Georgia might not look particularly large on a map, but travelling around the country takes considerably longer than you might expect. This is because the highlight of this amazing country are its mountains in the north. Within a relatively short distance you have the Black Sea coast, huge Caucasus mountains, caves, canyons and cities that feel completely different from one another.
When I planned my trip I didn’t really want to spend the entire week around Tbilisi. The Caucasus mountains were what attracted me to visit Georgia as I deemed a Dolomites trip too expensive at short notice. I decided to travel west to east instead of starting in Tbilisi, I started in Batumi, going deep into Svaneti, continuing to Kutaisi and finally finishing in Tbilisi. One of the main reasons I did this was because flights were cheaper this way round.
I will warn you straight away that this 7 day Georgia itinerary is not a particularly slow itinerary. You can easily do it but either way you do it whether you add days to this itinerary or not, it will require you to travel long distances and change accommodation several times.
However, if you only have seven days and your priority is seeing as much of Georgia’s scenery as possible, I think this route works really well and you will be able to get a taste of a bit of everything of this diverse and underrated country.
The biggest advantage is that you never need to backtrack. I started in Batumi and gradually made my way towards Tbilisi. If possible, I would therefore arrange your flights in the same way rather than flying in and out of the same side of the country. You can arrange it in a way to start in Tbilisi and end in Batumi as well as I would say this itinerary can be done in reverse order
Table of Contents
- Georgia 7 Day Itinerary Overview
- Is 7 Days Enough for Georgia?
- How to Travel Around Georgia
- Day 1 – Arrive in Batumi
- Day 2 – Explore Batumi
- Day 3 – Travel From Batumi to Mestia and Hike to Chalaadi Glacier
- Day 4 – Ushguli Day Trip From Mestia
- Day 5 – Explore Mestia and Travel to Kutaisi
- Day 6 – Martvili Canyon, Prometheus Cave and Travel to Tbilisi –
- Day 7 – Tbilisi and Fly Home.
- Where to Add Extra Days to This Georgia Itinerary
- Best Time for This Georgia 7 Day Itinerary
- Final Thoughts on My Georgia 7 Day Itinerary
- Georgia 7 Day Itinerary – Frequently Asked Questions
Georgia 7 Day Itinerary Overview
This is essentially the route I followed:
| Day | Where | Main Plan | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Batumi | Arrive late at night | Batumi |
| Day 2 | Batumi | Full day exploring Batumi | Batumi |
| Day 3 | Batumi → Mestia | Shared transfer + Chalaadi Glacier hike | Mestia |
| Day 4 | Svaneti | Ushguli day trip | Mestia |
| Day 5 | Mestia → Kutaisi | Explore Mestia + evening transfer | Kutaisi |
| Day 6 | Kutaisi → Tbilisi | Martvili Canyon + Prometheus Cave + evening train | Tbilisi |
| Day 7 | Tbilisi | Explore Tbilisi + evening flight | — |
This route is best for someone who prioritises nature and the mountains over spending several days in Tbilisi.
If your main reasons for visiting Georgia are wine, restaurants and city sightseeing, I would probably plan a completely different seven days around Tbilisi, Kakheti and Kazbegi. Unfortunately while I will mention these as add ons at the end, this may not be the Georgia guide for you if these are your priorities. Below you can find a map where you can zoom to see the locations of each day colour coded.
Is 7 Days Enough for Georgia?
Seven days is enough to see quite a lot of Georgia, but it is definitely not enough to see everything.
This becomes even more obvious once you start travelling towards Mestia. The distance between cities might not look massive on Google Maps, but once mountain roads are involved a relatively short journey can take most of the day.
A lot of Georgia itineraries recommend leaving Svaneti until you have ten days or two weeks. I understand why. You could easily spend three or four days hiking around Mestia alone.
However, if Svaneti is one of your priorities, I don’t think you should automatically skip it just because you only have one week. You just need to accept that the rest of the trip will be fast and like I said skip some of the day trips near Tbilisi.
In my case, I would rather have two excellent days surrounded by the Caucasus mountains than spend the entire week doing easier day trips from Tbilisi.
How to Travel Around Georgia
One of the best things about this Georgia 7 day itinerary is that you do not need to rent a car.
I didn’t rent one and I don’t think I would if I repeated the same route. While renting a car might be cheaper if you are with someone I opted for shared transfers for more comfort and experience navigating the tricky mountain roads.
Georgia has a strange mix of transport. Trains are excellent on some routes, marshrutkas go almost everywhere, and private or shared transfers become particularly useful once you start heading into the mountains.
