Georgia (Caucasus)

Georgia is the most underrated country in the region. Tbilisi is one of Europe's most atmospheric capitals; the food and wine deserve their own pilgrimage; and the Caucasus mountains rival the Alps for beauty without the crowds. Visa-free for most, cheap, and still a fraction of the crowds the Alps pull.

Base in Tbilisi and work outward: a day for the old town and sulphur baths, a day trip up the Georgian Military Highway to Kazbegi, a couple of days drinking qvevri amber wine in Kakheti. With more time, make the long haul to Svaneti and trek village to village from Mestia to Ushguli. Eating is the main event — khinkali, khachapuri, supra feasts that run for hours — and the bill barely registers. Guesthouses, not hotels, are the move.

The rough edges are part of the deal. Marshrutkas are cramped and driven with alarming confidence, mountain roads close without notice, and outside Tbilisi the infrastructure is basic — don't expect polished hotels in Svaneti. English stays thin beyond the capital, and Tbilisi isn't the bargain it was five years ago. If you need things to run on schedule, you'll be frustrated. The hospitality, the food, and the Caucasus scenery cover a multitude of inconveniences.