Georgian Christmas Story: 7 Days of Snow, Firelight and Traditions (Racha & Basileti)

• Tbilisi – Telavi – Tsinandali – Chiatura – Ambrolauri – Basileti – Kutaisi – Tbilisi

Christmas and New Year in Georgia are far more than seasonal celebrations—they are a unique opportunity to experience the country's centuries-old traditions, deep-rooted family values, and rich cultural heritage. During this magical time of year, cities and towns across Georgia come alive with thousands of festive lights, traditional Christmas hymns fill the streets, and holiday concerts, Christmas markets, and colorful processions create a truly unforgettable atmosphere. Families gather around lavish festive tables, preserving customs that have been passed down from generation to generation.

This carefully designed Christmas and New Year tour offers much more than visits to Georgia's most famous landmarks and historical sites. It provides an authentic cultural experience, allowing you to discover the traditions that make the Georgian holiday season unlike any other in the world.

Throughout the journey, you will learn about the beloved tradition of the Mekvle—the first person to enter a home on New Year's morning. In Georgian culture, the Mekvle is considered a bearer of good fortune, happiness, and prosperity for the coming year, making this one of the most cherished New Year customs in the country.

You will also discover the Chichilaki, Georgia's traditional New Year tree. Handcrafted from hazelnut or walnut branches, the Chichilaki symbolizes life, prosperity, purity, and new beginnings. Unlike conventional Christmas trees, this unique Georgian tradition reflects the country's distinctive cultural identity and ancient customs.

Another highlight of the tour is the opportunity to learn about Alilo, one of the oldest and most meaningful Georgian Christmas traditions. On Christmas Day, clergy members, choir singers, and local residents participate in a festive procession through city streets, performing traditional hymns and collecting gifts and donations for those in need. This beautiful custom embodies the spirit of charity, compassion, and community that lies at the heart of Georgian Christmas celebrations.

The tour also introduces you to the flavors of traditional Georgian Christmas cuisine. You will have the opportunity to taste Gozinaki, a festive delicacy made from honey and walnuts that has become one of the most recognizable symbols of Christmas and New Year in Georgia. For generations, no Georgian holiday table has been complete without this traditional sweet treat.

Beyond the holiday traditions, you will explore Georgia's breathtaking winter landscapes, ancient churches and monasteries, UNESCO-listed monuments, historic cities, and welcoming mountain villages. Combined with the warmth and hospitality of the Georgian people, these experiences create a truly memorable winter journey.

If you would like to experience Georgia at its most festive and authentic, when ancient traditions, family celebrations, spiritual heritage, and winter beauty come together, this Christmas and New Year tour is the perfect choice. Join us for an unforgettable holiday adventure and discover why Georgia is one of the most unique winter destinations in the world.

During this tour, you will visit:

DAY 1-Arrival in Tbilisi and Discovering the Festive Capital

• Upon arrival at Tbilisi International Airport, you will be greeted by our representatives and transferred to your hotel for some rest and relaxation. In the evening, we will head into the heart of Tbilisi, which from late December until mid-January transforms into a true winter wonderland.
• We will stroll through the charming streets of Old Tbilisi, visiting Rike Park, the Bridge of Peace, and the lively Shardeni Street. During the holiday season, the city's main squares are decorated with thousands of festive lights, while Christmas markets offer handmade crafts, traditional sweets, and seasonal decorations created by local artisans.
• We will also walk along Rustaveli Avenue and Freedom Square, where the main Christmas and New Year celebrations take place every year. Throughout the evening, you will enjoy the magical atmosphere of Tbilisi's Christmas markets, open-air concerts, festive performances, and holiday events.
• Overnight in Tbilisi.

DAY 2-GEORGIAN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS & THE ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM OF TBILISI

• Today we will continue exploring the Georgian capital and discover the traditions that make Georgian Christmas and New Year celebrations truly unique.
• In the morning, we will visit the Open Air Museum of Ethnography in Tbilisi, where traditional houses and architectural monuments from different regions of Georgia are displayed. The museum features more than 70 historic structures, including Svan towers, Kakhetian halls, and examples of regional architecture from across the country. Here, visitors can also see traditional household items and learn about the everyday life of past generations.
• This unique museum provides an excellent introduction to Georgia's diverse culture and heritage. During our visit, we will learn how New Year was celebrated in different parts of Georgia, how families prepared for holiday guests, and the significance of traditions such as the Mekvle, the Chichilaki, and the festive Christmas table.
• In the afternoon, we will enjoy a guided walking tour of Tbilisi. During the tour, we will visit the places where the history of the city began. We will start at the Metekhi Church (13th century) and the historic district of Isani, which served as a royal residence during the Middle Ages. This area offers magnificent views of the old city and excellent photo opportunities.
• Next, we will take the cable car up to Narikala Fortress (6th century), one of the oldest structures in Tbilisi. We will then explore the famous Sulphur Baths district and visit the unique mosque where both Shia and Sunni Muslims pray together under one roof. Continuing through the picturesque streets of Old Tbilisi, we will stroll along Shardeni Street and visit important landmarks including Sioni Cathedral (11th century), Anchiskhati Basilica (6th century), the Gabriadze Puppet Theatre, and many other historical sites.
• Overnight in Tbilisi.

