There’s plenty happening off the trail too: a wine tasting steeped in Bronze Age history, a hands-on cooking class, and a guide who knows the region inside out.
The Saguramo wine experience. Between the valleys, there’s a private stop in Saguramo — a village on the route between Tbilisi and Kazbegi, so it fits naturally on either the arrival or departure day. The host family there has kept a private collection of Bronze Age artifacts (3500–2500 BC), a rare, generations-deep record of Georgia’s mountain history. The visit includes:
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- A homemade wine tasting in their traditional cellar
- A full Georgian lunch or dinner with the host family
- A private viewing of the family’s Bronze Age archaeological collection
- A bottle of their wine to take home
The khinkali masterclass. Back in Kazbegi, there’s a hands-on session with local hosts where you’ll learn to fold and cook Georgia’s most iconic dumpling yourself, not just eat it.
Your guide. A local Georgian guide is with you the whole way, happy to talk mountains, history, and everything in between.
Horseback riding. For a change of pace from walking, horse riding can replace one trekking day or run as an afternoon add-on, with routes and durations matched to your group’s experience and the day’s weather. Rides take in the Arsha valley, the Sno valley, and the lower slopes around Stepantsminda, on mountain-bred horses.