Amazing Georgia/8 days – 420$
The beautiful and diverse country of Georgia with rich history, beautiful cities, breathtaking landscapes and welcoming people. The scenic country was known as the ‘Kingdom of Georgia’ in the medieval period. Blessed with stunning locales, the country though was a simmering cauldron of political upheaval since ancient times. Occupied by many kingdoms like Rome, Arabs, Seljuk Turks, Mongols, Ottoman Empire, Persia, Russian Empire, and consequently Soviet Russia, Georgia’s history is an epic of biblical proportion.
Program:
Day 1: Arrival to Georgia. Tbilisi city tour (Old Town)
Day 2 : Tbilisi – Bodbe-Signagi – Wine Degustatin
Day 3: Tbilisi – -Mtskheta-Gori – Uplistsikhe – Kutaisi
Day 4 : Kutaisi (Gelati,Bagrati)- Sataplia-Batumi
Day 5 : Batumi – city tour
Day 6: Batumi- Botanical Garden-Tbilisi
Day 7: Tbilisi-Stepantsminda(Kazbegi)-Tbilisi
Day 8: Tbilisi-City tour (Liberty Square and Rustaveli Ave) . Departure from Georgia
Program Details:
Day 1: Arrival to Georgia. Tbilisi city tour (Old Town)
Transfer from Tbilisi airport to a hotel, check-in.
Breakfast. Our sightseeing tour covers important and valuable cultural sights of Old Tbilisi .Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia. Founded in the 5th century by Vakhtang Gorgasali , the monarch of Georgia’s precursor Kingdom of Iberia. Tbilisi is the city where you desire to walk and enjoy its special atmosphere, marveling harmonious combination of pretty old buildings and the modern ones. Each guest of the city would like to visit the most famous attractions. One of the paramount places is the sulfur baths of Tbilisi. Abanotubani is a district of sulfur baths. Abanotubani is the place, where according to legend, King Vakhtang Gorgasali’s falcon fell, leading to the discovery of the hot springs and, subsequently the founding of a new capital. Sulfur baths have become an integral part of the traditions and culture of Georgia. They are built in the style of oriental architecture (mostly Persian) with a large basement room which looks like a low building with a dome and a small turret. Narikala Fortress-also called the mother fortress of Tbilisi, is an ancient symbol of Tbilisi’s defence. The fortress was established in the 4th century. Statue ‘The Mother of Georgia’– the statue is located outside of Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, and can be seen for miles around. While the statue is named The Mother of Georgia she is also referred to as Kartilis Deda and is located on top of Sololaki Mountain. The view of Metekhi church (XIII c), with the equestrian statue of Vakhtang Gorgasali below it, is one of the most widespread images of Tbilisi. Having crossed Metekhi bridge , we will find ourselves on a street named after French traveler Jean Chardin. You will pass by picturesque narrow streets and see the Sioni Cathedral– One of the oldest and certainly one of the most famous temple of Georgia. The erection of the cathedral was completed in the first half of VII century. During its long history the temple was destroyed and rebuilt many times. Anchiskhati Basilica of Saint Mary – the oldest church in Tbilisi, dating back to the early period of Georgian Christianity in the sixth century. Its design differs from the typical later temples. In the evening dinner with folk programme in Tbilisi restaurant.
Day 2 : Tbilisi – Bodbe-Signagi – Wine Degustatin
Breakfast. Today we are going to Kakheti . It will be a fascinating journey to the eastern part of Georgia to enjoy the mountain scenery, picturesque villages, ancient temples and life of the locals. Tasting unique Georgian wines and an acquaintance with the secrets of winemakers is a special zest of this tour to Kakheti. Exploring Kakheti province you will visit town of Sighnaghi, Sighnaghi History and Ethnography Museum, Bodbe Nunnery and have a taste of variety of traditional dishes and famous wines.
A Royal town Signagi surrounded with defense wall, one of the biggest fortifying walls in Georgia. In 1770 King Heraclius II put Sighnaghi in the list of towns. A view from the town wall allows visitors to look over the Gombori range, where you can view Alazani Valley and the great Caucasus mountains in the distance.
Sighnaghi History and Ethnography Museum – is home to archeological exposition. Intensive archeological excavations have been under way in Kakheti since 60-ies of the XX century. Domestic and worship objects spanning Stone Aga I c. AD have been unearthed here. Most of them are today exposed in the museum. Museum exhibits include archeological material of IV-XVIII centuries from the towns of Nekresi, Ujarma, Areshi, Gavazi, Cheremi and Gremi in the east Georgian historical provinces of Kukheti, Kakheti and Hereti.
In another hall the original paintings of Niko Pirosmani are exhibited.
