Hospitable Georgia

Tbilisi

Walking tour of Tbilisi – the heart of Georgia. This is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the ancient city, hear its legends, see its sights. Famous Georgian courtyards and winding streets, natural and architectural monuments, hospitable townspeople and a unique atmosphere will make you fall in love with this city forever.

Route:

• Old city wall
• Theater Square, Tower of the Puppet Theater Rezo Gabriadze
• Anchiskhati temple – the oldest temple in Tbilisi
• Rike Park
• Meidan Bazaar
• Bridge of Peace
• The winding streets of the old town
• Sioni Cathedral XI century
• Sulfur baths area Abanotubani
• Fig gorge, waterfall
• Metekhi Temple XII century
• Narikala fortress
• Tsminda Sameba (Holy Trinity Cathedral)
• Mtatsminda
• Monument “History of Georgia”

Mtskheta and Jvari monastery

Drive to the ancient capital of Georgia – Mtskheta. A visit to Mtskheta is the most interesting part of the trip. This place is called the second Jerusalem.

Route

Svetitskhoveli Temple (XI century) – a UNESCO monument. Svetitskhoveli in translation from Georgian means “Life-giving pillar”. This is the second largest and main Orthodox cathedral in the country. Several Orthodox shrines are kept in the Temple: the robe of Jesus Christ, the clothes of the Prophet Elijah, a particle of the relics of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, the font of King Mirian and the burials of noble persons.

Jvari Monastery (VII century) – a UNESCO monument. Jvari Monastery is one of the most significant and famous monasteries in Georgia. The monastery is located on a mountain, from which a unique panorama of Mtskheta, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the confluence of two rivers – Kura and Aragvi opens. Jvari has become a symbol of Mtskheta and every year thousands of tourists from all over the world come to it.

Kakheti Region.

A trip to the Kakheti region – the home of famous Georgian wines, the land of marvelous gardens and vineyards!

Route.

Monastery of St. Nina in Bodbe .. The first churches were built in Kakheti in the IV century, even during the time of St. Nina, the enlightener of Georgia. It was she who brought Christianity to these parts. Here, in Kakheti, there is the grave of one of the most revered Georgian saints – the remains of Nina are buried in the Bodbe monastery.

The city of love-Sighnaghi. One of the main attractions of the town is the fortress founded by the famous Georgian king Irakli II on the slopes of the mountain. The walls of the fortress are perfectly preserved. A wonderful view of the Alazani Valley, vineyards and mountains opens up from above. Cozy winding streets, two-story houses with red roofs! Here you want to breathe deeply, sing and love. By the way, the registry offices in Sighnaghi are open around the clock!

Here we taste wine, homemade bread, cheese.

Gudauri and Kazbegi

On this day we will drive along one of the most picturesque roads in Georgia – the famous Georgian Military Highway. Following the heroes of the works of M. Yu. Lermontov and I. Ilf and E. Petrov, we will drive along the valley of the Terek River, cross the Rocky Ridge along the Darial Gorge, approach the Cross Pass 2379 meters high – the highest point of the road, descend into the valley of the Belaya Aragvi River and along the Kura river we will reach Tbilisi.

Route:

• Drive along the Georgian Military Highway towards the Russian border.
• Zhinvali reservoir is an emerald lake fed by the waters of the Aragvi River.
• Inspection of the medieval Ananuri Fortress – an architectural monument protected by UNESCO.
• Cross pass. Stops at the observation deck and at the mineral springs.
• Gudauri is one of the best mountain resorts in Georgia and the highest village on the Georgian Military Highway.
• Stepantsminda. On a clear day, in the village of Stepantsminda, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the picturesque snow-capped peak of Mount Kazbek, the Tsminda Sameba Church on the top of the hill and the village of Gergeti on the opposite side of the valley. If you are ready for the ascent, then we will climb to an altitude of 2700 meters to the church of St. Trinity to the very foot of the Kazbegi peak (in Georgian Mkinvartsvera), from where magnificent panoramas that you will never forget! Inspection of the Temple.

 Return to Tbilisi

Vardzia, fortress Rabat and Borjomi

Route

Vardzia is an ancient cave city and active monastery, carved into a monolithic rock high in the mountains. The buildings (there are about 600 hundred of them here) are arranged in vertical tiers in Mount Erusheti at an altitude of 1300 m above sea level. The complex resembles an eight-story building. The caves go 50 meters into the rock. On the territory of the impregnable fortress there is a source of drinking water, it greatly helped the soldiers during sieges, this spring is still active today. Also preserved are the water supply and irrigation system.

During its heyday, “Vardzia” was an “invisible city”: what is now visible from the bank of the Kura was hidden from view by the outer wall of the rock, which later collapsed as a result of a strong earthquake and exposed the “insides” of the unique cave city.