Shared Transfers
For this itinerary, shared transfers were easily my favourite option.
They cost more than local marshrutkas but still remain affordable, and you actually have a fixed departure time and booking rather than turning up and hoping for the best.
This is particularly useful for Svaneti.
I used Budget Georgia for my transfer from Batumi to Mestia. The service leaves early in the morning and the journey takes around six to seven hours depending on traffic and road conditions.
The journey itself is actually quite enjoyable once you start getting closer to Svaneti because the scenery becomes increasingly impressive.
I then used another shared transfer from Mestia to Kutaisi.
The biggest advantage here is the departure time. The transfer leaves Mestia late in the afternoon, meaning you can still use most of Day 5 to explore Mestia before travelling to Kutaisi.
You can find more details in my guide on how to get to Mestia from Kutaisi or Batumi.
Marshrutkas
Marshrutkas are generally the cheapest way to travel between Georgian cities.
They are essentially shared minibuses and can be very useful if you have more flexibility.
The downside is that schedules and departure points are not always as easy to understand online, and some vans leave when they fill rather than following the sort of rigid timetable you might be used to elsewhere in Europe.
For a relaxed Georgia trip I would happily use them.
For this itinerary, where losing half a day could affect everything afterwards, I preferred spending slightly more for pre-booked shared transfers.
Trains
Georgia’s trains are particularly useful for travelling between Tbilisi and western Georgia.
I used the train when travelling from the Kutaisi area towards Tbilisi and found it considerably more comfortable after several days of vans and mountain roads.
One thing you absolutely need to check is which station your train actually departs from and the timetable as they are not frequent, there may only be 3 trains a day at most.
Renting a Car
You can rent a car, and it gives you complete freedom around Kutaisi and the Georgian countryside.
I just don’t think it is essential for this itinerary.
Driving between Georgia’s main cities is one thing, but once you get farther into Svaneti the roads become much more mountainous and weather can change quickly.
I personally preferred sitting in the van and letting someone who drives the route regularly worry about that.
I would especially avoid renting a normal car purely because you want to drive yourself to Ushguli. That is a route where using a local 4×4 makes much more sense.
Day 1 – Arrive in Batumi
My Georgia itinerary effectively started in Batumi, where I arrived late at night. I didn’t have much time, I checked into my accommodation which ended up being a nightmare to navigate the huge apartment blocks, explored a bit the waterfront and went to sleep.
Regardless if you arrive earlier in the day, I think it is still worth spending another full day here in Batumi. You can see why down below when I list all the attractions I did on day 2 and the ones I missed out on because of time.
Day 2 – Explore Batumi
Batumi got one complete day on my Georgia itinerary, which I think is enough to get a good feel for the city.
It is completely different from the Georgia I saw and you will see over the next few days. Instead of mountains and stone villages, you have skyscrapers, beaches, casinos, wide boulevards and a very long waterfront promenade.
I would start around Europe Square and Old Batumi, then walk towards Piazza Square before continuing towards the seafront. From there you can see the Ali and Nino statue, Alphabet Tower and the rest of Miracle Park before walking along Batumi Boulevard.
One thing I found is that the comparisons between Batumi and Dubai are massively exaggerated.
Yes, there are skyscrapers and some very modern buildings, but Batumi still feels much smaller and more relaxed.
The waterfront was actually my favourite part. You can walk, cycle or even run along the promenade for several kilometres.
Batumi Botanical Garden is another popular attraction, but with only one full day I would consider it optional. This will depend on if you have time on arrival day. It can easily take two to three hours once transport and walking around the gardens are included.
Finish the day around the waterfront. Batumi becomes much livelier after dark and many of the modern buildings and fountains are illuminated.
You can read my full guide on things to do in Batumi in one day. There is plenty for you to do if you arrive earlier so have a read and decide how you should spend your time here.
I got a bit of an early night as the shared transfer departs early to Mestia.
Day 3 – Travel From Batumi to Mestia and Hike to Chalaadi Glacier
This day takes you from the Black Sea straight into the Caucasus mountains. Like I said, I used a shared transfer from Batumi to Mestia.
The journey takes around six to seven hours, but it isn’t six hours staring at a motorway. Once you get deeper into Svaneti, the scenery becomes part of the experience.
The roads wind beside rivers and mountains and the landscape becomes progressively more dramatic the closer you get to Mestia. I detailed my journey on my post on how to get to Mestia. I arrived around 3pm and you still have enough time to do the Chalaadi Glacier hike.
