Georgia - Svaneti Biking Adventure

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• Day 1: Arrival Tbilisi, Geogia

  Dinner

  You'll be met at Tbilisi international airport and transferred to a centrally located hotel in downtown Tbilisi. Depending on your arrival time we may have time for a Tbilisi sightseeing tour before a group meeting and dinner in the evening. There is plenty to see in Tbilisi with plenty of historical sites, museums, forts and steam baths as well as fantastic walks among the cobblestone lanes about the old town so, if time permits, we recommend arriving a day early to explore further.

• Day 2: Transfer to Svaneti/ Cycle to Mazeri

  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 40 km

  An early start today as we are going to drive approximately 380km to Svaneti in the western-most part of Georgia. We'll stop for a light lunch on the way, a good chance to sample the excellent local dish khachapuri which is a pizza-like cheese and bread pastry with various fillings and toppings. Our start point for the cycling is the Enguri Dam where we'll set up the bikes and begin our ride following the Enguri River into the Caucasus mountains passing by forests, ravines and waterfalls. We'll cycle to the small village of Khaishi, where we'll load up the bikes for the steep ascent to Mazeri, a tiny village nestled in a valley below Ushba Mountain in the Dolra Valley. We'll have dinner and overnight in nice locally run guest house.

• Day 3: Hike to Shdugra Waterfall/ Cycle to Mestia

  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 35 km

  In the morning, after an early breakfast, we are going to take 6-7km hike up the Dolra River to the Shdugra waterfall. The hike is not difficult but definitely worth the effort as Shdugra waterfalls are Georgia's highest and located in stunning alpine scenery. After returning from our hike we'll have lunch before setting off on the bikes to Mestia, Svaneti's most populated and famous village. The ride along the way brings us into a wider expansive valley surrounded by high mountain peaks, and dotted with tiny villages, watch towers and farms. Most striking and prominent is Ushba Mountain's twin peaks. We'll spend two nights in Mestia in a cozy guest house. In the evening, a walk in the village is highly recommended.

• Day 4: Hike and Bike to Chalaidi Glacier/ Visit Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography

  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 25 km

  Today we'll spend most of the morning biking and hiking to Chalaidi glacier. We'll make our way first on bikes through villages with the famous tower houses and simply stupendous mountain backdrops. Ridiculously perched churches slowly go by high above us as the valley narrows to the point where we need to leave the bikes behind and go on by foot. It's an easy and scenic 3km hike to the glacier. We make our way back 3km the same way to the bikes before riding back to Mestia. In the afternoon, we'll visit the excellent Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography, one of Georgia's best museums, with fascinating displays of church treasures, manuscripts, weaponry, jewellery, coins and historical photos.

• Day 5: Cycle to Ushguli

  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 60 km

  Our destination today is the beautiful village of Ushguli, one of the highest continually inhabited villages in Europe at 2100m and our highest stay of the trip. Situated at the head of the Enguri Gorge, Ushguli is spectacularly located below Shkhara Mountain which at 5068m hovers magnificently above this small untouched village of 200 people. Old abandoned tower houses dot the village and the Ushguli chapel dating back to the 12th century sits on a ridge with the imposing Shkhara mountain in the background. Walks in the village are recommended. We'll home-stay with a local family and be treated to proper Georgian hospitality.

• Day 6: Cycle to Lentekhi

  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 60 km

  After breakfast, we put the bikes in the trucks for the drive up to Zagaro pass (2620m). We'll jump on the bikes from here for a stunning downhill run through forest, wildflower meadows and high alpine scenery to Lentekhi. Most of the road is dirt but it is easily manageable and much the part of the adventure. Lentekhi, is a small mountain village where inhabitants survive from farming and the timber industry. It's famous for several churches, its castle and mineral springs. We'll overnight in a local guesthouse.

• Day 7: Cycle to Tsageri/ Drive to Tbilisi via Gori and Stalin Museum

  Breakfast & Lunch 30 km

  In the morning we'll continue our easy descent to Tsageri town at 425m. We'll load up the bikes and drive back to Tbilisi. On the way we are going to stop in Gori and visit the Stalin mmmuseum, an interesting look at some soviet kitch and history of Gori's most famous son. On arrival in Tbilisi we'll head out for a final night dinner after checking in to the hotel. Dinner is not included tonight as it is customary to chip in for a thank you dinner and toasts for our guides and staff!

• Day 8: Departure day

  Breakfast

  Today is departure day and you are free to depart at anytime. We'll organise your airport transfer for you.

• Can we change the itinerary or customise the tour?

  Not for publicly listed dates, but if you have your own group or date in mind, Yes.  If you want to make a private booking we can help design a tour that suits you.  You may have ideas based on any of our tours or something in mind that you can't find on our website.  Just get in contact with us and let us know what you have in mind and we'll try our best to make it happen!

• Do you cater for vegetarians?

  Yes we do!  If you have any dietery requirements just let us know when you book in the space provided (Additional Requests).  For any severe alergies or other conditions it is best that you let us know in advance so that we can prepare and/ or advise you on what we can provide or what you might need to bring so that are well catered for.

• What about Covid 19?

  Whilst Covid restrictions have passed for most countries, it is still not possible to obtain tourist visas for China. It is expected that this will change mid 2023.  Once we hear the new policy we will open departures for international travelers as soon as possible.

  For those based in China, no more restrictions apply.

   

• How to I make a booking and payment?

  Simply go to the "Dates" section of the tour page and click on the "book now" button, or click on "book" on the website header and select your preferred tour and departure date.  If you are booking onto an on demand tour and have your own dates in mind there will be an facility for you book here too.

  Before you book, we recommend that you read through the tour details and our booking terms and conditions. You can contact us about the trip if you have any questions at info@bikeasia.com or set up a time to chat about the tour.  

  Upon completion of your booking form we’ll send you an acknowledgement email and invoice for a deposit. All long trips (7 days or more) require a deposit of 300USD to guarantee your place. Trips departing within 60 days at booking will require full payment. Once your deposit is received, we’ll also send you a pre-trip information pack that will give you added information about the tour, the region you’ll be travelling through, a checklist of things to prepare, suggestions for packing, training tips and more.  For shorter trips and day tours we require full payment 30 days prior to the commencement of the tour or as soon as convenient if booking within 30 days of departure.

  Payments can be made on credit card via Paypal or through a direct bank transfer in most currencies. Information on payments will be present on your initial deposit invoice. Paypal payments will incur a 4% fee.

  *****COVID 19 Booking Terms Update*****

  During this unique time we will only be accepting full payments for tours three weeks before departure.  All payments, however, will be refunded in full if the tour is cancelled prior to departure, or your personal covid-related situation precludes you from commencing the tour.  Please make sure when booking flights that they are aslo refundable in the event of a cancelation.