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Cycling in Georgia
4.5
| 15 reviews

Cycle the Silk Road Across Georgia

6 nights
Challenging

Cross the stunning Lesser Caucasus Mountains to the Black Sea, pedalling along the ancient trails of the Great Silk Road

What's Included?

Activities & Certified Guides

All itinerary activities with expert, local, English-speaking guides and a bike mechanic

Hotel & Guesthouse

1 night in a hotel, 5 nights in local guesthouses

Meals

All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners

Transfers

All airport and local transfers, with a support vehicle should your legs need a rest

Equipment

Hardtail mountain bikes; plus bike helmets can also be provided if you don't have your own

Small Like-minded Groups

Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 10 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people
From

…

excluding flights
From

…

excluding flights

What's it like?

4.5
| 15 reviews
Georgia on my mind
September 2024
Matthew L.
Georgia on my mind
September 2024
Matthew L.
Georgia on my mind
September 2024
Matthew L.
Georgia on my mind
September 2024
Matthew L.
Wonderful trip!
September 2024
Chris B.
Wonderful trip!
September 2024
Chris B.
Wonderful trip!
September 2024
Chris B.
Wonderful trip!
September 2024
Chris B.
One hell of an adventure
September 2024
Lydia B.
A great mini biking adventure
August 2024
Becky M.
A great mini biking adventure
August 2024
Becky M.
A great mini biking adventure
August 2024
Becky M.
Great way to see Georgia
August 2024
Gerko V.
Great way to see Georgia
August 2024
Gerko V.
Great way to see Georgia
August 2024
Gerko V.
Great way to see Georgia
August 2024
Gerko V.
Great way to see Georgia
August 2024
Gerko V.
Great way to see Georgia
August 2024
Gerko V.
Great trip!
July 2024
Sarah W.
Great trip!
July 2024
Sarah W.
Great trip!
July 2024
Sarah W.
Great trip!
July 2024
Sarah W.
The Georgia Silk Road Bike Adventure was an...
August 2023
Ashley
The Georgia Silk Road Bike Adventure was an...
August 2023
Ashley
The Georgia Silk Road Bike Adventure was an...
August 2023
Ashley
The Georgia Silk Road Bike Adventure was an...
August 2023
Ashley
The Georgia Silk Road Bike Adventure was an...
August 2023
Ashley
Cycling in Georgia

Cycle the historic trading route that once connected East and West and tackle the famous Goderdzi Pass (2200m)

Wild swim in the volcanic Lake Paravani and take a celebratory dip in the turquoise waters of the Black Sea

Visit the labyrinthine cave city of Vardzia, carved deep into Erusheti Mountain, and explore the Fortress of Rabati

Key Information

Day 1

Welcome to Georgia!

Check into your hotel in Tbilisi's historic old town. If you have time, it's well worth exploring as the capital is packed full of UNESCO-listed sites. Meet your guide and fellow adventurers for a briefing about the journey ahead, then sit down for your first traditional Georgian meal at a local restaurant.

Day 2

Lake Paravani

Cycling

5.5hrs · 66km · 1200m up · 600m down

After getting your bike set up, set off early for Manglisi and overload on dramatic, wild scenery as you cycle to the spectacular Dashbashi Canyon. Ride the long open track that leads to the treeless Javakhti Plateau, known locally as the Georgian Siberia. Take a dip in the volcanic Lake Paravani before visiting a famous convent to try their locally produced variety of chocolates and chacha (Georgian brandy). End your day at the guesthouse enjoying a tasty fusion of Georgian and Armenian cuisines.

Day 3

The Labyrinth of Vardzia

Cycling

4hrs · 75km · 520m up · 1100m down

Pass the beautiful Lake Saghamo on your way to Vardzia: a city carved into the mountain. Seeming like something straight out of the Lord of the Rings, this ancient cave-palace-monastery was built for the fabled Queen Tamar and is still protected by a small group of monks. Explore some of the two hundred cave dwellings and learn about its fascinating history of earthquakes and invasions, before another delicious dinner.

