Senior travellers

Who this is for

Older guests seeing Georgia for the first time or coming back after many years.

Also adult children arranging a parent's trip from afar who want peace of mind.

Our role

We plan the route, choose the hotel, vehicle, driver and guide, and stay in touch with you throughout the trip.

You pay partners directly, and we never hold your money. We take no commission from partners, and our fee is agreed in advance.

Age is not a limit

We set no age limit: what matters is not the years but how you feel.

Some seventy-year-old guests walk ten kilometres a day, while some fifty-year-olds need a break every hour.

So we plan the trip around the person, not the passport.

The first conversation

Before the trip we talk in detail about your habits: when you wake, how far you walk and when you tire.

We ask what brings you the most joy: history, nature, food, music or meeting people.

We ask about worries too: heights, crowds, long drives or unfamiliar food.

The pace of travel

On a senior tour we plan two or three main places a day, no more.

Every three or four days we leave a free day when you do not have to go anywhere.

Slow travel does not mean less: you see one place more deeply and without exhaustion.

The shape of the day

We start the day late, after an unhurried breakfast.

Going back to the hotel at midday for an hour or two of rest often changes the whole day.

We plan dinner early so there is plenty of time before sleep.

Length of drives

Drives between regions in Georgia often take three or four hours and are very tiring.

Every hour and a half we stop to stretch our legs, for coffee and for the toilet.

We split the longest drives over two days, with a night somewhere lovely in between.

Choosing the vehicle

We choose a vehicle with a low step, a wide door and comfortable seats.

Climbing into a high minibus is hard for some, and then we ask for a small step stool.

In the car we always have water, a cushion and a blanket for long drives.

The driver

We choose a driver who drives calmly, without sudden braking or acceleration.

Bends on mountain roads make some people queasy, and the driver slows down there.

The driver carries bags and helps you out of the car, if you wish.

Guide and language

The guide speaks slowly and clearly, so you do not have to ask again.

In crowded places a small microphone and earpiece make it easier to follow.

The guide answers questions patiently and shapes the story around your interests.

The hotel

We choose a hotel with a lift, parking near the entrance and short corridors.

Many lovely hotels in Old Tbilisi have no lift, and we check this before booking.

We ask for a room away from street noise, because good sleep is half the day.

The room

We check whether the bathroom has grab rails and a non-slip floor.

Stepping over the edge of a bath is often risky, so we prefer a shower without a threshold.

A small night light and a phone by the bed make getting up at night safer.

Food

Georgian cuisine is often rich and heavy, but there are plenty of lighter dishes too.

Vegetable salads, cornbread, aubergine, beans and boiled chicken are good choices.

For a diet we warn the restaurant in advance about salt or sugar.

The Georgian feast

A Georgian feast often lasts for hours, with toasts and singing.

Leaving the table early offends no one, and we tell the host so in advance.

For many, the feast becomes the warmest memory of the trip.

Wine and medicines

Some medicines should not be taken with alcohol, so ask your doctor before the trip.

At a tasting you can simply enjoy the aroma and take a small sip, or choose grape juice.

We explain to the host that declining wine is not disrespectful.

Tbilisi at an easy pace

We see Tbilisi's views by car: Mtatsminda, the terrace below Narikala and the river embankment.

In the old districts we plan short walks with benches and cafes close by.

An evening at the opera or theatre is the city's calmest and most beautiful side.

The sulphur baths

The sulphur baths of Abanotubani are a symbol of Tbilisi, but the water is hot.

With heart or blood-pressure problems, agree a visit with your doctor in advance.

In a private room you control the time yourself, which is calmer than the shared hall.

Mtskheta

Mtskheta is half an hour from Tbilisi and ideal for a half-day visit.

Svetitskhoveli's courtyard has benches and shade, so you can see the cathedral without hurrying.

At Jvari Monastery the car gets close, though the last stretch has a few steps.

Kakheti

With its vineyards, monasteries and wine houses, Kakheti is one of the regions older guests love most.

At many wineries the tasting takes place in a shady courtyard or a cool hall.

Two nights in Telavi or Kvareli are far more relaxing than a day trip.

Sighnaghi and Bodbe

Sighnaghi's streets are steep, so we mostly see the town by car and from viewpoints.

Bodbe Monastery's courtyard is fairly flat, but a long staircase leads down to St Nino's spring.

Whether to go down those stairs is decided only by how you feel.

Kazbegi and altitude

Stepantsminda is at about 1700 metres, and some people find breathing harder at altitude.

With a heart or lung condition, agree a mountain route with your doctor in advance.

We drive up to Gergeti Trinity, and walk the last stretch only if you want to.

Borjomi

Borjomi park, with its wide shady paths, is perfect for a quiet stroll.

Mineral water is not equally good for everyone, so ask your doctor about drinking it.

The park's cable car, when running, takes you up to the view without the climb.

Tskaltubo

Tskaltubo's baths have been famous since Soviet times, and many older guests return here full of memories.

Treatments at the baths are prescribed by a doctor on site, not by us.

We write about the resorts in the health section.

Batumi

Batumi's seaside boulevard is long, flat and lined with benches.

The botanical garden is large and hilly, so where possible we see part of it by the internal shuttle.

Summer humidity is high, so we suggest the sea in late spring or September.

Kutaisi and Imereti

Kutaisi is a calm, green city, with Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery.

At Gelati the car gets close to the courtyard, so you can see the frescoes without tiring.

Imeretian cooking is relatively light, and many older guests love it.

Pilgrimage

Many older guests come to Georgia to see its ancient churches and monasteries.

Women need a headscarf and a long skirt, men long trousers, and we prepare these in advance.

Services are often long and held standing, though there is often a bench by the wall.

