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Bradt Guide Georgia & Armenia
Ref: BRA037
Current information on travel to and around Georgia is sparse. Bradt's Georgia is the most up-to-date and detailed source for independent travellers and hikers to this unusual but welcoming holiday destination. Thorough coverage of the capital, Tbilisi, and other towns is augmented by details of the Georgian wilderness and an insight into the warm-hearted local peoples. Hikes are included for exploring the Black Sea coast, the Caucasus mountains and Svaneti region, where Georgia's unique architecture and customers are preserved. A chapter on excursions into Armenia widens the opportunities for travellers still further.
Book Reviews
"This book provides vital information not elsewhere available... it is good on travelling, eating and accommodation."
-- Times Literary Supplement
"First rate."
-- The Daily Telegraph
"Best guidebook"
-- The Sunday Times
About this Destination
Straddling the border between Europe and Asia, this break-away Soviet state is a country becoming increasingly popular with independent travellers as an unusual but welcoming holiday destination. Georgia is rich in cultural attractions, from the beauty of its churches to monastic rock cells decorated with frescoes. It is also renowned for the extraordinary warmth of its people, guaranteeing a welcome that draws visitors back time and again.
Author's Note, by Tim Burford
Updated 11 July 2005
There have been exciting changes since the Bradt Guide to Georgia (with Armenia) was published - in November 2003 the tired and incompetent regime of Eduard Shevardnadze was ousted in a remarkable 'rose revolution' and the charismatic Mikhail Saakashvili took over as president. A brief showdown with the semi-autonomous region of Adjaria brought an end to Aslan Abashidze's fiefdom and allowed the national government to bring the region under central control again (and take possession of its plentiful customs revenues). It's too early to say that corruption has been vanquished, but half the police force was quickly sacked and there are other promising signs.
Although still obliged to keep Russia sweet, Georgia is keen to move towards Europe and the West, and tourism is being encouraged - the visa fee has been cut to just US$10 for a month and EU passport-holders will no longer require a visa for holidays of less than 90 days. The Czech airline CSA has begun flying to Tblisi, offering the prospect of cheaper fares (and possible stopovers in Prague). Lufthansa are also flying to Tbilisi & Yerevan from this summer. For cheap backpacker lodging (GEL8 per person) in Tbilisi, you can also go to Khatuna at Chitaiya 12, between the main station and Marjanishvili metro station. Ride Worldwide (www.rideworldwide.com) now offers horse-riding holidays, and Noble Caledonia's Black Sea Odyssey cruise visits Batumi and Gelati. Iveria Travel is now Travel Agency Iveria Ltd, still at the Hotel Iveria, on Republic Square 0108, Tbilisi (tel/fax: (32) 982461, email: iveria@geo.net.ge) - manager Archil Kuparadze (mobile: 893 941981) is apparently very helpful. Georgia's embassy in Azerbaijan is now at 24 Asafa Zeinalli St, Icheri Shekher, Baku 370004 (tel: 974558-60, fax: 974561; email: emb@georgian.baku.az).
Two good new books have been published about travelling in Georgia - 'Stories I Stole' by Wendell Steavenson is an award-winning portrait of Shevardnadze's Georgia, and Tony Anderson's ‘Bread & Ashes' is an account of a walk through Georgia's mountains.
Tim Burford is a travel writer and expedition leader whose interests include sampling good food and wine whilst travelling. He is the author of several Bradt hiking and backpacking guides to Latin America and Eastern Europe: Backpacking in Mexico, Backpacking and Trekking in Chile and Argentina, Hiking in Poland & Ukraine and Hiking in Romania.
£13.95
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