Capital:(Tbilisi(

Currency:(Georgian-Lari--

President:(Mikheil-Saakashvili-

Population:(4.6-mln.--

GDP(per(capita((PPP):(5,929-USD-

Official(Language:(Georgian-language-

HITTING &BOHEMIAN &HEIGHTS & IN &THE &CAUCASUS &!

4&VERY&GOOD&REASONS&TO&JOIN&US&THIS&SEASON&!

REASON!NUMBER!1:!GEORGIA!!

Georgia’s- history- is- one- of- conquest- and-domination.- Persians,- Mongols,- Ottomans- and-Russian,-each-have-passed,-pillaged,-governed-and-left- again- in- the- course- of- this- country- long- and-rich- history.- Despite- this,- Georgians- managed- to-retain(and(develop(their(culture,-which-is-rooted-in- –- amongst- many- other- things- –- a- common- and-unique- language,- religion,- music,- dance- and-cuisine.--

Georgians- are- famed- for- their- hospitality,-intricate- dining- customs,- longstanding- wineLmaking- traditions-and-uniquely-excellent- cuisine.-At-a-real-Georgian-table,-neither-the-plate-nor-the-cup-is-left-unfilled-at-any-given-time.--

On( top( of( this,- Georgia- features- an- incredibly-diverse-range-of- landscapes:-From-the-Black-Sea-coast,- temperate-rainforests-and-glaciers- in-the-West-to-lush-vineyards-and-semiLarid-plains-in-the-East.- In-the-days-of-the-Soviet-Union,-it- led-to-Georgia-becoming-one-of-its-most-cherished-tourist-destinations.--

Safe,(affordable,(hospitable,(diverse(and(offering(some(of(the(best(yet(unexplored(mountains(and(slopes(of(Europe,((now(is(the(time(to(explore(Georgia!((

Day(1:(arrival,-transfer-to-Zugdidi-via-night-educate-

Day(2:(transfer-to-Mestia,-skiing-

Day(3:(skiing,-transfer-to-Kutaisi-

Day(4:(transfer-to-Gudauri-via-Stalin-Museum,-skiing-

Day(5:(crossLcountry-to-Kazbegi--

Day(6:((heli)skiing-

Day(7:(skiing,-transfer-to-Tbilisi-via-Mtskheta,-Jvari-Monastery,--

Day(8:(departure-

!

!

REASON!NUMBER!2:&THE&ITINERARY!!

Your- Chief- Caucasus- Officer- has-worked- out- a- highly- tailored-itinerary-that-combines-a-maximum-amount-of-time-on-the-slopes-with-visits- to- some- of- Georgia’s- most-popular- tourist-destinations.-Prices-are- kept- low- by- choosing-affordable( yet( decent-accommodation-types.-Don’t-count-on- 5Lstar- hotels,- but- don’t- worry-about-clean-sheets,-warm-showers-or-decent-meals.--

On- Sunday- night- we- will- take- a-night- train- (first- class,- 2Lbed- private-compartments)- from- Tbilisi- to- Zugdidi.- For- the- rest- of- the- journey,- a- bus- and- trusted-driver-will- take-us- to-all-our-destinations.-On-Monday-morning-we’ll- leave-early- for- the-approx.- 2Lhour-drive- to-Mestia.- Though- small- in-number-of- slopes,-Mestia’s( Ski( Resort-makes(up( for( its( size( by( its( location.-Nested-deep- in- the-remote-mountain-province-of-Svaneti,- Mestia- finds- itself- surrounded- by- some- of- Europe’s- highest- peaks- like- Ushba-

(4,710m)-and-Tetnuldi-(4,858m).-Its-striking-collection-of-medieval- defensive- towers- is- a- testament- to- Georgia’s-many- struggles- against- invaders.- With- one- lift,- two-slopes- and- a- number- of- good- (forested)- backcountry-skiing-options,-Mesta-will- serve- as- an- excellent- spot- to-warm-ourselves-up-for-the-real-work.-Mestia-also-offers-good- options- for- skiRtouring.- After- a- first- afternoon- of-skiing- we- will- visit-Mestia’s-new-Museum-of-History- and- Gudauri&Ski&Resort&&&&

Top!elevation!!! 3285m!Base!elevation! 2200m!Skiable!area! ! 57!km!!Lifts! ! ! 7!!

