Spectacular Svaneti scenery | Stuart Davis

The cave city of Uplistsikhe, on the Great Silk Route, used to host the old caravans transporting goods from Asia to Europe | JL

Happy hiking group | Stuart Davis

Rehearsal | Stuart Davis

Having a cuppa in the mountains of Georgia | Stuart Davis

Georgian singers | Stuart Davis

Hanging by the old watchtowers in Georgia | Stuart Davis

One of the many ornate Orthodox churches in Georgia | Stuart Davis

City scenes in Tbilisi

Georgia: music, mountains and monasterieswith Stuart Davis

An uplifting music and singing adventure, exploring Georgia’s scenery, musical heritage, food and festivals.

14 Days from

$3590 USD

Trip Code: SMGG

View dates to Book Essential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Single supplement

$570 USD

Duration

14 Days

Activities

Singing and Music workshops
Cultural touring
Day walks
Art Gene Festival Tbilisi

Accommodation

5 nights boutique hotel in Tbilisi
8 nights guesthouse and simple hotel - ensuite bathrooms may not be possible in Lakhushdi and Ushguli

Meals

7 Dinners
5 Lunches
13 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading

4 / 10

Introductory to Moderate

Carbon Footprint

33kg of CO₂-e PP per day

(434kg of CO₂-e PP entire trip)

Trip highlights

Escorted by Choir Master, Stuart Davis whose passion, expertise and joy for singing turns each day into an inspiring and memorable experience
Celebrate at Tbilisi’s Art Gene festival in Tbilisi, where Georgia’s folk traditions come alive with music, dance, crafts and regional cuisine
Discover Svaneti’s breathtaking mountains, staying in the “Singing Village” of Lakhushdi and walking to remote churches and majestic Ushguli beneath 5000 metre peaks
Sing Georgian polyphony where it lives, from masterclasses with renowned ensembles in Tbilisi to intimate workshops in Svaneti’s mountain villages
Travel with like-minded fellow travellers on an extraordinary singing adventure

Overview

Join Sydney-based choir master Stuart Davis on an extraordinary musical journey through Georgia, a land where soaring mountains, ancient stone towers and heartfelt hospitality create the perfect setting for song and exploration. Discover the captivating streets of Tbilisi and Kutaisi, wander through three-thousand-year-old Mtskheta, and delve into the haunting caves of Uplistsikhe. Stand beneath the 6th century Jvari church and the grand 11th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, both UNESCO World Heritage treasures echoing with centuries of sacred music.

Venture into Svaneti, a remote region crowned by Georgia’s highest peaks and glaciers. Spend time in Mestia learning the stirring traditions of Svanetian polyphony, then walk among the watchtowers and timeless lanes of Ushguli, Europe’s highest permanently inhabited village and another UNESCO gem. Along the way, enjoy Georgia’s vibrant traditions, from warm local toasts and robust wines to colourful markets and rustic village feasts.

Your adventure concludes back in Tbilisi with the spirited Art Gene festival, a celebration of Georgia’s living folk culture where music, dance, crafts and joyful gatherings fill the summer air. It’s the perfect finale to this unique adventure through Georgia’s songs, landscapes and unforgettable spirit.

Itinerary

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Welcome to Tbilisi! Georgia’s lively capital is known for its colourful old town and a history of hospitality that stretches back centuries along the Silk Road. It’s also where Georgia’s long tradition of polyphonic singing has flourished for generations. Tonight we come together for a welcome meal and get our first taste of Georgian music. Overnight STROFI Boutique Hotel, Tbilisi. NOTE: Many flights arrive into Tbilisi in the early hours of the morning. Normal hotel check in is early afternoon so if you would like guaranteed access to your room, please book an additional nights accommodation.

Meals: D

After breakfast we enjoy the first of our regular morning rehearsals with Stuart, a fantastic way to start the day together in song. These sessions bring our group together and are intended to be relaxed and enjoyable, no matter each persons experience. We set out on foot to discover the highlights of Old Tbilisi. Resting on the banks of the Mtkvari River, this city has been a crossroads of cultures since 4000 BC. Its a mix of natural beauty and delightfully timeworn art nouveau buildings. Our walking tour takes in the atmospheric narrow streets of the Old Town, dotted with beautiful Orthodox churches, a mosque, a synagogue, and thermal baths. We’ll see the carved wooden balconies Tbilisi is known for, visit Narikala Fortress, the striking modern Bridge of Peace, and continue to Freedom Square and Rustaveli Avenue. We'll also make a stop at the Georgian History Museum. Late afternoon we take the metro to another exceptional experience, a workshop with the Didgori ensemble, before stopping at Fabrika, a lively art space, bar and social hub set in a former Soviet sewing factory. Note: Today’s sightseeing is on foot and by metro. Overnight STROFI Boutique Hotel, Tbilisi.