Chalaadi Glacier Hike
You can technically walk all the way from Mestia to Chalaadi Glacier, but I wouldn’t do that on this day as it will be an extremely tight day since you are starting late.
The full return route from Mestia is considerably longer. The much more practical option is taking a taxi to the suspension bridge where the main mountain trail begins.
That leaves a relatively short hike through the valley towards the glacier and means you can comfortably complete it after travelling from Batumi.
I arranged a taxi through my accommodation and paid around €35. You can probably find cheaper if you arrange it locally or share a vehicle with other travellers. The convenience where the driver waited for me to finish, it seemed reasonable enough and I paid it no questions asked.
The hike starts through forest beside the river before gradually becoming rockier as you approach the glacier. It isn’t particularly difficult compared with many of the other hikes around Mestia, which is why it works perfectly after the long drive from Batumi.
Unfortunately, this is also where my trip started going slightly wrong. I began feeling ill during the hike and by the end I was vomiting.
At the time I wasn’t sure what was happening, but it developed into what was clearly food poisoning and ended up affecting the following day as well.
I still managed to complete Chalaadi though, which probably tells you that the hike itself isn’t particularly extreme.
You can find the exact route along with my other recommended hikes in my guide to the best things to do in Mestia.
Day 4 – Ushguli Day Trip From Mestia
Like I mentioned, I was feeling ill and ended up not going to Ushguli. However since this is what I had booked, I am still including the details I researched on for your itinerary.
This is the tour I had booked but did not make it on
Ushguli sits around 45 kilometres from Mestia and is a collection of traditional mountain villages surrounded by some of the highest peaks in Georgia.
This is where you get the classic Svaneti scenery: old stone houses, narrow paths and medieval Svan towers with Mount Shkhara behind them.
The plan was simply to walk through the villages, see the towers, visit Lamaria Church and spend some time simply taking in the landscape.
Day 5 – Explore Mestia and Travel to Kutaisi
One of the reasons the late afternoon transfer to Kutaisi works so well is that it gives you almost another full day in Mestia.
Mestia itself is small enough to explore without rushing. Walk around the centre and the surrounding residential streets and you will constantly see the traditional Svan towers appearing between houses.
You can also visit the Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography or one of the traditional house museums if you want to understand a little more about the region rather than only hiking through it.
If the Hatsvali cable car is operating and conditions are good, that is another option for mountain views.
I wouldn’t rely on it too heavily in a tight itinerary because mountain lifts can close due to weather or maintenance.
Personally I would keep this morning fairly relaxed. On the other hand you can fit in another hike to the Koruldi Lakes but you have to start really early.
My shared transfer left Mestia at around 16:00 and headed towards Kutaisi.
This was one of those travel days where you basically arrive, check into your accommodation and go to bed. I would stay around central Kutaisi or near White Bridge. You only have one night and don’t want to waste time the following day crossing the city before your tour.
Day 6 – Martvili Canyon, Prometheus Cave and Travel to Tbilisi –
This day is a full day in Kutaisi, You will have enough time to visit the main attractions in Kutaisi as well as venture out on a day trip outside of Kutaisi.
I wanted to visit Martvili Canyon and Prometheus Cave, but I also needed to travel to Tbilisi that evening. Rather than trying to organise taxis and public transport myself, I booked an organised day trip from Kutaisi which you can find below
The tour started around 9am and finished about 3pm. This gave me time to do everything I needed before catching the train in the evening around 7pm.
I have written a full guide on my experience on this tour which you can read on my Martvili Canyon and Prometheus Cave experience, but here you can find a brief overview.
Martvili Canyon
Martvili Canyon was probably my favourite of the two attractions. You follow a short route beside turquoise water, waterfalls and heavily forested canyon walls.
There is also an optional boat ride through part of the canyon.I normally try to avoid paying for every little optional extra while travelling, but this is one I would actually pay for. The canyon looks completely different from water level and the boat doesn’t take much additional time.
Prometheus Cave
The second stop is Prometheus Cave.
This is a completely different attraction. Instead of walking outdoors between canyon walls, you spend around an hour moving through huge underground chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites.
There is also an optional underground boat towards the exit. Personally, if you are trying to keep costs down, I would do the Martvili Canyon boat and skip this one.
The cave itself is already the main experience. Bring a light jacket if you feel the cold because the temperature underground is noticeably lower than outside.
