Lying at the crossroads of trade and tradition for centuries, Georgia is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets and Jonny will delve into its history, politics, nature and attractions.

It’s a country of breath-taking landscapes, a cuisine that is as delicious as it is undiscovered, and a rich national story stretching back over 5,000 years. It also boasts a cultural heritage that’s able to rival almost anywhere, with its host of captivating churches decorated with colourful frescos, ancient watchtowers and medieval cave cities carved into the mountainside.

Its history tells of invasion and conquest from Greeks, Mongols, Ottomans and Russians – and all have left an indelible mark on the Georgia we see today. Its architecture, art, religion and cuisine contain clear influences from these old powers and yet are still uniquely Georgian.

Jonny first visited the country in the 90s when it was a mess. He has been back many times since and has seen it transform itself from former Soviet basket case to the thriving country it is today.

Read more about Jonny on his website

A lifelong traveller, David is always keen to explore the wildlife of the regions he visits and in this talk will focus on the trips to Georgia that he runs for Naturetrek.

Georgia is at a crossroads of avifauna where species from Europe overlap with species from the Central Asia and the Himalayas. The isolated high mountains of the Caucasus form an island of endemism where certain species are unique to the region.  During spring and autumn migratory species moving between the Middle East and breeding grounds on the Russian Steppes pass through Georgia, sometimes in huge numbers.

Read more about David on the Naturetrek website.

Three svanetian singers at a traditional folk festival, Ushguli  (© Mahroch | Dreamstime.com)

Tbilisi old town  (© Yulia Grigoryeva | Dreamstime.com)

 Ikalto Orthodox Monastery complex, Kakheti (© Dmitry Kalinovsky | Dreamstime.com)

Telavi ladies watching life go by (© Kairi Aun | Dreamstime.com)

Bird watching along the Tergi River, near Stepantsminda (© David Phillips)

Steppe Buzzard (© David Phillips)