The history of About Tours Traveling in Georgia starts in May 1989, when Zurab Sanikidze and Michael Lautanbach decided to bring a group of cultural enthusiasts to Georgia—people who were eager to explore the country’s rich history, unique ethnography, and modern art.
Our first guests were German artists and filmmakers from Freiburg, Bonn, and other cities. Arriving in October 1989, they stayed with local Georgian families who worked in architecture, cinematography, and painting, creating a deep cultural bond from the very beginning.
During this journey, our German guests explored the dramatic Georgian mountains of Kazbegi and Shatili, visited the coastal city of Batumi, and discovered breathtaking cave towns like Vardzia, Uplistsikhe, and David Gareja. They also marveled at UNESCO heritage sites such as Jvari and Svetitskhoveli. A highlight of the trip was participating in the traditional autumn grape harvest (Rtveli) in Kakheti, where they tasted authentic Georgian amber and red wines made in traditional clay vessels called Qvevri.
This successful exchange inspired further cultural cooperation, leading to reciprocal visits, joint art exhibitions, and performances in Germany. This strong partnership eventually culminated in a major international success: the Georgian-German co-production directed by George Ovashvili (with cinematography by Dimitri Tsintsadze), which won the prestigious Ecumenical Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Today, About Tours Traveling in Georgia continues this decades-long legacy. We specialize in creating custom, deeply immersive cultural tours, led by passionate local experts who are dedicated to showing you the authentic heart and soul of Georgia.