbilisi

Today's journey brings us into southern Georgia, where monumental landscapes and layered histories reveal a dialogue between faith, power, and daily life. We begin at Vardzia, the great 12th-century cave monastery carved into the cliffs of Erusheti Mountain during the reign of Queen Tamar.   The experience deepens through a hands-on culinary masterclass — either in khinkali making or kada baking — where craft and hospitality become a living expression of cultural continuity.   In the evening, we return to Akhaltsikhe to visit the Rabati Fortress, a medieval complex whose layered architecture reflects centuries of cultural exchange.   Overnight — Akhaltsikhe

We leave Akhaltsikhe and travel west, crossing into Imereti. Today is structured around rest. Tskaltubo was once one of the great spa destinations of the Soviet world — a resort town built around the extraordinary natural phenomenon of its radon-carbon dioxide thermal waters, which emerge from the earth at a constant temperature, neither requiring heating nor cooling.   At the Tskaltubo Spa Resort, the afternoon is an open invitation. Guests can relax in the thermal baths, enjoy spa treatments rooted in local traditions, or simply unwind in the quiet surroundings. There is also an optional visit to a nearby Soviet-era sanatorium, now in ruins — offering a striking glimpse into the scale and atmosphere of Tskaltubo's past.   The day concludes with an exclusive performance by the Kutaisi Women's Chamber Choir, presenting renowned pieces from Georgian opera. Here, voice becomes the medium through which emotion, history, and cultural continuity are expressed.   Overnight — Tskaltubo

Today we turn to Kutaisi, long regarded as one of the cultural and spiritual centers of Georgia, where folklore endures as a living expression of collective memory and identity.   We begin at the Gelati Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most significant intellectual and spiritual centers of medieval Georgia. Within its sacred space, we experience a Georgian folk performance where polyphonic singing resonates beneath ancient frescoes — revealing a tradition in which music, faith, and history are deeply intertwined.   We continue into the city to the Kutaisi Folk Center, where the richness of Georgian intangible heritage comes into full expression. Through a live performance of traditional dance and music, we encounter the dynamism, rhythm, and narrative power that define the country's folkloric traditions.   In the evening, we dine at Sisters restaurant in Kutaisi — a place that embodies the particular warmth of Imeretian hospitality with an ease that feels entirely unforced.   Overnight — Tskaltubo

We depart toward the high Caucasus, journeying to Ushguli — one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe, set beneath the dramatic peaks of Mount Shkhara.   Along the way, we are introduced to Svan traditions — customs and ways of life preserved over centuries due to the region's geographical isolation. Svaneti has retained practices, social structures, and rituals that have largely disappeared elsewhere, making it feel like a living museum of Georgian heritage.   The surrounding terrain becomes part of the experience. On horseback, we move through the dramatic alpine setting and — conditions permitting — continue toward historic gold mining areas, where local knowledge and legend intersect. A hands-on introduction offers a tangible connection to practices that echo both livelihood and myth.   Throughout the day, meals are prepared by local hosts, offering an authentic encounter with Svan cuisine and hospitality. Set against a backdrop of medieval towers and open mountain landscapes, Ushguli reveals a way of life shaped by endurance, isolation, and deep cultural continuity.   Overnight — Mestia

We ascend to Hatsvali by cable car, rising above the treeline into the open alpine world above Mestia. Lunch is taken at the summit, accompanied by a performance of senior Svan singers — a polyphony that predates the Christian era, not composed but accumulated, passed from voice to voice across generations.   We descend into town and visit the Mestia History and Ethnography Museum, where Svaneti's layered identity comes into focus through its objects — including medieval icons evacuated here from lowland Georgia during periods of invasion, as Svaneti served for centuries as the country's high-altitude vault.   As night approaches, we gather at the Mestia Theatre for an exclusive performance for our group: a mimodrama — entirely non-verbal, spoken in the universal language of movement, image, and music — drawn from the mythological world of Svan culture.   The evening concludes at Ratiani Machubi, where guests are invited into a kubdari masterclass — learning to prepare Svaneti's defining dish: a bread filled with spiced meat, sealed and baked in the traditional manner, its recipe as old as the towers that surround the town.   Overnight — Mestia

We leave Svaneti by air, the small plane lifting from Mestia as the towers, the glaciers, and the high world of the Caucasus recede beneath the clouds. We land in Tbilisi or Kutaisi, returning to the warmth of the lowlands and the familiar rhythms of the city.   The evening is a celebration at the iconic Funicular Complex, offering a breathtaking panorama of Tbilisi. The evening commences with a special ride on the historic funicular railway up Mtatsminda Mountain, offering stunning panoramic views of the city as a captivating introduction to the festivities.   A Farewell Dinner follows — combining cultural celebration, fine dining, and unforgettable views — bringing the journey to a close in the city where it began.   Overnight — Tbilisi

As we depart from Tbilisi, the journey concludes geographically — but its reflections remain. Across landscapes and centuries, Georgia reveals itself as a crossroads of cultures where identity is shaped through continuity and change.   How does landscape shape identity? What sustains culture across time? Where do tradition and modernity meet? The journey ends — but its questions travel with you.   Each guest will receive a specially selected Georgian keepsake — such as a handcrafted wine box — as a lasting memento of the journey and its enduring traditions.   Safe travels. Until the next chapter.