Open to alumni UBC and friends GEORGIA JOURNEY ACROSS THE MYSTICAL CAUCASUS | SEPTEMBER 25 – OCTOBER 5, 2020 Discover one of Europe’s (or Asia’s?) best kept secrets. Georgia’s rich national story has remained hidden for centuries and is only now opening to the enterprising traveller. We’ve found it to be a country of breath-taking landscapes and fascinating streetscapes. The architecture, art, and religion, as well as its rich cuisine, reflect centuries of invasion and conquest by Greeks, Mongols, Ottomans, and Russians. Meet the country’s famously hospitable people as you explore one of the most beautiful countries in the world! Explore Tbilisi with expertly guided strolls through eclectic districts. This is a “happening city” with so many varied influences; brutalist Soviet buildings, Orthodox churches, and Art Nouveau architecture are side by side. It feels European, medieval, and foreign all at once. Spend time in the atmospheric hill town of Signagi to taste wine in the birthplace of viticulture and learn to prepare the signature kachapouri. Drive along the spectacular Georgian Military Highway through granite cliffs to stay at the foot of Mt. Kazbeg. At Mtskheta see the fine Orthodox churches dating from the 4th century and at Vardzia, extraordinary examples of cave architecture and frescoes in magnificent monasteries. Food is of paramount importance in this beguiling country. We’ll enjoy fabulous meals, fusing the flavours of Turkey, Iran, and the Slavic regions into something uniquely Georgian, and sample the wines from the home of viticulture. Enjoy a traditional supra, hosted by the tamada (a sort of toastmaster), telling stories, leading songs, and inviting rounds of toasts. On this tour, we combine the must-see sites with scenic and more out-of-the-way places and delve enthusiastically into Georgia’s rich wine and food culture and mesmerizing vocal polyphonic music. An optional extension to Yerevan, Armenia rounds out this exceptional experience. Georgia on your mind? Join us for this wonderfully fulfilling experience! TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS BY: WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM/ALUMNIUBC | TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-1483 / 416-633-5666 | [email protected] | 491 KING ST. E. TORONTO, ON M5A 1L9 Signagi WHY TRAVEL WITH THE ALUMNI UBC TRAVEL CLUB? • Explore Tbilisi’s eclectic neighbourhoods • Shout your toasts at a traditional Georgian Table GEORGIA Caspian • Taste wine at the cradle of viticulture Borjomi Sea Kazbegi • Travel the super scenic road of the Caucasus Mountains Vardzia Signagi • Marvel at the frescoes in ancient cave churches Tbilisi Baku ARMENIA AZERBAIJAN TURKEY IRAN STUDY LEADER Anne Gorsuch is a cultural historian of the Soviet Union, and former Department Head, in the UBC History Department. A frequent traveler to Russia, she previously led our Trans-Siberian Railway Journey. Anne’s presentations on the history and culture of Georgia add extra depth to this tour. WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM/ALUMNIUBC | TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-1483 / 416-633-5666 | [email protected] | 491 KING ST. E. TORONTO, ON M5A 1L9 DETAILED ITINERARY Mtskheta Friday, Sept. 25: Meet in Tbilisi Arrive in Tbilisi, where a local representative provides a transfer to our hotel in the heart of this exciting city. Meet Anne, our Georgian host, and participants this evening and enjoy dinner in a chic wine restaurant. Overnight: Betsy’s Hotel, Tbilisi Meals: Dinner Saturday, Sept. 26: Tbilisi Start the day with a walking tour to get into the mélange of styles and periods in this exciting town. There are brutalist Soviet buildings next to Orthodox churches, ancient communal Monday, Sept. 28: Signagi courtyards, and elegantly dilapidated wooden balcony houses. We’re heading today into wine country. Visit the Tibaani There’s Art Nouveau architecture here too and lively bars, Vineyards to tour the estate and the cellars where wine is aged restaurants, and boutiques. Visit the new golden-domed in huge ceramic vessels lined with beeswax. Enjoy a cooking Trinity Cathedral and the 13th century Metekhi Church of the class preparing a special meal; perhaps the famous kachapouri Virgin. The city is famous for its sulfur baths; these are not only (a savory cheese pie), an eggplant stew, or a roast sauced in a gloriously warming; they are supposedly therapeutic. Admire reduction of pomegranate and red onion. Continue to Signagi the architecture or sample for yourself! Enjoy a special dinner for a two-night stay. This evening taste Georgian craft beers this evening accompanied by the celebrated notes of Georgia’s and snacks at brewery located on a lovely crest overlooking mesmerizing vocal polyphony. the Alazani Valley. Overnight: Betsy’s Hotel, Tbilisi Overnight: Kabadoni Hotel, Signagi Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Sunday, Sept. 27: Tbilisi Tuesday, Sept. 29: Signagi Anne’s presentation this morning extends our understanding After Anne’s presentation, head out to explore this of modern Georgia. Continue the day with visits to three of the atmospheric hill town, admiring the richly carved balconies city’s fine museums. The Open-Air Ethnographic