Climb Kazbek And Georgian Culture

Welcome to Georgia (the country!)! We’ll pick you up at the Tbilisi international airport and transfer you to your preferred 3, 4, or 5-star hotel tonight in Tbilisi. Georgia’s capital comes alive in the evening so make sure to explore this evening while you have the chance!

We’ll pick you up this morning from your hotel in Tbilisi, then take off for the scenic, 3-hour drive to Mount Kazbek, the 3rd highest mountain in Georgia. Your guide will brief you on the history of the Georgian people along the way, among whom you will be spending the next week. Upon completion of the breathtaking drive to the foot of Mount Kazbek at 5,700 ft (1,735 m) you will check into your hotel and enjoy some free time to explore the area and take in the views around you. You will meet with your guide today, rent any needed gear, and go over the plan for the next 6 days, and a successful Kazbek ascent!

Today you get to meet Mount Kazbek up close and personal. You will take a 20-minute drive up to the famous Gergeti Church with its incredible panoramic views of the Caucasus range and Kazbegi valley, and then start your ascent on foot to lower base camp at 10,170 ft (3,150 m). As riveting as you will find Kazbek itself, perhaps the surrounding Caucasus range, stretching into Russia and beyond is even more so. The hike today is 4 hrs. of ascent as well as doubling your elevation, not to mention the significantly colder weather.

You’ll continue up majestic Kazbek today to the upper basecamp at 3,650 meters elevation (12,000 feet). There’s a good chance that altitude sickness may start kicking in tonight, so don’t be surprised if it does, this is acclimatization doing its work on your body. After two straight days of big elevation changes & uphill treks, you’ll be ready for bed tonight after dinner!

Wake up with excitement today, as it is your final day before your Kazbek ascent. You’ll get acquainted with the first leg of the summit day climb, up to 4,100 meters, as well as do some necessary technical skills training with your guide: how to use an ice axe, getting used to your crampons, climbing with a rope, etc. Turn in early tonight, as an early wake-up call awaits for your epic summit day tomorrow!

It’s Summit Day! You have got a 12 to 14 hour climb ahead of you, and so will start your climb in the dark between 2:00 and 3:00 am. Team is a beautiful thing as you work together with your group up the mountain. The early morning hours of your climb is quite the surreal experience with a line of climbers ascending Kazbek, lit up by a highway of head lamps. Your climb will not be easy by any stretch of the imagination, with altitude sickness, extreme cold temperatures, and unpredictable weather all real possibilities, but it will all be worth it when you reach the top. Take in the view of the Caucasus Mountains arrange at the summit of 16,581 ft (5,054 m). Once you have a quick celebration of your success, prepare for your 5-6 hour descent back to base camp. Dinner never tasted better than it will tonight.

Descent day! Gather your things and head back down to Kazbegi this morning. You’ll cover 10 km (6 miles) in 5-6 hrs. and then explore iconic Gergeti Church before the final transfer down to Stepantsminda. After 5 days on the mountain, you’ll be ready for a hot shower tonight. :) In case there was inclement weather on Day 6 (yesterday’s planned ascent), today will be your summit day up Kazbek.

In case your group needed to use its reserve day and summit Kazbek on Day 7, today is your descent day back to Stepantsminda. If you successfully summited on Day 6, and descended Kazbek yesterday, then you have a free day today to explore the Kazbegi region: treks, exploring the local Caucasus markets, paragliding, 4-wheeling, etc. You’ll have a final tasty mountain dinner tonight, before heading east tomorrow for some cultural touring.

Although you're saying goodbye to Mt. Kazbek this morning, phase two of your trip begins today, as you explore Georgia’s wildly diverse culture and history, starting with Mtskheta, the spiritual center of Georgia. After lunch, you'll head east to the Kakheti region, Georgia's very own "wine country", where you'll spend the next two nights in Telavi.

We like to call this part of Georgia the “Tuscany of the East” for its similar landscape and focus on wine. Speaking of wine, you’ll visit a wine cellar today and learn all about Georgia’s unique methods of wine-making, especially how they differ from European wines, both in taste and in the making process. Georgia’s unique clay vessels that store wine underground truly show its uniqueness in wine-making history and in the world today. Have you settled on a favorite Georgian food yet? Whether it’s the cheese bread (khachapuri), meat dumplings (khinkali), soup (kharcho), or something else, we’re sure Georgian cuisine will have landed in your favorite foods’ list by the end of your time here.

It’s your final day in the mountains and foothills of Georgia, as we visit Sighnaghi and have lunch with a Georgian family, experiencing their home and daily surroundings. After lunch, you’ll also visit the Nunnery of Bodbe, where Nino was buried, who brought Christianity to Georgia in the 4th century. Depending on your taste and mood, you may be excited to finally enter the big city of Tbilisi tonight (i.e. finally no more driving! :) ), or you may be sad to leave Georgia’s incredible mountain landscapes behind. Regardless, Tbilisi is a fantastic place to finish your Georgia tour on, so make sure to maximize every minute of your time in this bustling capital city!

Can you believe it? It’s your final full day in Georgia! Enjoy it to the fullest with a guided city tour visiting some of Tbilisi’s most iconic spots: ancient churches, historic baths/saunas, an Old City that rivals any of Europe’s oldest cities, and more. Tbilisi has something for everyone, so you’re sure to be charmed in your time there. The city is quite hilly and so many of the views from restaurants are very memorable. You’ll have a celebration dinner with your guide this evening including a fun Georgian dance & folk show while you eat.

We’ll transfer you to the Tbilisi International Airport this morning for your flight home. We hope to see you again soon!