Travelling to Georgia from Quebec

A country the size of Switzerland, wedged between the Black Sea and the Caucasus, where medieval watchtowers and subtropical beaches sit a single day's drive apart. Georgia has become the destination experienced travellers quietly recommend to one another, and it remains surprisingly affordable.

What does the official travel advice say?

Let's start there, because it is the first thing an honest adviser checks. The Government of Canada rates Georgia at "take normal security precautions", the lowest of the four levels.

Two regional qualifiers come with it. Tbilisi sits at "exercise a high degree of caution" because of demonstrations and possible clashes with law enforcement: stay away from gatherings, and that is the whole of it. The occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, along with the areas bordering them, are at "avoid all travel" — crime, military activity, risk of detention and landmines. No serious tourist itinerary goes near them, but you want to know this before renting a car.

Check the current advisory on travel.gc.ca before you leave: these levels change.

Tbilisi, a capital like nowhere else

Wooden houses with carved balconies leaning over lanes, sulphur baths under brick domes, heavy Soviet blocks and contemporary glass, all within the same few streets. The old town is walkable; the rest is a metro ride.

The Caucasus, three hours from the capital

Kazbegi and its church perched in front of a five-thousand-metre peak is the image everyone knows. The Georgian Military Highway that leads there crosses passes and valleys, and makes either one long day or two with a night on site.

Further west, Svaneti and its UNESCO-listed medieval stone towers ask for more time and a harder road. This is Georgia for walkers.

Kakheti and the wine

East of the capital lies the wine region where wine has been made in buried clay jars for eight thousand years. It is a trip in itself, and we cover it in our Georgian wine route.

The table, which is not a detail

Georgian cooking is one of the great overlooked cuisines. Khinkali, fat dumplings you hold by the knot. Khachapuri, cheese bread that changes shape from region to region. Satsivi, poultry in walnut sauce. And the supra, a meal led by a tamada who delivers the toasts in a set order — a ceremony rather than a dinner.

When should you go?

May, June, September and October. Summer is hot in the valleys but the mountain roads are open, and September adds the grape harvest. Winter closes several passes and makes Svaneti hard to reach.

Practical matters

The currency is the lari, the cost of living stays low for a Quebec traveller, and English is spoken by younger people in the cities but rarely in the countryside. Driving is assertive: hiring a driver for mountain days costs little and solves a great deal.

Getting there from Quebec

There are no direct flights. You connect through Istanbul, Warsaw, Vienna or Munich, for one long travel day from Montreal. An adviser can line up the connections, book the drivers and check the travel advisory as of your departure date.

Voyages AquaTerra holds a Quebec travel agent licence. Our clients benefit from the Compensation Fund for Customers of Travel Agents, under the conditions set out in the regulation. Reach an adviser at 1-866-628-6241.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Government of Canada rates it "take normal security precautions", the lowest level. Tbilisi is at "exercise a high degree of caution" because of demonstrations, and the occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are at "avoid all travel". Check the current advisory on travel.gc.ca before you leave.
Canadian citizens may stay in Georgia for up to one year without a visa. The passport must be valid for the length of the stay. Confirm the requirements with your adviser before tickets are issued.
There are no direct flights. You connect through Istanbul, Warsaw, Vienna or Munich, which makes one full travel day including the layover.
May, June, September and October. The mountain roads are open, valley temperatures are bearable, and September adds the grape harvest in Kakheti. Winter closes several passes.
Yes. English is spoken by younger people in the cities, and Russian remains common among older generations. In the countryside, a driver or a guide settles the question.
The cost of living is low for a Quebec traveller, with lodging and food among the most affordable in Europe. The flight is the main expense. An adviser at 1-866-628-6241 can cost out a specific itinerary.
Khinkali, fat dumplings you hold by the knot; khachapuri, cheese bread that changes shape from region to region; and satsivi, poultry in walnut sauce. The supra, a meal led by a tamada, is an experience in itself.