6-day Georgia Tour from Kutaisi6 Days | Kutaisi, Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe, Vardzia, Rabati Fortress, Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Ananuri, Kazbegi, Gori, Uplistsikhe

Arrive at Kutaisi International Airport. Meet your guide and drive to Kutaisi. Check-in to the hotel upon arrival. After breakfast start sightseeing in Kutaisi. Visit Bagrati Cathedral (11th century), one of the best samples of late medieval architecture, towering over Kutaisi and visible from almost any point of the city. Next stop is the Gelati Academy (12th century), built by King David the Builder. Gelati was the center of spiritual and scientific life during the Middle Ages, the tomb of Georgian kings and a cult place for pilgrims. It is under UNESCO protection as an object of cultural and historical legacy. Continue to Borjomi. Take a walk in National Park famous worldwide with its mineral water reserves. Later in the evening arrive in Akhaltsikhe for overnight.

In the morning drive to Vardzia erected in the 12-13th centuries during the rule of George III and his daughter Queen Tamara to protect southern boundaries of Georgia. Vardzia is not just a set of random rooms cut in rocks. It is a multi-storied complex with streets, tunnels and stairs leading to monasteries, temples, fortresses, baths, libraries, dwelling houses and so forth. Return to Akhaltsikhe to explore the Rabati fortress. The old stone Rabati fortress, the main sight of the Akhaltsikhe town, is standing on the small hill on the very shores of the Potskhovi River. Its name means “fortified place” from Arabic. Drive back to Tbilisi for overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast start exploring the capital of Georgia. Start at Holy Trinity Cathedral, one of the largest orthodox cathedrals in the world. Continue to Metekhi Church and monument to Vakhtang Gorgasali, the legendary founder of Tbilisi. Take cable car to Narikala Fortress to enjoy stunning panoramic view of the city. Walk down to the district of Sulphur bath houses passing by the only mosque in Tbilisi. Stroll through the Sharden area full of narrow streets with cozy cafés, wine tasting bars, souvenir shops, and breathe in the living past. Visit Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica, and the clock tower of famous Rezo Gabriadze Theatre. Cross the Bridge of Peace to Rike Park and head to Open Air Museum of Ethnography, a miniature model of Georgia*. Transfer to the hotel.
*Ethnography Museum can be substituted with National Museum of Georgia famous for its archaeological exhibits, or Georgia Fine Arts Museum where works of famous Georgian artist Pirosmani are kept.

After breakfast, drive to Mtskheta, one of the oldest towns and the cultural and religious center of Georgia. Mtskheta was the capital of the Eastern Georgian Kingdom of Iberia from the third century BC. Visit Jvari Church, a true architectural masterpiece of the early Medieval Period built on a hilltop. You will enjoy the views of the confluence of Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers. Visit Svetitskhoveli, the main cathedral of Mtskheta and a sacred place where the robe of Christ is being kept. Continue to Ananuri architectural complex, a former residence of Argveti Dukes. The complex features churches and towers dating back to the 16-17th centuries, beautifully overlooking the Jinvali reservoir. Continue driving on Georgian Military Highway passing its highest point at 2379 m above sea level. Arrive at Kazbegi, a small town with the views of Mount Kazbek (or Mkinvari) 5033 m, the seventh highest peak in the Caucasus Mountains. Drive to Gergeti Holy Trinity Church (2170 m) on 4x4 type vehicle. You will enjoy awe-inspiring views of the Mount Kazbegi. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel drive to Gori and visit the Stalin Museum. The museum includes more than 60,000 artefacts, the tiny house where Stalin was born and an impressive bulletproof train Stalin used to travel to Yalta and Potsdam. Explore the cave town Uplistsikhe dating back to Hellenistic Period and notable for the unique combination of various styles of rock-cut cultures and the co-existence of pagan and Christian architecture. Depart back to Kutaisi. Check-in to the hotel on arrival. Overnight at the hotel.

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Transfer to Kutaisi International Airport. End of the tour.