One day you are wandering through Tbilisi Christmas markets under glowing lights, the next you are soaking in warm Borjomi sulfur pools while cold air brushes your face, and by evening you are playing in the soft snow of Gudauri or tasting wine in the hilltop charm of Sighnaghi.
If you are preparing for a Georgia winter trip from Christmas to New Year, here is your smart, experience-tested MM&Co. Georgia packing checklist for your Dec 25 to Jan 1 itinerary.
1. The Essentials
Before the adventures begin, make sure you have:
- Georgia visa documents for Indian travelers including (make sure to carry a print out of everything in addition to a soft copy):
- Passport with minimum six months validity from the date of departure from the trip.
- Round trip flight tickets
- Travel insurance
- Hotel vouchers
- Local currency is the Georgian Lari (GEL), but you won’t get that in India easily, thus, we recommend you to carry USD and then exchange locally for a better exchange rate. Carry 300 – 350 USD for approximate extra expenses. This is a subjective amount and in case one consumes more alcohol or wishes to shop more, then they’d need to carry more accordingly.
- Forex card: You may get a forex card of your preference. We recommend Niyo Global. In case you’re intending on using your credit card please make sure to check their mark up rates. For all cards, please ensure you activate them for international usage prior to travel.
- For those wanting to split their funds between card and cash, we’d recommend carrying 250 USD in cash and 100 USD on your card as immigration officers sometime check for proof of funds.
- Universal adapter for Type C and Type F plugs.
- Reusable or thermal water bottle for cold weather.
- Alcohol note: Georgia has abundant wine and alcohol options. Bring your own only if preferred.
Before you pack, make sure your travel documents are ready.
Read our guide: Visa for Georgia Everything You Need Before You Fly
2. What to Wear in Georgia
End of December, Georgia typically stays cold, with daytime temperatures around –1°C to 6°C and nights dropping further, often below freezing. Winter in Georgia brings crisp breezes, snowy landscapes, cozy cafes, and festive nightlife. This list is ideal for anyone searching for what to wear in Georgia in December or Georgia winter clothing guide.
Clothing
- 2 pairs of thermals: tops and leggings for your innermost layering.
- Wool sweaters, fleece pullovers, and heat-tech layers.
- 1 thick winter jacket that is insulated and windproof.
- Warm trousers or lined pants.
- One pair of waterproof pants for snow days.
- 1 swimsuit for Borjomi sulfur pool.
- Scarf or shawl for windy viewpoints like Sighnaghi.
- Hoodies or fleece layers for added warmth.
- Refrain from overpacking, instead pack smart. Go through the itinerary and plan your outfits in advance to know what to use where and what can be reused in which combination. The best hack to stay protected in winters is layering, so, this will require efficient reusing 🙂
Footwear
- 1 pair of trekking shoes with fleece lining. Snow boots or gum boots do not have a good grip. Trekking shoes have a good grip. And, fleece lining keeps your feet warm too.
- These trekking shoes must be water resistant to withstand getting wet in snow.
- As this is a winter heavy trip, choose shoes and avoid sandals. Similarly, while boots may look fashionable, please assess how much you can walk around in them and keep them only if you’re comfortable being in them for hours.
- Woollen socks
Accessories
- Warm beanie or hat.
- Warm gloves that are ideally waterproof.
- Sunglasses for snow glare and sunny vineyard days.
- 1 red coloured outfit for celebrating Christmas!
- 1 white coloured festive outfit for New Year’s Eve celebrations! (not a dress code, just something fun for the MM gang :D)
4. Miscellaneous Gear
- Power bank
- Small backpack or daypack for daily sightseeing/ outings
- Warmee/ heating patch for those who feel cold easily
- For vegetarians/ travellers who crave the Indian palette more: some MTR/ instant food packets. While vegetarian alternatives are available, they are not as spice infused as Indian food, so, if you’re someone who would crave that after a few days, a few instant food packets would be good 🙂
- Similarly, we never say no to snacking! Road trips and road journeys warrant snacks, bring them along.
- While our trip leader carries a basic first aid kit, if you’re on some medication or susceptible to some form of illness while travelling, please carry the requisite medicine. For example: those with motion sickness, must carry avomine as the trip has significant road journeys involved.
- Simialrly, if you require a neck pillow or anything else to make your road journeys smooth, carry the same.
5. MM&Co. Trip Add-ons
A few small things can make shared moments even more memorable!
- UNO / playing cards / small games: Great for all the group chilling and fun!
- Portable speaker: Did someone say partayyy
Final Tip
A Georgia winter trip is filled with glowing city streets, snowy mountain peaks, steaming sulfur baths, ancient churches, and warm hearted hospitality. Dress in layers, keep winter essentials close, and embrace the festive charm of Christmas markets, wine tasting cellars, sulfur pools, and New Year fireworks!