Discover Georgia

Day 1. Arrival (-/-/-)

Arrival in Tbilisi.

Meeting guests at the airport and transfer to the hotel of the selected category.

Hotel accommodation. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 2. Tbilisi (B/-/-)

Breakfast in the hotel.

1. Excursion around Tbilisi.

 Metekhi Church: a temple built in the 12th century. and served as a chapel of the Georgian royal family, has a tragic history.

It was destroyed several times during the invasions of Muslims and Tatar-Mongols.

It also served as a prison and theater during the Soviet period.

Sulfur baths: the famous Tbilisi baths are located on the same “bath” street, in a small area. They are built on warm sulfur-alkaline springs flowing from under Mount Tabor. The water temperature ranges from 37 to 47 degrees and has healing properties.

As for the baths themselves, most of the architecture resembles Turkish baths and dates back to the 16th-18th centuries.

Narikala Fortress: the emergence of the citadel, located on Mount Mtatsminda, dates back to the 4th century. The fortress was known as Shuris-Tsikhe, and the modern name was given to it, as it is believed, by the Mongols. The main part of the fortress was destroyed in 1827 by an explosion of gunpowder stored in one of the bastions. Some of them are used as residential buildings.

Zion Church of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God: the construction of the temple dates back to the 6th century. AD Many historical events are associated with it, and it also houses one of the main shrines of Georgia – the cross of St. Nino, the Enlightener of Georgia.

Chardin Tbilisi, you will find yourself among the cozy cafes and souvenir shops of the Chardin corner, a favorite place for citizens and guests of the capital. Narrow streets, wine cellars and art galleries keep the spirit of Old Tbilisi and lead to the Sioni Temple, named after Mount Zion, the 6th century Anchiskhati Basilica and the unique clock tower of the Rezo Gabriadze Puppet Theatre. After passing along the pedestrian Peace Bridge to the left bank of the Kura, you will visit the park of bizarre sculptures of Rike.

Bridge of Peace: Glass Footbridge

Mira on the Mtkvari River connects the Old City and modern Tbilisi – it offers an excellent panorama of many of the city’s sights. The wave-like structure, 156 meters long, was designed by Italian architect Michel de Lucci in collaboration with French lighting engineer Philippe Martineau.

Wine tasting in Caravanserai: built in 1650 next to the Sioni Cathedral. In 1795, during the invasion of Agha Magomed Khan, the caravanserai was completely destroyed. In 1818, a large caravanserai was rebuilt on this site. The caravanserai was three-story, had 33 hotel rooms on the top floor, 25 dukhans, warehouses and cellars. 11 masters occupied premises for tailoring Asian clothes and shoes. There was a pool in the courtyard of the caravanserai.

Overnight at the hotel.

Tour starts at 09:00

Tour finishes at about: 18:00 Duration: 8-9 hrs

Overnight in Tbilisi.

 East of Georgia

Day 3. Tbilisi – Bodbe – Sighnaghi – Telavi (B/L/-) 180 km

Breakfast in the hotel. Lunch in the itinerary.

A trip to the wine-growing region of Kakheti, which is located in the eastern part of Georgia and is rightfully considered the cradle of Georgian winemaking. Unique grape varieties are cultivated here, such as Kindzmarauli, Manavi, Saperavi.

Visiting the monastery in Bodbe: the monastery and episcopal complex of St. George, located in Kakheti, the town of Bodbe, was built in the 9th century. The remains of St. Nino, the enlightener of Georgia, are buried here. In the XVI-XVI centuries, Bodbe was an important educational center.

In 1837 the monastery was abolished. And in 1889, the convent of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Nino was opened here, which is still operating.

More Sighnaghi: this small town, located next to Bodbe, is one of the most popular tourist routes.

Located on a mountain, Sighnaghi attracts visitors with views of the Alazani Valley and the Caucasus Range. The city is also famous for its fortress built in the 18th century. Under King Erekle II, included in the list of the most famous and largest fortresses in Georgia.

The walls of the Signagi fortress miraculously survived and today surround the old part of the city and go far beyond the city boundaries. The fortress consists of 28 towers, each of which was built by residents of nearby villages and has similar names.

Wine tasting in Sighnaghi.

Wine tasting at Pheasant Tears or similar. Lunch, wine tasting.

Overnight in Telavi.

Day 4 Telavi – Tbilisi (B/L/-) 180 km

Breakfast in the hotel. Dinner

Next Trip to Tsinandali – the residence of the Georgian princes of the 19th century. Alexander Chavchavdze was the first to establish European style wine production in Georgia. Inspection of the residence and the park.

A trip to the wine region of Kakheti

Visit to Mosmieri winery near Telavi. Lunch, wine tasting.

Return to Tbilisi.

 North of Georgia

Day 5: Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Ananuri – Kazbegi (B/L/-) 170 km

Breakfast in the hotel. Lunch in the itinerary.

Our today’s journey will take place along the Georgian Military Highway towards the border with Russia.

This is the oldest and most important transport artery for several centuries connecting Russia and the countries of the Caucasus.

First stop in Mtskheta, one of the oldest cities in Georgia. From the 3rd century AD Mtskheta was the capital of the Eastern Georgian kingdom of Iveria, and today it is the cultural and spiritual center of the country.

