Disclosure
Jade Peak writes about places, experiences, and the people behind them, so hotels, operators, and companies come up often. We have no financial relationship with any entity named in this article. If that ever changes, we'll say so plainly, right here at the top.
If you're the type of traveler who likes history and their lunch properly earned, then cycling Georgia on the Silk Road might be the trip for you. For centuries this little country was crossed by caravans from Asia to the Black Sea, and now you get to ride it on a mountain bike. The route starts in Tbilisi and crosses the Caucasus toward the coast.
We came across this one and couldn't stop thinking about it. It's a week on a mountain bike through some of the least-crowded terrain in the Caucasus. On the first night, you sleep in a hotel; after that, in family-run guesthouses. The idea of being supported by a vehicle that shadows the group to carry your kit is quite comforting. So if you get tired, you can take a break and ride in the van. A mechanic also looks after the bikes, allowing you to focus on cycling and enjoying the scenery.
It is important to point out that this is a proper physical trip. The days are long, some of them at altitude, and the plateau sections can grind you down even if you ride at home. We wouldn't be surprised if a few strong cyclists find a day or two humbling. But the group is small and sociable, with more or less 10 people per trip, the guides are local and know the ground, and that support vehicle means you can tap out of a climb without ending your day. Come with fit legs and an appetite and you'll be fine.
More on the route:
Tbilisi (start): Georgia's crossroads capital, with its UNESCO old town, sulfur baths and carved wooden balconies. Here you meet your group, fit the bikes, and get to experience your first proper Georgian feast.
Tetritskaro & the Ktsia River: the first real ride, out into dramatic, empty country.
Dashbashi Canyon: a hard gravel climb pays off at a green gorge slashed with waterfalls, and a well-earned lunch.
The Javakheti Plateau: Known as the "Georgian Siberia," a treeless volcanic highland of open tracks, huge skies and almost nobody.
Toward the Black Sea: the route trends west across the Lesser Caucasus to the coast, with the option to finish in the seaside city of Batumi.
And you can't ride without eating and drinking well. Georgia has become known for its food and, above all, its ancient winemaking tradition, especially orange wine. Naturally, this adventure includes plenty of opportunities to experience both. This is the country that invented wine 8,000 years ago, fermenting it in clay qvevris, and every guesthouse dinner turns into a supra: a feast of cheese-filled khachapuri, soup dumplings called khinkali, and a lot of toasts. Churchkhela, the walnut-and-grape-must snack strung up like candles in every market, is a must-try. It has fuelled Silk Road travelers for centuries.
Georgia has been on both Jade Peak founders' radar for a long time. We were originally drawn by the idea of skiing in the Caucasus, but the country's food, centuries-old wine culture and growing reputation for adventure travel have made us want to explore it beyond winter. After discovering this journey, we're not so sure skiing will be our first trip after all.
Originally published at jadepeak.com.
