Routes · Asia

Toronto to Georgia: Tbilisi, Kazbegi and the Kakheti wine region

Toronto → Tbilisi → Kazbegi → Kakheti

Caucasus wine & mountains Best season (general guide): May–Oct

Georgia, on the edge of the Caucasus, combines a characterful capital, high mountains and one of the world's oldest winemaking traditions within a few hours of each other. From Toronto the flight usually connects in Europe or Istanbul. Once you arrive, every stop on this route is reachable by road from Tbilisi.

How to pace it: After the connecting flights from Toronto, plan days one to three in Tbilisi: first old town and sulphur baths, then Narikala fortress, and finally food markets and the river. Next, plan days four and five in Kazbegi: first Georgian Military Road via Ananuri and Jvari Pass, then walk to Gergeti Trinity Church. Next, plan days six and seven in Kakheti: first travel to Kakheti, then winery visit, and finally Signagi and the Alazani valley.

Three nights in Tbilisi let you explore the old town's lanes, the domed sulphur baths, and the views from Narikala fortress, as well as the city's food, from khachapuri to khinkali dumplings. Then the Georgian Military Road heads north past the Ananuri fortress and over the Jvari Pass to Kazbegi (Stepantsminda), where Gergeti Trinity Church sits on a ridge beneath the glaciers of Mount Kazbek. Coming back down, the route turns east into Kakheti. There, family wineries still ferment wine in qvevri, clay jars buried in the ground, and the walled town of Signagi looks out over the Alazani valley.

May to October is the main travel season. September and October are especially popular in Kakheti because of Rtveli, the grape harvest. The road to Kazbegi is maintained all year, but the pass section can close for hours or days during heavy snow or avalanche risk, so winter trips need flexibility. Practical notes: check the national road agency's updates before driving north.

Georgians take hospitality seriously, and a supra, a traditional feast led by a toastmaster, may come with many toasts. In churches, women are usually expected to cover their heads and everyone should dress modestly. Scarves are often lent at the entrance.

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