“Discover the flavors of Georgia”
10 Day From Tbilisi to Kakheti: A Gastronomic Journey through Georgia's Capital and Wine Region
Tbilisi, Georgia
Wine and Culinary Tour in Georgia
Join Let’s Eat The World on a gastronomic adventure in Tbilisi, Georgia, where the flavors of the local cuisine will tantalize your taste buds! From the delectable Khinkali dumplings to the cheesy Khachapuri bread, Tbilisi offers a delightful array of dishes. Get ready to embark on a culinary journey that will leave you craving more. Whether you’re traveling solo or with a partner, this tour promises to be a fantastic and unforgettable experience. With its delicious cuisine, world-class wine, and rich cultural heritage, you’ll be able to experience the best of what Georgia has to offer.
Highlights
- Savor diverse street food in Tbilisi’s old town
- Experience hands-on cooking lessons of Svaneti cuisine in Udabno
- Explore the ancient David Gareji monastery carved in the mountainside
- Forage for fresh ingredients and cook with local chefs in Sighnaghi
- Indulge in natural wines at renowned vineyards like Pheasant’s Tears
- Discover the art of winemaking and bread baking in Telavi
- Enjoy a farewell dinner with delightful dishes and local melodies
- 9 nights of hotel accommodation with 8 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 7 dinners
8 days with instruction
Group size: 4-8 participants
Airport transfer included:
Tbilisi International Airport
Accommodation
Hotel accommodations will be provided as per these schedules:
- 4 nights in Tbilisi
- 3 nights in Sighnagi
- 2 nights in Telavi
Program
Sample Program
The following is a sample program for this Let’s Eat Georgia food & wine holiday – a Georgian culinary holiday in Tbilisi and Eastern Georgia. The program is subject to change due to weather or the availability of tour partners. A more definitive program will be given to you on the day of your arrival. Barring any changes in weather and the group’s desires, this final program will be what you can expect for the week. We ask that you try to be understanding about any slight modifications that will not affect your overall enjoyment of the program.
Day 1, Saturday: Arrival
Arrival at Tbilisi Airport and transfer to hotel. Flights into Tbilisi arrive either late in the evening or very early in the morning. The hotel room will be booked from Saturday night to accommodate your arrival. Individual pick-ups or grouped pick-ups will be arranged based on flight arrival details.
Day 2, Sunday: Tbilisi Full Day
After breakfast, meet the guide for the Tbilisi walking tour. Lunch at the local restaurant with street food. Stroll in the old town of colorful and vibrant Tbilisi, and visit the most iconic historic monuments such as Narikala Castle, Metekhi church, and Sulphur Baths. Walk into the alleyways and discover hidden gems of the town.
Welcome drinks and light dinner at the natural wine bar Vino Underground. Iconic bar- first of its kind, with a great selection of natural wines from different parts of Georgia and beyond. Overnight in Tbilisi.
Day 3, Monday: Tbilisi - Udabno - Lost Ridge Inn
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and travel towards East Georgia. Following a 1.5-hour drive, you arrive in the village Udabno; A village founded in the 1980s for the eco migrants from the Svaneti region. You convene at a small cafe for a hands-on cooking lesson from the local cooks here who have a great knowledge of Svan (mountain region, the community). You will dine on preparations from the Svaneti region.
After lunch, visit David Gareji monastery carved in the mountainside in the 6th century. In the evening, arrive at Lost Ridge Inn, and check in the hotel for some rest. In the evening, enjoy dinner and beer tasting from the in-house microbrewery which offers natural farmhouse-style craft beers brewed, aged, and served onsite.
Day 4, Tuesday: Full day in the Vicinity of the Town of Sighnaghi
Breakfast at the hotel. Foraging in the outskirts of the town. In early to mid-spring it will be possible to pick: Goosefoot, nettles, varieties of crawling herbs and wild spinach, St George Mushrooms, wild champignons, etc. Return to the hotel and cook together with local cooks in an open-fire kitchen. Lunch with beer or wine and a cooked meal.
Free time at the hotel or optional horse riding for those who are interested (to be reserved separately). In the evening visit town Sighnaghi, a charming 18th-century town located on the top of the hill. Sighnaghi is best known for its defensive walls, colorful wooden balconies, and twisty cobbled stone streets.
Dinner at Pheasant’s Tears wine restaurant, a small boutique restaurant that offers delicious meals cooked from seasonal and organic ingredients. The kitchen is led by chef Gia Rokasvili who creates a daily menu. Enjoy a delightful meal paired with natural wines from Pheasant’s Tears. Overnight at Lost Ridge Inn.
Day 5, Wednesday: Full Day in the Vicinity of Sighnaghi
After breakfast, meet Chef Keto Mindorashvili or Gia Rokashvili and travel towards Tibaani village to Crazy Pomegranate. The kitchen is led By Keto Mindorashvili who will take you shopping for ingredients to prepare the lunch menu.
Cooking will be followed by lunch and wine and pet-nat tasting produced by Pheasant’s Tears vineyard. In the evening, return to the hotel. En route visit Bodbe – a monastery community. In the evening, dinner at a charming Kerovani winery will be hosted by the winemaker Archil Natsvlishvili at his family cellar in a peaceful and quiet ambiance. Overnight at Lost Ridge Inn.
