[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f35rdlg6hvo55t":3,"$f31r46v5m6p3rp":70,"country-posts-GE":86,"$f2ilil4c0s4wkx":312,"mdc--xvkdqz-key":316,"mdc-wajzyc-key":327,"mdc--yel7vh-key":354,"mdc--isiy9x-key":362,"mdc-lxryw6-key":376,"mdc--gde52i-key":384,"mdc--i4y5du-key":392,"mdc--f2esrt-key":400,"mdc-m2dd9h-key":408,"mdc--vg9he8-key":422,"mdc-qu66k-key":475},{"code":4,"slug":5,"name":6,"continent":7,"flagUrl":8,"location":9,"zoom":12,"boundingBox":13,"borders":20,"schengen":25,"flags":26,"quickFacts":27,"sections":33,"resources":65,"counts":66,"legacyKey":6,"migratedAt":69},"GE","georgia","Georgia","Western Asia","https:\u002F\u002Ffirebasestorage.googleapis.com\u002Fv0\u002Fb\u002Fcycle-planet-292f5.appspot.com\u002Fo\u002Fflags%2FFlag_of_Georgia.svg.png?alt=media&token=e8f6e75f-e138-4668-b7f3-92b930d790bc",{"lat":10,"lng":11},42.315407,43.356892,7,[14,17],[15,16],41.0644446885,39.9550085793,[18,19],43.553104153,46.6379081561,[21,22,23,24],"AM","AZ","RU","TR",false,{"dangerous":25,"island":25,"openBorders":25,"visaFree":25},{"capital":28,"languages":29,"currency":30,"callingCode":31,"region":32,"subregion":7},"Tbilisi","Georgian","Georgian Lari (GEL)","+995","Asia",{"about":34,"visa":38,"sleeping":42,"safety":48,"transport":54,"foodDrink":59,"other":62},{"body":35,"updatedAt":36,"updatedBy":37},"Georgia is a raw and beautiful country, with a lot of different landscapes, a lot of historical buildings like holy monasteries. Georgia even makes good wines and has a small ski area.","2021-05-22T18:56:41.000Z","ieMGYdJeX6ZyKgKeeGhMXPFZkax2",{"body":39,"updatedAt":40,"updatedBy":41},"94 countries can enter Georgia visa free. Your passport must be valid for 6 months.\n\n_Source: [Wikipedia](https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FVisa_policy_of_Georgia)._","2021-03-25T09:18:51.000Z","RYFRjpH3DfdWPpRfG9MIFBSPzH33",{"updatedAt":43,"updatedBy":44,"parts":45},"2021-05-22T19:03:24.000Z","01dRgHcnFiTSprDGCEB4Jxq7iDH3",{"couchsurfing":46,"hostels":47},"If you ask people if you can camp, they warn about \"banditi\" and often you are invited to their home. Just respond to that! Be prepared for a lot of food and alcohol.","The big cities do have some nice hostels where a lot of backpackers stay as well.\n\nThere are also plenty of reasonable hotels in villages and towns. Sometimes there is only an intourist hotel from the Soviet era. Here it is often a large rubbish bin with only a few renovated rooms, which is still nothing. These hotels are also often too expensive.",{"body":49,"updatedAt":50,"updatedBy":44,"parts":51},"You might find stories about Georgia being unsafe, but this seems something from the past. Nowadays, Georgia is a wonderful country to cycle through, with very friendly people.","2021-05-22T19:07:04.000Z",{"traffic":52,"nature":53},"The highways are very reasonable, to super tight. For example between Gori and Tblisi. Thanks to the French. The other roads are bad to exceptionally bad. (Worse than in Albania or Morocco, comparably bad as in Ukraine.) The latter type requires a lot of technical skill from the cyclist. An average speed of 15 km \u002F h - on flat terrain - is then already high. The effort is rewarded with exuberant nature.","In the region on the border of Azerbijan the Azerbaijanis (semi-nomads) live. These people are in possession of very large false dogs that run free. These dogs are used to scare away the wolves. You also regularly see fake dogs on a chain.",{"updatedAt":55,"updatedBy":37,"parts":56},"2021-05-22T19:00:13.000Z",{"train":57,"bus":58},"No problem. Can join for free.","In Georgia, they have marschutka's, which is like a combination of a bus and a taxi. There are no time tables, and you can get in and out when you want. They do drive specific routes, so you just have to ask for the right line.\n\nIt's no problem to take your bike on a . Inexperienced drivers take the bike for free, others can charge a surcharge (+ 100%). But even then, it remains an inexpensive way to make miles quickly. A very dangerous alternative - they, and otherwise the other road users, drive like crazy.",{"body":60,"updatedAt":61,"updatedBy":44},"Eating and drinking in Georgia is really fantastic. The basis is bread (khachapuri) often filled with cheese, meat or mushrooms. People also eat chinkhali, dough filled with seasoned minced meat and cooked in broth. There are many vegetables available in restaurants. The local drink is \"cha-cha\", which is even stronger than vodka.