AhPek Biker - Riding Adventures
Georgia & Armenia 2024
Georgia & Armenia 17th September to 1st October 2024
Group (Non-cycling) Tour of Georgia & Armenia:
Kuala Lumpur>Malaysian Airlines (coach share Qatar Airways)>Doha>Qatar Airways>Tbilisi (Georgia)>the following by coach>Yerevan (Armenia)>Dilijan>Tbilisi (Georgia)>Stepantsminda>Kutaisi>Mestia>Tbilisi>Qatar Airways>Doha>Qatar Airways>Kuala Lumpur.
Kuala Lumpur>Malaysian Airlines (coach share Qatar Airways)>Doha>Qatar Airways>Tbilisi (Georgia)>the following by coach>Yerevan (Armenia)>Dilijan>Tbilisi (Georgia)>Stepantsminda>Kutaisi>Mestia>Tbilisi>Qatar Airways>Doha>Qatar Airways>Kuala Lumpur.
(See day-to-day blogs for more detailed routes)
When I mentioned that I would be visiting Georgia, friends suggested that we should visit Atlanta. But they got it wrong, but I can't blame them as many mix up the country Georgia with the American state Georgia!
When I mentioned that I would be visiting Georgia, friends suggested that we should visit Atlanta. But they got it wrong, but I can't blame them as many mix up the country Georgia with the American state Georgia!
Georgia and Armenia are in fact much, much older, as they have been inhabited since prehistory, hosting the world's earliest known sites of winemaking, gold mining, and textiles. In the early fourth century, Georgians and Armenians officially adopted Christianity; making them the earliest to do so. Together with Azerbaijan, and parts of Southern Russia, they form the Caucasus. When we mention someone is Caucasian, it would generally mean that they are white or European. But now I know better that they were from the region of the Caucasus Mountains.
Now suitably enlightened, let's see what the tour holds!
Now suitably enlightened, let's see what the tour holds!
BLOGS
Below are the daily blogs of our tour, click on the respective photos to read, further below are some travel trips for this region. It was an interesting, eye-opening tour, so come and have a look:
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MORE DAILY BLOGS COMING SOON.....
STAY TUNED!!!
(Next... Sabah, Malaysia!)
Georgia & Armenia 2024 Days 1-7 Overall Travel Route Map:
Kuala Lumpur>Malaysian Airlines (coach share Qatar Airways)>Doha>Qatar Airways>Tbilisi (Georgia)>the following by coach>Yerevan (Armenia)>Dilijan>Tbilisi (Georgia)>Stepantsminda>Kutaisi>Mestia>Tbilisi>Qatar Airways>Doha>Qatar Airways>Kuala Lumpur.
Kuala Lumpur>Malaysian Airlines (coach share Qatar Airways)>Doha>Qatar Airways>Tbilisi (Georgia)>the following by coach>Yerevan (Armenia)>Dilijan>Tbilisi (Georgia)>Stepantsminda>Kutaisi>Mestia>Tbilisi>Qatar Airways>Doha>Qatar Airways>Kuala Lumpur.
(Click here for Days 1-7 the Georgia & Armenia 2024 Tour Route Map)
See respective daily blogs for detailed daily route maps.
See respective daily blogs for detailed daily route maps.
Georgia & Armenia 2024 Days 8-14 Overall Travel Route Map:
Kuala Lumpur>Malaysian Airlines>Qatar Airways>Doha>Qatar Airways>Tbilisi (Georgia)>the following by coach>Yerevan (Armenia)>Dilijan>Tbilisi (Georgia)>Stepantsminda>Kutaisi>Mestia>Tbilisi>Qatar Airways>Doha>Qatar Airways>Kuala Lumpur.
(Click here for Days 8-14 of the Georgia & Armenia 2024 Tour Route Map)
See respective daily blogs for detailed daily route maps.
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TRAVEL TIPS FOR GEORGIA & ARMENIA
1. Traffic Directions!
Driving in Georgia is left-hand drive, with a speed limit of 60 km/h in cities and towns, and 80 km/h in other areas unless indicated otherwise. Armenia is also left-hand drive, so in both Georgia and Armenia drive/cycle on the right.
2. Getting to and around Georgia & Armenia.
Major airlines serve both Georgia & Armenia. We flew from KLIA Terminal 1 into and out of Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport via Qatar Airways, with transit at Doha. It would have been time-saving into Armenia via Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport; but we naively erred on the side of caution. Our airfares were bought during the MATA Travel Fair via promotions by the RHB Debit Card, the return fare cost us between MYR 2,800 to 3,200.
We got around both countries by using a local long-chassis Mercedes Sprinter Van with an extended rear luggage section for the 16 of us. and a Mercedes V-Class 7-seater van for another four of us who enlisted later. The rides were generally comfortable as most were on tarred roads with some stretches of gravel roads.
For harsher rides we used smaller local vans with drivers familiar to the rougher, steeper roads - this was to the Gergeti Trinity Church, Ushguli Village, Koruldi Lakes and Chalaadi Glacier.
For harsher rides we used smaller local vans with drivers familiar to the rougher, steeper roads - this was to the Gergeti Trinity Church, Ushguli Village, Koruldi Lakes and Chalaadi Glacier.
There were a couple of free days to explore Tbilisi by ourselves, but it is possible to use the Uber Georgia app to get further around. Other ride-hailing alternatives are Bolt, Yandex and Taxi Maxim.
