Bike Touring In Georgia: Video & Tips
In summer 2011, Dutch cyclists Blanche & Douwe spent a month cycling through Georgia, in eastern Europe.
They experienced amazing hospitality, breathtaking landscapes (with plenty of places to wild camp!) and delicious food.
Blanche made a video about their trip, and we love the story that it tells. Below the video you’ll find extra tips from Blanche & Douwe, to help in planning your own bike trip in Georgia.
1. What were your cycling highlights of Georgia – the places you’d tell other cyclists that they should absolutely visit?
The Svaneti stretch between Mestia and Lentekhi via Usghuli was amazing cycling. Imagine very rough off-road roads that take you through small mountain villages, beautiful nature and alongside glaciers.
We also loved the route from the Vardzia monastry towards Tbilisi: green hills with many birds, flat grasslands, rustic villages with a kind of cowboy-like attitude, and flat grasslands with lovely wild camping spots at the lakes.
The region of Tusheti was nice, but next time we’ll go walking around Omalo as the hills are too steep for bicycles that are loaded down with luggage.
2. What time of year do you think is best to visit?
We visited in July but it was too hot and humid for comfort, and we were glad to leave before the worst of the heat in August. June would be a great month as the snow has disappeared and heat is not yet that fierce. Watch out for landslides though!
3. Are there any resources you can recommend, for cyclists planning a trip around Georgia?
We used and loved the Bradt Guide for Georgia and Armenia
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I hope you liked our video. If you like to see more cycle touring videos go check out WorldCycle Videos – for all who enjoy the adventure of cycle touring the world. Get inspired and add your films! We have around 1230 cycle touring videos :>
http://vimeo.com/groups/wereldfietser
I am really excited about your beautiful video, as it is my dream to get to that part of the world… I wonder of it’s possible to get there from the Turkish side? Any suggestions or advice would be so very welcome… Having got to Budapest I am going to take a break in Sicily than start again towards Turkey when I have some clue which way to go!
Congratulations on such a gorgeous piece of camera work and the sheer !
Warm wishes, Jenny
Hi Jenny,
Thanxs for your compliments! Keeps me going :> Yep you can get there via Turkey. There are two border crossings and the one by Sarpa is open the other one I don’t know. Do you make films yourself?
Hi to all,
it is great to read your report, seeing your film and photos.I am planning a tour in Georgia if possible around the Caucasus.
Anybody is going to join me even on a short section ?
http://kerekparos62.hu/de/Partner_zu_Radtouren_gesucht_in_Alpen_Karpaten_in_Bergen_Partner_zu_Radtouren_in_Alpen_Karpaten.html#Georgien
andras@ccapartments.axelero.net
Glad you enjoyed! :>
Have a nice trip in Georgia. You gonna like it Andras!
Hello,
I’m not riding by bike (I’m slightly disabled) but I loved your beautiful video on that amazing country, Georgia. I’m flying to Batoumi then by train to Tbilissi and by jeep/minibus to Svanetia. Your views give me so much pleasure that I’m really looking fwd to visiting a few historical places, old churches and having some contact with local people (who seem so nice and welcoming foreigners) though limited (I don’t speak Georgian of course nor a word of Russian). My question is with food : I’m kind of a vegetarian, I don’t eat meat (mammals) though I can eat chicken and fish and of course cheese and vegetables. Is that possible to get chicken or fish in some places (mmm, looking at those beautiful fish at Lake Paravani…
) ? Thank you so much for the beautiful pictures and I wish you the best for your trips to come,
Claude
Hi Claude,
Thank you for your compliments for my film, keeps us going during the long editing hours
. Yes there are plenty of things you can eat as a vegetarian. The main staple will be the Kachapuri – the cheese bread. Together with some salad delicious. Do try the roasted aubergine and walnuts. In the mountains you’ll eat not a lot vegetables but home made dairy products anyway. Have lot’s of fun!
Blanche
Hi guys
It looks like you had a great time, video looks amazing!!!
My friends and I are planning to go on a 2 weeks cycling trip in Georgia, don’t really want to plan everything to the smallest detail but idea is to cycle from Mestia to Tusheti (approx. 530 km) in 10 days. We’ve looked to the maps and planned rough route but like I said don’t rally want to plan things too much – just go with the flow
Do you guys have any tips for travelling in Caucasus, advice, must see places etc.
Kristine