Escorted Georgia Group Tour 2020-202110 Days | Tbilisi, Telavi, Tsinandali, Jvari, Gori, Uplistsikhe, Kutaisi, Mestia, Ushguli, Batumi

Arrive in Tbilisi and transfer to the hotel. Check-in at 14:00. At 19:00, meet your guide and other group members in the hotel lobby to go for a welcome dinner of traditional Georgian cuisine. Overnight at the hotel.
Driving distance: 30 km

After breakfast, drive towards the Kakheti Region, the cradle of Georgian wine, in eastern Georgia. Take a scenic route through Gombori Pass to reach Telavi, the region’s administrative and historic centre. Visit Batonis Tsikhe, which Kakhetian Kings lived between the 17th and 18th centuries. This castle encloses two churches, the ruins of a royal bathhouse, and the Persian style Palace of King Erekle II. Continue to Shumi Winery, which is scenically located in Tsinandali, the historical centre of Georgian winemaking. Here, have a delicious lunch and wine tasting experience. After lunch, take a guided tour of the winery and learn about its history. The last stop for the day will be Tsinandali Palace, the former residence of Georgian dukes. Prince Chavchavadze, a 19th century public figure and poet, turned the Estate into what it is today, with a beautiful English-style garden, a museum, and a wine cellar. Explore the palace and take the opportunity to taste several local wines. Return to Tbilisi by 19:00-20:00. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of the sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours
Driving distance: 220 km

Breakfast. Meet your guide at the hotel. Depart Tbilisi for western Georgia. The first stop will be at Jvari Church, which is built on a hilltop and is a true architectural masterpiece of the early Medieval Period. Enjoy the views of the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari Rivers, before continuing to Stalin’s home town of Gori to visit the Stalin Museum. This museum includes more than 60,000 artifacts, the tiny house where Stalin was born, and an impressive bulletproof train Stalin used to travel to Yalta and Potsdam. Then, explore the cave town of Uplistsikhe, which dates back to the Hellenistic Period. Uplistsikhe is notable for its unique combination of various styles of rock-cut architecture, including bothpagan and Christian architecture. Finally, drive to Kutaisi, the central city of western Georgia, over the Rikoti Pass and through Georgia’s longest tunnel (1,722m). Arrive in Kutaisi by 19:00. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of the sightseeing tour: 8-9 hours
Driving distance: 290 km

After breakfast, visit Bagrati Cathedral, one of the best examples of late-medieval architecture. The cathedral towers over Kutaisi and is visible from almost any point in the city. Next, visit Gelati Monastery and Academy, which was built by King David the Builder (considered the most powerful king in Georgia’s history). Gelati was a major centre of spiritual and scientific life in the Middle Ages and welcomed large numbers of pilgrims. It is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. In the afternoon, take a 2-3 hour walk at Okatse Canyon, passing through the historical Dadiani Forest and following a 780m hanging trail that offers breathtaking views of the canyon and the forest. Return to Kutaisi after the walk. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of the sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Driving distance: 130 km

After breakfast, visit the Prometheus Cave and see its numerous stalactites and stalagmites. Then head to Zugdidi to visit the Dadiani Palace, before continuing through the Inguri Gorge to the mysterious Svaneti region. Svaneti is the home of a unique ethnic group – the heroic and courageous Svans – who are distinguished from other Georgians by their culture, traditions, and customs. The region is also famous for its original architecture and is called “the Country of a Thousand Towers”. These towers historically played both economic and defensive functions. Mestia still has dozens of medieval stone houses with the watchtowers and inhabited towers that were used to protect valleys and churches between the 10th and 14th centuries. Visit an original Svan house (“machubi”) and tower (“koshki”). Have dinner and stay overnight at a hotel in Mestia.
Duration of the sightseeing: 8-9 hours
Driving distance: 280 km

After breakfast, take a scenic drive by 4x4 vehicle to Ushguli village, one of Europe’s highest continually-inhabited settlements (2,200m). In recognition of its outstanding cultural value to humanity, the Ushguli architectural complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll along Ushguli’s old, narrow, streets and visit the Lamaria Church complex with its impressive 12th century wall frescoes. Locals believe that Queen Tamara was buried under this church. Enjoy a picturesque view of Mount Shkhara before returning to Mestia. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Driving distance: 110 km

Breakfast. Visit the Mestia Ethnographic Museum, which was established in 1936 and has one of the richest collections of artifacts in the region. At noon, depart for Batumi (150km away). On the way, stop at Petra Fortress, which has green gardens beautifully overlooking the Black Sea. Arrive in Batumi, which is located in a natural Black Sea bay. Batumi is not only one of Georgia’s most important seaports, but also one of the country’s tourism capitals. Free evening to explore the city. Options include strolling along the Black Sea coast or watching the fascinating sight of ships departing from the harbour (best seen from Batumi Quay). Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of the sightseeing tour: 7-8 hours
Driving distance: 270 km

After breakfast, check-out of the hotel and take a morning walking tour around the old city. Here, most of the houses were built in the 19th century, and you can feel history come alive in the rows of small shops where craftsmen are making copper ware and in the small cafés that produce a magnificent aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The old city is known for its variety of small and intricate architectural details: buildings are decorated with chimeras, mermaids, atlantes, and other mythical creatures. The tour will also visit Batumi’s Europe Square, Piazza Square, Alphabet tower, and Ali and Nino statue. Ride Georgia’s longest cableway (about 6 minutes) to the best panoramic viewpoint in the city. In the afternoon, take an optional tour to Batumi Botanical Garden, which is located on the Green Cape and offers amazing views of the Black Sea. Established in 1880, it is the largest and oldest botanical garden in the South Caucasus and hosts an incredible collection of more than 2,000 species of trees. If you don’t want to visit the Botanical Garden, we suggest visiting the Batumi Dolphinarium, Batumi Archeological Museum, or Borjgalo Ethnographic Museum. Return to Tbilisi on the evening train (departing at 17:55 and arriving at 22:50). Meet your driver and transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 2-3 hours (not including optional tour of Botanical Garden)
Driving distance: 30 km (not including the distance covered by train)

Breakfast, followed by a sightseeing tour of Tbilisi. Start at Metekhi Church and the monument to Vakhtang Gorgasali, the legendary founder of Tbilisi. Visit Narikala Fortress to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. Next, walk past Tbilisi’s only mosque, down to the sulphur bath house district. Enjoy a stroll through the Sharden area, which is full of narrow streets with cozy cafés, wine bars, and souvenir shops, and breathe in the history of Old Tbilisi. Also visit Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica, and the famous Rezo Gabriadze Theatre’s clock tower, before crossing the Bridge of Peace to Rike Park. After a couple of hours at your leisure, join the group to proceed to one of the local restaurants for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant (departing from the hotel by bus at 19:00). Overnight at the hotel in Tbilisi.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
Driving distance: 40 km

Breakfast. Check-out of the hotel by noon. Free time until your transfer to Tbilisi International Airport. Departure. End of the tour.
Driving distance: 30 km