Bodbe Convent, where the relics of virgin St.Nino of Cappadocia, Equal to the Apostles and enlightener of Georgia reposed, is situated in eastern Georgia (Kakheti), two kilometers south of the city of Sighnaghi, in a picturesque place, at the feet of the Great Caucasian Range. The convent has a miraculous view of the Alazani Valley and the snow-capped mountains of Caucasus.
Wine house in Gurjaani produces its own vintage wine (Kvevri). You will be invited to join a true feast with wine degustation and Kakhetian supra (feast).
Return to Tbilisi. Overnight.
Day 3: Tbilisi – -Mtskheta-Gori – Uplistsikhe – Kutaisi
Breakfast. Check-out and departure. We will visit Mtskheta - Georgia‘s ancient capital, a little town about 20 km to the north of Tbilisi. It is home to a number of very important Georgian religious sites and functions to this day as a kind of spiritual heart of Georgia. It was in Mtskheta that Georgia adopted Christianity in the 4th century (year 326).
Major Highlights:
Jvari Church . VIth-century Jvari Church, is actually located not far from Mtskheta on a hill, above the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers.
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. The star attraction in Mtskheta is the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, an enormous church originally built in the 4th century and rebuilt in the 11th century. The cathedral’s most incredible claim extends to Jesus Christ, whose robe, brought to Mtskheta from Jerusalem following his crucifixion, is said to be stored here.
Tne next place will be Gori – a city in eastern Georgia, which serves as the regional capital of Shida Kartli. Gori was an important military stronghold in the Middle Ages and maintains a strategic importance due to its location on the principal highway connecting eastern and western parts of Georgia. The territory of Gori has been populated since the early Bronze Age. According to the medieval Georgian chronicles, the city of Gori was founded by King David IV.
Visit in the Museum of Stalinism (additional option). Museum includes memorial house of birth of Joseph Stalin (1879-1953), Soviet statesman and politician and exposition building with tower and Stalin’s personal rail car with interior which was used when he travelled to Teheran, Yalta and Potsdam conferences. Museum is home to Stalin’s personal effects, Kremlin cabinet, manuscripts, gifts and presents from various countries of the world, mask taken from his face after Stalin’s death, paintings.
After Gori, visit in Uplistsikhe -the unique monument of Georgian culture. It is situated on a rocky massif in 15 km eastwards to the town Gori on the left bank of the river Mtkvari (Kura). The monument attracts our attention from afar with its whimsical image, giving rise to various legends. Written sources keep a great deal of information about it, but they describe only a part of the history of this beautiful monument. Uplistsikhe was built in the beginning of the first millennium BC and it differed from other towns with its functional purposes. It was the temple town in the whole East Georgia. Town has streets, squares, water draining ducts, various constructions, secret tunnel leading to river Mtkvari, a fence….Today the fortified town is an outdoors museum. Transfer to Kutaisi – one of the most ancient cities in Georgia. Kutaisi was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Colchis. Archeological evidence indicates that the city functioned as the capital of the kingdom of Colchis as early as the second millennium BC.
Arriving to Kutaisi, check-in, dinner.
Day 4 : Kutaisi (Gelati,Bagrati)- Sataplia-Batumi
Breakfast. Check-out. This day will be spent traveling on the legendary land of Colchis through Imereti region to Ajaria. Among the oldest and largest cities in the nation of Georgia, Kutaisi was the capital of multiple ancient kingdoms, most notably Colchis from the sixth to first century B.C. That kingdom is perhaps best known for being the final destination of Jason and his Argonauts during their quest for the Golden Fleece. Afterward, the city and the area around it suffered numerous invasions, including by the Mongolians and the Ottomans. In the 12th century, during the reign of David IV, Kutaisi became the capital of the United Kingdom of Georgia and underwent a period of construction unrivaled in its history. This time saw the construction of the Gelati Monastery (visit), one of the most famous buildings in the city and a great example of medieval Georgian architecture. Remarkably well preserved, it is one of Georgia’s UNESCO heritage sites. The construction of Bagrati Cathedral (visit), named after Bagrat III, the first king of united Georgia, started at the end of the 10th century and was completed in the early years of the 11th century. Although partly destroyed by the Turks in 1691, its ruins still lie in the centre of Kutaisi. The Gelati Monastery, whose main buildings were erected between the 12th and 17th centuries, is a well-preserved complex, with wonderful mosaics and wall paintings. The cathedral and monastery represent the flowering of medieval architecture in Georgia. Next we will visit Sataplia Nature Reserve (the main attraction -Preserved Dinosaur Footprints). Arrival to Batumi. Check inn. Dinner.
