Georgia

Georgia is a country where the mountains are as tall as the legends and the hospitality is considered a sacred duty. Tucked between the Great Caucasus and the Black Sea, it is the birthplace of wine and a place where ancient stone towers guard valleys that feel untouched by the modern world.

The Soul of Tbilisi

The capital, Tbilisi, is a beautiful contradiction. You can spend your morning in the Abanotubani district, soaking in 17th-century brick-domed sulfur baths, and your afternoon crossing the Bridge of Peace, a futuristic glass-and-steel canopy that glows at night. The city’s heart is the Old Town, where “Leaning Tower” clock towers and wooden balconies draped in vines create a maze of discovery. For the best perspective, take the aerial tramway up to the Narikala Fortress to stand beside the Mother of Georgia statue, who holds a sword for enemies and a bowl of wine for friends.

Peaks and Pathways

• Kazbegi (Stepantsminda): A drive along the Georgian Military Highway is one of the most scenic road trips on Earth. It leads you to the iconic Gergeti Trinity Church, perched dramatically at the foot of the snow-capped Mount Kazbek. Whether you hike up or take a 4×4, the sight of the lonely stone church against the jagged peaks is the definitive image of the Caucasus.

• Svaneti: For the truly adventurous, the remote region of Svaneti offers a landscape of medieval defensive towers and glaciers. Ushguli, one of the highest permanently inhabited villages in Europe, feels like a living museum frozen in stone.

• Kakheti: The Wine Cradle: Georgia has been making wine in clay jars called Qvevri for over 8,000 years. In the hilltop “City of Love,” Sighnaghi, you can walk the ancient fortress walls and look out over the Alazani Valley while sampling world-class Saperavi grapes.