I Want To Visit Georgia (The Country Not The State!)

[RSDonovan]

Hi

I am looking to visit Georgia, maybe start and end in Tbilisi, and spending some time seeing the best of the country.

I like hiking and cycling as well as sightseeing so if that could also be included it would be a bonus!

Another bonus but not essential would be to cross into Azerbaijan but not sure if this is possible.


So my questions are:

1. Getting there - I guess Gatwick to Tbilisi via Istanbul is best?

2. When to go - I have no idea of the Georgian climate!

3. Good trip organisers, first for city trip of Tblisi, then trips to other places of interest, and as mentioned hopefully including hiking/cycling.

4. Azerbaijan - is crossing a possibility? Is it worth it? Are there any travel companies who specialise in both countries?

5. Any other info from travellers who have been there would be gratefully received!

Thanks in advance,

Richard

[jno]

Azerbaijan's sort of interesting but I preferred Armenia - definitely crossings between those two. The roads aren't always great, especially in high country where they crack up during winter and stay that way for quite a while

http://www.spiceroads.com/tours/georgia?gclid=CIPu0fjQmtECFQYq0wod0owPug

http://travellingtwo.com/10618

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/georgia-armenia-azerbaijan/transport/getting-around/bicycle

[Buenchico]

Wikitravel is always a good place to start:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Georgia_(country)
Click the links under 'Cities' and 'Other Destinations' for loads more information).

Routes to Tbilisi from the UK include the following:

Turkish Airlines from either Heathrow or Gatwick via Istanbul Atatürk airport.

Turkish Airlines from Gatwick via Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen airport.

Aegean Airlines from Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham (seasonal), Edinburgh (begins 19/06/17) or Gatwick (seasonal) via Athens.

airBaltic from Gatwick via Riga.

Belavia from Gatwick via Minsk.

LOT Polish Airlines from Heathrow via Warsaw.

Lufthansa from Birmingham, Heathrow, Manchester or Glasgow (seasonal) via Munich.

Ukraine International Airlines from Gatwick via Kiev.

Alternatively there are flights from almost every large UK airport to Amsterdam, from where Georgian Airways fly to Tbilisi.

[RSDonovan]

Thanks both!

I am really looking for guided tours, so thanks for the links Jno. I went to Armenia earlier this year on a walking holiday and got the idea of going to Georgia and possibly beyond. I'll be going from LGW, Buenchico, so thanks for the "via Riga and via Minsk" info, which I wasn't aware of.

[jno]

Riga's a bit out of the way, changing in central Europe makes more sense; but check how long you'll have to wait - a day in Minsk airport isn't my idea of a good time.