The best time to travel in Georgia

What is the best time to travel to Georgia? This is a question that many people ask themselves who are travelling to Georgia for the first time and want to enjoy pleasant weather and temperatures during their trip.

Since the answer varies depending on the type of trip, we have written an article on this topic.

In this article, you will find the optimal seasons for each type of trip to help you plan your trip. This will make your trip even more enjoyable.

For cultural tours

During our cultural tours, we explore both mountainous and low-lying areas. This allows us to experience different climates and temperatures. The ideal time to travel extends from mid-May to the end of October. We divide this time into three parts:

1: from mid-May to the end of June

2: from the beginning of July to the end of August

3: from the beginning of September to the end of October

Each of these periods has its advantages and disadvantages. You are sure to make the best choice for you based on what experiences you want to have and enjoy. We would like to describe each period in detail:

• Mid-May to late June:

Disadvantages: Some rainy days and high humidity. In the mountain regions, it can be cold and overcast, with snow remaining on the hiking trails. The mountains are not yet green.

Advantages: Flowering meadows and beautiful scenery in the lowlands. Pleasant temperatures without extreme heat. The sights are not as overcrowded and can be better visited.

• Beginning of July to end of August:

Disadvantages: It is warmer at lower altitudes, the flowers no longer bloom and the meadows are no longer as beautiful. More tourists at the sights and hiking trails.

Advantages: Stable weather with little rain. In the mountain regions, the Alpine flowers are in bloom and the temperatures are pleasant for hiking.

• Beginning of September to end of October:

Disadvantages: It gets cooler in the mountain regions, the meadows lose their beauty. There are also many tourists around during this time.

Advantages: Stable weather with clear air, especially advantageous for mountain views. The autumn colours begin to appear from mid-September and last until the end of October. You can experience the traditional grape harvest in the wine-growing regions.

The above periods and characteristics apply universally to all round trips through Georgia, regardless of the total duration of the trip.

For hiking tours

Since most hikes in Georgia take place in mountainous regions, the best time to go hiking in Georgia is from the end of June to the end of September. The two hikes in Svaneti – the Mestia-Ushgul hike and the hike from Bestcho to Ushguli – can be undertaken from the end of June.

But the hikes, such as the ‘Route from Lentechi to Ezerei’, ‘From Kazbegi to Tusheti’ or ‘The Breath of the Caucasus’, where the routes are over 3000 metres high, are only feasible from mid-July, as the passes are only free of snow in July.

The choice of the exact hiking period depends on what mountain experience you are looking for. We can divide this time into two sections:

1. from the end of June to mid-August

2. from mid-August to the end of September

Each of these periods has its advantages and disadvantages:

• End of June to mid-August

Disadvantages: The weather is not yet stable and hikers have to expect a few rainy days. The air is not 100% clear and the mountains may be hidden behind clouds.

Advantages: The mountain flowers are in full bloom and the mountain meadows are beautiful. This time is particularly suitable for flower lovers and photographers who want to capture the beautiful mountain meadows.

• Mid-August to the end of September

Disadvantages: The mountain flowers have already faded and the meadows have lost their charm. Temperatures can be a bit lower in the mountains above 2500 metres.

Advantages: The weather is more stable and the air is clear. This makes it easier to enjoy the views of the mountains and countryside.

These characteristics apply to hikes above 2500 metres. Slightly lower routes, such as in the Borjoni-Kharagauli National Park, can be walked from the beginning of June.

For cycle tours

The best time for cycle tours in Georgia depends on the type of tour. We present two types of cycle tours:

1. Cycle tours at lower altitudes

Due to the specific nature of cycle tours, the air temperature plays a crucial role. Therefore, we recommend the following periods for cycle tours at lower altitudes: ‘Cycling in the Caucasus’, ‘Cycling in the Colchic Plain’:

• Mid-May to mid-June:

Disadvantages: Unstable weather with occasional rainy days.

Advantages: The landscape and nature are particularly beautiful during this time.