Museums and theatre

The National Museum, the art gallery and the opera are calm, cool and comfortable places.

For the theatre we choose seats in the part of the hall with the fewest stairs.

After the performance the car waits for you right at the entrance.

Gardens and parks

Tbilisi's botanical garden, Mziuri and Vake Park are good for a walk in the shade.

The botanical garden has many slopes, so we plan only the lower part.

Sitting on a park bench and chatting with locals often gives more than a landmark.

A journey of memories

Some guests were in Georgia in their youth, in Soviet times, and now come back to remember.

We look for the old sanatorium, street or house where you lived or holidayed.

The place has often changed, but the return is still moving and precious.

Tracing roots

Some guests' ancestors left Georgia, and now they want to find the village or a grave.

We arrange archive research with a specialist and say upfront that results are not guaranteed.

In the village, locals are often the best source, and the guide helps you talk to them.

Multi-generation trips

Grandparents, children and grandchildren travel together, and each has their own rhythm.

On some days the family splits up: the younger ones hike while the elders stay at a winery or in a garden.

In the evening everyone sits down together at the table and shares the day's stories.

Grandchildren

Travelling with a grandchild puts a child's energy alongside an older person's tiredness.

Sometimes a nanny or a children's programme gives the grandparents time to rest.

We write about nanny services on a separate page.

Groups of friends

Retirees' clubs and groups of friends often travel together.

For a group we choose a minibus with a low step and a hotel with rooms close to the lift.

Everyone in a group has different stamina, so we plan each day in two versions.

Travelling alone

Older guests often travel alone, and that is completely normal.

The driver and guide are then especially attentive, and we call every evening.

If you like, we find you company in the evening at a family dinner or a cooking class.

Heat

In July and August the heat in Tbilisi and Kakheti often goes above thirty degrees.

Heat affects blood pressure and the heart, so we spend midday somewhere indoors and air-conditioned.

We always carry water and remind you about a hat and sunglasses.

Winter and ice

In winter, ice on old cobbles and stairs is the main cause of falls.

So on a winter tour we keep walking to a minimum.

Mountain roads close with snow, and we give winter to cities, museums and baths.

Choosing the season

For older guests the best time is mid-spring and autumn.

In May everything is green, and in October it is harvest time with mild, warm weather.

At these times hotels and churches are less crowded than in summer.

Flight and airport

You send your request for a wheelchair or assistance at the airport to the airline in advance.

Our team meets you from the aircraft to the car and carries the luggage.

We write about airport services in a separate section.

The first day

After a night flight we plan no touring on the first day.

Time differences and fatigue are felt more strongly with age.

On the first evening we suggest only a light dinner and a short stroll.

Medicines

Bring medicines for the whole trip plus a few days' spare, in their original packaging.

Keep them in your hand luggage, because a checked bag can go missing.

A doctor's letter with the diagnosis and the active ingredient's name is very useful on the spot.

Prescriptions in Georgia

Some medicines are sold under a different name in Georgia, so we search pharmacies by active ingredient.

Some drugs here are only dispensed on a local doctor's prescription.

In that case we arrange a clinic visit, and the doctor decides on treatment.

Access to a doctor

We mark clinics on the route in advance where English- or Russian-speaking doctors work.

If needed, we arrange a doctor's visit to the hotel.

We give no medical advice: we help you reach a doctor and translate.

Chronic conditions

With diabetes we plan mealtimes and insulin storage in advance.

With high blood pressure we take heat, salty food and altitude into account.

With a heart condition we set the route in agreement with your doctor.

Hearing and sight

Bring hearing-aid batteries and spare glasses, because finding the right ones locally is hard.

We tell the guide which ear you hear better with and where to stand.

We print the day's plan in large type instead of small print.

Shoes and walking

In old towns, cobbles and uneven pavements make footwear very important.

Rubber-soled, already worn-in shoes are far better than new ones.

A walking stick adds stability in monastery courtyards and on slopes.

Insurance

Some insurers limit policies by age or tighten the terms.

It matters that the policy covers existing conditions and medical repatriation home.

We write about insurance in a separate section.

Money and cards

Cards are accepted almost everywhere in Georgia, but in villages you need cash.

Using a cash machine in daylight, inside a bank, is safest.

We never take or hold your money or cards.

The phone

You can get a local SIM card on the day you arrive, and we save our numbers in your phone.

A video call with children and grandchildren becomes a pleasant evening habit.

If a new phone is tricky, we show you everything in detail and patiently.

Keeping family informed

Some children want a daily update on a parent's trip.

We send such updates only with your consent, and write only what you want.

Your independence and privacy come first for us.

Safety

Georgia is generally a safe country, though pickpockets do appear in crowded places.

Keep a copy of your passport on your phone and on paper, and the original in the hotel safe.

Turn down offers to change money in the street and trust only exchange offices.

Respecting independence

An older guest is not a child, and too much fussing is often belittling.

We offer help, but the decision is yours.

We teach this to everyone who is at your side during the trip.

Emergencies

The emergency number in Georgia is 112, and every guest should know it.

The driver and guide have a short list of your medicines and conditions, with your consent.

We note your family's number and the insurer's helpline at the very start of the trip.

Common mistakes

Too many places in one day, because a second visit is not planned.

Packing medicines in checked luggage and forgetting the doctor's letter.

Booking a hotel without a lift in the old town just because of a pretty photo.

What we need from you

How far you walk without tiring and what you find hard: stairs, heat, long drives or altitude.

Your diet, medicines and habits, as much as you wish to share.

Dates, the places you would like to see and who is travelling with you.

Cost

Partners set the prices of hotels, vehicles, guides and doctors, and you pay them directly.

We take no commission from partners and add nothing to their prices.

Our fee for planning and support during the trip is separate and agreed in advance.