a three-day exploratory trip
's mineralogical expeditionto Samtskhe-Javakheti
The perfect trip for nature lovers
We'll be joined by a naturalist and mineral collector who will accompany us throughout the trip
. Over the course of three days, we will:
. Over the course of three days, we will:
- Let's take a look at the petrified trees and learn about their history
- A three-day tour—three days of searching for different minerals! (see below)
- We will study the basics of field identification of minerals and conduct a hands-on workshop
- We'll admire the ancient fortresses and beautiful scenery along the way
- Let's spend three whole days in the quiet of nature, far away from people!
detailed program
This is a reconnaissance tour. Our team has thoroughly explored this route, but our guides weren't present at every location. Let's go explore it together!
The price for this trip is lower, but the experience is just as great.
The price for this trip is lower, but the experience is just as great.
Day One. Goderdzi, Pomach:
We’ll depart from Batumi at 8 a.m.
We’ll drive through the Goderdzi Pass. We’ll make a short stop near the petrified trees to examine their structure and learn about how they were formed.
Our first mineral-hunting stop is Pomach. We’ll walk through an abandoned quarry in search of beautiful smoky-gray chalcedony and agates.
We’ll enjoy a delicious picnic lunch with herbal tea.
If we have time, we’ll stop by another zeolite deposit.
We’ll drive through the Goderdzi Pass. We’ll make a short stop near the petrified trees to examine their structure and learn about how they were formed.
Our first mineral-hunting stop is Pomach. We’ll walk through an abandoned quarry in search of beautiful smoky-gray chalcedony and agates.
We’ll enjoy a delicious picnic lunch with herbal tea.
If we have time, we’ll stop by another zeolite deposit.
Day One. Dinner, hotel:
In the evening, over dinner, our naturalist Alina will talk about how chalcedony forms and what distinguishes it from other minerals and mineraloids in the silicate group. She’ll also discuss the geology of the Caucasus and this region in particular.
We’ll have dinner at a restaurant in Akhaltsikhe (not included in the price).
And we’ll spend the night at a pleasant, highly-rated hotel.
We’ll have dinner at a restaurant in Akhaltsikhe (not included in the price).
And we’ll spend the night at a pleasant, highly-rated hotel.
Day 2. The Persa Field:
On this day, we’ll set out in search of not only agates but also zeolites. For example, our new exploration site is known for its pink fluorapophyllite.
Don’t forget that we’ll be spending these days entirely outdoors, surrounded by breathtaking views of Samtskhe-Javakheti, with its unique lava cliffs and meadows full of diverse grasses.
We’ll have a picnic lunch, dinner will be at a restaurant, and we’ll spend the night at the same hotel.
Over dinner, we’ll learn a lot more about minerals—this time, we’ll be talking about zeolites.
Don’t forget that we’ll be spending these days entirely outdoors, surrounded by breathtaking views of Samtskhe-Javakheti, with its unique lava cliffs and meadows full of diverse grasses.
We’ll have a picnic lunch, dinner will be at a restaurant, and we’ll spend the night at the same hotel.
Over dinner, we’ll learn a lot more about minerals—this time, we’ll be talking about zeolites.
Day 3. The Shurdo Deposit:
On this day, we’ll explore other abandoned quarries and the beautiful landscapes surrounding them. We’ll search for chalcedony, agate, calcite, and zeolites.
Alina will tell us about calcite and why you can collect it endlessly.
We’ll have a picnic lunch, and we’ll stop at a food court for dinner on the way home.
We’ll arrive back in Batumi between 10 and 11 p.m.
Alina will tell us about calcite and why you can collect it endlessly.
We’ll have a picnic lunch, and we’ll stop at a food court for dinner on the way home.
We’ll arrive back in Batumi between 10 and 11 p.m.
Our itinerary has been carefully planned down to the last detail, but nature has its own way of things. Some parts of the route may be rearranged depending on the weather and other factors—so that each destination is revealed to us in the best possible light.
This flexibility allows us to make the trip even more comfortable and enriching!