3. Immigration & Customs Requirements
For Georgia, citizens of Malaysia do not need a visa to enter for travel purposes and can stay in the country for 365 days without a visa. The travel passport must be valid throughout the whole period of stay in Georgia. A blank page is necessary for an entry stamp. Click here for a list of countries that need visa entry. Click here for Georgia E-visa application portal and click here for guidelines on the E-visa application which costs USD20 (30 days validity).
For Armenia, visas have to be applied by Malaysians, which cost 7€ (21 days validity). Click here for Armenia visa application policy, and click here for the E-visa application portal. Keep a soft copy in your phone to show to immigration, and a hard copy just in case.
For both countries, after clearing immigration, one will have to go through customs. We had to carry our luggage personally through. They are green lanes for those with nothing to declare; for duty-free good exemption, click here for Georgia's regulations, and here for Armenia's. Our vans had to go through the vehicles' lanes.
For both countries, after clearing immigration, one will have to go through customs. We had to carry our luggage personally through. They are green lanes for those with nothing to declare; for duty-free good exemption, click here for Georgia's regulations, and here for Armenia's. Our vans had to go through the vehicles' lanes.
For those bringing in personal medication (up to 31 days usage) into Georgia, do get a prescription from your doctor; click here for guidelines.
4. Places & Things of Interests
There were many scenic and interesting places of interest, but one should not miss the following (Note: click here for POIs Map & on the GPS coordinates below for a directional map to the respective places):
a. Streets of Old Tibilisi (GPS: 41.69545, 44.79628). b. Night Views of the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi (GPS: 41.69765, 44.81645). c. Koruldi Lakes (GPS: 43.08741, 42.70441) in Mestia. d. Gigantic Stone Head Sculptures (GPS: 42.60726, 44.63211) by Merab Phiranishvili in the village of Sno.
a. Streets of Old Tibilisi (GPS: 41.69545, 44.79628). b. Night Views of the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi (GPS: 41.69765, 44.81645). c. Koruldi Lakes (GPS: 43.08741, 42.70441) in Mestia. d. Gigantic Stone Head Sculptures (GPS: 42.60726, 44.63211) by Merab Phiranishvili in the village of Sno.
5. Food
Georgian Food and Armenian Food have their distinct character while bearing some similarities with various national cuisines of the South Caucasus, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. There is a wide range of food there but one should not miss the following:
- Zhingal Hats (Bread stuffed with cilantro & spring onions).
- Gata, an Armenian sweet bread.
- Georgian Whole Roast Piglet, note: the piglet we had was bigger than that shown in the link.
- Chacha, a Georgian brandy.
- Rtveli Wine Harvest in the Kakheti Region.
- Visit a winery to experience the traditional qvevri wine making.
6. Tour Costs & Arrangements
Return air tickets bought during the MATA Travel Fair/RHB Debit Card promotions were between MYR 2,800 to 3,200.
The ground arrangements tour package included a 10-passenger van to take us around, starting from & returning to Tbilisi. It also included 3-star hotels/homestays. The charge per pax for this ground arrangement was at MYR7,400. This excluded meals (other than hotel breakfasts & 3 dinners at Mestia), airport transfers, most entry tickets and tips. This allows for individuals to have meals according to their own liking & budget. Allow per meal should be adequate.
On average, the overall tour cost worked out to be around RM950 to RM1,000 per day. For those interested in this tour, contact Eddie at +6012-6122600 for more details and updated costs.
For out-of-pocket spending, we exchange some Georgian Lari (GEL) and Armenian Dram (AMD) in the respective countries. Some brought along their Wise debit cards to use; one can pre-load the card with the local currency. Or let it auto-deduct the currencies existing in the card. We found that it deducted other currencies first before deducting Malaysian Ringgit.
7. Communicating with Each Other
When travelling in a group it's important to be able to communicate with each other, especially if one gets lost from the rest. Georgia pre-paid sim cards are easily available and costs 5 GEL to 20 GEL, depending on the provider and the included benefits. While Armenian pre-paid sim cards cost ranges from AMD 1000 to AMD 3000. Those in our tour group pre-ordered their sim cards through our Georgian guide.
Those who use Maxis as their telco, can purchase the Maxis Roaming Pass. The RM89 15-day Multi-country Roaming Pass covers many countries including Georgia, Armenia and Qatar.
The Pass can be bought before the trip with a designated starting time/date, BUT DO TURN OFF your data roaming just before the Roaming Pass expires OTHERWISE any subsequent usage will automatically trigger off the 1-Day Roaming Pass costing between RM29 to RM38 per day!
The Pass can be bought before the trip with a designated starting time/date, BUT DO TURN OFF your data roaming just before the Roaming Pass expires OTHERWISE any subsequent usage will automatically trigger off the 1-Day Roaming Pass costing between RM29 to RM38 per day!
8. Communicating with Locals
At favourite tourist destinations, locals may speak fairly good English. At the smaller towns, locals speak some rudimentary English, and our local guide was most helpful in translating for us.
9. Weather
Day temperatures in the lowlands for both countries in September is around the mid-20s while evening temperatures are around the mid-10s. Up in the highlands (like Stepantsminda & Mestia) day temperatures are in the mid-10s and can close to zero at night. We were fortunate that there was a warm front, and temperatures were warmer than expected.
Useful weather forecast sites for Georgia & Armenia is AccuWeather. For more detailed weather, including cloud cover and wind speed, use Weatherspark and Ventusky.
10. Navigation
I used MapMyRide to track our routes and stops. Geo-tagging of places of interest was via FaceBook or Google Maps.
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If you like this, view my other blogs at Jotaro's Blog
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