Day 4

The Rabati Fortress

Cycling in Georgia

Cycling

4hrs · 65km · 1000m up · 900m down

Cycle from village to village, keeping your eyes peeled for the legendary Caucasian sheepdogs and their semi-nomadic owners. Wander the impressive 9th-century Fortress of Rabati. For castle geeks, this really is something, having been liberated many times over the centuries and now housing a mosque, an Orthodox church, a synagogue, a Catholic church and a citadel. Phew!

Day 5

The Goderdzi Pass (2043m)

Cycling

5hrs · 70km · 1350m up · 1800m down

Time for a big day as you tackle the Goderdzi Pass. Climb your way through lush green forest and into the Adjara Mountains. Stop for a picnic lunch with 360-degree views and then enjoy 30km of downhill riding to your overnight spot. Georgians take their drinking seriously and this usually means chacha – a potent, homebrewed grape brandy. Tonight, as most of the climbing for the trip is done, you can relax and enjoy the homemade chacha offered by your host and learn how to correctly make a traditional Georgian toast (or join the sensible and go to bed!).

Day 6

The Black Sea

Cycling

4.5hrs · 65km · 725m up · 1530m down

Leave the mountains behind and pass through the Adjarian countryside to the coastal flatlands and on to the Black Sea. Finish your journey at one of the quiet beaches, where you can grab a swim before enjoying a night in sub-tropical Batumi – Georgia's famous summer resort.

Day 7

Back to Tbilisi

Load the bikes into the truck and road trip back to Tbilisi, stopping for lunch along the way, before heading to the airport in time for your flight home.

If you would prefer to finish your trip in Batumi, rather than returning to Tbilisi on Day 7, please let your host know in advance. They can arrange additional nights of accommodation and make itinerary recommendations should you need them.

The Area

map

Logistics

Starts

Tbilisi Airport

Any time on Day 1

Ends

Tbilisi Airport

Catch any flight departing after 18:00 on Day 7

Transfers

As long as you've supplied your flight details, private transfers between the airport and the hotel are included for any time you choose to arrive on Day 1 and depart on Day 7 (your flight must depart after 18:00). If you are arriving in Tbilisi in the early hours of the morning on Day 1, there is an "Early Check-In" option for the hotel which you can request (subject to availability) via your booking.

If you are arriving before Day 1, you can easily get a taxi from the airport to your hotel for around £10 ($13). If departing after Day 7, then your hotel can arrange a transfer to the airport for you.

Travel options

New for 2025, both British Airways and EasyJet offer direct flights several times a week from London to Tbilisi, making Georgia more accessible than ever! If you're looking for a flight from somewhere else, several airlines offer indirect flights to Tbilisi, such as Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul) and Lufthansa (via Munich or Frankfurt).

Day 1

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2 – Day 6

Guesthouse · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 7

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

Tbilisi markets, Georgia. Photo: GettyImages-887710698

You’ll experience a delicious mix of local and national Georgian cuisine, cooked with fresh produce that's often grown or reared by the guesthouse owners themselves. Georgian cuisine is renowned for its mix of eastern and western flavours, aromas and colours. It can be slightly spicy and consists mainly of meat, vegetables, cheese and fruit. There are plenty of traditional dishes without meat, so vegetarians are well catered for. Lunches will be picnic-style in the wilderness.

Local, energy-giving cycling snacks will be provided, but if you would like specific things then it's best to bring them from home.

Vegetarians and vegans can be catered for – please just request this on your passenger info form.

What is the accommodation like?

Tbilisi, Georgia
Tbilisi

You'll stay in a twin-share room at the GTM Kapan Hotel (or a similar hotel, depending on availability) in the historical centre of town: the perfect base for exploring the city.

Upgrades

If you are arriving in Tbilisi in the early hours of the morning on Day 1, there is an "Early Check-In" option for the hotel which you can request (subject to availability) via your booking.

On the road

You'll stay in small, locally owned guesthouses in twin-share rooms. These are clean and comfortable with shared facilities and are usually family run, so come with their own cuisine and stories.

