I took a red-eye flight from Almaty to Tbilisi, Georgia, right after spending 4 days in Kazakhstan. My flight was at 2:35 AM and landed in Tbilisi around 10:40 AM—which meant… yep, very little sleep for me. But honestly, I didn’t want to waste a single moment of this trip.

Sleep was pretty much nonexistent throughout this trip. I was constantly on the go. My schedule was packed from start to finish, and I’m actually glad I travelled solo because keeping up with my pace wouldn’t have been easy for most people. 

Initially, I’d planned to stay longer in Almaty, but the flights were significantly cheaper on the date I flew to Georgia. So I changed my plans and ended up spending one extra day in Georgia, 5 days and 4 nights—and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

While I loved Kazakhstan’s natural beauty, I found communication there quite challenging, which sometimes made me feel a little out of place. The moment I landed in Georgia, though, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. It was a fresh, welcoming change.

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Flight to Tbilisi, Georgia

I booked my flight 12 days before the trip through Agoda—just like my flight to Almaty—and again, it turned out to be cheaper than any other booking site I checked.

• 💸 Ticket price: RM1,081.00
• ✈️ Airline: Azerbaijan Airlines

The flight had a 4-hour transit in Baku, Azerbaijan—and let’s just say… it wasn’t exactly smooth. During boarding, I was suddenly asked to step aside because the staff thought I needed a visa to enter Georgia. My heart dropped, but luckily another staff member double-checked my documents and confirmed that I didn’t need one.

Then, just when I was about to scan my boarding pass for the second flight, I got stopped again. 😭 The staff asked me to follow him to the counter—which honestly scared the sh*t out of me—but it turned out to be a good thing! He reprinted my boarding pass, moved me from a seat at the back to a window seat in the middle of the plane, and even explained clearly which terminal I needed to go to. What started as a mini heart attack ended as a nice surprise. 

Despite being a short-haul flight, Azerbaijan Airlines impressed me with their in-flight meals. On the first flight (3h 50m), they served a full meal, and on the second flight (1h 10m), we got bread and orange juice for breakfast. Such a pleasant way to start my journey to Georgia.

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Currency to Use in Georgia

The local currency in Georgia is the Georgian Lari (GEL). You can’t exchange it in Malaysia, so here are your best options:

• Bring USD and exchange it when you arrive (make sure the notes are clean and crisp!)
• Withdraw cash from an ATM once you’re there. 

I personally only exchanged USD 50 in Georgia because most shops accept card payments. I used my Wise card for almost everything—from restaurants to transport—and only needed cash for small local shops and market stalls that didn’t take cards.

💡 Travel Tip: My Wise card was a lifesaver! It worked perfectly for both ATM withdrawals and payments, and the exchange rates were much better than traditional banks. I highly recommend getting one before your trip.

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Visa and Entry to Georgia

✅ Tbilicity Hotel, Tbilisi

• Standard Single room 
• Price: RM89.56/night (Total RM268.69)

The next day, I checked into Tbilicity Hotel. I chose this hotel because it’s right in the city centre, in an area locals call “Arab Street.” I really like the vibe here—it’s lively, full of cafes and shops, and close to many places I wanted to visit.

The only downside is that you’ll need to walk a little to get a car ride, as vehicles can’t enter the area. During the day, that’s totally fine, but at night… especially if you have a late-night flight, it can be a bit concerning. The alley can be quite dark with low lighting, and although the area itself feels safe, it’s still best to be extra careful when walking alone.

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✅ Bonito, Tbilisi

• Double Room with Balcony
• Price: RM68.00/night

I booked this hotel last minute because the Tbilicity hotel was fully booked and not available for me to extend one more night. Luckily, Bonito was just a 3-minute walk from the hotel. I originally planned to go straight to the airport for my next red-eye flight, but I decided to book a room here so I could freshen up and rest beforehand.

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Where I Went and How Much It Costs

📍 Kazbegi, Gudauri & Zhinvali Guided Group Tour
💸 RM98.19

What I really loved about this tour was that it was conducted in a small group with a professional English-speaking guide who provided detailed explanations of every place we visited. Unlike my tour experience in Almaty, this one didn’t offer hotel pick-up. Instead, they gave a meeting point, which was about a 25-minute walk from where I was staying. The tour also included insurance and a fun tasting of different kinds of honey. The only extra costs were for lunch and the jeep ride to Gergeti Trinity Church, which was about $7.