This flexibility allows us to make the trip even more comfortable and enriching!
What kinds of minerals can you find?
Our search will take place among volcanic rocks, and the collection of minerals is quite interesting:
- ZeolitesFluorapophyllite, erionite, geilandite, stilbite, and others
- RansietYes, even some fairly rare minerals
- ChalcedonyIn its various forms: agates, pseudostalactites, geodes
- Agatessmoky gray, bluish, and with hints of other colors
- MordeniteNeedle-like shape, very fragile
- CalciteAnd other minerals, such as ransiet
Level 1 difficulty—what does that mean?
You can hike these trails even without any hiking experience, but you need to be in good physical shape. The trail isn't very long and doesn't involve a significant elevation gain.
But don't forget that this is still a hike in the mountains.
If you're still not sure whether this itinerary is right for you, feel free to email us :)
The scale is relative; use the distance and elevation gain as a guide.
Terms and Conditions for Discounts
- A club discount is available to those who have already traveled with us and are subscribed to our Telegram channel
Price per person for a scheduled group tour
750 ₾
Club price - 730 ₾
The price includes:
- comfortable transfer
- hotel accommodations
- guided tours led by a naturalist
- guided tours along the routes
- meals:
(breakfast and lunch included in the price)
- shared equipment
The price includes:
- comfortable transfer
- hotel accommodations
- guided tours led by a naturalist
- guided tours along the routes
- meals:
(breakfast and lunch included in the price)
- shared equipment
To see when the next group trip to this destination is scheduled,check the itinerary at .
If you don't use Telegram, pleasefill out the form at so we can get in touch with you 😊
If you don't use Telegram, pleasefill out the form at so we can get in touch with you 😊
Are the dates not convenient? Would you like to travel with your own group? Book this tour as a private tour
Travel on your own We'll be staying at a cozy, highly-rated hotel
Rooms accommodate two to four guests and feature shared or separate beds; each room has its own bathroom and all amenities.
Why an expedition?
An expedition is a long-term journey undertaken by people for a specific scientific or research purpose.
We will travel together to explore Samtskhe-Javakheti, a region of Georgia rich in volcanoes and volcanic rocks.
Our goals will be to learn about them and explore what minerals and other geologically interesting features we can find.
An expedition is a long-term journey undertaken by people for a specific scientific or research purpose.
We will travel together to explore Samtskhe-Javakheti, a region of Georgia rich in volcanoes and volcanic rocks.
Our goals will be to learn about them and explore what minerals and other geologically interesting features we can find.
A foam seat and a raincoat are essential items. A camera, if you're taking pictures.
We'll be staying overnight at hotels. There will be double and quadruple rooms.
We rent it out; the fee is charged separately. You can view the selection in the catalog. Or we can pick it out for you :)
usually a group of 10 to 15 participants
We're leaving at 8 a.m. on Friday, and we'll be back home around 9 or 10 p.m. on Sunday.
If you live along the route, we'll drop you off near your home. The final stop is the meeting point for the route.
After you book the tour, we'll set up a chat group where we'll go over all the details regarding fees, what to bring, and so on.
The most important thing is to have the right shoes and clothes. We'll tell you everything.
The most important thing is to have the right shoes and clothes. We'll tell you everything.
Each of our tour guides is assigned specific destinations. On this tour, you will be accompanied by one of them—you can find out who exactly by checking the itinerary or asking our managers.
Our tour guides
We're beads and seals :3
- AlinaFounder of t&H, Nature GuideA biologist by education, a naturalist by calling. She’s great at organizing everyone and getting them excited about adventures.
She makes the most delicious camping oatmeal and tells stories about all kinds of plants, rocks, clouds, bugs, spiders, and birds. She loves seeing the spark of curiosity in people’s eyes and giving hugs. - ArtemFounder of t&H, MentorThe best driver in Georgia, according to our tourists. He loves exploring life and new routes, and hiking high up in the mountains (and he’ll drag you along with him).
- NatashaEscortHiking instructor.