Day 5 : Batumi – city tour
After breakfast we will have an excursion around Batumi. This relaxed tour focuses on visiting the main city highlights: The famous Miracle Park and Boulevard are the pride of Batumi – Alphabet tower, Batumi lighthouse, Fountain Chacha Tower, Ali and Nino moving sculpture are located exactly in Miracle Park. The statue of Neptune in front of Batumi Drama Theater in the city of Batumi was erected in 2010. The statue and its fountain is a copy of the Fountain of Neptune in the Piazza del Nettuno in the town of Bologna in Italy. The original sculpture was completed by the Flemish sculptor Giambologna in 1567. The Medea monumentin Batumi was designed by Davit Khmaladze and erected in Europe Square in 2007. In Greek mythology, Medea was a daughter of King Aieti , the king of Kolkheti in present day western Georgia. Medea helped Jason to steal the legendary Golden Fleece .
The magnificent Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God) (XIX c), The Batumi synagogue (1904), The Batumi Mosque Orta Dgzame (XVII), The Church of the Holy Spirit -a Roman Catholic church (2000). Free time. Dinner. Overnight.
Day 6: Batumi- Botanical Garden-Tbilisi
Breakfast. Today we will visit Botanical Garden. This is one the biggest (111 ha) and richest botanical gardens in the world. Located near Mtsvane Kontskhi (Green Cape) resort, it was the brainchild of the prominent Russian botanist and physical geographer Andrey Krasnov. The plants species displayed come from many utterly different climatic and landscape zones. After visiting Botanical garden we will go to Tbilisi. Check inn. Dinner. Overnight.
Day 7: Tbilisi-Stepantsminda(Kazbegi)-Tbilisi
Breakfast. Today we will have a trip across Georgian Military Highway in the South Caucasus. It is one of the most spectacular roads in this region, with the jagged snow-capped Caucasus Mountains, rippling emerald-green hills and valleys, wandering sheep, and ancient cathedrals, monuments, and fortresses still keeping vigil. The Georgian Military Highway is the historical road leading north from Tbilisi into the Caucasus Mountains. It passes the spectacular Ananuri fortress, then climbs the sides of the dramatic Aragvi River Valley, then over the Jvari Pass (2395m) and down into Kazbegi (1700m). Surrounded by gigantic mountains, Kazbegi is a picturesque settlement overlooked by one of the biggest peak –Mount Kazbek (5047m) – one of the six 5000 metre peaks of the Caucasus. The Sameba Church in Gergeti is beautifully situated on the hill above the town and provides splendid views of Mt. Kazbek. The region, with its many valleys and peaks is one of the most popular walking destinations in Georgia. The nearby Chaukhi Mountains provide superb rock-climbing, with numerous routes. The Gudauri ski resort located just the other side of the Cross Pass on the southern slopes of the Caucasus offers the best skiing and heli-skiing in the Caucasus. Return to Tbilisi. Dinner. Overnight.
Day 8: Tbilisi-City tour (Liberty Square and Rustaveli Ave) . Departure from Georgia
Breakfast. Tbilisi city tour. Rustaveli Avenue & Liberty Square – formerly known as Golovin Street, Rustaveli Avenue is an avenue in central Tbilisi named after the medieval Georgian poet, Shota Rustaveli. The Avenue starts at Freedom Square and extends for about 1.5 km in length. Rustaveli is often considered as the main thoroughfare of Tbilisi due to a large number of governmental, public, cultural, and business buildings that are located along or near the Avenue. The Parliament of Georgia, Kashveti Church, the Georgian National Museum, the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Rustaveli State Academic Theater, the Rustaveli Museum, and the Georgian Academy of Sciences, among others, are all located on Rustaveli. Rustaveli Avenue is also a historic place where the protests of Georgian against soviet regime took place. In 1989, tens of thousands of Georgians gathered before the House of Government on Rustaveli Avenue. An attack by the Soviet spetsnaz forces killed many protesters in the April 9 tragedy. Visit in National Museum. Georgian National Museum maps the development of Georgia’s material culture from the Bronze Age to the early 20th century. The Treasury holds a stunning collection of intricate jewellery and artefacts wrought in gold and silver, dating back thousands of years. Lunch. Transfer to the airport.
PRICE INCLUDES
- Transfers and Transportation according to the program.
- Accommodation in 3*/4* hotels with breakfasts
- H/B: 7 breakfasts 1 lunch and 7 dinners including the dinner with folk program and dinner in wine cellar
- Entrance fees to the museums and places listed in program
- Wine degustations listed in program
- Jeeps in Kazbegi
- English speaking guide
| Hotels | DBL/TWN | Accomodation | |
| 30 +1FOC | 40+1FOC | 50+1FOC | |
| 4****, 3***+ | 515$ | 495$ | 475$ |
| 3*** | 460$ | 440$ | 420$ |
