10 Days in Georgia: Deep Dive Into Wine, Mountains & Coast
With 10 days in Georgia, you can truly go deep. Beyond Tbilisi and the popular wine regions, this itinerary takes you to the legendary Svaneti region — home to ancient stone watchtowers, Europe’s highest permanent settlement, and some of the most dramatic alpine scenery on the continent. Combined with Kazbegi, Kakheti, the cave city of Uplistsikhe, and the Black Sea coast, this is a comprehensive Georgian adventure that covers history, nature, wine, and mountain culture in one unforgettable trip.
Your 10-Day Georgia Itinerary
Day 1: Tbilisi — Arrival & Old Town
Morning: Arrive in Tbilisi, settle into your accommodation. Walk to Freedom Square and down Rustaveli Avenue.
Afternoon: Explore the Old Town — Anchiskhati Basilica, Sioni Cathedral, and the labyrinth of streets around Meidan Square. Cross the Peace Bridge to Rike Park.
Evening: Cable car to Narikala Fortress for sunset views. Sulfur baths in Abanotubani (50–100 GEL). Dinner at Keto & Kote (40–60 GEL).
Accommodation: Old Town guesthouse: 80–200 GEL/night.
Day 2: Tbilisi — Museums & Markets
Morning: Georgian National Museum on Rustaveli (25 GEL) — the gold treasures of Colchis are world-class. Upstairs, the Museum of Soviet Occupation offers a sobering but important perspective.
Lunch: Dezerter Bazaar — grab khachapuri, fresh fruit, and churchkhela for 8–15 GEL.
Afternoon: Mtatsminda Park via the vintage funicular (3 GEL). Walk the Pantheon, ride the Ferris wheel, and enjoy panoramic views.
Evening: Wine bar crawl in Sololaki and Chugureti. Try Wine Library or Vino Underground for Georgian natural wines by the glass (10–20 GEL per glass).
Day 3: Kazbegi & Georgian Military Highway
Morning: 6:30 AM marshrutka from Didube to Stepantsminda (15–20 GEL, 3–4 hours). Stop at Ananuri Fortress and cross the Jvari Pass (2,395 m).
Afternoon: Lunch in Stepantsminda (15–25 GEL). Hike (1.5 hours) or 4×4 (30 GEL) to Gergeti Trinity Church (2,170 m). The views of Mount Kazbek (5,047 m) are breathtaking.
Evening: Guesthouse dinner with local family. Try lobiani (bean-filled bread) and ojakhuri. Budget: 20–30 GEL.
Accommodation: Stepantsminda guesthouse: 70–150 GEL/night.
Day 4: Kazbegi — Gveleti Waterfalls & Truso Valley
Morning: Today you have options. The Gveleti Waterfalls hike is a moderate 1.5-hour walk through a dramatic gorge near Stepantsminda. The two waterfalls cascade down sheer rock faces into emerald pools. Free entry.
Afternoon: The Truso Valley is a more ambitious option — a 4–5 hour hike through a valley dotted with mineral springs, abandoned villages, and striking rock formations. Hire a local guide (50–80 GEL) for the best experience.
Evening: Return to Stepantsminda for a second night. Try Kazbegi Good Food restaurant for excellent khinkali (25–35 GEL).
Cost: Day budget 50–100 GEL (extra if hiring a guide).
Day 5: Kakheti — Telavi & Tsinandali
Morning: Return marshrutka from Stepantsminda to Tbilisi (15–20 GEL, 3–4 hours). From Tbilisi’s Samegrelo station to Telavi (13–17 GEL, 2 hours).
Afternoon: Visit the Tsinandali Estate — Prince Chavchavadze’s 19th-century home with a museum, lush gardens, and wine cellar (25 GEL including tasting). Then visit the Alaverdi Monastery — an 11th-century cathedral with a stunning wine-making tradition.
Evening: Dinner at a Telavi family restaurant. Try chakapuli (lamb stew with tarragon) and mtsvadi (grilled pork). Budget: 25–40 GEL.
Accommodation: Telavi guesthouse: 80–150 GEL/night.
