3-DAY TOUR FOR MANDARIN ORANGE PICKING

Mandarins ripen in November in Georgia, and they only grow in western Georgia, particularly in the region of Guria. Autumn in Guria is very beautiful and warm. The green tangerine orchards are adorned with yellow fruits, which hang low and are easy to pick. Mandarin picking can be just as enjoyable as grape harvesting, as the fruit can be eaten straight from the tree in as much quantity as one can manage. Hospitable hosts may even allow visitors to take a couple of kilograms of mandarins with them. After the work is done, a well-deserved rest with light Gurian wine and local cuisine is in order. And, of course, the incomparable Gurian dances and songs should not be missed.

Day 1. Tbilisi - Kutaisi - Mayakovsky museum 

In the morning, we leave Tbilisi and arrive in Kutaisi by lunchtime. We will have lunch on the way at a fairy-tale place called "Zgapari." In Kutaisi, we check into the hotel and then head to the nearby town of Bagdadi. Vladimir Mayakovsky was born there and spent 12 years of his life there. We will visit his house-museum and listen to the knowledgeable guide talk about the amazing life of this poet. After the museum, we go to a local winery where we will try wines from Western Georgia, which are light and sparkling. We return to Kutaisi and spend the night there.

Day 2. Guria - mandarin harvest

In the morning we leave for the main purpose of our journey - the Guria region and its mandarin orchards. The trip is not difficult or far. After an hour and a half, we arrive in a Gurian village. The orchards, heavy with fruit, are waiting for you. You will receive buckets, clippers, and wide-brimmed straw hats like the ones worn by the local peasants. The gathering will last about 60 minutes, and during that time, a lunch table will be set. There will be a tamada (toastmaster), pleasant Gurian wine, honey vodka and, of course, local dishes prepared by the hostess. And to make the lunch more enjoyable, a local folk ensemble will sing and dance. It's worth noting that Gurian songs, dances and clothing are different from traditional Georgian ones. We will spend the night in a guesthouse in Guria.

Day 3. Gomi Mount - Kutaisi

In the morning, after breakfast, we drive to Mount Gomi. The road is not easy, but the views you will see from there will make you forget about everything in the world. In any season, a beautiful panorama opens up from there. On the mountain, we will have a small picnic and then head back to Kutaisi, where we will spend the night.