Meals: B

We start with a morning rehearsal with Stuart before enjoying one of the tour’s unique highlights, a private workshop with the renowned Ialoni women’s vocal ensemble, arranged especially for our group. This is a wonderful chance to learn firsthand about Georgia’s rich polyphonic singing traditions. There is free time over lunch to explore more of Tbilisi, visit a thermal bath house, or simply relax. You might choose to join an optional singing rehearsal in a very unique setting, a disused water reservoir known for its remarkable acoustics. The remainder of the evening and dinner are at leisure to enjoy Tbilisi’s vibrant atmosphere at your own pace. Overnight STROFI Boutique Hotel, Tbilisi.

Meals: B

After our morning singing session with Stuart, we set off to explore Kakheti, Georgia’s celebrated wine region, our first stop being the fortified hilltop town of Sighnaghi. We wander its cobbled streets and walk along the town wall, taking in sweeping views across the Alazani Valley. In one of the local churches, we have the special chance to sing together, letting our voices echo in this atmospheric setting. Later we visit a family-run winery to see traditional methods still in use, including the Qvevri, large clay vessels buried underground for fermenting and storing wine, recognised by UNESCO as part of the world’s intangible heritage. We taste home-made wines, bake Georgian bread in a clay oven, and savour freshly grilled Shashlik along with other local dishes. Kakhetian musicians join us to share their songs, and we learn to sing some of the region’s traditional polyphonic music. We return to Tbilisi in the evening following this rich day in Georgia’s wine lands. Drive 5 hours Overnight STROFI Boutique Hotel, Tbilisi.

Meals: B,L

We leave Tbilisi after our group singing session with Stuart and begin to explore Georgia beyond its lively capital. Our first stop is Mtskheta, the ancient capital and spiritual heart of Georgia. Here we visit two remarkable UNESCO World Heritage sites: the 6th century Jvari Church and the grand 11th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Mtskheta is also where St. Nino first preached Christianity in the 4th century, leading Georgia to become the third official Christian nation in the world. Next we travel to Gori, the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. A tour of the Stalin Museum offers an insight into Georgia’s Soviet legacy and its complex historical layers. In the afternoon we continue to Uplistsikhe, an extraordinary cave city carved into the cliffs above the Mtkvari River. Uplistsikhe is one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia, dating back to the early Iron Age, around 1000 BC. Here we’ll take a moment to test the acoustics with some singing inside these age-old stone chambers. Our day ends in Kutaisi, Georgia’s third largest city. Set along the Rioni River, it is smaller and more laid back than Tbilisi with tree-lined streets and friendly squares. Drive 5 hours Overnight guesthouse, Kutaisi

Meals: B,D

Kick start our day with our singing session with Stuart, and we begin our journey deep into the dramatic Caucasus mountains to Upper Svaneti. Towering peaks, rugged ridges and ancient stone towers create a setting unlike anywhere else. Our destination is Lakhushdi, known as the “Singing Village,” where centuries-old Svanetian traditions and polyphonic chants are still part of daily life. Here the entire village often comes together to welcome guests. You’ll experience a warm homestay with local families, sharing meals and all group activities while gaining a rare glimpse into life in these remote highlands. Drive 6 hours Overnight family guesthouse, Lakhushdi (ensuite bathrooms are not likely during our stay here)

Meals: B,D

In the morning we take a scenic walk from Lakhushdi up through forested hills to reach St George’s Church, a 12th century chapel adorned with vivid frescoes and set in a peaceful clearing. Here we’ll have the special experience of singing together inside this historic space, letting our voices echo through the ancient stone walls. In the afternoon we have a special masterclass dedicated to learning Svanetian polyphony, a unique and powerful form of Georgian singing that has been passed down through generations. Overnight guesthouse, Lakhushdi (ensuite bathrooms are not likely during our stay here)

Meals: B,D

We come together for more songs led by Stuart before beginning our journey into the high mountains, travelling to Ushguli (2200m), the highest permanently inhabited village in Europe. This remarkable settlement sits beneath the immense peaks of the Greater Caucasus, including Mt. Shkhara (5068m), Georgia’s tallest mountain. Along the way we pass traditional Svanetian villages and visit the Maiden Tower, one of many medieval stone towers built here between the 9th and 13th centuries, originally designed as family watchtowers and refuges against local feuds and invaders. From Ushguli we walk to the famous Queen Tamar’s tower, set against breathtaking views of glaciers and ridgelines soaring well over 4000 to 5000 metres. Today's lunch will be picnic style, with our stunning mountain backdrop. Walking 3 hours Drive 3 hours Overnight guesthouse, Ushguli

