My Trips in Georgia: a small archive of experiences

This page contains some reviews from different people who have traveled with me, as well as a few photos from some different trips. If you’ve been on a trip with me, you can write your review in the form box below; I will update this page with your words and some pictures from your trip when I get a chance. To jump to the first review, click here.

If you’re interested in coming with me on a trip like these, don’t hesitate to get in touch; if you’d rather go it alone, but want some help or ideas with planning your destinations, you can consider scheduling a talk for trip planning.

Write your review of Timothy’s Tours here:

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“If you have a sense of adventure and want to see something off the beaten track, and are interested in arts and literature, Tim is the guy.” – Will, UK.

July 2024: Krisan and Mike from USA.

We made a whirlwind tour of Georgia that went to Alaverdi, Kvetera, Mtskheta, Korbouli, Shkmeri, Khvanchkara, Nikortsminda, Kutaisi, Baghdati, Zekari, Akhaltsikhe, Tmogvi/Vardzia, Poka, Khramhesi, Tetritskaro, Samshvilde and Asureti over the course of a week! They write:

“Tim Merkel’s tour of Georgia went above and beyond what we had hoped! We highly recommend his services!

If you are looking for an English speaking tour guide who has encyclopedic knowledge of the history, art, and culture of Georgia, contact Tim Merkel! He is an extremely pleasant and accommodating guide of this country he loves.

Why take a predictable and over crowded tour? Let Tim show you the true insider’s view of places and people who really are the true fabric of Georgia… go off the beaten path with Tim!

We told Tim what we wanted to see and do for a Georgian vacation, and he created a week long trip that far exceeded our expectations!”

Here’s some photos from our trip:

May 2024: The closest tea tour to Tbilisi with the fantastic and always hospitable Gezruli Tea.

May 2024: Long, brisk hike with a fellow guide in the mystical mountainsides and pastures of Algeti National Park. See more pictures here.

April 2024: “Megrelo-Futurism”, an exploration of ruined balneological resorts in west Georgia. See more pictures here.

March 2024: Went with a small group of friends on a daytrip to the Tianeti region. We started at the magnificent and unique Bochorma cathedral and fortress, dating from the late Middle Ages. Now in ruins, it still preserves many interesting frescoes as well as dedications of fertility offerings from local residents. Mystical sensations were enhanced by the early blooming forest flowers and a changingly cloudy weather. We then went to the Sioni Reservoir and wandered around the Soviet-era dam for some time, enjoying the unusual reflections of the clouds in the water. We continued to Zhaleti church, one of the oldest in the region and preserving a rare central altar, and stopped off at a random village after noticing a WWII howitzer guarding its war memorial. After reaching Tianeti and contemplating the local vernacular architecture for some time, we picked a valley at random and ended up visiting the kviria (pagan shrine) and fortress complex of Duluzaurebi village, which preserves some nice stone towers and a ruined church with an ecclesiastical fresco in a very unusual naive style, as well as traces of slate roofing.

See more pictures from this trip in a post on my personal Instagram. Below: the entryway of the Zhaleti church.