Georgia Uncovered — Self-Launched
7 days · Georgia
G Adventures charges £1,329
No-markup version: ~£415 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 7-day self-launched loop of Georgia covering Tbilisi's old town and sulphur baths, the Caucasus mountains at Kazbegi with the Gergeti Trinity Church, Gori and the rock-cut city of Uplistsikhe, the green canyons and monasteries of Kutaisi, and Mtskheta's UNESCO cathedral — plus two hands-on cooking sessions (khinkali and a Terragarden-style class). The commercial version runs ~£1,300+ with a CEO and private vehicles; doing it yourself with marshrutka minibuses, shared 4WDs, Bolt rides and guesthouses costs roughly a third of that. Prices are approximate, based on mid-range backpacker rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Tbilisi — old town orientation
Tbilisi
Land at Tbilisi International (TBS) and take the official airport bus (#37) or Yandex Go/Bolt into the centre for £1-4. Check into a guesthouse or boutique hostel in Old Tbilisi, a short walk from Freedom Square. In the afternoon, do your own orientation wander: Freedom Square → Rustaveli Avenue → Bridge of Peace → Rike Park. Finish with a first taste of Georgian food — khachapuri and a glass of Saperavi — at a local cellar restaurant (Café Daphna or a Pasanauri branch are cheap and reliable). Get a Metromoney card at any metro station (£1.40 deposit) if you plan to use public transport, and buy a local eSIM.
🚌Airport bus #37 ~£1; Yandex Go/Bolt from airport ~£4
🛏Guesthouse or boutique hostel in Old Tbilisi (private room ~£20-28/night)
- →Old town orientation walk
- →Bridge of Peace & Rike Park
- →Khachapuri dinner in a local cellar
Tbilisi walking day — Narikala, Abanotubani, Caravanserai
Tbilisi
Do the classic Tbilisi walk yourself. Start at Metekhi Church for the postcard view over the river, ride the Rike Park cable car up to Narikala Fortress (£1 with Metromoney), then walk down through the old town past the Leghvtakhevi waterfall into Abanotubani, the sulphur bath district — book a private bath at one of the small bathhouses (£7-15) or just peek at the brick domes. Visit the Sioni Cathedral, the Anchiskhati Basilica, and the Caravanserai area on Sioni Street (now a café/craft courtyard). Wander the flea market on Dry Bridge and finish with a free walking tour if you want a guide's context — the Tbilisi Free Walking Tour runs daily from Freedom Square, tip-based (~£5-10 tip). Evening: wine bar in Sololaki or a rooftop.
🚌Walking + cable car ~£1; metro ~£0.35/ride
🛏Guesthouse or boutique hostel in Old Tbilisi
- →Narikala Fortress & cable car
- →Abanotubani sulphur baths
- →Metekhi Church viewpoint
- →Dry Bridge flea market
- →Tip-based free walking tour
Tbilisi → Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) → Gudauri
Stepantsminda & Gudauri
Early start from Didube bus station — marshrutka minibuses to Kazbegi leave when full, roughly hourly from 08:00, cost ~£7 and take 3-3.5 hrs on the Georgian Military Highway. Break the journey at Ananuri Fortress (many drivers stop; otherwise take a marshrutka to Ananuri and continue). In Kazbegi, hire a shared 4WD up to Gergeti Trinity Church (~£10-15 return per group; or hike up in ~1.5 hrs) for the classic Caucasus panorama under Mount Kazbek. Book a khinkali-making lunch with a local family or guesthouse in Stepantsminda (~£12-18 including lunch) — many guesthouses advertise this on arrival, or book via GetYourGuide. In the afternoon take a local taxi/marshrutka to Gudauri (~£4) and stop at the Soviet-era Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument on the way. Sleep in Gudauri or back in Stepantsminda for the mountain views.