Meals: B,L,D

Today we set out on a spectacular walk from Ushguli, following the Enguri River upstream through pristine alpine scenery, surrounded by some of the highest and most dramatic peaks in the Caucasus. The trail is generally gentle, tracing the river bed across flower-dotted meadows with immense mountain ridges rising on every side, and there is the option to hire a horse for part of the route. We enjoy a picnic lunch out in this breathtaking landscape before returning to Ushguli. Walking 5-6 hours Overnight guesthouse, Ushguli

Meals: B,L,D

Today we travel by 4WD through spectacular mountain scenery to Mestia, the lively centre of Upper Svaneti. Set among towering peaks and dotted with traditional stone watchtowers, Mestia offers small shops, cafés and markets where you can sample local cheeses, Svan salt blends and sweet honey cakes. We visit the excellent Svaneti History and Ethnography Museum, home to centuries-old icons, manuscripts and everyday items that reveal how these remote communities have lived and defended their culture for generations. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax, explore more of Mestia’s winding streets, or try a local Svanetian dish at one of the welcoming family-run cafés. Drive 2 hours Overnight hotel, Mestia.

Meals: B,L

Leaving the high mountains of Mestia, we journey down through changing landscapes toward Kutaisi. As we descend, the scenery shifts from alpine ridges and conifer forests to the lush lowlands of Samegrelo (Mingrelia), known for its rich farmland. Samegrelo has its own distinctive traditions, from a unique branch of the Georgian language to vibrant Megrelian musical styles, which are beautifully different from the polyphony of Svaneti or Kakheti. We stop in Zugdidi, the small regional centre, where we visit the home of Besiki Chitanava, a well-known traditional Megrelian singer, musician and local cultural ambassador. Together we enjoy a local lunch and listen to his traditional Megrelian songs. Drive 6 hours Overnight guesthouse, Kutaisi.

Meals: B,L

We return to Tbilisi where our tour coincides with the annual Art Gene Festival. Art Gene is one of Georgia’s most celebrated cultural festivals, held every July in Tbilisi since 2004. Hosted at the hillside Ethnographic Museum, it features live polyphonic singing, folk dance, instrumental music and storytelling. Drive 4 hours Overnight STROFI Boutique Hotel, Tbilisi.

Meals: B

Today is yours to enjoy more of the Art Gene Festival. You might also choose to wander through the city’s colourful flea market, soak in the famous thermal baths, or simply relax at a café overlooking the old town. In the evening we come together for a final dinner, celebrating our unforgettable journey through Georgia’s songs, landscapes and the warmth and spirit of its people. Overnight STROFI Boutique Hotel, Tbilisi.

Meals: B,D

Our journey through Georgia’s rich musical traditions, breathtaking landscapes and remarkable hospitality comes to an end today after breakfast. Please contact us if you would like to extend your stay in Tbilisi, or arrange an airport transfer.

Meals: B

Ready to start your adventure?

View dates to Book

What’s included?

Included

Trip escorted by Stuart Davis
6 nights boutique hotel in Tbilisi
7 nights guesthouse and simple hotel - ensuite bathrooms may not be possible in Lakhushdi and Ushguli
13 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 7 dinners with wine
English speaking local guide
Workshops in Tbilisi with Ialoni ensemble & Didgori
Wine experience in Kakheti
Museum entrance fees: Stalin Museum in Gori, Traditional Tower and Machubi, National History and Ethnography Museum in Mestia
Private vehicle transport from day 4 until the arrival back in Tbilisi day 12
One litre of water per person, per day

Not included

Travel to/from Tbilisi
Travel insurance - compulsory
Single supplement when choosing option for own room
Airport transfers - we will happily assist with booking these and share services with other group members arriving on the same flights
Visa
Meals & beverages not indicated in the itinerary
Tips

About your guide

Stuart Davis is a key part of Sydney’s choir community, known for his genuine love of music and the way he brings people together to sing. For over ten years he’s led singing trips around the world, from Morocco and Cuba to Italy, Croatia and Georgia, always curious about how songs are tied to local life and history. Back home, Stuart runs three choirs, fronts the roots band Big Merino, sings with the Heavenly Light Quartet, and works on projects like Big Heart Sing at the Sydney Opera House and the Boys Vocal Programme for the NSW Education Department. Travelling with Stuart means enjoying music in wonderful places, learning about local traditions, and sharing the simple joy of singing with like-minded people.