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1 day Arrival in Tbilisi Meeting at the Tbilisi International Airport. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight. 2 day Tbilisi city tour Tbilisi (literally "Warm Spring") is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. Founded in the 5th century by Vakhtang Gorgasali, the Georgian King of Iberia, and made into a capital in the 6th century, Tbilisi is a significant industrial, social and cultural centre. Located strategically at the crossroads between Europe and Asia and lying along the historic Silk Road routes, Tbilisi has often been a point of contention between various rival powers and empires. The history of the city can be seen by its architecture. 3 day Sighnaghi-Bodbe -Telavi Drive to eastern part of Georgia- Kakheti region, known almost exclusively for its vineyards and wineries. Visit Sighnaghi – one of the beautiful towns of the kakheti region. Sighnaghi and its environs are home to several historical and cultural monuments. The town is walled with the remnants of 18th century fortifications. At the elevation of about 790 m above sea level, the town overlooks the Alazani valley and faces the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Wine and Chacha tasting at the winery, with a very interesting and impressive stories about wine and wine making traditions. Drive to Bodbe – Georgian Orthodox monastic complex (9th century). Drive to Telavi - the main city and administrative center of Georgia’s eastern province of Kakheti. Overnight in Telavi. 4 day Telavi Museum-Tsinandali-Alaverdi Telavi State Museum colmplex includes the memorial place of the Kakhetian King Erekle II, a court church, a philosophy school, a bath and tunnel built by Erekle II. Tsinandali- is a village in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia, noted for the estate and its historic winery which once belonged to the 19th-century aristocratic poet Alexander Chavchavadze. There is kept a unique collection of wine from many countries. Familiar with European ways, Chavchavadze built Georgia’s oldest and largest winery where he combined European and centuries-long Georgian winemaking traditions. Alaverdi Monastery is a Georgian Orthodox Monastery Parts of the monastery date back to 6th century. The present day cathedral dates to the 11th century. At a height of over 55 meters, Alaverdi Cathedral is the second tallest religious building in Georgia, after the recently consecrated Tbilisi Sameba (Holy Trinity) Cathedral. Drive back to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi. 5 day Ananuri-kazbegi Drive to Ananuri. Visit Ananuri (17th century) is a castle complex on the Aragvi River. Tour along hiostorical Georgian Military Road. Continue the tour to kazbegi by crossing the “Jvari Pass” (2379 m. above the sea level) . Explore the area – the beautifully situated on the hill. Hire 4X4 vehicles to get to Gergeti Holy Trinity Church is a remarkable monument of Georgian architecture, near the village of Gergeti, situated at an elevation of 2170 meters, under Mount Kazbegi (elevation 5033). Drive back to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi. 6 day Mtskheta-Gori-Uplistsikhe-Bakuriani Drive to Mtskheta - one of the oldest cities of the country of Georgia, was capital of the early Georgian kingdom of Iberia during the 3rd century BC - 5th century AD and it was the site of early Christian activity. Visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11thcentury) and Jvari Monastery (6th century) in Mtskheta are among the most significant monuments of Georgia architecture, and are historically significant in the development of medieval architecture throughout the Caucasus. Drive to Gori. The city was founded by one of the greatest kings of Georgia – David the Buider (1089-1125). Gori is also known as the birthplace of the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Visit Joseph Stalin state museum. Drive to Uplistsikhe(literally, “the lord's fortress”) is an ancient rock-hewn in eastern Georgia. Built on a high rocky left bank of the Mtkvari River, it contains various structures dating from the Early Iron Ages to the Late Middle Ages, and is notable for the unique combination of various styles of rock-cut cultures from Anatolia and Iran as well as the co-existence of pagan and Christian architecture. Drive to Bakuriani. Bakuriani is a popular skiing