Georgia in Depth Tour

14-day Georgia tour includes the best this beautiful land has to offer. Within two weeks, you will visit famous places and sights of this country, enjoy the beauty of the landscapes, experience heartfelt hospitality of Georgian people, taste the best wines and dishes of national cuisine, simply have a fascinating trip that will fill you up with energy and positive emotions.
The tour starts in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, modern city that has preserved its unique historical face with combination of urban style: ancient churches, old serum baths, and medieval fortress walls of Narikala. You will explore the best wine cellars of the country and taste rare wines of Kakheti. You will have a breathtaking trip to the Bodbe monastery where relics of St.Nino, the christener of Georgia, are resting. When you are in Sighnaghi, make sure you take a stroll along narrow streets where special atmosphere of tranquility and serenity prevail; no wonder it is called the city of love.
Georgia in depth tour is full of amazing landscapes of Mestia and Batumi, grand castles of Ananuri and Akhaltsikhe, exciting trips to the country of thousand Svaneti towers, and many others.

Tour itinerary:

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Day 1: Tbilisi – arrival/city tour

Arrival in Tbilisi. You will be met by our driver and transferred to the hotel. Check-in at noon.
You will start your journey in Georgia with Tbilisi city tour at Metekhi church and the monument to Vakhtang Gorgasali, the legendary founder of Tbilisi. Take a cable car to Narikala Fortress to enjoy breathtaking 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. An excellent round-up to the city tour will be a visit to Open Air Museum of Ethnography, a miniature model of Georgia. In the evening, visit a local restaurant to taste dishes of traditional Georgian cuisine. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Tbilisi – Telavi – Tsinandali – Alaverdi – Telavi

After breakfast depart towards the Kakheti region (Eastern Georgia), the cradle of Georgian wine. Beautiful road lies through Gombori pass. Our first stop will be in Telavi, the administrative and historic center of the region. Have a short walk through charming streets of old Telavi and have a photo stop at the monument to Erekli II. Drive to Tsinandali, the residence of dukes of Georgia with beautiful English garden, a museum, and the wine cellar that belonged to prince Chavchavadze, 19th century public figure and poet. Continue to Alaverdi Cathedral, the second tallest cathedral in Georgia and an outstanding example of medieval Georgian architecture of the 11th century. Our final stop will be in a family winery, where you will learn about traditional Georgian winemaking in qvevri (large earthenware vessels). Tasting of locally produced wine would be an excellent round-up of our wine visit. Return to Telavi for overnight.

Day 3: Telavi – Gremi – Kvareli – Bodbe – Sighnaghi

Continue exploring Kakheti region and Alazani valley. Check-out from the hotel and drive to Gremi architectural complex, 16th century royal residence and the capital of Kakheti Kingdom. Gloomy and monumental, the Gremi castle is one of the most visited tourist points in Georgia. Next stop will be at unique Winery Khareba located in the tunnel carved out of the rock. Originally built for military purposes, today the tunnel is used to store Khareba’s finest wines. Wine tour and wine tasting. Drive to Sighnaghi, making en-route stop at Bodbe convent, which according to the legend is a burial place of St. Nino, who converted Georgia to Christianity in the 4th century. According to Tsar Alexader III of Russia decree, since 1889 Bodbe complex functions as a nunnery. Continue to Sighnaghi, the city of love and the Royal Town, one of the crossroads of the Great Silk Road surrounded by defensive walls with 23 towers. Overnight in Sighnaghi.

Day 4: Sighnaghi – David Gareja – Tbilisi

In the morning depart towards Tbilisi. On the way make a tour to semi-desert area near Gareja. On the way stop at a local market to take some snacks. Arrive in David Gareja Monastery and start walking up to explore the Lavra Cave Monastery, founded in the 6th century. The Lavra Monastery is an inhabited complex of caves with a courtyard, church and other buildings. Continue walking up to Udabno (takes around 1,5-2 hours) where you can have some rest and enjoy the view of Azerbaijan from Georgian side. Udabno* is famous for its wall-paintings, dating from the end of the 12th century. Thousand-year-old frescos at Udabno depict such scenes from the Bible like “The Last Supper” and “The Exaltation of the Cross”. After some rest, walk down along another path. Drive to Tbilisi for overnight.
*As Udabno is located on the territory of Georgia-Azerbaijan border, the access to the monastery is subject to current safety situation at the border.

