On Day of the Caucasian Challenge 2016 we followed the footsteps of Stalin, visiting his hometown of Gori. As the Caucasian Challenge headed towards its halfway point, the teams’ task on Day 6 was to make their way to Georgia’s beautiful capital Tbilisi. It’s a relaxed day, with no need for an early start, […]
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Caucasian Challenge 2016 Day 5: The Zagar Pass
We continue our review of the Caucasian Challenge 2016 with Day 5, crossing the Zagar Pass. The driving on day 5 is always one of the highlights of the Caucasian Challenge. It can be challenging, especially after the party in Mestia on Day 4, but it’s so worth it: the scenery […]
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Caucasian Challenge 2016 Day 4: The Drive to Mestia
Day 4 of the Caucasian Challenge saw teams drive to Mestia, perhaps the most picturesque town in Georgia. One of the highlights of any Caucasian Challenge, or indeed any trip to Georgia, is visiting the scenic mountain region of Svaneti. At its heart is […]
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Tsitsernakaberd: The Armenian Genocide Complex
The Armenian Genocide Complex is found on Yerevan’s Tsitsernakaberd hill. At Tsitsernakaberd you can find both a monument to, and much information about, the most traumatic time in Armenian history. The site is an essential place to visit on any visit to Yerevan, although it can obviously be an upsetting experience. On Armenian […]
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The Armenian Cave Village of Khndzoresk
The Caucasus are heaven if you are a fan of caves, and the Armenian cave village at Khndzoresk does not disappoint! The Armenian cave village of Khndzoresk may not be well known (we can probably blame it’s tricky to pronounce name…) but it deserves to be known as one of the most fascinating […]
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The Puzzling Cave City of Vardzia
The Cave City of Vardzia is a vivid reminder of Georgia’s fascinating history. But what was it for? Cave cities are always an astonishing sight, a fascinating glimpse into an ancient way of life, and the cave cities of the Caucasus are no exception. Georgia actually has three prominent cave sites and while […]
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Georgia’s Meteora: the Katskhi Pillar
Georgia is full of surprises: you can find better wine than France, higher mountains than Switzerland and, it turns out, older monasteries than those found on the rock pillars of Greece. The Katskhi pillar, Georgia’s Meteora is found not far from Chiatura, but seems a world away from the town’s mining history […]
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Sighnaghi: Georgia’s City of Love
Sighnaghi, in the eastern province of Kakheti, has a reputation as Georgia’s city of love (and wine…) Sighnaghi, only 100km’s drive east of the capital Tbilisi, is known as Georgia’s city of love, and for good reason. Locals often compare the hilltop town to Verona, city of Romeo and Juliet, and it has everything you might need to […]
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Essential Georgian Phrases
Georgia is a wonderful country to visit, and don’t be put off by the complicated language and mysterious alphabet. With these essential Georgian phrases you’ll have no trouble getting by! Wherever you go it’s worth learning a little bit of the language, but that’s especially true in Georgia. Though younger people often speak English, older […]
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The Controversial Joseph Stalin Museum in Gori
The Joseph Stalin Museum is found in his hometown of Gori, where it’s famous for having a controversially uncritical view about the former Soviet leader. You might assume the citizens of Gori, the small Georgian city where Joseph Stalin was born, would be ashamed of their most famous son. However, the locals have a […]
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