Upgrades

Due to the nature of this trip, a Private Room Upgrade option is only available in Tbilisi and Batumi (subject to availability) - Please see Optional Extras for pricing and request this with your host via your booking

This trip has been rated as Challenging

This trip is designed for experienced cyclists with a sense of adventure. You should feel comfortable riding back-to-back days covering an average of 65km a day on mixed surfaces. The terrain is undulating and the roads are quiet; you will often ride on gravel tracks that enable you to experience village life.

The Goderdzi Pass (2034m) is the most challenging section of the trip and although it's a quiet road, there is a lot of climbing (1300m of ascent!). However, there is always the option to hop in the support vehicle if necessary.

You will be riding hardtail mountain bikes on a mix of gravel trails, farm tracks and quiet tarmac roads.

The average temperature during summer in Georgia ranges from 25-35°C in the lower valleys. Up on the plateaus and in the mountains it will be colder (down to 5°C at night) so you will need to pack accordingly. Rain at this time is rare, although it could be windy.

As you will traverse the entire country, you will pass through several climatic regions, so be prepared for all seasons. By the time you reach the Black Sea, it will be hot and humid due to its year-round, moderate climate.

Matthew L.(September 2024)
Georgia on my mind
Georgia on my mind
Georgia on my mind
Georgia on my mind
Georgia on my mind

Travelling from Tbilisi to the Black Sea largely on two wheels (though not altogether continuously as some sections are driven for safety/logistical reasons) takes you through a great diversity of beautiful landscapes, from the sweeping grassland vistas of the Javalkheti Plateau to the dense, lush forests of Machakhela. The itinerary is well-designed to offer a full day of riding but also plenty of time in the evenings to relax or to explore cultural sites, such as the stunning rock-hewn settlement of Vardzia or the questionably reconstructed Rabati Castle. Happily, outside of a few hotspots there aren’t too many other tourists. The spectacular rocky descent to Vardzia is a highlight, but do make sure to pack your gloves as it’s a long way down and you’re going to be gripping hard!

Alex was an excellent guide, and I sense quite flexible in tailoring the trip to each group. Most of the accommodation was family-run guest houses, which were usually quite comfortable, and always provided copious and delicious home cooking (and sometimes cognac or chacha). Even the lunches tended to be enormous, so there was never any danger of being hungry! Georgia is definitely somewhere I’d like to return to – particularly to explore the greater Caucasus, but there’s even good hiking just on the edge of Tbilisi – so I’d suggest extending your holiday a little if you can.

Chris B.(September 2024)
Wonderful trip!
Wonderful trip!
Wonderful trip!
Wonderful trip!
Wonderful trip!

One of the best cycling trips I've done, and I've done quite a few!

There was lush scenery, a lovely group of like-minded people to be spending time with, fun guides who've done it many times before and vast quantities of food usually supplemented by the local homemade chacha and wine.

The riding is great: some moderately challenging climbs (but perfectly doable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness) and the descents are just sublime - in particular the 8km rocky, hairpinned descent to Vardzia and the 20km+ descent from Goderdzi (mostly gravel but in the process of being tarmac'd) both had me grinning like a loon all the way down.

Although the trip is rated 'challenging', I found it easier than the 'Cycle the backroads of Morocco' trip, which is rated as 'moderate'.

Yes the accommodation is a bit short of Western hotel standards at times but it's all perfectly fine, adds character (particularly the homestay on day 5) and is all part of the adventure. It's best if you just go with the flow and don't mind sharing a room.

There are a lot more swimming opportunities than advertised - definitely take advantage of the chance to try out the ramshackle hot sulphur bath in Vardzia before jumping into the cold river right next to it. Also the green lake on the Goderdzi pass day and the waterfall pool on day 6.

Agree with one of the earlier reviews that the final night felt a bit flat compared to what went before - Batumi isn't the nicest of places to end the trip.

Most of our group stayed on at least one extra night in Tbilisi and the team were happy to drop them off at their hotels in town rather than at the airport, where the trip is officially supposed to end.

Lydia B.(September 2024)
One hell of an adventure
One hell of an adventure

Wow! What an amazing experience. One I'll never forget. Georgia is stunning and cycling is a great way to see it. The guides, places we stayed, food, logistics, I can't fault it.