Here’s where we stopped during the tour:

• Zhinvali Water Reservoir – a stunning lake with mountain views.
• Aragvi River – Perfect photo stop with scenic surroundings.
• Ananuri Fortress Complex – a beautiful historical site overlooking the reservoir.
• Gudauri View Point – breathtaking mountain views.
• Stepantsminda – a charming town near the Russia–Georgia border.
• Lunch at Kyemo Mieta – delicious local food (not included in the price).
• Gergeti Trinity Church – the highlight of the trip with postcard-worthy views.

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I spent about two hours here—taking photos, exploring the area, and sitting by the benches to soak in the peaceful atmosphere. There was even a little bird that kept coming to me—such a cute and unexpected moment. 

While I was there, I noticed an old man walking around, asking people for some money. At first, I ignored him, but when he came back, I remembered I still had some coins left I hadn’t used (I was still struggling to figure out the Georgian currency 😅). So, I gave them all to him.

About twenty minutes later, he came back again—this time, he gestured to help me take some photos. I was hesitant at first, thinking it might be a scam, but I decided to trust him. And I’m so glad I did! He took really nice photos of me and even showed me the best spot for pictures.

It was such a sweet and genuine moment—a small reminder that kindness can come from anyone, anywhere. 💛 If you ever stumble upon this man, give him a little something if you can. Life may not have been fair to him, but he surely left a kind mark on mine.

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Food and Halal Options

During my time in Old Tbilisi, I noticed there were quite a few Kosher restaurants around. As a Muslim, I’ve learned that when it’s hard to find halal food while travelling, Kosher food is usually a safe alternative since the preparation methods are quite similar. I didn’t see many halal restaurants here, but I did come across a small halal kebab shop and a convenience store where I grabbed some snacks.

When I moved to the Tbilisi city centre, finding halal food became much easier since I was staying near Arab Street. The area was filled with Pakistani and Indian halal restaurants, so food hunting was a breeze!

Of course, I also wanted to try some local Georgian dishes—I was really looking forward to it. The first dish I had was Ostri, a rich beef stew cooked in tomato sauce and served with bread. It was so delicious! The meat was tender and juicy, and the flavour reminded me of a Greek dish I once had called reddish beef.

The second dish I tried was Meat Khinkali, Georgia’s famous dumplings. Honestly, it wasn’t my favourite. I’m glad I chose the meat filling, because the cheese version was way too strong for me (almost made me puke 😅). Even with the meat one, I could only finish 2 pieces—the slimy texture and taste just weren’t for me. 

Georgia is famous for its wine, but since I don’t drink alcohol, I always went for their lemonade instead—and it was so good! I just had to make sure it wasn’t mixed with wine, as some local versions are.

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Language in Georgia

The main language spoken here is Georgian, which has its own unique alphabet that looks nothing like English or any other language I’ve seen. It’s beautiful but definitely not easy to read.

Many locals, especially the older generation, also speak Russian, while the younger ones and those working in cafes, hotels, and tourist areas usually speak English quite well. Because of that, I never really felt a language barrier during my trip. Communication was smooth and easy.

Even when I met people who didn’t speak English, they were always patient and tried their best to help—sometimes with gestures, smiles, or even using Google Translate. It made my experience in Georgia feel even warmer and more welcoming. 

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Overall Experience

Georgia truly stole my heart, and a piece of me still feels like it’s there. I love everything about it—the cobblestone streets, the friendly faces, the lively atmosphere, and most of all, its breathtaking nature. My favourite part of the trip was definitely the mountains. Sitting there, surrounded by peace and fresh air, I felt calm and grounded— almost like I was home.

Back in Old Tbilisi, the city had a completely different charm. It’s full of life, even at night, and walking around was honestly one of my favourite things to do. The pedestrian paths were decent (though Almaty still wins for the best walkways 😆).

Most of my days were spent exploring on foot, except for those moments when I got completely lost and had to rely on Bolt. Thankfully, all that pre-trip stamina training paid off, because Tbilisi’s streets are no joke! Even wandering around Old Tbilisi felt like a mini hike, but I enjoyed every bit of it.

As a solo female traveller, I also felt very safe throughout my trip. Even when walking through quiet alleyways, I didn’t feel uneasy—though of course, I still stayed alert, just in case. The weather was pleasantly chilly, perfect for light jackets and long walks. Honestly, I don’t think I could’ve explored as much if it had been hot!

Would I come back?

Absolutely. 💛

There are still so many places in Georgia I haven’t explored yet, and something about this country makes me want to return again and again.

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Next Flight

Georgia was the second chapter of my trip. Up next: Turkiye—and I can’t wait to share all about that part of the trip with you. I hope this post helps those who are planning to visit Georgia!

Till my next post,
Auri Duham 💛

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