Day 1
Arrival in Tbilisi, accommodation at the hotel. Tour over the old
city of Tbilisi, which stretches along the Mtkvari river within the
medieval walls and citadels. Visit Sameba Cathedral the tallest
Church in the Caucasus. Fortress Narikala (4th century), Church
Metechi (13th century) and the statue to Vakhtang Gorgasali the
powerful king of the 5th century who founded Tbilisi as a capital of
Georgia; sulfur baths renowned with their curative quality for
centuries. Tbilisi overnight.
Day
2
Kaheti. Trip to Kaheti - the
capital of Georgian wine.
Drive to Signagi - medieval fortified
town picturesquely situated on the mountain with the old houses, narrow tortuous streets and old style Balconies
Head for
Velistsikhe:
a) Making Georgian bread lavash in Georgian bakery
(tone).
b) Tasting of Kahetian wine in the wine-cellar at peasant
house.
c) The preparation of barbeque (shashlik) on nature,
d)
Georgian polyphonic songs performed by singers in the national
costumes,
e) Load is music - accordion and portion drums,
Dinner
on nature.Then drive to Ninotsminda architectural complex from the 6
to the 18 centuries.
Telavi overnight. to gesthouse of local landowner where Georgian national kitchen
with
the wine and hospitality of local people will be demonstrated.
Day 3
After breakfast drive to King Erekle’s Palace- museum.then visit Alaverdi - the ancient monastery of XIIc which was tallest church in the Caucasus, and Ikalto monastery
(12 c where famous Georgian writer and poet Shota Rustaveli got his education) Return to Tbilisi.
Day 4
Tbilisi - Mtskheta
Trip to Mtskheta - ancient capital of Georgia. The city and its architectural monuments are included in the World Cultural heritage of UNESCO. Visit the Church of Holy Cross (Jvari) built in 6th-7th cent. (Built at the conjunction of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers),
a unique example of early Christian architecture which was built on the place where the first Christian cross in Georgia was erected; Svetitschoveli Cathedral (11th century) – the main church of Mtskheta and the pride of Georgia, the place where for the coronation and burial of the Georgian kings took place through centuries.
Drive to Gori, the town is mainly known as birthplace of J. Stalin. Visit to Stalin museum. Drive to Uplistsikhe cave town dated to 7th c. BC. Here we find masterfully carved out chambers that functioned as pagan temples, reception halls, wine-cellars and even a theater.
Continue
trip to the south part of Georgia to Borjomi spa. Here we walk in the
town park and taste famous mineral waters. Drive to Bakuriani (1800m)
ski resort in the lesser Caucasus.
Overnight in Bakuriani.
Day 5
Bakuriani - Vardzia -
Baku`riani
Vardzia - cave-town, the unique example of Georgian
architecture dating from the XII century. Georgian Renaissance.
Akhaltsikhe overnight.
Day 6 Bakuriani
- Kutaisi.
Kutaisi, dated back to the Argonauts times (13th -12th
cc. B.C), was the capital of old Colches and later of Western
Georgia. Visit Bagrati cathedral (11th c,) and Gelati monastery,
founded in the 12th century by the most famous Georgian King David
IV, the Builder. Here he founded an academy and monastery. These
sites are included in the UNESCO World Heritage. Overnight in
Kutaisi.
Day 7
Kutaisi — Batumi,
Drive to Batumi, beautiful cost of Black Sea. Visit Botanical Garden (biggest in Caucasus)
Walking sea front boulevard and enjoy of a lot of fountains.
Day 8
Visit Gonio fortress (6 century) – Roman Style. Free time.
Day 9
Drive
to Ananuri.
Drive east and then north
along Georgian Military Highway till Ananuri Castle 15-17th century
beautiful and amazingly well preserved architectural ensemble.
Possible rafting on the Aragvi river. Ananuri
(possible
Gudauri ski resort in the Greater
Caucasus).
Overnight in Gudauri or
Tbilisi.
Day 10
We drive down and join
In
the evening we have a farewell dinner in fancy restaurant with folk
songs. Overnight in Tbilisi.
Day
11.
Transfer to the airport. End of the tour. Departure.
