EL CAMINO SMALL GROUP TRIP
Georgia
Come along as we dive deep into the rich and surprising culture of Georgia, a living, breathing point of origin for two continents.
Day 1
Arrive: Mogesalmebit! Welcome to Georgia! Touch down in Tbilisi, where east meets west. Get swept away to your home base for the next few nights. At every turn, your eye finds something new from Roman, Byzantium, Persian, Ottoman, Russian, and hyper-modern architecture. Breathe in the smells of fresh almonds, cheesy bread, chocolate, dumplings, grapes, hazelnuts, and walnuts wafting through the air as snacks abound and colorful orange wines are poured into glasses.
From its peaks, this mountain town serves as an intriguing gateway to the silk road. Markets built on bridges, gastronomic food halls, and up-and-coming designers are at your fingertips. From Tbilisi, we will venture to church-capped mountain tops and the wine-filled valleys below. For now, explore at will, tapping into the Eat, Play, Shop guide that we prepared for you. Or relax at the hotel, enjoying the gardens, rooftop, and extensive wine cellar.
Evening: For our first meal together, we’ll head about forty minutes outside the city to a charming country home and winery. Our hosts, leaders in biodynamic wine production in Georgia, will prepare one of the most delicious home-cooked feasts you will have ever tried in one of the most unique and beautiful settings. It’s the perfect way to kick off the trip, enjoying delicious food, great wine, and the warm company of our hosts and fellow travelers.
Meals included: Dinner
Day 2
Morning: Enjoy a leisurely morning and breakfast at the hotel before heading out to our favorite flea market—offering everything from antiques, art nouveau, and art deco to Bohemian crystal and Soviet-era x-rays. There’s so much to see that it’s often referred to as a museum. As you cruise through the market, keep an eye out for Khachapuri samples (Georgian cheese bread).
Afternoon: After exploring the flea market, we’ll enjoy lunch at a multidisciplinary space housed in a former Soviet sewing factory. There will be various options and food stalls for you to choose from.
After lunch, we’ll regroup for a walking tour of the city, where we’ll dive into Tbilisi's vibrant street art, unique architecture, and rich history. Along the way, you'll gain insights into how the city's past influences its creative future.
Evening: Tonight, we begin to explore the regional differences of Georgian food by visiting the restaurant of a pioneering female chef who is turning traditional, rustic Georgian food into something modern and chic. Dishes like their chicken in cherry sauce and lamb risotto are the type of things you can expect to find but don't worry, there’s plenty of vegetarian options too.
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 3
Morning: Today is a big day! Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before we head out to the heart of Georgian wine country. After arriving, we’ll stroll through narrow, cobblestone streets lined with pastel-colored cottages and local markets. With stunning mountain views peeking over the rooftops, the atmosphere offers a delightful blend of charm and history, reminiscent of Tuscany. At a leisurely pace, we’ll make our way to a local spot for a light tasting menu, paired with sparkling wine and coffee.
Afternoon: After our relaxing stroll and tasting, we’ll enjoy a home-cooked lunch nearby, overlooking the Caucasus Mountains and vineyards. Prepared by a husband and wife duo using freshly foraged ingredients, the meal will showcase the revival of centuries-old Georgian recipes, which had once been suppressed by Soviet influence. It’s a wonderful opportunity to savor the deep cultural roots of Georgian cuisine before heading back to Tbilisi.
Evening: The evening is yours to explore as you wish. The Persian-style bathhouses in the Abanotubani neighborhood (which are built over natural sulfuric springs) are a great choice to relax after long days. Tap your resource guide for inspiration and details on our favorite bathhouse.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Snacks and Drinks
Day 4
Morning: Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before we head deep into the Caucasus Mountains for our next culinary adventure. We’ll meet with a group of local women to prepare—and more importantly—eat Khinkali, Georgia’s beloved soup dumplings. These larger dumplings, filled with ground beef or pork and broth, are boiled and served with plenty of pepper. Whether the Mongols introduced them or they’ve always been a Georgian staple is still debated, but they’re the perfect hearty meal before we continue exploring the mountains.
Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll journey through the stunning Georgian wilderness, passing ancient castles, fortresses, and monasteries. Along the way, you’ll see two distinct rivers that merge without their colors blending. We’ll rise to the peaks to visit a still-active Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church, built in the 1300s, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the Caucasus. (Note: Women should bring a scarf, as the church requires head coverings.)