\n\nSupra is an ancient eating and drinking ritual in the Caucasus. A Tamada is assigned to it. He will give a sermon for 10 minutes and until then you are not allowed to drink. After this follows the Gaumarjos (cheers) and then you have to drink your glass of wine in one go. When the ritual ends, usually after 4 liters of wine, a toast is made to the deceased.  \n\n**Supermarkets**\n\nIn the mountains, the shops are less well sorted, but there is enough.\n\n**Restaurants**  \n\nEating out is cheap. In the big cities there are also Turkish restaurants.\n\n**Drinkable water**\n\nGudy and John: \"We filtered water in the cities, but in the mountains there are springs, complete with bubbles.\"","2021-05-22T19:06:44.000Z",{"body":63,"updatedAt":64,"updatedBy":44},"**Best time to cycle**\n\nSpring and fall are best. The passes can still be closed in the spring.\n\n**Spare parts**\n\nThere is no cycling in Georgia, so there are no bicycle shops anywhere. Bring enough spare material with you.","2021-05-22T19:01:28.000Z",[],{"pois":67,"users":67,"hosts":68},2,0,"2026-11-06T11:25:25.554Z",[71,78],{"id":72,"type":73,"title":74,"countryCode":4,"location":75,"likes":67,"visaFor":4,"onlineVisa":76,"excerpt":77},"37d2733b-54f6-4225-8ebf-e64e658756ee","embassy","E-visa for Georgia",{"lat":10,"lng":11},true,"Currently the e-visa portal is closed due to the pandemic. They will open the portal if traveling is allowed again. Please update this description if you see…",{"id":79,"type":80,"title":81,"countryCode":4,"location":82,"likes":67,"toCountryCode":22,"excerpt":85},"9fa29ecf-6b90-4e1c-8eaa-c51d58ef03d8","border-crossing","Lagodeki (Georgia) – Balakan (Azerbaijan)",{"lat":83,"lng":84},41.79124464435379,46.30968810219444,"Easy border crossing. A guy that was with us had been in Armenia before, and got taken apart by the Azerbaijan customs because they wanted to know why he had…",[87],{"id":88,"title":89,"body":90,"categories":293,"category":294,"cover":294,"coverAlt":294,"coverStyle":294,"description":295,"extension":296,"faq":297,"filters":298,"meta":299,"navigation":76,"ogImage":294,"order":294,"path":300,"publishedAt":301,"readingTime":302,"relatedLinks":303,"robots":294,"schemaOrg":294,"seo":304,"seoTitle":305,"sitemap":306,"stem":307,"steps":308,"takeaways":309,"translationKey":294,"usps":310,"__hash__":311},"blog\u002Fblog\u002Fcycling-georgia-caucasus.md","Cycling in Georgia - how to plan a bike tour through the Caucasus",{"type":91,"value":92,"toc":272},"minimark",[93,97,102,105,108,111,115,120,123,127,130,134,137,141,150,154,157,160,164,199,203,206,214,222,226,230,238,242,245,249,252,256,263,267],[94,95,96],"p",{},"Cycling in Georgia means riding between the Greater Caucasus in the north and the Lesser Caucasus in the south, through wine valleys, old monasteries and mountain villages, with the Black Sea on one side and the dry east on the other. It is a compact country, so you can see a lot in a few weeks, but the mountain roads are steep and main roads can be busy. Here is what you need to know to plan a bike tour through Georgia.",[98,99,101],"h2",{"id":100},"is-georgia-a-good-country-for-cycling","Is Georgia a good country for cycling?",[94,103,104],{},"Georgia is popular with bicycle tourers, both as a destination and as a stage on the overland route between Europe and Central Asia. The landscapes change fast: subtropical coast around Batumi, green hills in the west, the Kakheti wine region in the east and high mountains with glaciers in the north.",[94,106,107],{},"Many cyclists mention the hospitality, from invitations for a meal to a glass of homemade wine or chacha. The food is a highlight too: khachapuri (cheese bread), khinkali (dumplings) and plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit in season.",[94,109,110],{},"The flip side is traffic. Driving can be fast and aggressive, especially on the main east-west highway and on the road between Tbilisi and the Russian border. Most cyclists try to avoid these roads where possible.",[98,112,114],{"id":113},"which-are-the-best-cycling-routes-in-georgia","Which are the best cycling routes in Georgia?",[116,117,119],"h3",{"id":118},"the-greater-caucasus-valleys","The Greater Caucasus valleys",[94,121,122],{},"The big mountain valleys in the north are the reason many cyclists come. Svaneti, reached from Zugdidi up to Mestia, has its famous medieval defence towers and long climbs. Further east, routes towards Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) and