...only the exquisite, rare, and exceptional...
About our Company
Welcome… to John Graham Tours! We offer a variety of curated cultural and hiking tours mostly for private groups. Currently we operate out of Georgia, but also lead tours in Armenia, Turkey, Ethiopia, Sicily, and the Greek islands. As a people-focused operation, we are thrilled to develop strong relationships with our tour participants, and welcome many returning travelers via our Tamada Club! For new folks, please take a look at our tour offerings below... if one sparks your interest, please write to request one of our 20-page color brochures: admin@johngrahamtours.com We look forward to traveling with you in the near future!
New York Times Travel
Music and Ancient History in the Caucasus
By CELESTINE BOHLEN"The idea was to take a trip with my 22-year-old daughter, Liza, an adventure worthy of a college graduation present.... These remnants of ancient Georgian culture were what drew us to join John Graham, an American musicologist and tour leader, on a journey that began in the Black Sea city of Batumi, circling through the Turkish cities of Kars, Yusufeli and Ardanuc, before ending in Tbilisi.
"John himself, whom I had met in Paris when he was touring with a choir of Georgian singers, provided the other lure. An academic expert in Georgian polyphonic chant, with a doctorate from Princeton, he had promised us music along the trip, and he delivered.... Read the article.
EXCELLENTTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The West Georgia / Svaneti trip we took this past Aug-Sep with John GrahamTours was terrific! It was uniquely personal, like having good friends introduce you to their most beloved places and customs while sharing honest perspectives on this ancient, fiercely independent country at the crossroads of East and West, surviving in the menacing shadow of Russia. Our leaders Dato and John Graham himself provided great historical insight, enthusiasm, encouragement hiking, abundant meals and well-ordered arrangements throughout the two weeks we spent in Georgia. The country is dramatically beautiful and culturally fascinating. For us, the combination of visiting historical sites and hiking high in the Caucasus, while challenging, was unforgettable. John Graham offers tours like no other company. If we are lucky enough to return to Georgia we will seek him out for more adventures in the country he has adopted and clearly loves. Well done!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. John Graham, the organizer of our group trip to Georgia and Armenia, was the best guide we’ve ever had! His connection with people, extensive knowledge, and insider/outsider perspectives were some of what made this trip memorable. The logistical aspects and attention to detail were also superb - the hotels and restaurants were extremely well chosen, and John kept on top of things with the other guide Roseanna in Armenia, who was also extremely engaging, informative and resourceful. There were many highlights arranged for the trip in addition to the “normal” sights: the polyphonic music by John’s friends (John is an accomplished ethnomusicologist), the hikes, the cultural productions, experiencing the wines in the cradle of viticulture including traditional kvevri making, the food everywhere! John deserves a lot of credit for putting together experiences that were evocative and interesting. The “supra” dinners that he led were particularly memorable, providing insight into local traditions. He (and the other guides) were always open to discuss social customs and their own experiences, as well as broader geopolitical issues. In fact we enjoyed the insights we got from these discussions as much as the considerable charms of the region. We would highly recommend John Graham Tours as a way to experience this fascinating region.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had travelled for years with various tour groups, but John Graham Tours surpass all of them. It all started with the NYT essay about an academic expert in Georgian polyphonic chant, who offers trips in Georgia and Armenia, and whose The Kingdom of Tao trip caught our attention. The trip surpassed our expectations. John’s knowledge of the region, its history and culture, are all profound and impressive. We were immersed in the region’s beauty, its past and present. We knew at the end of a tour that we will return. And that is what we did: we and other people, who became friends on John’s first trip, returned last year on the Viticulture and Highlands tour. Once more we were immersed in the rich cultural history of the region and its natural beauty. There is no area where John’s trips can benefit from improving; it is our hard-kept conviction that John’s trips are perfect: they cannot be better conducted, cannot be better organized, cannot be led by better guides. The variety of sites to be shown, rich commentary reflecting John’s knowledge of and love for the region shine through his tours. Learning and relaxation (through many musical impromptu as well as scheduled events) have all been outstanding. And the trips would not be complete if we did not mention food that we all marveled over and never had enough of. John infected us with the love of Georgia, and I am certain that we will be back there. And speaking of John’s tours, we also were fortunate enough to be led by him in Ethiopia, One more time John showed his perfect organizational skills, ability to hire expert guides, and filled us with impressions that will last a lifetime. We are impatiently waiting for John designing other trips. And there is no doubt in our mind that wherever ge goes, we will follow. It does not get better than that. Thank you, John, for guiding us on three exquisite trips, and we are looking for many, many more. Dorota and Wlodek CzarnochaTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am delighted to recommend John Graham Tours which has organized several outstanding trips that I participated in the Republic of Georgia. John and Dato are highly knowledgeable with the history and socio-economic context and happily share their insights with the group. The visits were well organized, with a great mix of hiking, cultural activities, and historical sites. The choice of hotels and restaurants was excellent. Wine is always in abundance and the Georgian chanting and toasts add a nice touch to dinners. John and his great team go out of their way to make the trips exceptional and memorable.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Been on 2 John Graham tours in Georgia now - a mix of hiking and cultural visits. Impeccable organization, exceptional guides, and all in all simply wonderful trips. Highly recommended.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Our John Graham tour in Georgia was a great cultural experience. The tour included walking/hiking in the Caucasus mountains, Georgian history, and great food and drink.
