Georgia – Unique Destination Georgia is situated at the strategically important crossroads where Europe meets Asia; Georgia is an amazing cluster of cultures, religions, fascinating landscapes and ancient history; The country where everyone can find something to his liking – from snow peaks to subtropical shores, from deserts to lush forests, from cities to enchanting villages;
Endless Tourism Possibilities From adventure tourism to discovering the art of wine making, Georgia has something to delight every visitor. Take advantage of the cheapest heli-skiing in Europe, or tour some of the finest medieval architecture in the world, delve into ancient, subterranean cave cities, or relax at world class beach resorts - in Georgia, everything is possible.
Summer sea and Winter Ski resorts Georgia is a year-round destination. In Georgia, you can swim in the sea as late as November - one of the longest swimming seasons in Europe. After that, why not head to the mountains, where there is guaranteed snow until late April, making Georgia a top destination for skiers and snowboarders. Any month of the year though, you should try our famous Spring waters, curative and tasty.
Mountains and Trekking When it comes to the height of its mountains and the breadth of available treks, Georgia’s High Caucasus may not compete with the Himalayas. However, with five peaks higher than Mont Blanc (4,808 meters), Georgia’s High Caucasus Mountains are comparable to the European Alps and by far less crowded. The fabled region of Svaneti, nestled in these mountains, is a place of magic and fear, even for Georgians themselves. Access to peaks like Mount Shkhara (5,201 meters) and Mount Ushba (4,710 meters) and opportunities to stay with Svan families in villages make trekking in this region an outdoor and cultural adventure.
Archeology / First Europeans Many countries have ancient beginnings. But very few can, like Georgia, trace their history back nearly two million years. The discovery of 1.8 million year old remains in the hills just south of Tbilisi provides the missing link in human expansion between Africa and Europe. There are many reasons to come to Georgia, and gold is just one of them. Our museums and even stories are encased with gold: gold statues and figurines, belts and crowns from ancient tribes and peoples, like the Colchis. It was the Colchis, Georgia’s ancient people, who are widely believed to have inspired some of our most famous visitors: Jason and the Argonauts. According to legend, the Colchis owned a famous, superb Golden Fleece and Jason and the Argonauts were sent to claim it and bring it back to Greece. The fleece itself was probably inspired by the practice of sifting for gold in the high, fast flowing mountain rivers of Georgia by leaving a sheep’s fleece in the river overnight. When taken out of the river, hung from a tree
and dried out, the gold can literally be brushed out. The whole story of Jason’s quest for the fleece and his meeting with the Georgian princess Medea, the famous sorceress daughter of Aeetes, King of Colchis, can still be enjoyed today in Homer’s The Odyssey.
Cradle of wine: Georgia is unquestionably the birthplace of wine. Grape seeds have been found in Caucasian tombs 8000 years ago, along with wine implements such as clay vessels. Nowhere else in the world is the evidence of viniculture so old. Probably there is no country where wine is more revered and a wine culture so developed and cherished. Here you can taste unique varieties of wine in a vast array of subtle flavor differences. Nowadays wine is still produced exactly the same way it was before. Grapes are placed in large earthenware vessels called “Qvevri”, large enough to fit a person inside, buried in the ground up to their necks. These special wine vaults are then sealed and left to fermentation for three or four months. It makes wine rich on tannin and vitamins, completely organic and distinctively flavorful.
Unique alphabet :
Georgian is spoken by approximately four million people, mainly in
Georgia where it is the official language. Approximately 98% of the population speaks Georgian as their first language. The Georgian alphabet has its own independent place among the 14 existing alphabets
known to the world. The oldest known inscriptions date from the beginning of the 5th century. The writing has undergone considerable changes since then.
UNESCO Heritage sites Our current UNESCO heritage sites include the ancient capital city of Mtskheta, the massive cathedral complexes of Bagrati and Gelati, and the mountain region of Svaneti. The construction of Bagrati Cathedral, named after Bagrat III, the first king of united Georgia, started at the end of the 10th century and was completed in the early years of the 11th century. Although partly destroyed by the Turks in 1691, it was recently restored and the church service is held regularly. The Gelati Monastery, whose main buildings were erected between the 12th and 17th centuries, is a well-preserved complex, with wonderful mosaics and wall paintings. The cathedral and monastery represent the flowering of medieval architecture in Georgia. The historic churches of Mtskheta, former capital of Georgia, are outstanding examples of medieval religious architecture in the Caucasus. They show the high artistic and cultural level attained by this ancient kingdom.