Kutaisi
After I got off the tour I had some hours to kill. There are some major attractions in Kutaisi that are worth visiting including Bugrati Cathedral. The city is more local so walking around it will definitely get more of a feel of life in Georgia. You can read about the best things to do in Kutaisi for all the things to do if you have time or manage to squeeze them in.
Getting to Tbilisi That Evening
I caught an evening train towards Tbilisi after returning from the tour.
However, don’t simply copy a random tour time you find online and assume it will connect with your train. Different Kutaisi tours finish at different times, and train schedules can change. Check the timings and the duration of each tour. I intentionally skipped tours which take you to Okatse canyon so I don’t risk arriving late back in Kutaisi.
The trains leave from Rioni station a 15 minute taxi from the center. It is a small station and tickets are checked manually by conductors before you board.
Day 7 – Tbilisi and Fly Home.
This is the last day and I had a late evening flight back home (changed in Istanbul airport)
I will say straight away that one day is not enough to properly experience Tbilisi. If you can add one day I would recommend staying a bit more in Tbilisi. There are plenty of attractions on the outskirts of the city like the chronicles of Georgia which I sadly skipped out on.
However, with an evening flight you can still see a surprising amount.
Start around Tbilisi Old Town. Walk through the narrow streets towards the colourful balconies and Abanotubani sulphur-bath district. The architecture here is completely different from Batumi, Kutaisi and Mestia and makes the last day feel like yet another side of Georgia.
From there continue towards Leghvtakhevi Waterfall before walking back towards the river. Cross the Bridge of Peace into Rike Park and take the cable car up towards Narikala Fortress. From the top you get one of the best views across Tbilisi and can also walk towards the Mother of Georgia statue.
After coming back down, I would leave the rest of the day relatively free. Remember that you still need to pick up your bags and head to the airport.
Where to Add Extra Days to This Georgia Itinerary
If you have more than seven days, I would not add another city in western Georgia.
I would first give Tbilisi another day and then head north towards Kazbegi, officially Stepantsminda.
This gives you another completely different section of the Caucasus mountains.
The road from Tbilisi follows the Georgian Military Highway towards Stepantsminda, with popular stops including Ananuri Fortress, the Gudauri viewpoint and eventually Gergeti Trinity Church above Kazbegi.
Rather than taking a huge day tour from Tbilisi and immediately driving back, I would stay at least one night. With two additional days, you could travel from Tbilisi to Stepantsminda, see Gergeti and stay overnight before returning the following day.
With three extra days, add either Juta or Truso Valley.
Juta is the better option if you want dramatic mountain hiking around the Chaukhi Massif, while Truso Valley has a much wider landscape with mineral springs, abandoned settlements and old defensive towers.
Both make far more sense once you stay overnight around Stepantsminda rather than trying to reach everything from Tbilisi.
If I turned this into a ten-day Georgia itinerary, I would personally do:
Days 1–7: Follow this itinerary
Day 8: Extra Tbilisi day
Day 9: Tbilisi → Ananuri → Gudauri → Stepantsminda
Day 10: Gergeti, Juta or Truso Valley and return towards Tbilisi
That would make the trip a bit longer and you can say that you almost got a taste of every single thing in Georgia
Best Time for This Georgia 7 Day Itinerary
For this exact itinerary, I would travel during the warmer months. The main reason isn’t Batumi or Tbilisi. It is Svaneti.
The road to Mestia is accessible for much of the year, but the warmer months give you far more reliable hiking conditions and easier access to places such as Ushguli.
July and August will be busier, particularly in Batumi. September would probably be my favourite overall balance. You still have a good chance of accessible mountain trails but without quite the same peak-summer crowds.
Whatever month you choose, mountain weather can change extremely quickly.
Final Thoughts on My Georgia 7 Day Itinerary
I think that this itinerary albeit slightly rushed will give you a great variety in what Georgia has to offer. It is an incredibly diverse country and you can easily spend and extend this itinerary by another 4 days at the minimum, either to not rush everything or to visit new places near the capital as I mentioned above.
This itinerary gives you the Black Sea in Batumi, the Caucasus mountains around Mestia, traditional Svan villages, glaciers, Martvili Canyon, Prometheus Cave and at least a taste of Tbilisi. That is a lot of variety for one week. If I had longer, I would absolutely add another day in Tbilisi and continue towards Kazbegi.
I wrote guides on every day that I mentioned in this itinerary so if you want more details around transport, pricing and logistics go into depth in my Georgia on A Budget Guide and read through each post around every place I visited. Thanks for reading!