Stephen C.(August 2024)
Good trip.

It's more than 90 % road less than 10% gravel. Soon the biggest downhill will be a sealed Rd. So it's basically a road trip. They need to change the bikes imo as they are not suitable for riding on the road. Be prepared for a lot of challenging uphill riding which was a highlight for me and the group were very fit - but if you are just riding to work a few kilometers and think you can fly up these hills on these bikes you might be delusional about your own fitness level so I recommend a few weeks of 30 to 50km hilly rides so you come prepared. The trip was well organized / guided. The food was ok. The accommodation mixed. The views are great and get better as the trip progresses. On the last day I think we could have stayed closer to the national park. It was late morning before we started riding . Also I think the trip would benefit from an extra day especially in and around the national parks. All in all a good trip.

Becky M.(August 2024)
A great mini biking adventure
A great mini biking adventure
A great mini biking adventure
A great mini biking adventure

This was a fantastic trip with beautiful varied landscapes, excellent local cuisine and hospitality. Alex expertly led us through big climbs, off road descents, deep gorges and open plateaus; taking in some of the highlights of Southern Georgia on route. Whilst some of the climbs are long, they are all perfectly doable and the off road descents are fun, even for someone who doesn't like loose gravel!!

I would throughly recommend this trip for any keen cyclist keen to visit an up and coming tourist destination!

Gerko V.(August 2024)
Great way to see Georgia
Great way to see Georgia
Great way to see Georgia
Great way to see Georgia
Great way to see Georgia
Great way to see Georgia
Great way to see Georgia

Very much enjoyed the cycling trip in Georgia.

Alex was a great and fun guide. Explaining the history, politics and customs along the way whilst keeping our spirits up. The food at every stop is amazing. The hosts at guesthouses are very hospitable, even without speaking English.

The cycling was very good with amazing views along the way. Never too demanding (climbing, speed or technical) and with freedom to go at your own pace. The more narrow and busy parts of the road are done by car to avoid accidents.

John P.(August 2024)
Stunning Georgia with excellent guides Alexo & Rezi

if you are looking to see a beautiful country, eat great food and meet wonderful guides, with a tough challenge, this may be the trip for you! Mainly on tarmac so mountain bikes did make these sections extra difficult however, there were some off-road sections! Lots of ups and lots of downs - and going through the countryside both Rezi and Alex gave us such a wonderful insight into their country which both of them are so proud of. The back up drivers were also very supportive. Food in Georgia is great. The last evening was a bit flat - certainly expecting more of a celebration that we had all finished! Also you cannot get direct flights which can make the journey there a little challenging in itself!

Patrick C.(August 2024)
Tough and rewarding ride

This was an interesting trip, and with the guides help gave a valuable perspective on Georgian culture and politics. The daily rides were tough, rewarded by stunning scenery. On the negative side, the mountain bikes provided didn't seem suited to the majority of cycling on main roads, neither particularly to the one steep and rocky off road descent. Furthermore, the accommodation provided on at least one occasion was really not up to what one might expect of a holiday in this price range. The logistics worked well, it was a good holiday, but I would have appreciated more imaginative use of small roads, tracks and off road sections, and less reliance on main roads.

Ryan M.(August 2024)
Sometimes up. Sometimes down. Sometimes flat. Always incredible.

Fantastic trip cycling across Georgia. Our guides: Alex and Rezi were fantastic. Knowledgeable, patient, funny they really added to the trip. I always felt safe and well looked after. Our support drivers were also brilliant, never far away and always on hand to chat, take photos and top up our water bottles. The food and accommodation were both excellent also, I was never hungry and even being vegan, I always felt I had plenty of choice and enough to fuel up. I would say though about 90% of this trip is on tarmac, with two long gravel descent sections. So if you're looking for a complete gravel experience, this isn't the trip. We really bonded as a group and had a fantastic time together. Thanks for the unforgettable experience!

Sarah W.(July 2024)
Great trip!
Great trip!
Great trip!
Great trip!
Great trip!

Lovely trip, great guides, beautiful country and good food!

Paulina(January 2024)

Inkalinka_on_the_bike

Ciara(August 2023)