Georgia Essentials5 Days | Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Ananuri, Kazbegi, Gudauri, Gori, Uplistsikhe, Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe, Vardzia

Arrival in Tbilisi. Transfer to the hotel. Check-in at noon.
Meet your guide to start a sightseeing tour in Tbilisi. Start at Holy Trinity cathedral, one of the largest orthodox cathedrals in the world. Continue to 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 Sulfur 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. Overnight in Tbilisi.

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 Cathedral, 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 2379 m above sea level. En-route, make a stop at the mineral water spring flowing down from a hilltop. Arrive in Kazbegi, a small town with the views of Mt. Kazbek (or Mkinvari) 5033 m, the seventh highest peak in the Caucasus Mountains. Visit Gergeti Holy Trinity Church located at an altitude of 2170 m and enjoy breathtaking views to Mt Kazbegi. Return to Gudauri for overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Gori and visit the Stalin Museum. The museum includes the tiny house where Stalin was born, an impressive bulletproof train he used to travel to Yalta and Potsdam and more than 60,000 artifacts. Explore the cave town Uplistsikhe dating back to Hellenistic Period. The unique sight combines various styles of rock-cut cultures where pagan and Christian architecture co-exists. Continue to Borjomi. Take a walk in National Park famous for its mineral water reserves. Drive to Akhaltsikhe for overnight.

In the morning, visit Rabat fortress. The old stone Rabat 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, means “fortified place”. Continue to Vardzia erected in the 12-13th centuries during the rule of George III and his daughter Tamara. 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, and dwelling houses. Return to Tbilisi for overnight.

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Free time till transfer to the airport.