TravelAwaits
May.5.2021
Georgia is a country at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia that’s been inhabited since the Bronze Age. Thousands of years of history and many civilizations have left their mark in Georgia, which makes it a particularly interesting country for history fans. Those who love nature will fall in love with it, too, because in the relatively small country you find the beaches of the Black Sea coast, the wild Caucasus mountains, Krubera Cave, known as the world’s deepest cave, swamps and snow-covered glaciers, woods, and orchards.
Georgian hospitality is proverbial, as reflected in the tradition of
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It has been said that Georgians ‘think with European minds and feel with Asian hearts’. Their nation, clamped between Russia and Turkey, is neither fully European nor Asian but rather in a category all of its own. If one symbol encapsulates the Georgian psyche it is the Kartlis Deda “Mother of Georgia” statue, which towers above the hills of Tbilisi. Holding a sword in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other, she symbolises the Georgian readiness to fight for liberty while welcoming friends with a stiff drink.
Such a defiant spirit and love of life has ensured that this beautiful country – which invented viticulture, converted to Christianity earlier than most, and speaks a language unlike any other – has maintained its distinctive identity despite conquests by Persians, Ottomans and Russians. After decades of Soviet rule followed by civil war, Georgia is finally settling into democracy and is a perfect destination for visitors wanting to beat the eastward
How to go for day trips from Tbilisi
Some of the places are reachable by public transport however this might be a bit time-consuming, uncomfortable, and challenging to navigate (but definitely not impossible!).
If you rent a car you can easily visit all the sites independently and spent as much time as you wish in each of them. However, Georgian roads and especially Georgian drivers are a bit crazy so if you are not a confident driver you might want to rethink this option.
The best option seems to be day tours from Tbilisi, either group ones or private ones. Since Georgia tourism is booming there are numerous companies offering tours to each of the popular destinations and you can easily find the one that suits you best.