Nature and Adventure Tours 2009 in Georgia

In 2009 we will offer only a compressed programme of our tours:

Flora in the Caucasus

From Bergtrekking Kaukasus

June 20 till July 3
more details here

Hiking in the Mountain World of Khevsureti

From Bergtrekking Kaukasus

July 18 till July 29
more details here

Cattle Drive Tusheti

From Bergtrekking Kaukasus

September 26 till October 7

more details here

Other tours on request. The situation in Georgia is quiet and we look optimistic forward to the Travel season 2009. Enjoy one of the most grandessa destinations in the world: Georgia

Impressions from Yerevan

abovyan-street, originally uploaded by grijsz.

It just feels like Paris, except Paris misses the wonderful view to the two Ararat's and Yerevan misses the relaxing presence of the Seine. Of course Yerevan has the bigger cars and Off-Roaders, there are as many Hummers as are VWs in Germany.

Yerevan is perfect for a week of shopping and culture. And of course the amazing cuisine, which combines Armenian, Persian, Syrian, Greek, Georgian and European cuisine with a perfect arrangement and quite decent prices. The beer is perfect, the wine, the coffee, Taxi prices are as 1 Euro for short distances in the city, 2 for longer ways.

The problem are the many beautiful girls and women strolling along the boulevards and cafes, as it is difficult to bear that beauty and charm, especially if you are married already.

The town is full of Jazz, even there is a Courbet in the Museum of Fine Arts, there is a good collection of fine Dutch and Russian paintings, and there is Parajanov and a couple of good earlier Saryans. This city has taste and pop and culture and a bright nightlife.

To reach Yerevan from Tbilisi by car you need to plan 6 hours, plus 1 hour at the border, as the Checkpoint is still very slow and seems like old fashioned Soviet style. The best route is Tbilisi-Sadakhlo-Vanadzor-Dilidshan-Sevan- Yerevan.

It is definitely a top destination and I go there in November again. Thank you Yerevan !

"According to Armenian tradition, the name of Yerevan is derived from an expression exclaimed by Noah in Armenian while looking in the direction of Yerevan, after the ark had landed on Mount Ararat and after the flood waters had receded: "Yerevants!" ("it appeared!").^[3] The more plausible theory on the origin of the name is that the city was named after the Armenian king, Yervand the Third (the Last), the last leader of the Orontid Dynasty and founder of the city of Yervandashat."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yerevan

Free download of former Soviet Military Maps of Georgia by Geoland

Free download of former Soviet Military Maps of Georgia 1:100.000 by Geoland

http://www.geoland.ge/products/free_maps/free_maps.html

Gastatelier / Gästehaus in der georgischen Weinprovinz Kachetien

http://www.kaukasus-reisen.de/gastatelier-ninigori.htm

Ruhiges Gastatelier / Gästehaus in der georgischen Weinprovinz Kachetien

An Künstler, Schriftsteller, Dichter, Journalisten, Natur- und Weinliebhaber wochenweise zu vermieten:

Entspannendes kachetisches Dorfleben, Berge, Wein, Reiten, melodische Landschaften und eine weltberühmte Gastfreundschaft - das ist Ninigori am Fuße des Kaukasus. Die kachetische Region Lagodechi ist auch für seinen Reichtum an Vögeln und Pflanzen bekannt.

Vielleicht suchen Sie Ruhe, Besinnung, Inspiration, neue Erlebnisse oder wollen einfach nur ungestört arbeiten ? Kommen Sie in unser Gastatelier nach Ninigori und tanken Sie auf.

Kachetien ist die gastfreundlichste Region Georgiens, sicher, gemütlich und landschaftlich reizvoll.

Weitere Informationen hier:

http://www.kaukasus-reisen.de/gastatelier-ninigori.htm

Bad customer service at Georgian Railway

Imagine, you want to buy a ticket for the train to Batumi today, for the travel date 9th of September to Batumi... it's impossible, because tickets are sold only 5 days in advance (what for are the computers at the counters ??)

Imagine, you want to buy that ticket tomorrow for the 9th (that's possible because tomorrow you are the max. 5 days in advance) and a return ticket on 12th back to Tbilisi...
it's impossible, because the return ticket you can get only from 7th.

Imagine, you want to buy those tickets not for yourself, but for your friends in Telavi, that's impossible at all, because you need their passports for that (the name on the ticket should be identified by passport) or they just should come the hell themselves to Tbilisi and buy it on their own.

Seeing Old Tbilisi's history with Lika Karalashvili

tbilisi1, originally uploaded by grijsz.

Dear Guests of Tbilisi,

If you wish to look round the old historical city and walking along its streets to feel it's unique charm and learn about it's historical heritage: Contact us!

Our guides show you in a round walk the most interesting places; including stories about the foundation of Tbilisi and the adoption of Christianity in Georgia.

You can travel in the past of Tbilisi, see a heart of the city where Orthodox, Catholic and Georgian churches, mosque and synagogue are proudly side by side.

The classic round walk tour takes 3 hours and costs depending on the group size from 15 USD (5 plus participants) up to 24 USD (for a single participant)

Contact us for reserving tours everyday from 10.00 to 23.00

Lika Karalashvili

Address:3, Betlemi ascent

Phone: 98 38 75; 8 99 34 99 33

E-mail: visitoldtbilisi@yahoo.com

www: www.icomos.org.ge/Betlemi

Tourism in Azerbaijan

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan offers quite a good website with the description of 7 different main Tourists routes and a nice big map