Museum is a and climbing up the lookout towers for views of the valley. collection of wooden homes, farmsteads, and churches from the Visit the Bodbe Nunnery, a working convent where we hope 18th and 19th centuries. The Amiranashvili Fine Arts Museum to meet with some of the English-speaking nuns to learn more exhibits paintings by Georgian masters, fine 3rd century BCE about their work. This evening enjoy the experience of the gold work, medieval icons, and ancient cloisonné enamel pieces. Georgian Table – a traditional supra (feast) where the The Shevardnadze Gallery is home to art pieces from Georgian tamada (toastmaster) leads the toasts, tells stories, and modernists of the early 20th century, many repressed during sings up a storm! Soviet times. Overnight: Kabadoni Hotel, Signagi Overnight: Betsy’s Hotel, Tbilisi Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Meals: Breakfast, Lunch WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM/ALUMNIUBC | TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-1483 / 416-633-5666 | [email protected] | 491 KING ST. E. TORONTO, ON M5A 1L9 © Martijn Munneke Wednesday, Sept. 30: Mtskheta, Kazbegi Saturday, Oct. 3: Vardzia Today we’re moving into the Caucasus Mountains, travelling The caves at Vardzia were used as a stronghold against the along the spectacular Georgian Military Highway running Turks in the 12th century. The original monastery consisted through rolling green hills and steep arid mountains dotted of over 3000 caves; the frescoes in the caves that remain with ancient stone defensive towers. Stop in the UNESCO represent the pinnacle of the golden age of Georgian painting. World Heritage Site of Mtskheta; Georgia’s conversion to We’re invited to the home of a local schoolteacher for lunch Christianity took place here in 337 CE and the Orthodox with traditional Meskhetian dishes, influenced by the flavours churches and monastery here are considered among the of the Ottoman empire. Travel by jeep to the high slopes of the finest in the country. Our drive continues through the granite scenic Javakheti Plateau to visit a local dairy farm, sampling cliffs of the stunning Dariali Gorge to our hotel at the foot their delicious fresh cheeses. of Mt. Kazbeg. Admire the stunning views from our Overnight: Vardzia Resort Hotel hotel’s wide balcony. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Overnight: Hotel Porta Caucasia, Kazbegi Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Sunday, Oct. 4: Phoka, Tbilisi Gather for a presentation this morning before returning to Thursday, Oct. 1: Gori, Borjomi Tbilisi. Visit with the nuns at the Phoka Nunnery of St. Nino Following Anne’s presentation, we’ll visit the striking and sample many of the varieties of cheese, chocolates, and 14thC Trinity Church, located high up in the mountains. honey products they produce. Arrive into Tbilisi this afternoon Then we head back down the highway and westward to with some free time before dinner at a city centre wine bar. Gori. The city is best known as the birthplace of Stalin and Overnight: Tbilisi home to the Stalin Museum. Continue to the resort town of Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Borjomi, famous for its mineral water of volcanic extraction. Believed to have enormous health benefits, the water is Monday, Oct. 5: Depart Tbilisi bottled and used for bathing. We’ll try both! Our tour concludes with a transfer to the airport for your Overnight: Golden Tulip Borjomi Hotel, Borjomi international departure. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Friday, Oct. 2: Akhaltsikhe, Vardzia This area of southern Georgia is primarily agricultural and ethnic Armenians make up over half the population. We’ll Note: The itinerary and accommodation described in this see this influence as we visit the small city of Akhaltsikhe, tour brochure are subject to change due to due to logistical at the crossroads of the old Silk Road. The old town has fine arrangements and to take advantage of local events. examples of medieval Christian, Jewish, and Islamic buildings, as well as traditional Georgian houses. Visit the atmospheric Sapara Monastery with fine 13th century frescoes before arriving in the lovely Vardzia Resort for a two-night stay. Enjoy the outdoor pools with sweeping views over the hills. Overnight: Vardzia Resort Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM/ALUMNIUBC | TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-1483 / 416-633-5666 | [email protected] | 491 KING ST. E. TORONTO, ON M5A 1L9 OPTIONAL EXTENSION TO ARMENIA Monday, Oct. 5: Alaverdi After breakfast, set off overland for the border with Armenia. After border formalities, drive through the Lori region, a high plateau riven with deep gorges. Many of Armenia’s earliest monasteries were built here along the Debed River. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Haghbat and Sanahin Monasteries, Geghard both 10th century fortified monastic compounds, the highest Monastery flowering of Armenian religious architecture, blending elements of Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture and the vernacular architecture of the Caucasus. Stay overnight in a resort hotel Thursday, Oct. 8: Yerevan surrounded by rugged mountains.