Gaumarjos Georgia – Cheers to Georgia offers an 8 day culinary tour
Discover Georgia through its rich cuisine, local traditions and world class wines. This guided food and wine tour takes you deep into Georgian culture with hands – on experience , cooking classes and unforgettable tastings and experiences from Tbilisi to the mountains of Kazbegi and the heart of Kakheti wine region. In Georgia food is love and wine is history.
Itinerary
This is a small, women only group tour with a maximum of 12 participants.
Day 1 – Arrival day. Transfers to your hotel from the airport are included. As everyone will be arriving at different times and many flights will arrive late, no activities are included today. I will be at the hotel, so if anyone arrives early I’d be happy to meet up.
Day 2 – After breakfast we’ll set off on a walking tour of Tbilisi. We’ll visit the 13th century Metekhi church perched on a cliff over looking the river with gorgeous views of the old town. We’ll take a cable car up to Narikala fortress for panoramic views of the city and the imposing Mother of Georgia statue who holds a sword in one hand to repel enemies and a bowl of wine in the other to welcome friends.
We’ll wander through the streets of the old town with its beautiful balconies and past the domes of the ancient sulfur baths. Tbilisi is a mixture of ancient, modern and quirky. We’ll visit the fabulous clock tower and the statue of tamada, the toastmaster that oversees every celebration.
This afternoon we’ll have our first culinary masterclass. We will visit a local family and learn how to make one of the signature Georgian dishes, Badrijan Nigvzit, this is a dish of aubergines filled with spiced walnuts and garlic. Homemade wine is included to enhance the experience. The evening is free to explore Tbilisi by night. Our hotel is only a 5 minute walk from the sulfur baths. You may want to go for a soak in the soothing waters and have a soap suds massage.
Day 3 – After an included breakfast it is time for more sightseeing. We leave Tbilisi and head to the old capital of Georgia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mtskheta. It is one of the oldest cities in Georgia. Mtskheta is overlooked by a magnificent monastery perched on a hill, with panoramic views into the valley and the old town, which is situated on the confluence of 2 rivers. It is a very picturesque town, another cathedral sits at its centre and there are many colourful stalls, selling a wide array of goods including pots of fresh fruit, silver and enamel jewellery and felt and wool clothing. Then there is the wine ice cream, which I love so much.
Lunchtime we have our second masterclass. We will learn how to make one of Georgia’s most famous dishes. Khachapuri is freshly baked bread filled with cheese, it is delicious.
After lunch we will drive along the military highway. We will make a stop at the Ananuri fortress complex.
There will be a further stop at the friendship monument before we arrive in Kazbegi. our base for the night. We will stay in a rustic, traditional, family run place and experience Georgian hospitality. Dinner is included in our stay.
Day 4 – Today we visit one of the most iconic sights in Georgia, the Gergeti Trinity Church, such a beautiful spot. The hike is a 7 km round trip. It is an easy hike but if anyone does have any mobility issues, we can arrange a car to take you to the top at no extra cost. This will definitely be one of the many highlights of the trip, it is simply stunning.
After the hike, we will have worked up an appetite and it is time for our next masterclass. We will visit a local family and learn how to make another of the most famous Georgian dishes and one of my favourites, Khinkali. These are dumplings, the most popular version is filled with meat and spices but fillings also include cheese, mushroom or potato.
Later we will try our hand at felt making. Homemade herbal, fruit teas and homemade jams are also made here. Of course we will have an opportunity to sample some of these.
Dinner is also included in the stay at our local guesthouse.
Day 5 – Today we head to the wine region of Kahketi. On the way we’ll have have a little sightseeing stop at Alaverdi monastery.
Georgia is the country which invented wine and for that I will be eternally grateful to them. Today we will learn about traditional Georgian wine making. We will see how the large amphoras are made. Our masterclass today will be learning how to make the most famous Georgian dessert, Churchkhela. This is made from grape juice, flour and nuts, normally walnuts or hazelnuts. The nuts are dipped into a roux of flour and grape juice and then hung on a string which is knotted at the bottom to stop them falling off.
A local lunch and wine tasting will also be included today. The evening is free for you to explore.
Day 6 – The morning starts with a visit to the agricultural market, where we can sample some of the produce.
Today we will have a different culinary experience. In Duisi live a community of Kisti people, whose ancestors originated from Chechnya. We will help to cook some of their traditional foods. Later we will have a short walking tour of Telavi, you will have some free time to explore the lovely town or sit in the sun with a glass of wine..
Day 7 – Today will then drive to Signagi which is known as the ‘City of Love’. Here we will participate in another wine tasting. We then return to Tbilisi.
This evening we will say goodbye in style with food and local dancing. We will visit a show with Georgian folk dancing and dinner, should be a lot of fun.
Day 8 – Departure day, we will arrange transfers for you to the airport.
Departure Date: 13 September 2025, 23 May 2026, 13 June 2026, 5 September 2026 and 26 September 2026
Price: £950 or $1280
Included:
7 nights accommodation in twin share rooms with private facilities
Breakfast: 7
Lunch: 5
Dinner: 3
Cookery Classes: 5 plus 1 felt making class
Georgian folk show
Private minibus
Local guide and tour manager
Excluded:
Flights
Meals other than in the itinerary, if you have any room.
Travel Insurance
Gratuities
Maximum group size: 12
Deposit £300 or $404
Deposit due at time of booking to secure your place, less than 12 weeks before the trip it is non refundable. Balance can be paid by bank transfer or on arrival.
For more information or to book, email:
[email protected]