resort, located on the northern slope of the Trialeti Range, at an elevation of 1,700 meters above sea level. Overnight in Bakuriani 7 day Borjomi- Vardzia-Khertvisi-Bakuriani Drive to Borjomi - is a resort town in south-central Georgia. The town is famous for its mineral water industry (which is presently the number one export of Georgia) Visit Borjomi Park. Mineral water tasting. Drive to Vardzia. Cave town Vardzia (XII century) is one of the most important and impressive historic monuments in Georgia. Vardzia is located at the altitude of 1300 meters above sea level. On the way back visit Khertvisi fotress – one of the oldest fortresses in Georgia and was functional throughout the Georgian feudal period. Drive back to Bakuriani. Overnight in Bakuriani. 8 day Gelati- Bagrati – Kutaisi Kutaisi –Gelati-Bagrati Tour around Kutaisi. Second largest city of Georgia. Visit Gelati, Bagrati Gelati Academy and Monastery is a monastic complex near Kutaisi, the region of Imereti, western Georgia, was founded by King David IV the founder in XII century. During the 12-13th centuries Gelati was one of the biggest religious, educational, scientific and philosophy centers of Georgia. The founding of Gelati is tied to the cultural renaissance of Georgia. Bagrati Cathedral proudly watches over Kutaisi and the Rioni River. It was built in the early years of the 11th century, during the reign of King Bagrat III due to which it was called "Bagrati" Cathedral, i.e., Bagrat’s cathedral. In 1994, the Bagrati Cathedral, together with the Gelaty Monastery, was included in the UNESCO World heritage Site list as a single entity. Overnight in Kutaisi. 9 day Zugdidi- Mestia Drive to Zugdidi - city in the Western Georgian historical province of Samegrelo. Visit Dadiani Palace, belonging to the former dukes of Samegrelo. Today more than 50 000 rare exhibits are on display at the museum. Among its collection of relics of European monarchs and imperial families there is a death mask of Napoleon Bonaparte. The museum also houses the relics of Christian saints. Drive to Mestia Overnight in Mestia. 10 day Mestia- Ushguli- Mestia Mestia- the main regional center of Upper Svaneti. Svaneti is a historic province in Georgia, in the northwestern part of the country. It is inhabited by the Svans, an ethnic subgroup of the Georgians. Surrounded by 3,000–5,000 meter peaks, Svaneti is the highest inhabited area in the Caucasus. Svan fortress, wich at the same time served as residences, are very interesting to see. In the event of an attack they were used to protect their inhabitants. Drive to Ushguli - one of the highest villages located at the head of the Enguri Gorge ( 2200 m above the sea level). Overnight in Mestia. 11 day Mestia-Batumi Drive to Batumi. Batumi is a seaside city on the Black Sea coast in southwest Georgia. Batumi’s seaside park is one of the charms of the city. It stretches along the seashore to the north-west of Batumi like a green line. A wonderful view is spread in front of the spectator’s eyes as three successive fountains joyfully spew their loads while French dancing fountains shimmer in the new section of the seaside park. The park has five parallel alleys which are separated from each other by lawns, cafes and meticulously cut, square laurel bushes. The park also contains an Aqua Park. Overnight in Batumi 12 day Batumi Botanical Garden –Gonio-Batumi Batumi Botanical Garden has no analogue in the world as plants endemic to completely different climatic and landscape zones co-exist here side by side. The Garden contains thousands of plant species of astonishing beauty. Visitors are always particularly fascinated with the Gardens’ 1200 species of rose. Gonio Fortress is located 12 km south of Batumi on the left bank of the River Chorokhi, it is a real paradise for lovers of historical and cultural antiquities. Historically, Gonio-Apsaros Fortress had a unique strategic importance: It protected the entrance to the Chorokhi and Acharistskali gorges, which connected the south western inlands to the Black Sea littoral. It was this important location that made Gonio Fortress into one of the citadels of both the Roman and later Byzantine Empires. Free time in Batumi. Overnight in Batumi. 13 day Batumi-Tbilisi Drive to Tbilisi. Free time in Tbilisi Overnight in Tbilisi. 14 day Departure. Transfer to the Tbilisi International Airport. |
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