🚌Marshrutka Tbilisi–Kazbegi ~£7; shared 4WD to Gergeti ~£10-15 split; local taxi to Gudauri ~£4
🛏Guesthouse in Stepantsminda or Gudauri (~£22-30/night)
- →Ananuri Fortress stop
- →Gergeti Trinity Church by shared 4WD or hike
- →Khinkali cooking class with a local family
- →Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument
Gudauri → Gori & Uplistsikhe → Kutaisi
Gori & Kutaisi
Take a marshrutka/taxi down from Gudauri to Tbilisi (Didube) and then a marshrutka to Gori (~£2.50, 1.5 hrs). Gori: visit the State Stalin Museum (~£4-5) in the birthplace square if it interests you, or climb Gori Fortress on the hill for valley views. Then take a local taxi or marshrutka out to Uplistsikhe (~£4-6 one-way, 15 mins) — the ancient city carved into the rock cliffs, with a couple of hours to explore (£3 entry). Continue by marshrutka or shared taxi from Gori to Kutaisi (~£5-7, 2.5 hrs). Check into a guesthouse in the old town near the White Bridge. Evening: an orientation stroll past the fountain and down to the Bagrati Cathedral hill, then a cheap dinner — Kutaisi is excellent value.
🚌Marshrutka Gudauri–Tbilisi ~£5; marshrutka Tbilisi–Gori ~£2.50; taxi to Uplistsikhe ~£5 split; marshrutka Gori–Kutaisi ~£6
🛏Guesthouse near Kutaisi old town (~£18-25/night)
- →Gori town & fortress
- →State Stalin Museum (optional)
- →Uplistsikhe cave city
- →Bagrati Cathedral sunset walk
Martvili Canyon & western Georgia
Kutaisi & Martvili
Head out early to Martvili Canyon — marshrutkas run from Kutaisi to Martvili town (~£1.50-2, 1 hr), then a short taxi to the canyon entrance (~£2), or arrange a driver for the day (~£25-35 split between 2-3 people). Entry plus the short boat ride through the gorge is around £8-10. Walk the canyon trail and the waterfalls, then stop in a local village for a home lunch (lunch in Martvili ~£5). On the way back, detour to Prometheus Cave or Sataplia (optional, ~£6 each) or the Gelati and Motsameta monasteries above Kutaisi (free). Back in Kutaisi by late afternoon — evening free for the central market area and a relaxed dinner.
🚌Marshrutka Kutaisi–Martvili ~£2; local taxi ~£2-3; optional day driver ~£10-15 split
🛏Guesthouse near Kutaisi old town
- →Martvili Canyon walking trail
- →Canyon boat ride
- →Village home lunch
- →Gelati Monastery (optional)
Kutaisi → Mtskheta → Terragarden cooking → Tbilisi
Mtskheta & Tbilisi
Marshrutka or shared train from Kutaisi back east to Tbilisi (~£6-8, 3.5 hrs by bus; the daytime train from Kutaisi is comfortable and about £7). Detour to Mtskheta — marshrutkas run frequently from Didube station in Tbilisi (~£0.60, 30 mins). Visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the Jvari Monastery viewpoint above the river confluence (free). Book a cooking class at a Mtskheta-area agro-guesthouse or Terragarden-style venue in advance via GetYourGuide or directly by email (~£25-35 including lunch and wine tasting) — the class covers khinkali, churchkhela or bread baking. Late afternoon: back into Tbilisi for a final wander along Rustaveli, then a farewell dinner — try a Supra-style table at a mid-range restaurant (~£12-15 with wine).
🚌Kutaisi–Tbilisi bus/train ~£7; marshrutka to Mtskheta ~£0.60 each way
🛏Guesthouse or boutique hostel in Old Tbilisi (~£20-28/night)
- →Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
- →Jvari Monastery viewpoint
- →Mtskheta cooking class & lunch
- →Farewell supra dinner in Tbilisi
Depart Tbilisi
Tbilisi
A free morning depending on your flight — grab breakfast at the guesthouse, hit the Dezerter Bazaar for spices and churchkhela to take home, or squeeze in the Georgian National Museum (£3). Take the airport bus #37 or a Bolt to Tbilisi International and fly out. If you have a late flight, ask the guesthouse to hold your bag.
🚌Airport bus ~£1 or Bolt ~£4
🛏None (departure day)
- →Dezerter Bazaar shopping
- →Georgian National Museum (optional)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£415 | £1,329 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £914 per person (69%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£415
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Georgia Uncovered — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £415 per person for 7 days in Georgia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,329 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £415 — a saving of roughly £914 (69%) per person.
How long is the Georgia trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Georgia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, hiking trip through Georgia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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