Georgia Bikepacking
Journey through the heart of the Caucasus on our 7-day bikepacking adventure across Georgia. From the dramatic canyons and alpine lakes of the southern highlands to the lush valleys and Black Sea coast, this carefully crafted route showcases the stunning diversity of Georgian landscapes.
Ride through ancient cave cities, cross mountain passes, and experience the warm hospitality of remote villages while covering approximately 440km of varied terrain. This trip combines challenging climbs with rewarding descents, cultural discoveries with natural wonders, making it perfect for adventurous cyclists seeking an authentic experience in one of Europe's most captivating destinations.
This isn't just a cycling trip—it's a journey through layers of Georgian history. You'll explore Vardzia, a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage cave monastery complex carved into cliffsides in the 12th century, and discover WWII-era bunkers in Machakhela National Park.
Highlights
✔ Vardzia Cave Monastery - Explore this extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage site
✔ Ride through Dashbashi Canyon
✔ Goderdzi Pass - Conquer one of the Caucasus' most scenic climbs
✔ Pedal across Georgia's remote volcanic plateau
✔ Black Sea Finish in Batumi
What To Expect On This Georgia Bikepacking Adventure
We've got an incredible week of bikepacking in Georgia planned, journeying from the volcanic highlands of the south to the subtropical forests of the Black Sea coast. You'll experience the stunning diversity of Georgian landscapes—dramatic canyons, alpine lakes, ancient cave cities, mountain passes, and lush valleys—each revealing a different facet of this captivating Caucasus country.
Each morning begins with a shared breakfast, followed by a detailed route briefing from our guides. We'll typically roll out around 9am to begin the day's ride, with our support vehicle nearby for mechanical assistance, water refills, and backup when needed.
Ahead of the trip, we'll share the full bikepacking route via Komoot, including daily descriptions of terrain, highlights, safety tips, and points of interest—so you can plan each day with confidence. Whether you prefer to ride with our guides and the group or explore at your own pace, we'll also suggest great regroup points along the way where you can take in the views, grab a snack, or simply catch your breath.
At the end of each day, we'll arrive at our overnight accommodation—from panoramic mountain cottages to comfortable hotels—where we'll either share a meal together or point you to our favourite local restaurants to experience authentic Georgian cuisine. We'll recap the ride, talk through the next day's plan, and settle in for a well-earned rest—ready to do it all again the next morning.
ITINERARY
Meeting Point: Tbilisi
End Point: Tbilisi
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Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: N/A
Today we’ll meet at our hotel in Tblisi from 3pm for the start of our trip.
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Accomodation: Cottages
Meals: B, D
After a 45km transfer from Tbilisi to Tetritskaro, the real adventure begins. Saddle up and ride through beautiful mountain terrain toward Dashbashi Canyon, one of Georgia's most spectacular natural wonders. The canyon's dramatic cliffs and the suspended glass bridge offer breathtaking views and photo opportunities. Spend time at the visitor center and enjoy the canyon's tourist attractions before settling into the comfortable Dashbashi Panorama cottages for the night, where mountain views and fresh air set the tone for the journey ahead.
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Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: B, D
Today's ride takes you deeper into Georgia's volcanic highlands. Pedal past Tabatskuri Lake, a stunning alpine reservoir surrounded by volcanic peaks, before continuing across the open plateau to Akhalkalaki. The landscape here is raw and remote—rolling grasslands dotted with grazing animals and small villages where time moves slowly. Arrive at Hotel Riverside for a well-earned rest.
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Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: B, D
This is one of the trip's highlight days. Ride through the village of Apnia (35km, 120m elevation gain) to reach Vardzia, the extraordinary 12th-century cave monastery complex carved into a clifface. Join a local guide for a walking tour through the tunnels and chambers of this UNESCO World Heritage site, learning about Queen Tamar's legacy and the ingenious engineering of medieval Georgia. After your cultural immersion, continue cycling through the beautiful Mtkvari River valley to Akhaltsikhe, where you'll spend the night at Hotel Lotus or similar.
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Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: B, D
Prepare for one of the most scenic climbs in the Caucasus. The ascent to Goderdzi Pass rewards your effort with panoramic mountain views and the satisfaction of crossing from one climate zone to another. As you descend toward Khulo, notice how the landscape transforms—becoming greener and more lush as you approach the humid, subtropical region of Adjara. Rest at Anna Palace Hotel in Khulo.