Option(1:(Paragliding(

Taking- off- from- around- 3000m- altitude,-Gudauri-offers-the-best-tandem-paragliding-site-in-Georgia,-if-not-Europe.-Experienced-and-wellLequiped- staff- will- take- you- for- the- following-flights:-

! Standard,-10L15-min-–--€(60,R-! Long-Valley,-25L30-min-–--€(90,R-

No-previous-paragliding-experience-needed-

Ethnography.- On- Tuesday- we-will- leave- Mestia- for- Kutaisi,-arriving- around- 21.00- in- the-evening.--The- next- day- we- will- get- up-early- for- our- transfer- to-Gudauri,( Georgia’s- premier( ski(resort.- Though- also- small-compared- to- many- European-resorts,- Gudauri’s- skiable- area-offers- surprisingly- varied- and-challenging- (on- and- offLpiste)-downhill- skiing- possibilities.- On-

Thursday,- your- CCO- will- take- any- volunteers- on- a- crossLcountry- tour- from- Gudauri’s-highest-lift-station-on-the-top-of-Sazlebe-peak-(3300m)-in-the-direction-of-Kazbegi-village.-Ending-up-at-the-Georgian-Military-Highway-and-with-no-lifts-to-take-us-back,-our-private-bus-will-pick-us-up- for- the-return-ride- to-Gudauri-–-but-not-before- we- make- a- quick( visit( to( the( tourist( hotspot( of(Kazbegi(village-itself.--

Friday-will-be-reserved-specifically-for-optional-activities-that-participants-might-want-to-embark-on,-including-heliskiing(or(paragliding.(On-Saturday-we- can- catch- a- few- last- lifts- until-we- head- back- to- Tbilisi,- stopping- along- the-way- in- the- old-capital- of- Mtskheta- and- the- beautiful- Jvari- Monastery.-Having-arrived-in-Tbilisi-we-will-hit-the-Sulfur(Baths-to-charge-up-for-a-last-Georgian-supra-(dinner)-before-departure-on-Sunday-16-February.-

-

REASON!NUMBER!3:&THE&ACTIVITIES!!

Bohemian-birds-offers-participants-a-basic-package-that-includes-the-following-activities:-

! Historical-tour-of-Tbilisi-! Georgian-cooking-class-! Entry-to-the-Stalin-Museum-in-Gori-and-the-

Museum-of-History-and-Ethnography-in-Mestia-

! A-crossLcountry-skiing-tour-from-Gudauri-ski-

resort-to-Kazbegi-

! Tour-of-Mtskheta-and-Jvari-Monastery-

! Visit-to-Tbilis’s-sulfur-baths-

Mestia&Ski&Resort&&&&Top!elevation!!! 2350m!Base!elevation! 1800m!Skiable!area! ! 5!km!Lifts! ! ! 1!!

!

!

The(basic(package(offers(an(incredibly(varied(itinerary(that(includes(some(of(Georgia’s(top(sights(as(well(as(its(two(best(ski(resorts.!

To- really- write- some- items- of- your- bucket- list-however,-you-should-probably-consider-some-of-the- extra- options- your- CCO- is- offering- to-arrange-for-you.--

First- and- foremost- of- course:- Heliskiing!(Restricted- and- prohibitively- expensive- in- the-Alps-and-many-part-of- the-world,- the-Caucasus-offers- some- the- best- and- most- affordable-heliskiing-options-in-Europe-–-and-most-likely-far-beyond.--

Option(2:(Heliskiing((

Bohemian- birds- will- work- with- Georgia’s- top- Heliskiing-company- “Heliskir”- Heliski- Caucasus.- Founded- in- 2009,-Heliskir- operates- a- Eurocopter- B3- Helicopter- and- employs-highly- experienced- guides- from- Canada,- Germany,- Iceland-and- Georgia,- in- addition- to- internationally- certified- pilots-and-maintenance-engineers-from-Switzerland-and-France.--