Wonders of Sicily: Cultural Tour
March 27th - April 6th, 2025
March, 2026
Travel Program… Join us in a discovery of the world's most culturally vibrant island. From incredible Greek and Roman temples, to jewels of medieval and baroque architecture, every day is full of wonder. The cuisine and wine is top class, and our team of guides are ready to curate an incredible culinary experience. Join us for this extraordinary adventure! Read more here!
Ancient Cultures of Georgia & Armenia
A Cultural Tour meeting artists and musicians, vintners and cooks, with lectures on history
April 18th - 30th, 2025
April 24th - May 6th, 2026
Travel Program… One of our most popular tour programs, the Ancient Cultures of Georgia & Armenia cultural tour gives a broad introduction to the most important UNESCO heritage sites as well as the wealth of artistic culture that flourishes in both countries today. While lectures focus on the history of these countries as early emerging states caught between competing empires to West (Rome and Byzantium) and the East (Persia and Selkjuk Turks), our day to day experience will be an interaction with musicians, artists, cooks, clerics, and environmentalists. Our tour begins in Tbilisi, Georgia, then continues into Armenia before returning to Tbilisi... Read more here!
Cathedrals of Tao
A Cultural Tour through the historic kingdom of Tao-Klarjeti (Georgia & Turkey)
May 2nd - 14th, 2025
May, 2027
Travel Program… This unique tour program, featured in the New York Times (June 20th, 2017 issue), focuses on the most important Christian sites in the historic 9th-10th century kingdom of Tao-Klarjeti, the location of a great renaissance of medieval manuscript writing, chant composition, and architectural innovation. Our tour itinerary is organized around visiting these "lost" cathedrals, which had fallen into ruin after 400 years of neglect under the Ottoman Empire. But our experience will be infused with traditional music of both Turkey and Georgia, the delicious fusion cuisine and wine of the border regions, and of course a healthy conversation about historical and modern political realities. This tour is perfect for adept travelers interested in a deeper cultural immersion experience. Read more...
Walking in the Caucasus - West Georgia
A Hiking Tour through the mountains of West Georgia (Svaneti, Racha, Imereti)
Aug. 23rd - Sept. 4th, 2025
Aug. 22nd - Sept. 3rd, 2026
Travel Program… We begin and end the tour in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia (airport designation TBS) and a beautiful city that featured prominently on trade routes from Asia to Europe. The focus of this unique itinerary will be walking trails in the High Caucasus mountains. We will not be roughing it, however, as jeeps will carry our luggage to the end point, and we will stay in cozy 3-star hotels where a cool beer, a hot shower, and comfortable bed awaits. JohnGrahamTours specializes in the culture of Georgia: therefore, in addition to our walking schedule, there will be an emphasis on visiting medieval churches to see original frescoes, meeting local families to learn about their lives and customs, and experiences with the music and dance of the local people. Read more!
Walking in the Caucasus - East Georgia
A Hiking Tour through the mountains of East Georgia (Tusheti, Khevsureti, Kazbegi)
By Private Group Request, Aug. 2025
TBA, 2026
Travel Program… We begin and end the tour in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia (airport designation TBS) and a beautiful city that featured prominently on trade routes from Asia to Europe. The focus of this unique itinerary will be walking trails in the High Caucasus mountains of East Georgia including the Tusheti National Park, as well as the Khevsureti and Kazbegi protected highlands. We will not be roughing it, however, as jeeps will carry our luggage, and we will stay in cozy 3-star hotels where a cool beer, a hot shower, and comfortable bed awaits. JohnGrahamTours specializes in the culture of Georgia: therefore, in addition to our walking schedule, there will be an emphasis on meeting local families to learn about their lives and customs, and experiences with the music and dance of the local people. The middle of the tour features two nights resting at a 4-star winery resort hotel with a swimming pool in the Kakheti viticulture region. Read more!