Visiting the picturesque monastery of Jvari, sung by M.Yu. Lermontov in the poem “Mtsyri”.

From the hill on which the monastery is located, breathtaking views of the confluence of the two rivers Aragva and Mtkvari and the Svetitskhoveli temple, the religious center of the city, where one of the greatest shrines of the Christian world, the Chiton of the Lord, is kept are kept.

On the way we will visit the Ananuri architectural complex – the former residence of the Aragveti princes. Churches and medieval towers of Ananuri majestically rise above Zhinvali Lake, embraced by the slopes of the Caucasus Mountains.

We continue the tour with a stop at the confluence of two mountain rivers near the village of Pasanauri. The peculiarity of this place is that each of the two rivers has its own color and at the confluence of the waters of the two rivers for a long time flow parallel to each other without mixing. Our path will continue through the Cross Pass with a stop at the panoramic observation deck of the Soviet period “Friendship of Peoples”, from where a picturesque view of the deep gorge of the Caucasus Range opens.

Upon arrival in Kazbegi, we will change the car to SUVs and go up to the Gergeti Trinity Church, located at an altitude of 2170 meters above sea level. In good weather, here you can enjoy the bewitching view of the famous Mount Kazbek.

Overnight at the hotel.

Tour starts at 09:00

Tour finishes at about: 18:00 – 19:00 Duration: 9-10 hrs.

Day 6. Kazbegi – Uplistsikhe – Gori – Borjomi – Akhaltsikhe (B/L/D) 340 km

Breakfast in the hotel. Lunch in the itinerary.

Further on the program Uplistsikhe: the ancient cave city of Uplistsikhe is located 12 kilometers from Gori on the left bank of the Kura River.

Uplistsikhe is carved into the rock of Kvernaki. The city arose at the end of the II – at the beginning of the I millennium BC. e., experienced several ups and downs, was finally abandoned in the XIX century. and is one of the most important monuments of Georgian culture.

The uniqueness of the monument lies in the fact that, thanks to its structure, it has preserved the remains of architectural and religious buildings built over several millennia. During its heyday, Uplistsikhe included more than 700 caves and cave structures, of which only 150 have survived to this day.

Trip to Gori. It is one of the oldest cities in Georgia, the first historical references to it date back to the 6th century, for example, the ancient fortress of Goris-tsikhe can be distinguished. The ancient defensive fortress of Goris-tsikhe is located on a mountain hill, which is located in the center of Gori. Presumably, this fortress was built during the reign of the legendary Georgian king – David, who was given the nickname “Builder”. Archaeologists also suggest that the Goris-tsikhe fortress was built on the site of an even older defensive building.

 Next visit to Borjomi, where guests will have a unique opportunity to taste the famous Borjomi water from a natural source.

Trip to Akhaltsikhe. Overnight in Akhaltsikhe. Dinner

Tour starts at 09:00

Tour finishes at about: 17:00-18:00 Duration: 8-9 hrs.

West of Georgia

 Day 7. Akhaltsikhe – Vardzia – Khertvisi – Tbilisi (B/L/D) 300 km

Breakfast in the hotel. Lunch in the itinerary.

The city of Akhaltsikhe was founded in the first half of the 12th century AD. e. From the 14th century until the 80s of the 16th century, Akhaltsikhe was the center of culture, politics and economy of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region and the residence of the atabegs from the Jakeli family. In 1579, the city fell under the rule of the Ottoman Empire and in 1628 the city became the center of the Akhaltsikhe province of the Ottoman Empire.

Visit to Rabat Fortress. The history of the foundation of the fortress goes back to 1578, when the city of Akhaltsikhe (Lomsia) was taken by the Ottoman troops. In the southwestern part of Georgia, on the territory of the Akhaltsikhe region, on the left bank of the Kura River, there is the cave city of Vardzia. This is one of the significant monuments of the ancient material culture of Georgia. Visit to Vardzia complex.

Cave monastery complex of the XII-XIII centuries in the south of Georgia, in Javakheti. An outstanding monument of medieval Georgian architecture. Over 900 m along the left bank of the Kura in the sheer tuff wall of Mount Erusheti (Bear), up to 600 rooms were carved: churches, chapels, residential cells, storerooms, baths, refectories, treasuries, libraries.

The premises of the complex go 50 meters deep into the cliff and rise to a height of eight floors. Secret passages have been preserved that connected the premises, the remains of the water supply system and the irrigation system.

In the center of the monastery is the main temple in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The hall-type temple is covered with a box vault (on girth arches) and decorated with pilasters; on the walls there are unique fresco paintings (including images of Tsar George III and Queen Tamar, 1180s, master George).

Next, a tour of the Khertvisi fortress. It is considered one of the oldest and most functional fortresses in Georgia. Khervisi is one of the first settlements on the territory of Georgia, which arose in ancient times, but was destroyed after the arrival of Alexander the Great. The church on the territory of the fortress was built in 985, and the walls – in 1354. The fortress was repeatedly destroyed. In the 16th century, the entire southern region of Georgia was captured by Turkey, and for about 300 years the fortress belonged to the Turks.

Return to Tbilisi.

Dinner at the restaurant with the program.

Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 8 Tbilisi (B/-/-)

Free day in Tbilisi.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9. Tbilisi Departure (B/-/-)

Release of rooms until 12.00

Transfer