Day 5: Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Ananuri – Kazbegi

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 Monastery, 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 through the highest point of it at 2394 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 located at the altitude of 2170 m to enjoy breathtaking views to the Mount Kazbek. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: Kazbegi – Gori – Uplistsikhe – Borjomi

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Gori and visit the Stalin Museum. The museum includes more than 60,000 artifacts, the tiny house where Stalin was born, and 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. Continue to Borjomi. Take a walk in Central Park with its mineral water reserves. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: Borjomi – Khertvisi – Vardzia – Akhaltsikhe

In the morning drive to Vardzia. En route, short stop at Khertvisi Fortress (10-11th centuries). Arrive to Vardzia, which was 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. Drive to Akhaltsikhe for overnight.

Day 8: Akhaltsikhe – Kutaisi

In the morning 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 comes from Arabic meaning “fortified place”. Drive to Kutaisi, the second biggest city in Georgia, which according to the legend was the ultimate destination of the Jason and Argonauts searching for the Golden Fleece. Visit Bagrati Cathedral (11th century) - one of the best samples of medieval architecture, and is towering over Kutaisi and visible from almost any point of the city. Next stop is Gelati Academy (12th century) built by King David the Builder. Gelati was the center of spiritual and scientific life of the Middle Ages, the tomb of Georgian kings, and the cult place for pilgrims. It is under UNESCO protection as an object of cultural and historical legacy. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9: Kutaisi – Prometheus Cave – Mestia

In the morning, drive to to the Prometheus Cave with numerous stalactites and stalagmites. In the afternoon, head to mysterious Svaneti region through the Inguri Gorge. This region is the birthplace to a special ethnic group of people – heroic and courageous Svans – distinguished by their culture, traditions and customs from the rest of Georgia. Svaneti is also famous for its original architecture and is called “the Country of Thousand Towers”, which had played both economic and defensive functions. Mestia still has dozens of such medieval stone houses with the watchtowers and inhabited towers that were used to protect valleys and churches from the 10-14th centuries. Visit Svan original house “machubi” and tower “koshki”. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10: Mestia – Ushguli – Mestia

After breakfast at the hotel drive on a 4x4 type car to Ushguli village, the highest standing settlement in Europe (2200 m). Spend time in Ushguli strolling through the old narrow streets. Visit Lamaria Church complex with impressive wall frescos (12th century). Locals believe that Queen Tamara was buried right under this church. Enjoy picturesque view of the Mount Shkhara. The Ushguli architectural complex is a valuable architectural and historical monument, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List for its exclusiveness. Return to Mestia. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11: Mestia – Zugdidi – Batumi

In the morning visit Mestia Ethnographic Museum. The museum was established in 1936 and has one of the richest collections of artifacts in the region. At noon depart to Batumi (265 km).
On our way back to Batumi we offer an optional visit to one of the following places:

A lunch at ethno- village “Sisatura” close to Zugdidi, in the village Chkhoria. Here you will see old Megrelian house “Oda” with fascinating relics (old utensils, newspapers from last century and authentic Megrelian clothing that have been kept from ancestors). The whole place is dedicated to ethnography and is essentially a living museum. Having a lunch here is a unique experience, enabling you to enjoy traditional Megrelian meals like Gebzhalia (cheese in mint sauce), Ghomi (a hot porridge made with corn flour) and Sulguni (type of cheese) in an authentic Megrelian place. To be booked in advance.
Alternatively, we can stop at Dadiani palace in Zugdidi. The 17th-century palace was built by Levan Dadiani, a local prince, and served as a residence of Megrelian princess and princesses. Nowadays, Dadiani Palace is a historical and architectural museum complex that includes a palace for Ekaterine Chavchavadze-Dadiani, a residence of her son Niko Dadiani, a church, and beautiful botanical garden.

Arrive in Batumi. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12: Batumi

In the morning, visit Batumi Botanical garden located on Green Cape with amazing views on the Black Sea. Established in 1880, it is the biggest and the oldest botanical garden in South Caucasus, which hosts incredible collection of more than two thousand tree species. In the afternoon, we will have a walking tour around old part of Batumi, visit Europe square, Piazza, Alphabetic tower, “Ali and Nino” statue, and take a ride on the longest ropeway in Georgia (about 6 min.). Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13: Batumi – Tbilisi

Check-out from the hotel till noon. You will have free time before transfer to the train station. At 17:55, take an evening train to Tbilisi arriving at 22:50. Transfer to the hotel for overnight.

Day 14: Tbilisi – departure

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Free time till transfer to Tbilisi International airport. End of the tour.