Tbilisi: Kakheti Horse Riding, Wine Tasting, and Cooking …

Kakheti gives you three very different tastes of Georgia in one long day: a horse ride through hill country, a wine tasting inside a 7.7-kilometer cellar, and a hands-on meal you prepare yourself. You get views of Sighnaghi, the Alazani Valley, old churches, and the Caucasus Mountains rather than just another winery stop.

I like the private format and the range of activities. Dima, a driver praised for his kindness and help, can make the long road time much easier, while the cooking class gives you something more useful than a quick sample at a table. The drawback is the distance: expect about two hours from Tbilisi to the horses, plus a full day on the road.

Key points to know before booking

• Two hours on horseback: Ride through Kakheti near Qedeli, with routes through hills, valleys, villages, and church sites.
• Views with real variety: Look toward Sighnaghi, the Alazani Valley, and the Caucasus Mountains during the ride.
• A 7.7-kilometer wine cellar: The Kvareli Wine Cave stores Georgian wines in a long tunnel-shaped facility.
• More than wine tasting: Try Georgian wine and Chacha, then take part in several cooking activities.
• A private day trip: Pickup, drop-off, transport, horse riding, tasting, and dinner are included in the package.
• Best for active food lovers: You need comfortable clothes and enough energy for riding, driving, tasting, and cooking in one day.

Why this Kakheti day trip works so well

Kakheti is Georgia’s main wine region, but this outing does not treat it as a single-purpose wine excursion. You begin outdoors on horseback, move into the world of Georgian wine, and finish with food you have helped make. That variety is the main reason I find the $235 price easier to justify.

The private format matters, too. You are not being moved through the day as one small part of a large coach group. Pickup and drop-off in Tbilisi, private transportation, an English-speaking instructor, riding, wine tasting, and the cooking dinner are all included.

You should still think of this as a demanding day. A recent schedule put the drive to the horses at about two hours, the ride at two hours, and the transfer to the wine site at about one hour. The winery visit and cooking portion take roughly an hour and a half. The timing leaves little room for a slow, unplanned stop, but it does pack a lot into a single day.

From Tbilisi to the hills near Qedeli

Your driver collects you at your Tbilisi hotel and takes you east toward Kakheti. The road time is not a minor detail. Two hours in each direction can make this feel like a major outing rather than a quick excursion outside the capital.

That said, the long drive gives the day a clear change of pace. Tbilisi is urban and busy. Kakheti offers open hills, valleys, old settlements, and broad views. Private transport lets you keep the day simple: you do not need to arrange a separate connection to the riding site or work out how to reach the winery afterward.

The driver can shape your experience more than you might expect. Dima has received especially strong praise for being helpful, friendly, and well informed. If he is assigned to your tour, do not hesitate to ask questions during the drive. The car time is a useful chance to learn more about the region and to get a sense of the places you are about to visit.

Because this is a private group, you can also speak up about comfort and timing. The provided schedule is fixed enough to cover all the main activities, but a private setup is still more personal than a large shared coach.

Two hours on horseback through Kakheti

At the village of Qedeli, you meet your local guide and horse. The ride lasts about two hours and follows trails through Kakheti’s hills and valleys. The route includes views toward Sighnaghi, the Alazani Valley, and the Caucasus Mountains.

The scenery is the main attraction here. You are not simply riding in a fenced area for a few minutes. You move through the countryside and pass half-abandoned villages, ancient churches, and the renowned Bodbe Monastery. Those details give the ride a sense of place. You see the quieter side of Kakheti, including locations that can be missed when you stick to the region’s main wine stops.

The horses are trained Caucasian horses, and the ride is described as suitable for all skill levels. That makes it a reasonable choice for a beginner who wants a first real trail ride, not just a photo opportunity. Still, all skill levels does not mean every person will find two hours in the saddle easy. If you have concerns about riding comfort, ask before booking.

Wear clothes that allow free movement and shoes that you do not mind getting dusty. A hat, sunscreen, and water are sensible choices. Bring a camera, but keep it secure while riding. You will want to look up and take in the views rather than spend the whole route trying to photograph every turn.

The ride is also the portion most affected by weather and personal comfort. Pregnant women and people with back problems should not book this activity. If you rarely ride, the two-hour length is worth considering carefully, even though the horses and guides are intended for different experience levels.

A wine cellar built into a 7.7-kilometer tunnel

After the ride, you continue to the Kvareli Wine Cave. The name gives you the basic idea, but the scale is what makes the stop memorable. This is a tunnel-shaped wine cellar stretching 7.7 kilometers and used to store Georgian wines.

That setting gives the tasting more context than a standard tasting room. You learn about the wine-making process and then try different Georgian wines. Chacha is included as well. Chacha is Georgia’s well-known grape spirit, so the tasting is not limited to wine alone.

I like this part because it connects the region’s identity with what you are drinking. Kakheti is not just a scenic place that happens to produce wine. Wine is a central part of local food and culture, and the cellar helps explain why the subject matters here.

The tasting is not described as a long, technical wine course. It is one part of a busy day that also includes riding and cooking. If you want an expert-level study of Georgian grape varieties, production methods, or vintages, you may prefer a dedicated wine tour. If you want an accessible introduction paired with countryside sightseeing, this format makes sense.

Remember that only the listed food and drink are included. Budget for anything extra you order or purchase outside the planned tasting.

Cooking Georgian food instead of only eating it

The cooking class is where this outing becomes more hands-on. You do not just sit down at the end and receive a plate of Georgian dishes. You take part in several traditional preparations before eating the finished meal.