Castles of Caria: Cruising in Turkiye + Greek islands
A cruising tour along the Carian coast of southwest Turkiye, and including three Greek islands (Kos, Symi, and Rhodes)
Sept 12th - 21st, 2025
Sept, 2026
Travel Program… Our tour begins and ends in the port city of Bodrum, which has proved vital throughout the millennia with remnants of past empires dotting its protected bay; the Halikarnassos Mausoleum (built around 350 BC) was considered one of the seven wonders of the world, while the Knights Hospitaller built a fantastic castle in the 15th century that still stands as a landmark of the city. On our third day, we embark on a traditional wooden sailing vessel known as a gulet to start a seven-day cruise between the Greek islands of Kos, Symi, and Rhodes before returning to the secluded bays of the Carian coastline of Turkiye... Read more!
Golden Fleece cultural tour - West Georgia
A Cultural Tour through ancient Colchis, also exploring the highlands of Racha and Svaneti
Sept-Oct, 2025 (by private request)
Sept-Oct, 2026
Travel Program… The focus of this unique cultural program will be to visit and understand the impact of the bronze-era kingdom of Colchis, and its dependency on the mountain tribes for mineral resources. After traveling to the Black sea coastal region of Georgia (ancient Colchis), we will pay particular focus to travel through the unique cultural and geographical highland region of Svaneti. The region features a unique language, its own folklore, folk music, and cuisine. The villages are punctuated with thousand-year-old defensive towers, and each town has several Christian chapels with original frescoes dating to the 10th-12th century period.... Read more!
Coastal Caria: Archeology Cruise on the Turkish Coast
A cruising tour along the Carian coast of southwest Turkiye (Fethiye to Bodrum)
Oct. 24th - Nov. 3rd, 2025
Oct, 2026
Travel Program... Our tour begins with two nights in Fethiye and ends with one night in Bodrum in the southwestern corner of Turkiye. On Day 3, we embark on a private gulet charter - a traditional wooden sailing ship - for our real adventure: a cruise along the famous “Turquoise coast” of the Carian coast! Our guests absolutely love the natural beauty of this stunning coastline, with its steep arid hillsides plunging into clear blue water. Our trip takes us past several ancient Carian cities and fortifications that were later Hellenized and Romanized in classical antiquity. Among these the highlights are surely the city of Kaunos, the ruins of Lydae, the necropolis of Loryma, and the double-harbor city of Knidos. Some of these sites have never been excavated by archeologists and many remain accessible only from the sea. Read more!
Ethiopia: Hiking Tour
Journey with us through the Simien mountain National Park and other exotic locations!
November-December - by private group request
Travel Program… This thrilling adventure through the ancient Christian regions of Ethiopia's northern highlands features a series of short and long hikes through the national parks, along ridges, around lakes and dry river beds. We will have professional guides, support vehicles, packed picnic lunches, and all the necessaries to make this a highly enjoyable trip. Accommodation is in best available hotels and exclusive lodges in the national parks. Travel will involve four short domestic flights to bypass driving long distances over rough roads. Our centers of interest will be Gondar, the Simien National Park, Lalibela, and Gheralta, with forays to Lake Tana (head of the Blue Nile River). The UNESCO heritage churches at Lalibela will be a cultural highlight of this itinerary, as well as the desert churches of Gheralta. We will see plenty of wildlife at Lake Tana and in the Simien mountains! Read more here!
Ethiopia: Genna Cultural Tour
January 4th-16th, 2027
January 4th-16th, 2028
Travel Program… This thrilling adventure through the ancient Christian regions of Ethiopia's northern highlands features a relaxed schedule, plenty of delicious food, top-notch guides, visits to the most important sites, and lots of interaction with local people. We will also seek out unique musicians to feed our interest in local culture through music, cuisine, and religion. Travel will involve several short domestic flights to bypass driving long distances over rough roads. Our centers of interest will be Addis, Lalibela, Gondar, and Gheralta, with forays to Lake Tana (head of the Blue Nile River), the gorgeous Simien National Park highlands with its unique herds of friendly Gelada herbivore baboons, and remote rock-hewn churches in the Gheralta region. The UNESCO heritage churches at Lalibela will feature heavily in this itinerary, as we visit this sacred city during its most important yearly festival: the feast of the Nativity (Jan. 7th on their old Christian calendar). Join us for this extraordinary adventure! Read more here!
Intriguing Destinations | Blog
Kriste Aghdga [Christ is Risen] in English
Kriste aghdga (Christ is Risen) is an important Easter hymn in the Georgian Orthodox tradition. Many musical variants of... Read More
10 Magnificent Churches of Kartli
In this series of posts, I document an extraordinary trip to 10 churches in the Shida Kartli region. In... Read More
Jeep Tour to Rkoni Monastery
In this series of posts, I document an extraordinary trip to 10 churches in the Shida Kartli region. To... Read More
Finding the medieval “Tamar bridge” near Rkoni Monastery
In this series of posts, I document an extraordinary trip to 10 churches in the Shida Kartli region. To... Read More