Georgia

'Best guidebook' The Sunday Times 'First rate.' The Daily Telegraph 'This book provides vital information not elsewhere available... it is good on travelling, eating and accommodation.' Times Literary Supplement 'To understand modern Georgia you'll need a copy of Tim Burford's guide to Georgia' The Daily Telegraph

A guidebook writer and hiking guide for close to three decades, Tim Burford has written guides to countries as widely spread as Romania, Alaska and Chile, while also leading hiking groups in Britain, Patagonia and above all the Alps. He first went to Georgia in the late 1990s and found it had the authentic charm that Romania still had in 1991 but soon began to lose. Happily, it's still there, preserved in many ways by a passionate national commitment to their food, drink and customs. These are exactly the things that Tim enjoys discovering when he travels, as much at home as abroad - any excuse to get on a bike and explore. Brought up in the west of Cornwall, Tim has lived in Cambridge for twenty years, mainly for its cultural opportunities and easy access to Eurostar trains and other travel options; it's also easy to lead a car-free life there. He's heavily involved with the local cycling campaign, but hasn't yet taken a bike to Georgia, alas.

Introduction PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION Chapter 1 Background Information Geography, Climate, Natural history and conservation, History, Economy, People, Language, Religion, Culture Chapter 2 Practical Information When to visit, Highlights, Suggested itineraries, Tourist information, Tour operators and travel agents, Red tape, Getting there and away, Health, Safety 69, Women in Georgia 70, LGBT travellers, What to take, Money, Budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Shopping, Media and communications, Other practicalities, Business, Cultural etiquette, Travelling positively PART TWO THE GUIDE Chapter 3 Tbilisi History, Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information3, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Activities, Other practicalities, Shopping, A day's tour of Tbilisi, What to see and do Chapter 4 Shida (Inner) Kartli Mtskheta, Around Mtskheta, The roads west from Mtskheta, Gori, Around Gori, West of Gori Chapter 5 The Georgian Military Highway North of Mtskheta, Stepantsminda (Kazbegi), North of Stepantsminda, Khevsureti Chapter 6 Samtskhe-Javakheti Nedsvi, Borjomi, Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, Bakuriani, Southwest from Borjomi, Vardzia, Ninotsminda and beyond Chapter 7 Imereti, Racha, Mingrelia and Guria Imereti, Kutaisi, Around Kutaisi, Racha, Mingrelia, Poti, Guria, Abkhazia Chapter 8 Svaneti Culture and history, Getting there and away, Mestia, Ushguli Chapter 9 Adjara Kobuleti, Batumi, To Gonio and the Turkish border, Mountainous Adjara Chapter 10 Kakheti Getting there and away, Eastwards from Tbilisi, Ninotsminda and Tsinandali, Telavi, West of Telavi, Tusheti, East of Telavi: from Gremi to Kvareli and Lagodekhi, Sighnaghi and beyond, Davit-Gareja Chapter 11 Kvemo (Lower) Kartli Marneuli and Bolnisi, Betania and Manglisi Appendix 1 Language Appendix 2 Further Information Index