the remote regions of Tusheti and Khevsureti offer spectacular scenery. Some of these roads are unpaved, very steep or only open in summer; the road into Tusheti in particular is known as a demanding mountain track. Check the current road conditions before you set off.",[116,124,126],{"id":125},"kakheti-and-the-east","Kakheti and the east",[94,128,129],{},"East of Tbilisi, Kakheti is a wine region with rolling hills, vineyards and monasteries, and gentler riding. It makes a good loop from the capital and combines well with the semi-desert landscapes near the Azerbaijani border.",[116,131,133],{"id":132},"the-lesser-caucasus-and-the-south","The Lesser Caucasus and the south",[94,135,136],{},"Southern Georgia, around the volcanic plateau of Javakheti and towards Armenia, is high, open and quiet. It is a good way to ride on to Armenia, but the weather on the plateau can change quickly.",[116,138,140],{"id":139},"coming-from-turkey","Coming from Turkey",[94,142,143,144,149],{},"Many tourers enter Georgia from Turkey along the Black Sea coast near Batumi, often after riding through ",[145,146,148],"a",{"href":147},"\u002Fcountries\u002Fturkey","Turkey",". From there you can head inland towards Kutaisi and the mountains.",[98,151,153],{"id":152},"when-is-the-best-time-to-go-cycling-in-georgia","When is the best time to go cycling in Georgia?",[94,155,156],{},"Late spring and early autumn are usually the most pleasant. In spring, high mountain passes and some mountain roads may still be closed by snow, while summer can be hot in the lowlands and around Tbilisi but ideal in the high valleys. Autumn brings the grape harvest and stable weather, though nights in the mountains get cold early.",[94,158,159],{},"Remote mountain roads, such as the one into Tusheti, are typically open only for a few months a year. Opening dates depend on the snow, so check locally before you plan your route around them.",[98,161,163],{"id":162},"roads-bike-shops-and-practical-tips","Roads, bike shops and practical tips",[165,166,167,175,181,187,193],"ul",{},[168,169,170,174],"li",{},[171,172,173],"strong",{},"Road surfaces vary."," Main roads are mostly paved; mountain roads can be rough asphalt, gravel or dirt. Wider tyres make life easier if you plan to ride the high valleys.",[168,176,177,180],{},[171,178,179],{},"Bike parts."," Tbilisi has bike shops, but outside the capital and a few larger towns, parts for touring bikes are hard to find. Carry spare tubes, tyres, brake pads and the tools to fix your own bike.",[168,182,183,186],{},[171,184,185],{},"Dogs."," Shepherd dogs in the mountains can be protective of their flocks. Slow down, keep your distance from herds and get off your bike if needed.",[168,188,189,192],{},[171,190,191],{},"Language."," Georgian has its own alphabet. Russian is widely understood among older people, and younger people in cities often speak some English.",[168,194,195,198],{},[171,196,197],{},"Money."," ATMs are common in towns, but carry cash for the mountains and small villages.",[98,200,202],{"id":201},"where-to-sleep-on-a-bike-tour-in-georgia","Where to sleep on a bike tour in Georgia",[94,204,205],{},"Guesthouses are the most common option, especially in the mountains and wine regions, and are often family-run with dinner included. In cities you will find hostels and hotels.",[94,207,208,209,213],{},"Many cyclists also camp, both at campsites and in the wild. Wild camping is widely practised by touring cyclists in Georgia, but rules for national parks and protected areas can differ, so check the current rules and ask permission near houses or farmland. You can also connect with local and travelling cyclists who host each other on Cycle Planet once you ",[145,210,212],{"href":211},"\u002Fregister","create an account",".",[94,215,216,217,221],{},"Guesthouses, springs and camp spots that other cyclists recommend are on the ",[145,218,220],{"href":219},"\u002Fmap","map with points of interest",". If you find a good place that is not on it yet, add it for the next cyclist.",[98,223,225],{"id":224},"frequently-asked-questions","Frequently asked questions",[116,227,229],{"id":228},"do-you-need-a-visa-to-cycle-in-georgia","Do you need a visa to cycle in Georgia?",[94,231,232,233,237],{},"Many nationalities can enter Georgia without a visa for a fairly long stay, but the rules depend on your passport and can change. Check the official Georgian government information or the embassy, and see the ",[145,234,236],{"href":235},"\u002Fcountries\u002Fgeorgia","Georgia country page"," for notes from other cyclists.",[116,239,241],{"id":240},"how-many-days-do-you-need-to-cycle-through-georgia","How many days do you need to cycle through Georgia?",[94,243,244],{},"The country is small, so a crossing from the Black Sea to the Azerbaijani border takes about one to two weeks. If you want to ride into the mountain valleys as well, plan three weeks or more.",[116,246,248],{"id":247},"is-it-safe-to-cycle-in-georgia","Is it safe to cycle in Georgia?",[94,250,251],{},"Cyclists generally describe Georgia as safe and friendly. The biggest risk is traffic on busy main roads. Check your government's travel advice, especially for regions near the borders with Russian-occupied areas, which you should not try to enter.",[116,253,255],{"id":254},"where-can-you-go-after-georgia","Where can you go after Georgia?",[94,257,258,259,213],{},"Many tourers continue to Armenia or Azerbaijan and then on to Central Asia. If that is your plan, read our guide to ",[145,260,262],{"href":261},"\u002Fblog\u002Fbike-touring-kyrgyzstan","bike touring in Kyrgyzstan",[98,264,266],{"id":265},"plan-your-georgia-tour","Plan your Georgia tour",[94,268,269,270,213],{},"Cycling in Georgia combines the Caucasus mountains, good food and warm hospitality in a small, varied country. Plan around the season in the mountains and avoid the busiest roads where you can. For visa basics, safety notes and tips from other cyclists, start on the ",[145,271,236],{"href":235},{"title":273,"searchDepth":67,"depth":67,"links":274},"",[275,276,283,284,285,286,292],{"id":100,"depth":67,"text":101},{"id":113,"depth":67,"text":114,"children":277},[278,280,281,282],{"id":118,"depth":279,"text":119},3,{"id":125,"depth":279,"text":126},{"id":132,"depth":279,"text":133},{"id":139,"depth":279,"text":140},{"id":152,"depth":67,"text":153},{"id":162,"depth":67,"text":163},{"id":201,"depth":67,"text":202},{"id":224,"depth":67,"text":225,"children":287},[288,289,290,291],{"id":228,"depth":279,"text":229},{"id":240,"depth":279,"text":241},{"id":247,"depth":279,"text":248},{"id":254,"depth":279,"text":255},{"id":265,"depth":67,"text":266},[],null,"Cycling in Georgia and the Caucasus - mountain routes, the best season, roads and traffic, where to sleep, food and supplies, and tips for your tour.","md",[],{},{},"\u002Fblog\u002Fcycling-georgia-caucasus","2026-10-27","5 min",[],{"title":89,"description":295},"Cycling in Georgia - Caucasus bike touring guide",{"loc":300,"lastmod":301},"blog\u002Fcycling-georgia-caucasus",[],[],[],"GhhCQMLvLK8qP5FZ_HC65bGySO3DngPK0olPcyTnFAA",{"ieMGYdJeX6ZyKgKeeGhMXPFZkax2":313,"RYFRjpH3DfdWPpRfG9MIFBSPzH33":314,"01dRgHcnFiTSprDGCEB4Jxq7iDH3":315},"Bas Idsinga","Cycle Planet","Wereldfietser.nl \u002F Vakantiefietser.be",{"data":317,"body":318},{},{"type":319,"children":320},"root",[321],{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":323,"children":324},"element",{},[325],{"type":326,"value":35},"text",{"data":328,"body":329},{},{"type":319,"children":330},[331,336],{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":332,"children":333},{},[334],{"type":326,"value":335},"94 countries can enter Georgia visa free. Your passport must be valid for 6 months.",{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":337,"children":338},{},[339],{"type":322,"tag":340,"props":341,"children":342},"em",{},[343,345,353],{"type":326,"value":344},"Source: ",{"type":322,"tag":145,"props":346,"children":350},{"href":347,"rel":348},"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FVisa_policy_of_Georgia",[349],"nofollow",[351],{"type":326,"value":352},"Wikipedia",{"type":326,"value":213},{"data":355,"body":356},{},{"type":319,"children":357},[358],{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":359,"children":360},{},[361],{"type":326,"value":46},{"data":363,"body":364},{},{"type":319,"children":365},[366,371],{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":367,"children":368},{},[369],{"type":326,"value":370},"The big cities do have some nice hostels where a lot of backpackers stay as well.",{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":372,"children":373},{},[374],{"type":326,"value":375},"There are also plenty of reasonable hotels in villages and towns. Sometimes there is only an intourist hotel from the Soviet era. Here it is often a large rubbish bin with only a few renovated rooms, which is still nothing. These hotels are also