Day 6, Thursday: Sighnaghi - Telavi
After breakfast, travel towards central Kakheti. Meet Natia Macharishvili and Shota Lagazidze a young dynamic couple. Shota is a well-known natural winemaker in Georgia and Beyond. Natia is a bread baker, she grows endemic wheat on her farm and bakes sourdough bread. Cook together with your hosts, Tushetian cuisine, and bake bread.
Visit the 11th-century monastery Alaverdi located in the middle of the Alazani Valley. Check-in and some rest, before dinner at the winemaker’s family. Overnight in Telavi.
Day 7, Friday: Central Kakheti Day
Walk in Telavi and visit the Farmers Market, then head to Shalauri village and meet Gia Togonidze and his family. Gia is an artist, he started making wine a few years ago. The family house in Shalaur village is decorated with beautiful canvases of Gia. Lika Kipiani is a talented cook and she will share her recipes with you as you cook together. Enjoy lunch at the family home.
Return to the hotel for some rest. In the evening visit the Qvevri artisan, learn about Qvevris, and have a light dinner with tasting at his family home. Overnight in Telavi area.
Day 8, Saturday: Back to Tbilisi / Cook Your Dinner with the Chef
Breakfast and check-out then head to Shuamta Monastery on Gombori. Enjoy lunch in Kakhelebi on the outskirts of Tbilisi then check-in to the Tbilisi hotel. Independent evening and dinner then overnight in Tbilisi.
Day 9, Sunday: Cooking Day and Departures
Your final day! Following breakfast at the hotel, you will meet the chef from Chef Meriko Gubeladze’s team and visit Dezerter market – the largest farmers’ market in Tbilisi. Stroll along the aisles full of colorful fruits, spices, herbs, nuts, etc. This is a great opportunity to meet local vendors, taste products, and take some nice photos. We will buy fresh produce and continue to one of Meriko’s restaurants for a cooking class and lunch.
You will then proceed to the hotel for some free time before the farewell dinner at Meriko’s first iconic restaurant Shavi Lomi. The dinner Supra will take place together with local singers. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10, Monday: Departure
Departure from the hotel will be 2.5 hours before the flight’s departure time.
Included excursions
Besides food and wine, excursion tours are also included, to allow you to explore the rich history and culture of Tbilisi and the surrounding regions. Visit historic sites, meet the locals, and gain a deeper understanding of Georgia’s traditions and customs.
Location
It’s time to get off the beaten path and take a journey into discovery. Tbilisi, Georgia is where Let’s Eat The World is offering a once-in-a-lifetime culinary holiday tour to explore the rich culinary heritage of Georgia in the company of local hosts who will share their cities, regions, and countryside. Georgia may not have been your first destination when you think about world gastronomy but once you've been to Georgia, you'll want to go back.
A Must-Do for Wine Lovers
Georgia is renowned for its wine-making tradition, which dates back to 8,000 BC. During your time in Georgia, you’ll have the opportunity to visit local vineyards, taste a diverse range of wines, and learn about the wine-making process from the experts. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or simply enjoy a good glass of vino, this tour is a must-do for anyone who loves wine.
Food
This package includes eight breakfasts, eight lunches, and seven dinners.
Cooking classes
In addition to wine tasting, you’ll also have the chance to learn how to prepare traditional Georgian dishes. Whether or not you are already familiar with Georgian cuisine, you will surely recognize some of the key ingredients found in many traditional dishes including, eggplant, cilantro, pepper, and basil. While these all sound familiar, the unique mix with unique spice blends is what makes them truly Georgian.
You’ll learn to prepare dishes such as Khinkali (dumplings), Khachapuri (cheese bread), and Badrijani (aubergine roll), during cooking classes with local chefs. This promises to be an unforgettable experience for foodies. Vegetarians will find this an appealing tour as Georgian cuisine is well-known for its plentiful use of fresh vegetables and herbs. There really is something for everybody.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
- Possibility of additional hotel nights
- Horseback riding at Lost Ridge Inn
- Extend your tour in Georgia with Travel Living Roots
What's included
- Activities mentioned in the itinerary
- 6 hands-on cooking lessons with chefs and local cooks
- 8 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 7 dinners
- Instruction and guided tours in English
- 9 nights of hotel accommodations (4 nights in Tbilisi, 3 nights in Sighnagi, and 2 nights in Telavi)
- Airport transfers to and from Tbilisi International Airport (TBS)
- All excursions and intercity transfers in a private vehicle
- Entrance fees on guided visits
- Recipe booklet of the Georgian recipes you have prepared, sent to you via email
What's not included
- Airfare
- Train fare
- Travel insurance
How to get there
Recommended Airports
TBS
Tbilisi International Airport
13 km
Transfer included
Arrival by airplane
To allow for various flight arrival times, the tour begins on Sunday at 12 p.m. (Day 2). Arrivals into Tbilisi from the US generally arrive in the evening while flights from Europe may arrive in the very early morning.
If leaving from New York, for example, you would need to leave a day earlier than the date listed for the tour - this date is a night that has been reserved for you at the hotel to accommodate your arrival time. Your flight may arrive between 7 and 9 p.m. on Saturday or between 4 and 6 a.m. on Sunday morning. Flight departures are in the morning and will be 2.5 hours before the flight's departure time.
Airport: Tbilisi International Airport
Airport transfer included: Tbilisi International Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 45 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.
119087
Similar Holidays you might like
Why choose Tripaneer.com
Largest Selection
Friendly Customer Service
Offers for every budget
Best Price