Georgia
Singing Tour
Departures
1st – 8th September 2027
Per person
£2,700Two sharing
An immersive journey into Georgian folk polyphony in the mountains of Adjara, spent with the Turmanidze family — one of the country’s most renowned families for the preservation and teaching of Ajarian traditional singing. For more than four generations they have kept these traditions alive, welcoming visitors into their home to learn them first-hand.
This is more than a singing trip. Alongside daily sessions there is village life, mountain hiking, wild swimming in a river, traditional food and cooking, storytelling, and the Georgian supra — the feast that carries music and toasting at its heart.
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Accommodation throughout
All transport within Georgia, including the Tbilisi–Batumi train (excluding international flights)
All meals, including the welcome and farewell supras
All singing sessions with the Turmanidze family
Entrance tickets and fees to museums and attractions
Voice recordings of the songs learned during the week -
One night in Tbilisi at the start of the tour, then five nights in the Turmanidze family home in the mountains of Adjara, and a final night before departure. Staying in the family's own house is central to this trip — the singing, the meals and the evenings all happen where you sleep, which is what makes the week feel like living in the village rather than visiting it.
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Airport transfers and all travel within Georgia. We take the train from Tbilisi west to Batumi — one of the great rail journeys of the Caucasus, with a packed lunch and long views across the country — then transfer onwards into the mountains by road. Road transport is by privately hired vehicle with experienced local drivers we know well, who know the terrain.
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Daily singing sessions with the Turmanidze family, learning Ajarian polyphony from four generations of singers. A guided walking tour of Old Tbilisi and the National Museum of Georgia. A mountain hike to the high pastures with lunch alongside local people. A walk to the mountain river with the chance of a wild swim. A village performance alongside the family. A traditional Georgian food workshop. Voice recordings of everything learned, and two supras — the welcome feast and the farewell.
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All meals are included, most of them cooked and eaten in the Turmanidze family home. Expect traditional Georgian and Ajarian cooking — khachapuri, khinkali and regional dishes particular to the mountains — alongside a food workshop where you learn to make them yourself. Two supras bookend the week: the welcome feast on arrival and the farewell on the final evening, both with toasting and live singing. Local wine accompanies meals; guests purchase alcohol separately.
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Sturdy walking shoes for the mountain hike. Warm layers — mountain weather turns quickly, even in late August. Rain gear. Swimwear and a towel for the river. A camera. A notebook if you want to write down what you learn. No singing experience or music reading is needed.
Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival in Tbilisi
We meet in Tbilisi at midday. A guided walking tour takes us through the historic streets and landmarks of the old town, with lunch at a central café and a visit to the National Museum of Georgia. In the evening, a welcome dinner with a traditional tamada — toastmaster — and live polyphonic singing.
Overnight: Tbilisi
Day 2 — Journey to Adjara
The train west from Tbilisi to Batumi, with a packed lunch and long views across the Georgian countryside, and a short stop in the city before we transfer onwards into the mountains to the Turmanidze family home. We arrive in time to settle in, followed by a welcome supra with live music, and an evening at leisure.
Overnight: Village in Adjara
Day 3 — Introduction to Georgian Polyphony
We meet the Turmanidze family and hear about Georgian folk polyphony, Ajarian singing traditions and village life, before the first singing session of the morning. After lunch and time to rest, a second session in the afternoon, then dinner and an evening to settle into the rhythm of the village.
Overnight: Village in Adjara
Day 4 — Mountain Hike & Singing
A day in the mountains. The morning hike climbs towards the high pastures, through some of the most spectacular scenery in Adjara. Lunch is taken with local people up in the pastures, followed by a short singing session in the open air. The afternoon is for the walk back and time to rest, before an evening of singing and dinner together.
Day 5 — Reflection, Practice & Wild Swimming
A group meeting in the morning to reflect on the experience so far, ask questions and talk through what each of us wants from the rest of the week, followed by a singing session. The afternoon is free for a walk to the mountain river and a wild swim, with a further session before dinner.
Overnight: Village in Adjara
Day 6 — Performance Day
A morning singing session and a final rehearsal after lunch, then a performance in the village alongside the Turmanidze family. Dinner afterwards is a celebration of the music learned and the friendships made across the week.
Overnight: Village in Adjara
Day 7 — Recording, Food & Farewell
A long morning of singing together, with voice recordings made of the songs learned during the week so they travel home with you. The afternoon revisits everything covered, followed by a Georgian food workshop preparing traditional dishes, and a farewell supra with toasts, music and singing.
Overnight: Village in Adjara
Day 8 — Farewell to Georgia
Breakfast, check out and transfer to Batumi for a farewell lunch, then on to the airport or the train station for onward travel to Tbilisi.
End of the tour
“Tours are amazing, well organised, small groups, she left nothing to chance. Once we arrived we didn’t pay for anything else not even refreshments or ice creams, they were all included.”
TESTIMONIALS
“The behind the scenes logistics were perfect and the Georgian guides incredibly knowledgeable.”
“If you want an experience that steps off the well worn path of commoditised tourism, and gives you first hand experiences of local culture, people, food and crafts, this is for you! ”