Evening: Upon returning to Tbilisi, the rest of the afternoon and evening are yours to explore at your own pace. Don’t forget to check your local resource guide for ideas.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5
Morning: Check out of our hotel and get ready for the next leg of the adventure as we head west into the Georgian countryside for culture, relaxation, and—of course—more wine. We’ll start the day by exploring a fascinating cave city, built around 1,000 BC, and inhabited until the late Medieval period. These cliff-clinging tunnels served as a city, trading post, and fortress for refugees. You’ll see temples dedicated to a sun goddess alongside early Christian churches, offering a unique glimpse into ancient life.
Afternoon: Next, we’ll visit a local vineyard owned by a husband-and-wife duo who are deeply involved in the revitalization of traditional Georgian wine-making. We’ll enjoy a delicious meal made with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients while savoring their exceptional wines. Afterward, we’ll make a quick stop at a roadside spot known for its beautiful terracotta pottery, giving you a chance to pick up a unique souvenir.
Evening: Check into our new hotel in the town of Kutaisi, one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. Get oriented among the winding gardens, stone, and tree-lined streets. Walk along the Rioni river as it roars in the spring from the melting winter, and wander the paths of the surrounding forests. The evening is yours.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6
Morning: Start the day with a visit to the stunning Martvili Canyon, where we'll take a boat ride through its breathtaking waters and towering cliffs, offering incredible views of Georgia's natural beauty.
Midday: Afterward, we’ll head to the wine cellars of a notable Georgian author and literary critic, who is also one of the few female winemakers in the country. In addition to her winemaking, she has authored a food ethnography to preserve traditional Megrelian cuisine, a regional identity and language that has been labeled endangered by UNESCO. We’ll enjoy a relaxing lunch in the countryside, savoring dishes influenced by her ethnographic work, full of vibrant local flavors.
Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll return to Kutaisi and take a tour of the local market. As you wander through the vibrant stalls, you’ll immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere and sample fresh regional produce, getting a true taste of Georgia’s rich culinary culture.
Evening: The evening is yours to do as you please. Remember to tap into your local resources guide for inspiration and suggestions.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 7
Morning: Venturing further west, we enter the lesser-known, warm, subtropical area of Guria near the Black Sea. Once the fourth-largest producer of tea in the world, the collapse of the Soviet Union caused the region to enter an economic crisis for a prolonged period of time. Now, thanks to a few traditionalist tea producers and another Georgian female entrepreneur, tea is making a comeback. We’ll be soaking up the warmer weather and the prevailing scents of black and green teas, among others, as we make our way to a tea plantation (owned by the female entrepreneur mentioned above) for a tasting of some of the highest quality varieties of tea around the world, accompanied by lunch.
Afternoon: Guria gives us the chance to experience more regional differences within Georgia. Due to its warmer, humid climate, Guria has a distinct architectural style and another difference to notE is how they bury their qvevri underground when making wine. Everywhere you look, you’ll see the tops of the terracotta pots peeking out from the ground. The way they grow the grapevines is also quite unique, allowing the vines to grow over other trees.
Evening: After returning to Kutaisi, the evening is yours. We've got you covered with recommendations for what to do and where to eat.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 8
Morning: Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before we begin to make our way back to Tbilisi. We will get there by early afternoon so you have time to do any last minute explorations or soaking in the city’s sulfur baths.
Evening: There’s only one thing to do on our last night in Georgia—supra! By this point in the trip, you’ll be well acquainted with this important tradition. We’ll head to a cozy, hole-in-the-wall restaurant a few blocks from the hotel that feels like you’re dining in someone’s living room. Like many of the places you’ve visited, you can expect plenty of delicious, homemade food, but what makes feasting in Georgia truly unique is the role of the tamada (toastmaster). This role is taken seriously—the tamada is responsible for being good-humored, intelligent, and witty while honoring the guests' past, present, and future. Typically, one person fills this role, but tonight, everyone will have the chance to wine, dine, and take on the job of a tamada.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 9
Morning: Say your goodbyes over breakfast before heading to the airport. Leave Georgia inspired by the spirit of Georgia's cultural reclamation experienced over the last few days, and return home feeling renewed by the rugged landscapes and steadfast people found in this wondrous place.
Meals Included: Breakfast