We check in at Rooms Hotel Kazbegi.

A special lemonade has been prepared for our arrival.

We enjoy a glass—it is delicious!

Then we set right out to conquer the mountains. The first (test) ascent takes us to Gergeti. At around 7,000 feet, there is a 14th century monastery.

To our surprise, almost everyone made this ascent on foot, even in this kind of weather. Upon their descent, the guests are treated to a glass of Kindzmarauli wine andchurchkhela (sugar-coated nuts). A corporate flag shows the way.

A photo keepsake with a true mountain dweller, a wild and wooly one at that!

With Max Matveev, who is the head of Travel Trophy and comes up with all kinds of interesting adventures all over the world for his customers. This time he is adventuring with us.

On the second day is the conference, and on the third we will take a trip into the mountains. Here is Rooms Kazbegi, from where we will leave in a few hours to conquer Chaukhi. But first we need to get a good night’s sleep.

Magnificent Kazbek against a twilight sky.

And this is Gergeti and the Holy Trinity Church, where we will all climb to together tomorrow.

In the early morning, Max Matveev (Travel Trophy) left with the advanced group of professionals (“samovars”), 50 people, to climb to the peak of Mukhadze. Three hours later, Revaz Uturgauri (Sky Travel) led 50 “amateurs” (“teapots”) and they followed the “samovars” through a mountain gorge to the foothills of the Chaukhi massive. Before we set off, we take a photo as a keepsake.

The mountain guides lead the way.

We walk at a brisk pace in an orderly line.

Pasha (Travel Trophy Altay) takes up the rear. A very responsible position, just so you know.

We step out over the snow crust above a mountain river.

By this time, the conquerors of the peak have raised their corporate flag.

We reach the foot of Chaukhi and…run for the mountain lake. No one cares that the water is only about 40oF, they are people from Siberia!!!

Another group has arranged itself in the shape of the corporate logo. They are experts!

A few of the women, stunned by the mountain splendors, decided to meditate, well cleanse their chakras. Upper and lower…

The local mountain dwellers took this spectacle in their stride. Of course, they are used to seeing all kinds of things (Kazbegi is a tourist area), but it was clear that the meditation amused them…

A few adventurous “amateurs” head up the side of Mukhadze to meet their professional “samovar” friends. This group was deservedly given the same “semi-samovars” (semi-professionals).

By the way! We made sure the site was equipped with the necessary amenities beforehand, so that all was in good order and civilized.

And here are the professionals—the conquerors of Mukhadze (this mountain is classified as Grade 1A)—coming back down to meet us.

The conquerors of the peak—the Siberian Samovars.

And this is our team: Max is in yellow, Revaz in red, with the mountain guides on either side. We give all the “mountaineers” top marks. We did a good job!

And now it’s time to return. As we used to write in school, “tired, but happy, they wound their way home!”

Mountain banquet at Zeta Camp.

Max and Rezo—the organizers! Good luck everyone! Come back and see us!!

But that is not all. The next day we came back down the mountain and after looking around Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia and buying enough souvenirs to last a lifetime, we headed for the Chateau Mukhrani wine factory situated not far from Mtskheta in the palace of the Bagrationi princes.

Everything was ready for the guests’ arrival! Today we are going to make chacha!!!

And bake Georgian bread

and taste wine

and dance!

First you are given instructions on how to make this drink. The guests pay close attention and try not to miss a word. Some take notes…

Then things get going (under the supervision of the bosses)!

Everyone is really interested, we would even say, fascinated!

And being fascinated, they are also having fun!

Then our boys begin singing in four voices!

And the guests join in! After they returned home, they wrote a letter: “…want to thank you for organizing our conference so perfectly. It is very rare to find such attention to detail, and most important, so much personal participation. Wonderful guides, super mountain rangers, fantastic choice of the ascent route; everyone—both professionals and amateurs—was truly overwhelmed!”…