often too expensive.",{"data":377,"body":378},{},{"type":319,"children":379},[380],{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":381,"children":382},{},[383],{"type":326,"value":49},{"data":385,"body":386},{},{"type":319,"children":387},[388],{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":389,"children":390},{},[391],{"type":326,"value":52},{"data":393,"body":394},{},{"type":319,"children":395},[396],{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":397,"children":398},{},[399],{"type":326,"value":53},{"data":401,"body":402},{},{"type":319,"children":403},[404],{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":405,"children":406},{},[407],{"type":326,"value":57},{"data":409,"body":410},{},{"type":319,"children":411},[412,417],{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":413,"children":414},{},[415],{"type":326,"value":416},"In Georgia, they have marschutka's, which is like a combination of a bus and a taxi. There are no time tables, and you can get in and out when you want. They do drive specific routes, so you just have to ask for the right line.",{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":418,"children":419},{},[420],{"type":326,"value":421},"It's no problem to take your bike on a . Inexperienced drivers take the bike for free, others can charge a surcharge (+ 100%). But even then, it remains an inexpensive way to make miles quickly. A very dangerous alternative - they, and otherwise the other road users, drive like crazy.",{"data":423,"body":424},{},{"type":319,"children":425},[426,431,436,444,449,457,462,470],{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":427,"children":428},{},[429],{"type":326,"value":430},"Eating and drinking in Georgia is really fantastic. The basis is bread (khachapuri) often filled with cheese, meat or mushrooms. People also eat chinkhali, dough filled with seasoned minced meat and cooked in broth. There are many vegetables available in restaurants. The local drink is \"cha-cha\", which is even stronger than vodka.",{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":432,"children":433},{},[434],{"type":326,"value":435},"Supra is an ancient eating and drinking ritual in the Caucasus. A Tamada is assigned to it. He will give a sermon for 10 minutes and until then you are not allowed to drink. After this follows the Gaumarjos (cheers) and then you have to drink your glass of wine in one go. When the ritual ends, usually after 4 liters of wine, a toast is made to the deceased.",{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":437,"children":438},{},[439],{"type":322,"tag":171,"props":440,"children":441},{},[442],{"type":326,"value":443},"Supermarkets",{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":445,"children":446},{},[447],{"type":326,"value":448},"In the mountains, the shops are less well sorted, but there is enough.",{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":450,"children":451},{},[452],{"type":322,"tag":171,"props":453,"children":454},{},[455],{"type":326,"value":456},"Restaurants",{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":458,"children":459},{},[460],{"type":326,"value":461},"Eating out is cheap. In the big cities there are also Turkish restaurants.",{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":463,"children":464},{},[465],{"type":322,"tag":171,"props":466,"children":467},{},[468],{"type":326,"value":469},"Drinkable water",{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":471,"children":472},{},[473],{"type":326,"value":474},"Gudy and John: \"We filtered water in the cities, but in the mountains there are springs, complete with bubbles.\"",{"data":476,"body":477},{},{"type":319,"children":478},[479,487,492,500],{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":480,"children":481},{},[482],{"type":322,"tag":171,"props":483,"children":484},{},[485],{"type":326,"value":486},"Best time to cycle",{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":488,"children":489},{},[490],{"type":326,"value":491},"Spring and fall are best. The passes can still be closed in the spring.",{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":493,"children":494},{},[495],{"type":322,"tag":171,"props":496,"children":497},{},[498],{"type":326,"value":499},"Spare parts",{"type":322,"tag":94,"props":501,"children":502},{},[503],{"type":326,"value":504},"There is no cycling in Georgia, so there are no bicycle shops anywhere. Bring enough spare material with you."]