Ancient Cave towns:
Among the few notable cave towns in the world, the Georgian ones are of very special interest. Uplistsikhe, David Gareji monastery, and the world-famous cave town of Vardzia are nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage list. Uplistsikhe, ‘the fortress of the Lord’, can be dated back to the early Iron Age, and is located on a high rocky escarpment overlooking the bank of the Mtkvari River. Cut from natural sandy stone, the 8 hectares of cave-town have survived millions of people, erosion, aging and even earthquakes, but it still remains a good example of the mixture of pagan & Christian architecture. David Gareji monastery was founded in the 6th century on the slopes of the Gareji hills by one of the thirteen Syrian Fathers, Father David (Garejeli). Those fathers were missionaries from Mesopotamia promoting and spreading Christianity, the respected founders of many monasteries and holy places around Georgia. The frescoes here are superb. Some of them date as far back as the 9th and 10th centuries. The Golden Age of Georgia is directly reflected in the incredible 11th – 13th century frescoes. The incredible cave town of Vardzia dates back to Queen Tamar’s reign, nearly a thousand years ago. Her father, King George III started the foundation of the complex, while Queen Tamar continued its construction. Many frescoes date back to the beginning of the XII century. The complex itself consists of small chapels, bell towers, secret tunnels, monks’ caves as well as a fully functioning monastery to this day. Set in the most serene and stunning countryside, its beautiful location captures your imagination and brings you back to the era of Queen Tamar's reign.
Hot springs and Spa Towns 103 spa resorts and over 2400 mineral springs definitely mean that Georgia has been one of the centers of spa life for thousands of years. The location of today’s capital Tbilisi was chosen because of its natural hot sulfur springs. Now, in the very heart of the city you can still visit sulfur baths which were built there long time ago. Combined with Mediterranean climate and legendary hospitality of the locals it makes Georgia to a unique travel destination.
Europe’s Highest Settlement Considered to be the most dramatic and impressive region of the entire Caucasus, Svaneti is a very good place for hiking. From the Cross Peak directly above Mestia you can see the magnificent twin peaks of Mt. Ushba (4710 meters), the snow pyramid of Mt. Tetnuldi (4974 meters), the beginnings of Georgia’s highest mountain, Mt. Shkhara (5068 meters), and Mt. Elbrus, Europe’s highest (5642 meters) lurking just behind Ushba. Here you are truly in the heart of the mountains, and the feeling of being here is indescribable. Ushguli village in Svaneti region, which is situated at 2,300 meter altitude, is the highest settlement in Europe.
Protection Areas/Natural Reserves: In Georgia the first Protected Area is Lagodekhi Nature Reserve that was established in 1912. Now the whole Protected Areas cover 467 221,5 ha and it is 6,7% of the whole territory of Georgia. About 75% of Protected Areas are covered by forest. There are: 18 state reserves, 5 national parks, 9 managed reserve, 3 natural monuments and 1 protected landscape. Georgia is one of the most ecologically diverse countries in the world, with climatic zones ranging from subtropical to high alpine to semi-desert. Georgia is also home to vast expanses of completely unspoiled wildernesses, including one of Europe’s largest national parks. Our pristine wetlands and mountain aeries make this country a Mecca for bird watchers worldwide. Bears, lynxes and even leopards can be found in Georgia’s dense forests of Caucasian fir-the tallest trees in Europe.
Georgian Cuisine:
You may try delicious Georgian food and different Georgian drinks from
lemonade to chacha in various cafes and restaurants. However, one of the best ways to experience and understand Georgian traditions of eating, drinking and enjoying life is Supra, the Georgian table. It shouldn’t always have a festive reason: every day can be festive in Georgia. Gathering with friends and family is very important here. If the guests are attending supra, it is even merrier. So if you are invited, don’t be shy: try all the dishes (it’s a big pleasure for the hosts if their guests are full and happy), join the
toast-master, take wine with the others and say some warm words too. The order of toasts is not always the same: it varies from region to region, but generally the first glass should be drained for God and peace, because both play very important role for every Georgian.
Georgian folk and dance: Georgian polyphonic music tradition is world-renowned and calls upon an enchanting combination of ancient and modern harmonies. In 2001 UNESCO acknowledged this music as “a masterpiece of the world’s intangible cultural heritage”. Its unique, slightly dissonant style has not changed for centuries. The Greek historian Strabo recorded the multi-voiced chants of Georgians riding into battle as early as in the 1. century BC. The songs, made up of three-part harmonies, are still in the blood of modern society. They can be heard in churches and monasteries across the country; down Tbilisi’s back-streets of an early evening; or across the village fields in summer. They are also very much a part of the Georgian feast (supra). Georgian dance, like the national polyphonic songs, remain a major cultural export. The Georgian State Dance Ensemble tours the world for most of the year. The vigorous, vibrant men leap high in the air; clash swords amidst flying sparks and razor sharp daggers are thrown into the floor in a frenetic, breathtaking choreography.
All this is contrasting with the women’s graceful, elegant and beautiful dances. Fabulous multi-colored costumes from the many mountain regions, wild drumming, accompanied by sound of pipes and accordions... The impression is mesmeric and truly unforgettable!