Caucasus – where mighty mountains, ancient cultures and warm hospitality merge into an unforgettable trip

The Caucasus has many faces. It is a meeting place of peoples, religions and traditions, it is wild and unspoiled. The mountains of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus look out over natural and cultural landscapes of exquisite splendour – the ideal terrain for easy day hikes. The Caucasus is a Eurasian mountain range. It separates and connects. The mountain peoples there could not be more different. And yet there are many things in common. Churches, monasteries and cross-stones are witnesses of the first kingdoms of Christianity. In both countries, much revolves around wine. The cuisine, the humour and above all the hospitality are legendary.  

Entry / visa

Nationals of EU countries and Switzerland are exempt from the visa requirement when entering Georgia and Armenia and staying there for a maximum of 360 days. For entry to Georgia, German, Austrian and Swiss nationals need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after departure.

Vaccinations

No special vaccinations are required. Every traveller to Georgia and Armenia should have the standard vaccinations generally recommended in Germany, in particular a current vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), measles and a basic vaccination against poliomyelitis/polio. Depending on age and state of health, further recommendations may apply. See the recommendations of your country’s foreign office. For German travellers see the Federal Foreign Office for Georgia and for Armenia. In addition, sufficient protection against hepatitis A (jaundice) should be in place for many destinations. Anyone in close contact with the local population should also be vaccinated against hepatitis B. Hepatitis B can be transmitted through blood, saliva and sexual contact, for example.
Insurance: Travel health insurance (including rescue costs) is essential for your own safety and a prerequisite for booking our tours. In the event of an accident in the mountains that requires a helicopter, the helicopter will not take off until full cost coverage has been confirmed.
Taking out trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended. Especially flights at bargain prices are usually not rebookable or refundable. In Georgia and Armenia, complications with weather, your health, etc. may also arise that force the trip to be cut short.

We have asked ERGO (travel insurance) to put together different service packages for you. You can book the travel health insurance that suits you at www.reiseversicherung.de .
Please note: We recommend ERGO insurance for travellers residing in Germany and Austria. Other nationals are kindly asked to book their travel insurance with a provider in their own country.
Please note that geoDiscovery Tours merely recommends booking travel insurance through ERGO to its guests and assumes no responsibility for the contractual content between the travelling guest and the insurance provider. Every guest is free to book their travel insurance through ERGO or another provider.

Money and payment in Georgia and Armenia

In Georgia, payment is made in Lari (GEL). ATMs are widespread in the cities. To withdraw money, you need a credit card or a debit card with the “Maestro” symbol.
In Armenia, payment is made in Armenian Dram (AMD). Euros and other foreign currencies are not accepted. ATMs are widespread in Yerevan. To withdraw money, you need a credit card or a debit card with the “Maestro” symbol.
Georgia and Armenia are not budget destinations. Prices are similar to those in Europe. In Georgia, for example, you get a bottle of mineral water for 1 Lari, a coffee for 7-8 Lari, and for 10 Lari you can take a taxi. Local products such as cheese, vegetables and fruit are quite cheap; Western products are usually more expensive than in their country of origin.

Local time 

Central European Time (CET) + 3 hours. There is no daylight saving time in Georgia and Armenia.

Main travel and hiking season

Due to the differing altitudes, the climate in Armenia and Georgia is very varied. In general, the higher you go, the cooler it gets and the more precipitation occurs. Most of both countries is shaped by a continental climate, although geographically they lie in the subtropical zone. Winters are cold, summers hot and mostly dry. Most precipitation falls in spring. In lower-lying regions, daytime highs in summer reach about 25 to 30 °C, while nights cool down to a pleasant 15 to 20 °C. In the mountains, summer daytime temperatures are usually between 15 and 25 °C, but at night they can drop to 5 to 10 °C. In the winter months from December to March, temperatures in lower areas often fall to about 0 to -5 °C at night and reach values around freezing point during the day. In higher elevations, it can be significantly colder, with night-time temperatures down to -10 °C or below. In addition, winter here can last up to five months with heavy snowfall.

The best time for cultural tours in Armenia and Georgia is between the end of May and the beginning of October. In these months, you can expect daytime temperatures between 20 and 28 °C and night-time temperatures between 10 and 18 °C.
For trekking tours, the period from mid-June to early September is recommended. In the mountains, you can then enjoy pleasant daytime temperatures of about 15 to 25 °C, while the nights are cool with around 5 to 10 °C.

Here you will find our travel offers.