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Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: B, D
Your final full day of riding is packed with discoveries. Cycle from Khulo to the village of Keda to visit the elegant Queen Tamar Bridge and a beautiful waterfall. Continue through Machakhela National Park, where dense forests and rushing rivers create a dramatic backdrop. Stop at the Machakhela Visitor Center to learn about the region's ecology, then explore a fascinating WWII-era bunker built during Stalin's rule. The ride concludes in the village of Acharistskali, where your support vehicle will transfer you the final 20 minutes to Batumi. Check into Hotel London or similar and celebrate your achievement with a stroll along the Black Sea promenade.
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Accommodation: N/A
Meals: B
Start your final day with a leisurely 4km walk through Batumi's spectacular Botanical Garden, home to plants from around the world set on hillsides overlooking the Black Sea. After this relaxing morning, we transfer back to Tbilisi with time to pack your bikes before evening departures from the airport.
View Dates & Book
Pricing Information
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Click on your preferred trip date to be directed to our secure booking partner WeTravel who will process and manage your booking.
£300 deposit to secure your spot
Full balance due 60 days before the trip
💡 Tip: We recommend paying with bank details to avoid card processing fees.
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Single Supplement: £TK
Bike Hire: £170 (lightweight mountain bike) or £230 (gravel bike)
Bikepacking Bags: £20
Hammerhead Karoo Navigation Devices: £10
Luggage Transfer: £100 (if you prefer not to ride bikepacking style)
All add-ons can be selected at booking.
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⚠️ Important: This trip requires a minimum of 8 participants to run.
Please do not book your travel until we've confirmed the trip is running.
Your deposit is fully refundable until we confirm this number has been met.
Have questions about the trip? Want to be kept in the loop on future dates?
What’s Included?
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Our trip will be hosted by our British Cycling and First Aid qualified Sisters in the Wild guides who between them have a tonne of experience of riding in this area.
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Six nights accommodation included in a mix of hotels and cottages.
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Bikepacking bags and navigation devices can be added to your booking and we’ll have them ready for you on day one.
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Each participant will be provided with a specially curated collection of routes and route briefings via Komoot, and a free map bundle to access/navigate them.
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Breakfast: Breakfast included every day
Dinners: Five dinners are included
Not Included
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Lunches and snacks are not included. We’ll make sure you know where you can pick up food on the ride.
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Riders can bring their own bike, or hire locally. See BIKES section for info.
Riders should carry simple tools/spare for their bike in case of bike issues. Our guide team can help you use them!
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Flights, transfers and all travel to/from our meeting point in Tbilisi is not included. Our trip finishes at our same hotel in Tbilisi.
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Travel insurance that allows multi-day cycling as an activity and covers medical emergency, repatriation, cancellation and public liability is mandatory for all SITW trips and is not included.
Most travellers do not require a visa to travel to Georgia as a tourist. If you require a visa to travel, this will not be included. Check out your personal requirements here:
Accommodation & Food
Accommodation
Six nights accommodation is included, with no camping on this trip. After each day's adventure, relax in carefully selected hotels and cottages that offer comfort and local character. From panoramic mountain cottages to seaside hotels in Batumi, you'll enjoy hot showers, good meals, and a proper rest before the next day's ride. Most nights will be on a twin room basis with one night in a triple. Single supplement is available.
This is a bikepacking trip, with riders carrying their own stuff between hotels. If you prefer, luggage transfer can be added to your booking for £100.
Food
Breakfast is included everyday. On most days this will be a hotel buffet and on some days where we stay in smaller towns, you’ll find a typical local breakfast of eggs, bread and cereals.
Dinner is included on 5 of the 6 nights. On the one night where dinner is not included, we will either book a table for a group dinner where people are free to order and pay for what they’d like, or give you some local recommendations.
We will pass on dietary requirements given at booking. Bread, dairy, and meat play a heavy part in Georgian food, and Gluten-Free/Vegans may find choices in some parts of the route can be limited. With the help of our local support team, we will try to find the best options for you.
Lunches are not included, but we will recommend places en route to pick up supplies.
