The Caucasus

From the moment the immigration agent slapped down a tiny bottle of wine and muttered, ‘Welcome to Tbilisi’, I’ve been infatuated – no, obsessed – with this part of the world. For their own separate reasons, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are three of my favourite countries on earth. Grouped together, the Caucasus is my happy place.

This region ignited my passion for travel. It’s showed me what real mountains look like, what real food and wine tastes like, and how real, from-the-heart hospitality feels. In learning about the chapters of conquest, boom, collapse, revolution and genocide that have unfolded on these streets and in these mountain valleys, I’ve gained a new appreciation for humanity.

The Caucasus is one of the only places I know that gets better with each successive visit. There’s a lot to see and do across all three countries, but you need not worry about fitting everything in first time around. Nobody comes to the Caucasus just once; this is a place that bonds to you and pulls you back again and again.

For me, it was three months, then five weeks, then the decision to spend a full year in Georgia. At this point, I feel like the Caucasus has worked its way into my DNA.

Since my first visit, I’ve been privileged enough to help hundreds of other travellers plan their trip to the region using my detailed guides, itineraries, and in-depth stories.