Highlights of Georgia

Day 1: Arrival

Arrival at Tbilisi International hotel, meet with you guide and transfer to the hotel.

Overnight Tbilisi

 

Day 2: Tbilisi City Tour

After breakfast we will start our exploration of Tbilisi, a city which has quite long 1500 years of history as a capital. The foundation of the city is related with the famous Tbilisi Baths – natural spring waters with sulfur. Baths’ district is nowadays the heart of the old town of Tbilisi. During our city tour we will visit this famous baths, also XVII C. Metekhi church situated on Metekhi Plateau. From plateau you can see Georgian, Armenian and Catholic churches, also Jewish Synagogue and Muslim Mosque side by side as a symbol of Georgian tolerance. We also visit Narikala fortress (by the cable car), Cathedral Sameba – which is the highest Orthodox Church and the oldest church of Tbilisi – Anchiskhati (VI-VII C). Next to the Anchiskhati is the oldest café of Tbilisi – “café Gabriadze” named after the famous Georgian film maker Rezo Gabriadze. We also visit the main avenue of Tbilisi – Rustaveli Avenue with the buildings of almost all the types of European Architecture of the 19th century (Baroque, Moorish, classical and even Stalinist architectural styles).  Also we visit the National History Museum.
Overnight in Tbilisi

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Day 3: Ananuri - Gudauri - Gergeti – Tbilisi

Today we will drive north along the Georgian Military Highway, linking Georgia with Russia into the mountainous provinces of the Greater Caucasus. Our first stop is Ananuri, the incredible 16th century fortress complex built by the warring dukes of Aragvi in an attempt to control the main road. It’s a well-preserved castle on the shore of the Zhinvali Reservoir. Continue to Gudauri – a famous resort town located at the slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range. Our next stop is Trinity Church Gergeti (14th century) situated at an altitude of 2170 m at the foot of Mount Kazbek. Drive back to Tbilisi.

Overnight in Tbilisi

 

Day 4: Javakheti - Paravani - Vardzia - Akhaltsikhe

After the breakfast we drive to the south of Georgia to Javakheti region. The first stop will be Paravani Lake - the biggest in Georgia, to explore the monastery of St. Nino.  At the territory of the monastery, there is a small dairy managed by local nuns. Here we can find various unique kinds of cheeses that cannot be found anywhere else in Georgia. The road to Vardzia leads past arid and stone-terraced landscapes including the famed 10th century Khertvisi Castle, one of the oldest fortresses in Georgia. Vardzia history is inextricably linked to Queen Tamar, Georgia's most famous and loved royal who reigned during the 12th century. It became the most important monastery and primary center of culture in Georgia.

Overnight in Akhaltsikhe

 

Day 5: Rabati - Sapara - Borjomi - Kutaisi

This morning we start with a trip to the Rabati Fortress, a medieval structure in Akhaltsikhe which is dated back to the 13th century. Our next stop is Sapara Monastery, hidden in the mountain forests. Continue our journey to visit Borjomi – a beautiful town surrounded by an amazing landscape, it famous for its mineral water. Explore the town and drive Kutaisi where we will have our overnight.

Overnight in Kutaisi

 

Day 6: Bagrati - Sataplia - Gelati - Motsameta - Tbilisi

In the morning a visit to Bagrati Cathedral, a UNESCO heritage site, It is one of the most iconic places to visit in Georgia built in the early 11th century. Our next UNESCO object is Gelati Monastery – is a masterpiece of the Golden Age of medieval Georgia, a period of political strength and economic growth between the 11th and 13th centuries. Also it was also a center of science and education and the Academy it housed was one of the most important centres of culture in ancient Georgia. Continue to Motsameta Monastery, located on the hill under the River Tskhaltsitela-Red River.

Overnight in Tbilisi

 

Day 7: Kakheti - Sighnaghi - Tbilisi

We take a ride to reach the main winemaking region of Georgia – Kakheti, where the best and exclusive wines are made with love. Our next stop is Telavi town which is the center of Kakheti and is located in the beautiful Alazani Valley. Here we can see the oldest tree in the country – 900-year-old platan. Laterwe will visit Tsinandali– the summer residence of the noble Georgian family – Chavchavadze. The founder of this beautiful European style palace and gardens was the father of the Georgian romanticism – Alexander Chavchavadze. Continue our tour to Sighnaghi town which is called also "love town" – it is a medieval city located on the hills overlooking Alazani Valley and Dagestan Mountains (North Caucasus).

Overnight in Tbilisi

 

Day 8: Mtskheta – Gori - Tbilisi

The first stop of our tour will be in sacred Mtskheta (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the ancient capital of eastern Georgia, at the southern end of the highway. Georgia conversion to Christianity took place in Mtskheta in 337 AD. We will visit Church of Jvari perched on a cliff overlooking the city, the Sveti-Tskhoveli Cathedral, the first Christian church to be built in Georgia and its largest functioning cathedral and the Samtavro Monastery complex. Continue to Gori town to visit the house museum of Stalin, the most powerful leader in the USSR.

Farewell dinner at the traditional restaurant in Tbilisi!

Overnight in Tbilisi

 

Day 9: Departure

Transfer to airport and departure.