About The Riding
Challenge Level
We’ve rated this trip as a 3-4/5 on the challenge level. This trip is a part of our WILDER series - bikepacking trips in wild landscapes that go that little bit further. Longer days, bigger climbs, more thrilling descents, wilder terrain, more solitude and even more memories to be made. With multiple days of 70+km, 60% off-road terrain, and a mix off all types of trails, this trip is well-suited to experienced gravel riders who love long days in the saddle and willing to embrace some chunkier gravel terrain.
Terrain
The riding on this trip is around 60% off-road, predominantly on double track trails of mixed quality, with some singletrack trails in sections. We’ll have plenty of stretches of well maintained forest gravel roads, but also some trails that can be steep and looser/rougher in places. There are some long and occasionally steep downhill stretches that may vary in quality in places (e.g. washed out, rockier) and require confidence in descending on off-road terrain.
On some days, the tracks will be more technical, with features such as washed out channels, larger rubble and rocks , or clay. Whilst the area is relatively rocky, periods of rain can cause some parts of the tracks to become , and some bits of walking your bike may be needed. Overall, the route is 98% rideable by confident gravel riders.
Amongst the off-road sections, we’ll also have some smooth tarmac riding, where we’ll enjoy a chance to make some quick miles or elevation!
Climbing
Climbing is a significant contributor to this trip’s challenge level, with most days featuring an elevation gain of around 1400m. Our days of significant climbing tend to be one or two big climbs, with some undulating around it. Around half of our big climbs are on tarmac and half are off-road terrain. They tend to have decent gradients, though there are some steeper sections.
Most of our big descents are off-road and require confidence and skill in off-road descending.
Daily Distances
Daily distances range from 45km to 100km, with altitude gains between 120m and 1,300m. The riding is varied—some days feature sustained climbs over mountain passes, while others offer gentler valley roads. You'll need good fitness and mountain biking experience, but the routes are achievable for riders with proper preparation.
Remoteness & Weather
Georgia is a developing country with infrastructure that varies significantly between urban centers and remote mountain regions. While tourism has grown considerably in recent years, especially in popular areas like Tbilisi and Batumi, the rural highlands we'll be riding through can be quite remote. Western European standards of service and emergency response aren't always present in these areas, so a willingness to embrace the spirit of adventure and adapt to unexpected situations is important for this trip.
This route takes us through some beautifully wild and remote terrain, particularly in the volcanic highlands between Dashbashi Canyon and Akhalkalaki, and over mountain passes like Goderdzi. Riders should be comfortable with long days in the saddle and outside, whatever the weather! Our guide team will monitor conditions and make route adjustments as needed to ensure safety and enjoyment.
Our support vehicle will be accessible throughout most of the route, providing mechanical assistance, extra water, snacks, and backup when needed. Most days have villages or small towns where we can stop for refreshments, but between these points, services can be limited—especially in the higher elevations. It's important to carry adequate water and snacks, and be prepared for the possibility of riding several hours between proper shelter options.
Georgian hospitality is legendary, and even in remote areas, locals are incredibly welcoming and helpful. While you may not always find a fancy café, you'll often encounter friendly faces, authentic experiences, and a genuine connection to traditional mountain life.
Support Style
Our Sisters in the Wild (SITW) bikepacking adventures strike the perfect balance between freedom and support. Riders are welcome to cycle at their own pace or ride with the guide and group. Either way, our experienced team will be out on the trail offering encouragement, support, and practical help throughout the day.
Guiding
Each trip is led by two bike-based SITW guides who ride with the group, typically with one near the front and one toward the back. Our guides are certified in first aid, experienced in remote travel, and trained bike mechanics. While they can help troubleshoot any mechanical or health issues, riders are expected to have their own navigation devices and should not rely solely on the guides for directions.
Before the trip, we’ll share a curated collection of route files and detailed descriptions via Komoot, including information on terrain, elevation, safety, highlights, and resupply options. Each day will have suggested regroup points so you can ride solo or in smaller pods at your own pace. In more remote or technical sections, we may ask the group to stay behind the lead guide for safety.
Support
In addition to our bike-based team, we’ll be joined by a local male driver in a 4x4 support vehicle. This vehicle is there to assist in case of mechanical issues, injury, or emergencies — it is not a daily shuttle service. The driver will meet us at key points along the route to check in, offer support, and transport riders or bikes if necessary.
