Recommend November 2013 - (Page 95)

Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa on Silhouette Island. ontourreview O C T O B E R 2 0 13 teries to mountain ski resorts and Georgia's wine region and village towns, where locals sold their goods like fruits and vegetables, homemade bread, cheeses, and pungent Georgian vodka. The travel time to some destinations took anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours, but the passing scenery helped pass the time and Mdivnishvili kept us entertained with facts and history about the country. Says Hannah Belaya with No Problem Travel, based in New York, "Georgia is for the younger clientele interested in hiking, biking and trekking. It has great food and organic products, lots of history and diversity. It's a place where culture and nature meet, but there are a few cons. The hotel service is not up to the level with what we are used to in the U.S., and it will be a difﬁcult destination to sell to clients with disabilities because many of the sites and hotels are not ADA compliant." It's true-some of the travel infrastructure needs a makeover: bathrooms were scarce on some of our outings, which caused a few uncomfortable situations out in the woods, although the group of 15 travel agents on this FAM were understanding, but will their clients be? "Georgia is a totally new and different destination for me," says Neeta Sharma, president of SLA Travel & Tours, based in Pennsylvania. "I never thought of coming here, but when this FAM came about I knew I needed to see this part of the world and experience it so that I can sell it to my clients." Georgia currently has three sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites (the historical monuments of Mtskheta; Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery; and the Upper Svaneti region) and 15 others submitted for consideration within UNESCO's tentative list. The country, in fact, boasts 18,000 historical monuments. Not only is Georgia a safe destination for travelers, it's also ideal for every kind of traveler: the photographer, hiker, cyclist, skier, the food and wine enthusiast, the history buff, ecotourist, nature lover...the list goes on and on. Narrating this tour could take up more than half of this issue, so here are just a few notable highlights of Georgia-a country off the radar, but with the power to draw you in and never let go. the highlights Churches & Monasteries: The Jvari Monastery, constructed in the ﬁfth to sixth centuries, is a breathtaking site. Situated on a hilltop, the view is spectacular: green rolling hills for miles; the ancient city of Mtskheta, Georgia's old capital, below; and a perfect view of where the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers converge. Another highlight is the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (the "Life-Giving Pillar"), an impressive structure built in the 11th century. Located in Mtskheta, northwest of Tbilisi, it is said the cathedral holds fragments of the robe worn by Jesus Christ. The interior walls are adorned with frescos as well as a centuries-old baptismal font that is still used today. A memorable moment for your clients will be traveling by small van up a mountain (a ride that takes about 30 minutes) to see Gergeti Trinity Church, which is located only 10 miles from the Russian border near Kazbegi. The church is a masterpiece high up in the clouds, about 6,000 ft. above sea level, and built in the 14th century. The mountains cradle the church on all sides-a truly spiritual experience. a panoramic view of georgia For three years, New York-based Panorama Travel has worked with the Georgian National Tourism Administration introducing Georgia to travel agents from North America on FAMs. "My dream was always to promote Georgia, but we never had this opportunity because there was no tourism infrastructure," says Vera Pearson Sagareishvili, managing director of accounts with Panorama Travel. "It was after our Rose Revolution that a lot has been done and our government has invested money in infrastructure for the past ﬁve years, so we started pushing Georgia to the American market." Panorama Travel offers a Georgia - Wine and Culture tour (from $990 pp dbl) visiting Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Gori, Uplistsikhe, Signati, and other Georgian cities to experience the old tradition of wine making and the country's rich culture. There are no direct ﬂights from the U.S. to Georgia, but Sagareishvili says right now it's just not practical. "We don't have enough trafﬁc to ﬁll up planes and in the near future I don't see it happening, therefore Georgia can be combined with other counties. "Turkish Airways has a good connection from Istanbul to Tbilisi with three ﬂights a day, and some Americans who do travel to the Caucasus don't want to see just one republic, so they can see Armenia, which is very doable by bus and car, or Azerbaijan, although it's a bit expensive, but yet deﬁnitely these three republics [Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan] can be combined into one vacation." (212) 741-0033 ext. 3112; panoramatravel.com Feasting with the Family: Upon entering the home of Simon Ruadze, we were immediately welcomed as his new family. Simon greeted us dressed in a black choka, a traditional Georgian uniform; gave us a tour of his property where he harvests and produces his own wine; sang traditional Georgian songs with his son and daughter; and gave more than one toast to us, life, family, happiness and all things good and Georgian. Cave Dwellers: The Uplistsikhe Cave Town, located about an hour-and-a-half drive from Tbilisi, is a wonder to behold. Inhabited between sixth century B.C. to the 14th century, the cave town's wine cellars, ancient pharmacy, bakeries, baths and even a theater that emerges from the rock are still intact. This is a photographer's and historian's dream come true. Another cave community, founded in 1185 by Georgia's Queen Tamar, is Vardzia. Located in southern Georgia, close to the Turkish border, this cave town holds 250 caves and was created in the 12th to 13th centuries. A main church is carved into the rock and contains frescos of Queen Tamar holding the church as it is being blessed by angels. the cuisine Georgian food is full of ﬂavor and ingredients-walnuts, garlic, herbs and spices, red pepper, and pomegranate. Meats like chicken and pork are normally barbequed, but vegetarians would november 2013 95 m 94-97 EU Georgia.indd 95 10/23/13 9:10 AM http://www.panoramatravel.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend November 2013

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Generator
Tour Talk: Vistas by IsramWorld
Sailing the Danube With Viking (and a Teeneger in Tow)
AmaPrima
Bhutan: The Eternal Kingdom Beckons
The Greening of the Caribbean
The Saint Lucia Travel Agent Specialist Program
Merida: Gateway to the Yucatan Experience
Nicaragua Now
Las Vegas Embraces the Future
Tasmania: A Devilish Destination
Zimbabwe: Southern Africa's Comeback Kid
Georgia: Off the Radar

Recommend November 2013