Heliskir(offers(the(following(oneRday(packages:(

! Powder-Intro:-for-good-intermediate-skiers-with-no-or-little-experience-in-powder-skiing.-Good-for-improving-your-skills-in-deep-snow-and-allows-you-to-truly-enjoy-your-first-heliskiing-experience.--3(runs.(Price:-€(550,R-

! Powder-Adventure:-designed-for-the-advanced-skier-/-snowboarder-looking-for-an-exceptional-day-of-powder-skiing-/-riding,-on-remote-slopes-of-untouched-snow.-5(runs.(Price:-€(700,R-

! Powder-Skiing-Prep-Course.-Full-day,-using-Gudauri-Ski-Resort-lifts.--

All(packages(include:(

! Special-powder-skis-(Dynastar-Cham107)--! Safety-equipment-(Mammut-Barryvox-transceiver-+-

Airbag-backpack-+-related-avalanche-gear)--! Safety-orientation-and-training-on-the-use-of-safety-

equipment--! Professional-guide-services-(UIAGM-mountain-

guides)-

But-other-options-are-on-the-table.-Paragliding,(snowshoeing,(skiRtouring,(your(CCO(is(ready(to(take(any(request(you(might(have.(We-are-highly-motivated-to-tailor-this-trip-to-everyone’s-exact-needs-and-demands.-Please-don’t-hesitate-to-contact-Mark-about-any-requests-you-might-have!-

!

REASON!NUMBER!3:&THE&PRICE!The-basic-package-will-be-offered-at-the-price-of-€(999,R.-This-

price-includes:-

! Accommodation,-7-nights-

! Transportation-within-Georgia-! All-breakfasts,-opening-&-closing-dinner-! Ski-passes,-2-days-in-Mestia-and-4-days-in-Gudauri-

! Meeting-likeLminded-people-

! Activities-! Bucket-list-session-

This-price-excludes:-

! Transportation- to( and( from( Georgia.- Participants-will- be- responsible- for- their- own- travel-

arrangements,- including-potential- shipping-costs-of-

equipment.-Participants-are-required-to-be-in-Tbilisi-by-Sunday-8-February.-The-trip-ends-on-

the-next-Sunday.--

! Equipment.-Participants-can-either-take-their-own-equipment-of-rent-it-in-Georgia.-Price-of-

rental- regular-carve-skis-are-approx.-€15,L-per-day.-Your-CCO-will- take-care- in- renting- the-

best- available- equipment.- However,- Georgian- ski- rentals- are- limited- in- terms- of- more-

advanced-equipment-such-as-skiLtouring-equipment.-Participants-wishing-to-engage-in-such-

activities-are-encourages-to-bring-their-own-equipment.--

! Logistically,-current-schedule-is-designed(around(a(return(flight(from(Amsterdam(to(Tbilisi-with-Pegasus-Airlines,-currently-

priced-at-less(than(€200,R-round-trip,-with-an-additional-€40,L-per-

flight-for-any-skiing-equipment.--

As-well-as-extra(optional(activities-that-will-be-offered,-such-as:-

! Heliskiing:- oneLday,- 3- runs- for- €-550,L- per- person- /- - oneLday,- 5-

runs-for-€-700,L-per-person.-

Option(3:(?(

Your- CCO- is- very- motivated- to- tailor- this-trip-to-your-own-needs!-

Participants- are- highly- encourages- to- send-any-requests-they-might-have.--

SkiLtouring,- snowshoeing,- any- additional-travel- arrangements,- you- name- it!- Mark-will- do- his- best- to- meet- your- wishes- and-demands.-Please-do-not-hesitate-to-contact-him!-

! Paragliding,-standard-flight-€-60,L-per-person,-long-valley-flight-€-90,L-per-person.--! Extra-guide:-€-50,L-per-day.- Your-CCO-will- arrange-professional- guide- for- any-extra- crossL

country-or-skiLtouring-activities-that-participants-would-like-to-do.--

! Day-visit-to-Ushguli-village-in-Svaneti:-approx.-€-100,L-euro-per-car-that-fits--up-to-5-persons.--