• From mid-August to the end of September:

Disadvantages: The landscape has lost its charm as the flowers have already faded.

Advantages: The weather is much more stable with fewer rainy days.

2. Mountain bike tours: Svaneti, Tusheti, Ajara

The ideal time for bike tours in these more challenging regions is from the beginning of July to the end of August. At this time, the passes are 100% free of snow and the weather is stable.

For photo tours

Our classic 14-day photo tour of Georgia passes through almost all of the country’s regions. As with a round trip through Georgia, the theoretically ideal time frame for this photo tour is from mid-May to mid-October.

The main topics and motifs we focus on during the trip can be roughly categorised into four different areas:

• Landscape
• People
• Everyday life
• Architecture

Due to the specific nature of photo tours, we consider the best time to travel to Georgia to be between mid-May and the end of June and between mid-September and mid-October. There are only slight differences between these two periods. Apart from the landscape, all subjects can be photographed equally well during both periods.

In the first period, there are flowering meadows and, in the mountainous regions, impressive, dramatic landscapes with fog and clouds.

In autumn, on the other hand, the trip offers bright colours and a charming autumn atmosphere. Otherwise, the photo opportunities in both seasons are comparable.

For our 20-day special, including bird photography, we recommend the best travel time from mid-May to mid-June.

For horse riding

Svaneti, Tusheti, the Vashlovani National Park and the David Gareja Steppe, as well as the National Parks of Borjomi-Kharagauli and Lagodekhi, are the most popular horse riding areas in Georgia. The ideal time for horse riding tours varies depending on the region.

• For the mountainous regions of Svaneti and Tusheti the optimal riding season is from early June to late September. Regardless of which month or part of this period the tour is undertaken, the total duration of the trip remains similar.
• The same applies to tours in the national parks of Lagodekhi and Borjomi-Kharagauli, although the season here begins a little earlier, about two weeks earlier.
• For the David Gareja Steppe and the Vashlovani National Park, a travel period from mid-February to mid-April and from mid-October to the end of November is recommended due to the geographical location, the extreme summer heat and the fact that the horses are already in the

For mountaineering

The mountaineering season in Georgia starts in the middle of June and lasts until the end of October. This period can be divided into two parts:

1. from mid-June to the end of July

2. from the end of July to the end of October

The disadvantage of the first period is that the weather is somewhat unstable and there may be some rainy days. However, the advantage is that there is still a lot of snow in the mountains and thus the danger of crevasses is lower.

The disadvantage of the second period is that there is less snow and you have to be more careful because of the crevasses. There are also more visitors. However, the advantage is stable weather and clear views in the mountains.

These conditions apply to all mountains that can be climbed in Georgia. Here are our offers: Climb Mt. Kazbek and Climb Mt. Laila.

For Jeep tours

The classic jeep tour in Georgia covers the mountainous regions and passes between 2100 and 3000 metres. These are only free of snow and passable from mid/end of June. Therefore, the best time for jeep tours in Georgia is from end of June to mid-October.

We can divide this time into two sections:

1. End of June to mid-August and

2. mid-August to mid-October

• End of June to mid-August and

Disadvantages – The weather is changeable and the air is humid. You have to expect a few rainy days. Advantages – The mountain meadows are particularly beautiful at this time and there are only a few tourists around.

• Mid-August to mid-October

Disadvantages – The mountain meadows lose their beauty because the flowers have already faded. There are many tourists around.

Advantages: Stable weather, clear air and beautiful views of the landscape.

A special attraction are the jeep tours in the David Gareja steppes, in the Vashlovani National Park and Tusheti. These are best undertaken in spring, from mid-April to the first half of June, when the landscape and nature are at their most beautiful and the temperatures are very pleasant. The autumn months are also a good time.

For Wine Tours

In theory, wine tours in Georgia can be organised at any time, as it is not a mountainous region. However, the best time for wine tours is, of course, autumn, especially September, when the grape harvest is in full swing in Georgia and guests have the opportunity to experience the traditions of the people.