Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan
 

Hi all,

Crossed the border to Georgia today.
Have now around 2 weeks time in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Most of the time I will spend in Georgia.
Will cross the border between Georgia and Russia (using military road) on 2nd of August.

Few questions:
- Any suggestions for "must see places" in Georgia?
- I guess camping is allowed anywhere (of course using common sense)?
- Are all the borders open for foreigners between Georgia and Armenia?
- Are all the borders open for foreigners between Georgia and Azerbaijan?

Anyone in Georgia at this time and want to have a jeiger?

WATCH OUT: we were very seriously warned by local Georgians in the mountains of Adjara (southern Georgia) about camping in the wild. I walked 200 m at night in the forest to go to the car from the house we were staying and the day after they said: ARE YOU MAD??? Never do it again. Due to jackals especially, and wolves and bears attacks. Apparently it is a REAL THREAT. Again, while changing money at the border post Guguti (GE)-Gogavan (ARM), it was after dark and we could hear the "beasts". -Jackals? -Yes. -Problem, danger? -No problem. -Here no problem, there problem (pointing out of the village). The guy stands up, moves hands and says: YES, YES, big problem. So be really careful about camping in the wild in the mountains there, ask first.

I personally enjoyed a lot Vardzia, since I had read about it a in book by Kapuscinsky. A city digged in the mountain, exposed after a side of the mountain fell following an earthquake. Georgian and Armenian churches and monasteries are amazing (especially considering the old times when some were built). Tbilisi is a lovely city to stroll, very charming.

Happy travels,

Esteban

EDIT: Borders GE-ARM were open in summer 2010, I assume it remains the same. We got to that border by mistake, a quite small post, not the BIG one and I would not use it: we did not cross a car for 45 min on that road, it looked kind of weird and I did not feel it very safe late at night (just a feeling). ARM officials were stupid.

Thanks estebangc!
Ok, need to check with the locals if it is safe to camp.

YES, right interpretation, I worried I made it look like "don't ever camp there".

A couple days later, not far from that border, we camped right near Haghpat Monastery after locals said it was safe. My wife could hear a dog going around the tent (I was sleeping), but no pack of jackals! ufff...

btw, Haghpat and Sanahin monasteries are amazing, UNESCO heritage sites. Built in 10th century, cannot compare to European Romanic style, with their arcades and bigger windows, much more advanced at the time! Really worth a visit.

Hy

wanna drive with Motorcycle to Georgia in 2018.
What raodmap you had been using?
Did you use a GPS - are there gpx files?

Openstreetmap worked very well for us in Georgia, Armenia and the Southern Russian Caucasus.

This danger is always overstated by the local people. It is done in Siberia too, every town you go to people will tell you that will be killed by a bear if you haven't a gun, but has it ever happened to any of the countless bikers who have camped there? no. It is basically folklore. They get told this by their grandparents when they are children to stop them wandering in the woods, then it becomes part of their lexicon, and they repeat it to people who don't know any better.
In reality instances of bear attacks on people in Europe are incredibly rare. Even in an area with a high bear population you are more likely to be struck by lightning. Instances of wolf attacks are virtually non existent. There are some instances of wolfs attacking small children, but that is it. Wolfs do not attack people. The idea of jackals attacking a person for no reason is so utterly absurd that you should be embarrassed for even entertaining it.
This is the sort of mumbo jumbo old wives tales nonsense that leads to these animals being unfairly persecuted and hunted to extinction and you really shouldn't perpetuate it.