A fan of mountain and ski trips. She loves to hike long distances, run, explore new places, and take beautiful photos. - YaroslavTour guide and driver on some routesAn avid traveler, rescue worker, and avalanche safety engineer, he has worked as a mountain guide in the Khibiny Mountains and is currently working in Svaneti and Megrelia. He enjoys playing the guitar and singing.
- VovaTour guide and driver on some routesHe’s been hiking since he was 15.
He loves nature and the mountains, both new and old trails, sitting by the campfire at night, and sleeping in the mornings :)
He used to be a guide on water-based expeditions; now he’s into professional mountaineering and arboriculture, and leads you on trails. - AnyaEscortA geographer by education, a photographer at heart, a guide by calling. A geography teacher who ran away from class to the Far Eastern taiga to be with the bears—and ended up staying there :)
On a hike, she knows two main secrets: how to find a beautiful view and how not to lose herself during a rest stop.
She loves trails with views, people with a sparkle in their eyes, and photos that capture the essence of the moment.
“Hiking with me is warm, peaceful, and always authentic 🤍” - AlexWater Sports Instructor, Tour GuideHe has 20 years of hiking experience under his belt (not counting the backpack itself), including Category 5 water routes.
He believes that travel isn’t about the kilometers, but about the experiences, which is why he even chooses places to stop for a bite to eat where the view is just as enjoyable as the food. - FyodorEscortHe went on his first hike at age 11—with a cotton-padded sleeping bag and his grandmother’s sweater.
He has experience with winter, water, and mountain hikes of varying difficulty levels. He loves wild trails, swamps, rhododendron thickets, spending the night in a snow den, trail races, boxing, and swimming in icy water.
On hikes, he values good spirits, the beauty of the wilderness, humor, pushing his limits, and hot tea after a long day of hiking. - MashaEscortA child of the plains and marshes, I’ve dreamed of living in the mountains since I was little and used to imagine that the clouds on the horizon were snow-capped peaks.
I’m thrilled by every little spider and leaf, and I try to share that excitement with those around me. For me, nature is my natural habitat :)
I can turn even the most boring walk into an adventure.
“Wait, let me take a picture”—that’s my life motto; I capture all the coolest moments through my lens. - KirillPaleontology Tour GuideA passionate amateur paleontologist and photographer. He loves and appreciates nature in all its diversity, especially plants and fish.
Why us?
- high qualityOver the past four years, more than 2,500 satisfied hikers have joined us on our trips.
We’re constantly growing and evolving.
We put our hearts into what we do 😁 - safetyWe follow safety procedures on our hikes.
We have careful drivers.
We know what to do in difficult situations. - care and supportSomeone once wrote in a review: “They really take care of their kids,” and that’s absolutely true :3
On our tours, we accompany you the entire way, provide delicious meals, and answer any questions you may have.
If you’ve never been on a hike before, we’ll help you choose the right difficulty level, the right footwear, and so on. - convenienceFor each trip, we have a chat group where we help you get ready for the hike and make sure you pack everything you need. It’s a convenient way to stay in touch with everyone, share links, or post group photos.
We take your dietary needs into account.
You don’t need to worry about the route or travel time—we handle that for you.
We also prepare the gear for you, so you don’t need to reserve or pick it up separately. - You'll feel right at home with usWe travel in a comfortable, off-road-capable vehicle with climate control,
; we form small groups of like-minded people,
; we have a packed itinerary, but at the same time we find time to relax, listen to the silence, and spend time alone with ourselves and nature - lots of goodiesWe bring together like-minded people and kindred spirits.
We shoot awesome drone videos and take photos.
We serve delicious food.
We know the best angles and spots for amazing photos.
We’re pet-friendly.
And yes, we always have treats. - nature toursSome of the tours are led by the company’s founder, Alina, who is a biologist by training and a naturalist by calling.
Along the way, we constantly discuss and explore nature, identify species, and answer all sorts of questions that nature lovers might have: How do glaciers form? What kind of bird is that in the sky? Which constellations are above us right now?