Village Gastronomy and Culture Tour10 Days | Tbilisi, Vardisubani, Napareuli, Telavi, Tsinandali, Sighnaghi, Uplistsikhe, Kutaisi, Sairme Pillars, Ushguli, Mestia, Martvili Canyon, Prometheus Cave, Mtskheta

Arrival in Tbilisi. You will be met by our driver and transferred to the hotel. Check-in after 14.00. You will start your journey in Georgia with Tbilisi city tour at Metekhi church and 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 with a folklore show. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
Driving distance: 30 km
Meals: dinner with folklore show

After breakfast depart towards the Kakheti region (Eastern Georgia), the cradle of Georgian wine. We will visit a family in Vardisubani village which make qvevri, Georgian clay vessels for keeping wine at. Our next stop will be at the private winery Twins Wine Cellar in Napareuli village. The premises of the winery include a vast vineyard, a museum of traditional Georgian winemaking in qvevri, and facilities for various workshops. Here you will have an opportunity to try yourself in baking khachapuri (cheese-filled bread) and churchkhela (nuts beaded on a thread and cooked in flour-thickened grape juice). An excellent round-up of the visit will be tasting five different wines produced at Twins Winery and a delicious lunch.
Continue to Telavi, the administrative and historic center of the region. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Driving distance: 140 km
Meals: 2 wine tastings, lunch, culinary master class

In the morning, have a short walk through the charming streets of old Telavi and have a photo stop at the monument to King Erekle 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. For lunch, we will be hosted by a local family, where we can enjoy a traditional feast and hear the best Georgian toasts. A truly local experience awaits you!
Having enjoyed the hospitality of our hosts, we will drive to the royal town of Sighnaghi, which is surrounded by defensive walls with 23 towers and was an important point on the Great Silk Road. Drive to Tbilisi for overnight.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 8-9 hours
Driving distance: 180 km
Meals: wine tasting, lunch

After breakfast, depart Tbilisi and drive to the cave town of Uplistsikhe, which dates back to the Hellenistic Period and is notable for its unique combination of various styles of rock-cut architecture, including both pagan and Christian. Continue 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 late medieval architecture towering over Kutaisi and visible from almost any point of the city. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 8-9 hours
Driving distance: 240 km

In the morning, the tour continues to the Racha region. The first stop for today is Gelati Academy (12th century) built by King David the Builder. Gelati was the center of the spiritual and scientific life of the Middle Ages and the cult place for pilgrims. It is under UNESCO protection as an object of cultural and historical legacy. Visit Motsameta Monastery overlooking a beautiful gorge of the river Tskhenistskali (Horse Waters). We will continue driving to the north passing over the beautiful Nakerala Pass and hike to Tskhra Jvari (‘nine crosses’) for about 40 minutes one-way to enjoy majestic views to the mountains and lakes around. Our next stop will be at Shaori Lake, which crystal-clear water and beautiful forest around will make you feel part of untouched nature. A definite stop for Instagram lovers! Then visit Nikortsminda Monastery, famous for its unique frescos and architecture. For dinner, we will visit one of the local family wineries and enjoy a wine tasting of local wines: Khvanchkara, Tvishi, and others. Overnight at the hotel in Ambrolauri.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 8-9 hours
Driving distance: 90 km
Meals: dinner, wine tasting

Depart Ambrolauri and drive to Ushguli village, the highest standing settlement in Europe (2200 m). The Ushguli architectural complex is a valuable architectural and historical monument, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List for its exclusiveness. En route, make a stop at Sairme Pillars. Over thousands of years, natural processes resulted in the formation of pillars. Two options are available: 3-km hiking or a short walk. On arrival in Ushguli, spend time strolling the old narrow streets. Visit Lamaria Church complex with impressive wall frescos (12th century) and enjoy the picturesque view of the Mount Shkhara. Overnight at the guesthouse where a delicious dinner will be served.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours
Driving distance: 150 km
Meals: dinner

In the morning, we will drive to Mestia. Mestia is the center of the mysterious Svaneti region. 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 watchtowers and inhabited towers that were used to protect valleys and churches from the 10-14th centuries. For lunch, we will visit a local family and have a cooking master class of traditional svan dishes: kubdari (local pie with meat and spices), tashmidjabi (potato puree with cheese), and other dishes. Visit Svan original house ‘machubi’ and tower ‘koshki’. Continue to Heshkili Swings to enjoy the panorama view. The rest of the day is free. Overnight at the hotel in Mestia.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
Driving distance: 90 km
Meals: culinary master class

In the morning, depart Svaneti and drive to Enguri Dam famous for its sheer dimension and immense capacity. One of Georgia's most distinguished cultural heritage sights, Enguri Dam, is the world's second-highest concrete arch dam. Later, continue to Martvili Canyon. We will take a small boat trip inside the canyon, and after that enter the gorge's another side to stroll over the canyon's waters watching it changing its colors on every turn and stone. We will arrive in Kutaisi in the evening for overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 8-9 hours
Driving distance: 225 km
*Optional 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.

Economy:
Seventeen Rooms / Chateau White Flags / Hotel & Wine Cellar ARGE
Comfort:
Holiday Inn Telavi / Chateau Mere / Kviria / Château Mosmieri Hotel & Winery
Luxe:
Schuchmann Wines Chateau / Qvevrebi / Esquisse Design Hotel / Panorama Kakheti Resort

Economy:
Solomon Kutaisi / Magnolia Hotel / Memoire / Terrace Kutaisi / Family Hotel 1887
Comfort:
Best Western Kutaisi / Grand Opera / Newport
Luxe:
Best Western Kutaisi / Grand Opera / Newport

Economy:
Karse / Tsesi / Tsibena
Comfort:
Karse / Tsesi / Tsibena
Luxe:
Karse / Tsesi / Tsibena

Economy:
12th century / Old House / or similar guesthouse
Comfort:
12th century / Old House / or similar guesthouse
Luxe:
12th century / Old House / or similar guesthouse

Economy:
Mestia Inn / Old House Mestia / Chubu / Old Seti / Villa Mestia
Comfort:
Lahili / Chalet Mestia / Sunset Terrace
Luxe:
Gistola Mestia / Posta