The class includes baking bread in a Tone oven, making Khachapuri, dipping Churchkhela, grilling Mtsvadi, and wrapping Khinkali. Each activity introduces a different part of Georgian food culture:

• Tone bread: You learn about bread baked in a traditional clay oven.
• Khachapuri: You prepare Georgia’s famous cheese-filled bread.
• Churchkhela: You dip the sweet, candle-shaped treat made with nuts and grape mixture.
• Mtsvadi: You grill Georgian-style meat skewers.
• Khinkali: You practice wrapping the pleated dumplings.

This is a lot of food preparation for a relatively short class. The cooking portion, including the winery visit and tasting, takes about an hour and a half according to the described schedule. Do not expect a long professional cooking course with time to master every technique. Instead, think of it as a lively introduction with enough practical work to make dinner feel personal.

Khinkali wrapping is likely to be the fiddliest task, while bread and Mtsvadi give you a more direct feel for Georgian cooking. The range also makes the class good for couples, families with suitable ages, and small private groups who want to do something together rather than watch a demonstration.

The final dinner consists of the dishes you have helped prepare. That makes the meal more satisfying than a restaurant stop placed at the end of a sightseeing day. You have seen the ingredients in use, handled the preparation, and then sit down to eat the result.

What the price includes at $235

At $235 per person, this is not a budget day trip. The value depends on how many separate experiences you would otherwise book. The price includes Tbilisi pickup and drop-off, private transport, the two-hour riding tour, wine tasting, the Georgian food masterclass, and dinner.

That is a substantial bundle. You are paying for a driver, a private vehicle, horses and local riding support, access to the wine site, tastings, instruction, and a meal. Booking the same elements separately could be difficult, especially if you are visiting without a car.

The price is easier to defend for a small private group that wants a smooth day with no transport planning. It is less appealing if you only care about wine, or if you prefer to spend a whole day at one place. In that case, the riding and cooking sections may feel like extras rather than useful parts of the experience.

The strongest value comes from the combination. You cover several sides of Kakheti in one outing, and the private arrangement gives the day a more personal feel. Just remember that extra food and drink outside the stated plan are not included.

The role of the driver and guide

A good driver matters on a day with long road sections and several handoffs. You move from Tbilisi to Qedeli, from the riding area to the wine cave, and then back to the capital. If communication is poor, the day can feel tiring and disjointed.

Dima has been praised for going beyond basic driving duties. He is described as friendly, helpful, and full of useful information. That kind of service is especially valuable here because the driver may be your main point of contact between the local horse guide, winery staff, and cooking instructors.

The riding itself is led by professional local guides, with an English-speaking instructor listed for the activity. You should have help during the horseback portion even if you are new to riding. The combination of local staff and private transport gives the tour a good balance: the people at each stop handle their specialty, while your driver keeps the wider day together.

Who should book this experience

I would choose this trip if you want one day that combines scenery, movement, Georgian food, and wine. It suits an active couple, a private family group, or friends who would rather share a cooking session than follow a standard sightseeing route.

It is also a good fit for first-time riders. The horses are trained, the guides are professional, and the activity is presented as suitable for all levels. You still need to be comfortable spending two hours on horseback.

You may want another type of tour if you have back problems, are pregnant, dislike long car rides, or want a slow wine-focused day. This schedule is full. It gives you several strong experiences, but it does not leave much time for lingering.

Pack comfortable clothes, comfortable shoes, a hat, sunscreen, water, and a camera. Wear something appropriate for riding and for moving between outdoor and food-related activities. The private group format is useful, but it does not shorten the road distance.

Booking flexibility and practical details

The activity lasts one day, with starting times based on availability. Pickup and drop-off are included, and the tour is conducted in English. You can reserve now and pay later, which is useful if your Tbilisi plans are still shifting.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. Check the exact start time when booking, since the day’s length depends on the departure time and the road journey.

The tour is not suitable for pregnant women or people with back problems. There is no separate accessibility information provided, so anyone with mobility or medical concerns should confirm details before paying.

Should you book the Kakheti horse ride and wine day?

Book it if you want variety in one private day and like the idea of earning dinner through a little work. The horseback ride gives you Kakheti’s open countryside, the Kvareli Wine Cave adds a distinctive wine setting, and the cooking class turns familiar Georgian dishes into something you help create.

I would not book it for a quiet day or a serious wine study. The drive from Tbilisi is long, and the itinerary keeps moving. But for an active introduction to Kakheti, the combination is hard to beat. Ask about Dima when arranging the trip if possible, bring water and sun protection, and go ready for a full day that ends with Khachapuri, Khinkali, Mtsvadi, Churchkhela, and the satisfaction of having made them yourself.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

It is a one-day activity from Tbilisi. The described schedule includes about two hours of driving to the horses, a two-hour ride, about one hour of transport to the winery, and roughly one and a half hours for the winery visit, tasting, and cooking activities.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off from your hotel in Tbilisi are included, along with private transportation.

How long is the horseback ride?

The horseback portion lasts about two hours and takes place near the village of Qedeli in Kakheti.

Is the horse riding suitable for beginners?

The trained Caucasian horses and professional local guides make the ride suitable for all skill levels.

What food and drink are included?

The experience includes Georgian wine tasting, Chacha tasting, the food masterclass, and dinner made from the dishes prepared during the class.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, comfortable clothes, a hat, sunscreen, water, and a camera.