Bikes & Bike Hire
Bike hire is not included as standard. You're welcome to bring your own bike or rent one locally. Our starting hotel has space to build bikes on arrival, and we’ll arrange secure storage for bike boxes during the week, with delivery to the end of the trip.
Recommended Bike
A gravel bike with minimum 42mm tyres with a decent amount of grip, or a hardtail MTB are both sound choices for this trip. All bikes should be in safe working condition for the trip, and we’d highly recommend a basic service before the trip to minimise the risk of issues during it. If you are newer to off-road riding, a hardtail can be a good choice for building confidence on the off-road sections, though may feel slower on the tarmac sections. A good gearing ratio will help you with the climbs, especially as you’ll be carrying your bikepacking bags! We would recommend avoiding tan wall tyres if possible - we’ve seen these be more likely to rip in the rugged terrain.
Bike Hire
Our local partners offer both gravel bike and lightweight mountain bikes for hire and can be booked through us. The sizes are limited so be sure to choose the size you prefer at booking.
Travelling With Your Bike
Check your airlines bike carriage policy for weight and size restrictions. Some airlines will allow them as part of their checked in baggage allowance (e.g. British Airways), but most require a bike to be added as a specific piece of Sports Luggage , but often you get a higher weight allowance. Usually costs in the region of £40 - £60.
Your bike box/bag can be stored whilst on the trip.
What Spares And Tools To Bring
2 x spare tubes and patches
Small pump
Tubeless plugs/spare sealant if running tubeless tyres
Multitool with what you need for your bike e.g. allen keys
Spare set of brake pads (specific for your bike)
We also recommend bringing a few spares that are specific to your bike. We don’t expect you to know how to fit these! But having them to hand can mean our team or local bike shop is better able to get you back on the road.
Chain quick link
Spare derailleur hanger
Extra brake pads just in case!
FAQs
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Please do not book your travel until we have confirmed the minimum trip number has been met.
Our cycling trip starts and ends in Tbilisi, which has the country’s main airport.
Tbilisi is served by direct flights from London (British Airways) and most other European capital cities (Georgian Airways) or indirect via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines.
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Tbilisi isn’t currently served by international train lines or buses.
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You can secure your spot by paying a £300 deposit, which is refundable up to the point that we confirm the trip minimum numbers have been met. Once the trip is confirmed, the deposit is not refundable. The remaining balance is due 60 days before the trip by bank transfer. Cancellation between 60 days and 28 days, you’ll get 50% back. Cancellation within 28 days is non-refundable, but you can transfer your booking to another person should you find one. View the full booking terms and conditions here.
We highly recommend taking out travel insurance at the point of booking to cover in case of cancellation or curtailment.
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We’ll have a max group size of 16, minimum group size of 8 to run.
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While we will pass on any dietary requirements to places that we eat, it may not always be possible for them to accommodate serious allergies due to their limited kitchen space and menus. We’ll try to work with you to find solutions. You can let us know any dietary requirements at the time of booking. If you have serious allergies, please email us before booking on hello@sistersinthewild.com.
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Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our trips. Your insurance must include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation or repatriation, your baggage and equipment, and the specific activities (for example, multi-day off-road cycling) involved on your SITW trip. We highly recommend that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. We also highly recommend taking out a policy which also includes personal liability, cancellation and cover in the event you are unable to join your trip due to illness or injury, curtailment, loss of luggage or personal effects, or for any other reason.
E.g. with Yellow Jersey, Bikmo, Laka
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In order to make the most of the riding on offer, we’d suggest that you are comfortable riding 45+ miles in a day in hilly off-road terrain, for a few days on the run. Riding a loaded bike takes a little more effort, so we’d recommend trying some practice rides of 50 miles + with some weight/luggage on your bike. You should be comfortable with off-road climbing and descending.
Feel free to drop us an email hello@sistersinthewild.com if you have any questions on this.
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Yes, you can book directly with our starting/ending hotel if you wish to stay earlier/later. We’ll share our hotel info once the trip is confirmed.
If you need to arrive late, that’s also fine, and the shakedown ride can be skipped. Ideally we’d have you join in time for the rider briefing on the evening of Day 1, but we can fill you in.
