We have added a new tour to our summer 2024 schedule! This summer, from August 15 – 23, we will run a new Caucasus Mountains and Georgia Hiking Exploratory Adventure.
Why Georgia? It is exotic and not well traveled yet has a solid tourism infrastructure. It has excellent hiking, delicious food and wine, and a welcoming, pro-western attitude. But enough about Georgia. You can read more on the tour page. This post is about the Exploratory Adventure aspect.
What is an Exploratory Adventure?
On this 2024 trip a small number of travelers will be joining Zephyr Adventures owner Allan Wright as he scouts the tour in person for the first time. We have already spent months doing the research and have secured a local Georgian partner who will provide us with their expertise, contacts, and a local guide.
This tour will be on our 2025 tour schedule, to be announced on September 1. On the August 2024 Exploratory Adventure we will use the same local company and local guide, eat in the same restaurants, stay in the same hotels, hike the same trails, and experience the same culture as we will in 2025. The major difference is that in 2024, those participating will be part of the scout team with Allan, while in 2025 we will have already experienced everything in person.
What Advantages Are There?
Many of you will quite properly think: Why would I go on an Exploratory Adventure when I can wait a year and go after all the kinks have been worked out? And for many of you, that is the right answer and we hope you can join us in 2025.
However, there are distinct advantages of joining the Exploratory Adventure in 2024.
- The group will be smaller, with a minimum of only four travelers and a maximum of ten.
- You will be traveling with Zephyr’s owner, Allan Wright.
- You will have an inside view on how a tour company sets up a new tour.
- You will actually be part of the scouting process. You will participate in daily meetings with Allan and the local guide. We will together as a group analyze whether we want to change the itinerary, adapt the hikes, visit different cultural sites, etc.
- There will be more uncertainty in our plans and that can lead to amazing experiences. This could truly be the vacation of the decade for you.
- Georgia is adventurous. This will be even more so.
To What Type of Traveler Will This Appeal?
You should be a seasoned international traveler. You should be a strong hiker, able to hike 8 – 10 miles per day at a medium pace. You should be flexible and enjoy change. You should be a better listener than a talker. At the same time, we are still staying in three-star and four-star hotels, eating in nice restaurants, and seeing some of the top cultural attractions in the country. So there is no need to rough it.
Consider joining Allan on this small group adventure to the Caucasus Mountains and Georgia this August 15 – 23. Make this trip the highlight of your year.
Allan,
Members of my archaeology team have worked in Georgia and echo your enthusiasm for the landscape, the people, and the culture. We have our annual meeting scheduled for early September in alpine Italy so the dates for this are too close for me to attend. Furthermore at age 84 and a lymphoma patient I would not want to risk membership on an exploration team. However, I look forward to doing this as a Zephyr Adventure in 2025 if my health permits. Great idea!!
Jim Walker
Outstanding, Jim! I look forward to reporting on everything we find over there. Enjoy Italy this September.
Allan
So glad to hear you are going to Georgia! I was there for the first time this year and may even go back in November. It’s a fascinating country with so much to offer and easy to navigate. The oldest wine culture in the world to boot. As the OrganicWineTraveler I had to go! Cheers Allan
PS I’m glad to offer my perspective if you like;)
Hi Beth Ellen,
Very cool! I know this is the upcoming wine travel list and we are hoping to do a wine tour there in the future, after I go do this hiking tour.
Allan
Oh, that would be terrific! Let me know if you would like my contacts