DAY 3-KAKHETI & THE TSINANDALI CHRISTMAS MARKET

• Today we will travel to Kakheti, the cradle of Georgian wine and one of the regions where Christmas and New Year traditions are celebrated with particular enthusiasm.
• Our first destination will be Tsinandali, where every winter a variety of festive Christmas events take place. Tsinandali is the historic estate of the famous Georgian aristocrat, poet, and public figure Alexander Chavchavadze. The estate includes a museum, beautifully landscaped gardens, and a historic wine cellar.
• During the holiday season, the manor and its gardens are transformed with festive illuminations, Christmas markets, artisan stalls, and cultural performances. Here we will have the opportunity to enjoy one of Georgia's most elegant seasonal events, sample local sweets, listen to traditional Georgian music, and learn about the Christmas and New Year customs of Kakheti.
• Afterwards, we will continue to the town of Telavi. At the Palace of King Erekle II, we will visit a Christmas exhibition and immerse ourselves in the festive atmosphere of the season.
• In Telavi, we will also visit a local family, where we will bake traditional Georgian bread in a clay oven and prepare one of the essential symbols of a Georgian New Year celebration—Gozinaki. Made from walnuts and honey, Gozinaki is one of Georgia's most beloved holiday sweets and an indispensable part of every festive table.
• We will also taste traditional Kakhetian wine and enjoy authentic Georgian hospitality while listening to traditional Kakhetian polyphonic songs performed around the table.
• In the evening, we will return to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi.

DAY 4 – GEORGIAN CHRISTMAS WITH A RACHA FAMILY

• Early in the morning, we leave Tbilisi and begin our journey toward the mountainous region of Racha. Our first stop is Chiatura, a unique town built among mountains and deep canyons. During the Soviet era, it was one of the world's most important manganese mining centers. We will enjoy panoramic views over the town, where nature and industry come together to create a truly distinctive landscape.
• From Chiatura, we continue to one of the most remarkable places in Georgia – the Katskhi Pillar. This 40-meter-high limestone monolith rises directly from the plain, with a small monastery located on its summit. For centuries, this place has been associated with solitude, spiritual life, and faith. Even today, a monk lives here, continuing this unique tradition.
• Next, we will arrive at Shaori Reservoir, one of the most peaceful and beautiful places in Racha. Surrounded by mountains and forests, the reservoir often resembles an alpine lake. Its waters reflect the sky and the surrounding peaks like a mirror, creating an atmosphere of exceptional tranquility.
• Nikortsminda Cathedral, an 11th-century monument, will be one of the most important highlights of our journey. The cathedral is renowned for its extraordinary stone carvings and finely crafted reliefs. It represents one of the finest examples of Georgian Golden Age architecture. Every detail of the cathedral is filled with symbolism—saints, biblical scenes, and decorative ornaments combine to create a complete artistic universe.
• Finally, we will arrive in the Ambrolauri district, where a local family will host us in a traditional Rachian house so that we can spend the Christmas period with them and truly experience local traditions. In the evening, together with our hosts, we will become participants in an authentic Rachian feast. Traditional dishes, polyphonic songs, toasts, and genuine local hospitality will allow us to better understand why Georgian family celebrations are considered one of the most important elements of the country's culture. Overnight in Ambrolauri.

DAY 5 – BASILETI, THE HOMELAND OF THE CHICHILAKI

• In the morning, we will bid farewell to our hosts in Racha, but our journey does not end here—in fact, today we begin a special route connected to one of the most important symbols of Georgian Christmas traditions.
• Our first stop is Basileti, a place that local legends and ethnographic traditions consider to be the homeland of the Chichilaki. It was here, in the traditional family environment of western Georgia, that the ritual of creating the "Christmas tree" from hazelnut branches became particularly widespread. This tradition is associated with the return of the sun, the beginning of the New Year, and spiritual purification.
• In Basileti, we will take part in a Chichilaki masterclass, where local craftsmen will demonstrate how this unique Georgian "Christmas tree" is made. This is not merely a handicraft—it is a living ritual that has been passed down through generations.
• We will then continue our journey to the city of Kutaisi, where we will enjoy an evening walk and spend the night.
• Overnight in Kutaisi.

DAY 6 – CHRISTMAS IN KUTAISI

• We will begin the morning with a visit to Kutaisi's Green Market, where we will see how local residents prepare for the festive holiday table. Afterward, we will visit two of Georgia's most important historical monuments. We will begin with the Gelati Monastery Complex (12th century). The significance of Gelati can hardly be overstated, but here are just a few reasons why it is so important:

1. Gelati is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
2. It served as one of Georgia's leading educational centers during the Georgian Golden Age.
3. Gelati was the burial place of Georgian kings during the 12th and 13th centuries.
4. The mosaic in the sanctuary of Gelati is unique in the entire world.
5. The only surviving depiction of King David the Builder is preserved on the walls of Gelati Cathedral.

• Our next stop will be Bagrati Cathedral (10th century). For local residents, Bagrati remains the principal religious landmark of the region. The cathedral was built in the 10th century to commemorate the unification of Georgia by King Bagrat (the cathedral derives its name from the king). Since then, it has served as a coronation site for Georgian monarchs and as an important religious center of the Imereti region.
• In the afternoon, we will return to Tbilisi, where we will once again enjoy the festive atmosphere of Georgia's capital during the holiday season. Overnight in Tbilisi.

DAY 7 – ALILO PROCESSION & DEPARTURE

• If the tour coincides with the Christmas period, in the morning we will have the opportunity to attend the Alilo procession—one of the most important Georgian Christmas traditions, whose history stretches back many centuries.
• Afterward, there will be free time for purchasing gifts and souvenirs.
• Transfer to the airport and departure.
• End of the tour.

If weather and road conditions permit during the tour period, it may be possible to modify the itinerary and visit Bakhmaro instead of Kutaisi.

Bakhmaro transforms into a true fairytale world during winter. Snow often reaches depths of 1.5–2 meters, covering the entire landscape. Wooden houses become almost completely buried beneath the snow, creating an isolated, peaceful, and authentic mountain atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Georgia.

Inclusions