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Check the bike carriage policy for your airline or train/bus.
Some airlines allow bikes to be carried as part of their standard baggage allowance, e.g., Lufthansa/BA. Most airlines require a bike to be added as a specific piece of Sports Luggage, but often you get a higher weight allowance. Usually costs in the region of £40 - 50.
Train/bus rules are dependent on carrier with some requiring bikes to be packed or pre-booked. Please check the specific rules for the service.
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Georgia is a mountainous country, with hot summers, and warm shoulder seasons.
We will cover a range of elevations on the trip, getting close to 2000m, with colder temperatures and more chance of rain/thunderstorms at higher elevations. Climbs can be hot and exposed if the days are hot, whilst descents can get cold quickly in rain.
Riders should be prepared for everything! Hot weather, cold, rain.
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We’’ll share a detailed packing list as part of the Trip Joining Info.
This is a bikepacking trip, which means you'll need to carry all your stuff or the week - so packing light is a good shout! Though you'll need to balance this with making sure you're equipped for changeable weather and supporting yourself out on the rides.
No camping gear is required for this trip, and we can lend you bikepacking bags and navigation device if you need them. These can be booked as Add Ons to your trip.
Bike Stuff
The basics
Off-road bike and Helmet
Navigation device (available to loan from us)
Bike lights (just in case!) and headtorch (optional)
A secure bike lock for overnight (can be stored in support van)
Lightweight lock for the rides
Capacity to carry at least 1.5 litres of water.
Bikepacking bags (available to loan from us)
If you plan to borrow bags, please bring a small rucksack (10-1 litres) to supplement if needed.
A small collapsable rucksack/bumbag or tote bag can be useful for carrying stuff off the bike
Basic first aid kit for your rides
Cup/spork/bowl
Bike tools/spares to carry
Spare tube and patches
Small pump
Tubeless plugs/spare sealant if running tubeless tyres
Multitool with what you need for your bike e.g. allen keys, chain breaker
Chain quick link (these are specific for your bike)
Spare derailleur hanger (specific to your bike.) This website can help you
find the one you need for your bike
Brake pads (specific for your bike)
Small amount of chain oil
A few zip ties/bits of duct tape & electrical tape wrapped around your
pump are always useful!
Personal Stuff
Travel insurance that covers off-road cycle touring/theft
Passport
Any personal medication needed
Mini toiletries (travel toothpaste, toothbrush etc)
Battery pack/cables to keep phone and nav device charged
Cash/card
Earplugs....just in case!
Lightweight towel for swims
Sun cream/SPF lipbalm
Electrolytes (optional but recommended)
Clothing
Clothing is a great place to slim down your packing list and get ruthless! However, this should be balanced with keeping safe and warm and dry if we have poor weather. Generally we could expect some very hot and sunny days, with the possibility of rain/thunderstorms.
Consider how you can double up uses of clothes for day/evening/sleeping, and embrace a bit of dirtbag spirit!
There's a chance to do laundry on day 5, and sinks available on every other night. Showers are available everyday.
Cycling clothes
We recommend 2 sets that you can wash/swap through the week, plus a warm layer set.
Comfy shorts and quick dry t-shirts or cycling top
Shoes. We recommend only using clip-in shoes/pedals if you’re already confident in off-road riding.
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof trousers (optional)
Extra layers in case of poor weather, especially on downhills e.g. leggings, long gloves, mid layer, windbreaker
Cycling gloves (optional)
Glasses (optional but recommended - downhill bugs and gravel dust)
Socks
Cycling cap/hat to keep the sun off your face
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We have a library of navigation devices we can loan you for the weekend. These can be added to your booking through the normal ticket process.
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Bikepacking bags can be loaned from us and added to your booking for a small fee. Book through the normal ticket process and we’ll match them to your order. Alternatively, Luggage Transfer can be added to your trip for £100.
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We recommend checking out the country-specific information.
Dogs can be encountered in some parts of the routes, protecting houses or with farmers and herds.
Whilst we’ve only ever had barking, as per the advice on the above page, riders may wish to consider a rabies vaccination.
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Most travellers do not require a visa for travel to Georgia. However, please check before travel.
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Bike boxes/bags can be left at the start of the trip and we will meet them again at the end.