Day 6: Kakheti — Sighnaghi & Family Winery
Morning: Taxi from Telavi to Sighnaghi (20–30 GEL, 30 minutes). Wander the cobblestone streets, walk the 4-km fortress wall, and enjoy the panoramic views over the Alazani Valley.
Midday: Visit the Niko Pirosmani Museum (15 GEL) — dedicated to Georgia’s most famous primitive painter. His work is charming and deeply connected to Georgian rural life.
Afternoon: Visit a local family marani (winery) for a qvevri wine-making demonstration and tasting. Most families charge 20–40 GEL and will show you the traditional clay pot fermentation process.
Evening: Stay overnight in Sighnaghi. Dinner with local wine at a family-run restaurant overlooking the valley (30–50 GEL).
Accommodation: Sighnaghi guesthouse: 80–160 GEL/night.
Day 7: Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe
Morning: Marshrutka from Sighnaghi to Tbilisi (13–17 GEL, 2.5 hours). Connect to Mtskheta (2–3 GEL, 30 min). Visit Jvari Monastery (UNESCO, 6th century) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century).
Midday: Marshrutka to Gori (5–8 GEL, 1 hour). Visit the controversial Stalin Museum (25 GEL).
Afternoon: Taxi to Uplistsikhe Cave Town (15–20 GEL) — explore the 5th-century BC rock-hewn city (15 GEL, allow 1.5 hours).
Evening: Return to Tbilisi by train or marshrutka (8–10 GEL, 1.5 hours).
Accommodation: Back in Tbilisi. Fabrika or a guesthouse in Vera: 80–200 GEL/night.
Day 8: Svaneti — Mestia & Medieval Towers
Morning: Fly from Tbilisi to Mestia (150–250 GEL one way, 1 hour). Vanilla Sky Airlines and Service Air operate daily flights in good weather. Alternatively, take a marshrutka from Tbilisi (40–50 GEL, 8 hours via Zugdidi) — scenic but long.
Afternoon: Arrive in Mestia, the main town of the Svaneti region. Visit the Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography (15 GEL) — one of Georgia’s best regional museums, with stunning icons, manuscripts, and medieval artefacts. Then walk through town past the iconic Svan defensive towers (9th–13th century).
Evening: Dinner at a local guesthouse. Try kubdari (Svanetian meat pie stuffed with spiced beef or pork) — the region’s signature dish. Budget: 25–40 GEL.
Accommodation: Mestia guesthouse: 80–180 GEL/night.
Day 9: Ushguli — Europe’s Highest Settlement
Morning: Hire a 4×4 (100–150 GEL for the day split among travellers) or take the local marshrutka (15–20 GEL) to Ushguli — Europe’s highest permanently inhabited village at 2,100 metres. The 45-km drive on a rough road takes 2 hours each way, but the scenery is mind-blowing.
Afternoon: Explore Ushguli’s four villages. Climb to the Lamaria Church for views of Mount Shkhara (5,201 m) — Georgia’s highest peak. The village has over 100 Svan towers, many still used as hay barns and living quarters.
Evening: Return to Mestia. Final Svanetian dinner — try the local honey, tashmijabi (Svanetian mashed potatoes with cheese), and homemade chacha (grape vodka).
Cost: Day budget 80–150 GEL.
Day 10: Batumi & Departure
Morning: Fly from Mestia to Batumi (Vanilla Sky, 150–250 GEL, 1 hour) or take the marshrutka via Zugdidi to Batumi (25–35 GEL, 4–5 hours with stops).
Afternoon: Quick exploration of Batumi Boulevard. Visit the Ali and Nino moving statue and enjoy a final lunch of fresh fish and Adjarian khachapuri (20–30 GEL).
Late Afternoon: Taxi to Batumi Airport (20–30 GEL, 15 minutes). Depart from Batumi — or take the night train to Tbilisi (25–40 GEL, 5 hours) if flying from Tbilisi the next day.
Total Trip Budget (10 days): 2,000–3,500 GEL per person (≈ $730–1,275 USD) including accommodation, food, transport, domestic flights, and activities. International flights extra.
Disclaimer: Prices and timings are approximate and may vary by season. Mountain flights in Svaneti are weather-dependent — always have a backup transport plan. This guide is for general reference only.