Fortress Rabat. In Akhaltsikhe there is the Rabat fortress, one of the most beautiful medieval fortifications, located on seven hectares. You will see Turkish baths and the tomb of the governor-pasha. The mosque is adjacent to the synagogue and Christian churches of Armenians and Georgians. Rabat is a kind of symbol of Georgia, where representatives of many religions and nationalities live. Everyone who came in peace is welcome here.

Borjomi. Оn the way, you will understand why Borjomi and its surroundings are called a green paradise: along the way, incredible views of the wooded mountains of the Borjomi Gorge open up.

Borjomi is a small town in the mountains, which has become the hallmark of Georgia thanks to its amazing mineral water. Its healing properties were known even in ancient times. Members of the imperial house also came to rest in Borjomi to improve their health and breathe in the purest mountain air.

Borjomi, Gelati, Kutaisi

After breakfast we leave for the monastery complex Gelati.

Route:

Gelati Monastery – belongs to the monuments of medieval architecture, protected by the UNESCO World Heritage Site. From 1106 to 1130, King David the Builder, and then his successor Demeter I, built the first temple of the Gelati Monastery – the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.

At the same time, the Gelati Academy, the so-called second Athens, was built on the monastery territory, which became the center of science and education. David IV did not live to see the completion of construction, he bequeathed to be buried in the holy monastery under the arch of the entrance in the south, demanding to put the tombstone so that everyone who enters the temple would enter it. There is an inscription on the tomb: “Let my people walk on my grave, to atone for my sins.”

At the beginning of the 13th century, David’s great-granddaughter, Queen Tamara, built two more churches near the cathedral. For some reason, the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was raised one floor, so you can freely walk under it. There is also a spring under the temple with delicious clean water.

In addition to these three temples, there is also a bell tower. The bell tower was built over the spring, where a stone tent had previously stood.

On the way to Gelati you can buy souvenirs, fruits, products of local craftsmen. Accommodation at the Hotel in Kutaisi.

Prometheus Cave, Martvili Canyon

Route

Prometheus Cave, also known as Kumistavi Cave, is a karst cave in western Georgia, in the vicinity of the city of Tskhaltubo. Kumistavi cave is one of the most beautiful sights of Georgia. It is easy and free to breathe in the cave, because the air contains 1/5 of pure oxygen. It is very useful to be here for people with various lung diseases and bronchial asthma. The air and water temperature in the cave is 14-15 ° C all year round. Inside, the cave is decorated with calcite drip-and-drop formations: stalactites, stalagmites and stalagnates. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. A beautiful underground river flows in the cave, through which a bridge stretches. The river flows into the lake and forms a beautiful underground waterfall.

Next visit to the famous Martvili canyon. Martvili canyon is famous not only for rafting on the Abasha river in a wonderful environment of rocks formed over millions of years. This is the place where traces of the sites of primitive communal tribes were found. It was on the banks of the river that the fossil bones of dinosaurs were found, which once again testifies to their presence on the territory of modern Georgia many millions of years ago.

Of course, such magically beautiful places could not escape the attention of the princely family of Dadiani, the rulers of the Megrelian principality, and sometimes the kingdom. Yekaterina Chavchavadze, the owner of the Dadiani house, also loved to splash in the water here. The river bank in the canyon, hidden from prying eyes, was considered the bathing place of the princely family.

These amazing places of Imereti amaze the eye with their delightful nature: deep gorges, waterfalls and mountain rivers.

Then we go to the Kinchkha waterfall.

Kinchkha waterfall is a natural landmark of Western Georgia. It is located in the Okatse River canyon. The Kinchkha waterfall is a cascade of waterfalls, consisting of two steps flowing into the Okatse River.

The first stage of the cascade is a waterfall 100 meters high, located 1000-1100 meters above sea level. It is a beautiful and powerful waterfall. A small lake was formed at the place where the Kinkhcha falls, the water from which descends as the second stage of the cascade. This waterfall is weaker and less in height than the Kinkhcha waterfall – only 20 meters. The place of the fall of this waterfall is located in the vicinity of the village of Kveda-Kinkhcha.

The waterfall strikes with its beauty and power of pressure, as well as the atmosphere of untouched nature, the absence of human influence.

We return to the hotel in Kutaisi.

Svaneti

Route

Mestia is the administrative center of Svaneti, a remote region in the northwestern part of Georgia. This urban-type settlement is located in a gorgeous valley among snowy mountains at an altitude of 1400 meters above sea level. Here you will see the famous Svan towers, and the air is saturated with alpine grasses, what you see here always exceeds what you expected !!

Mestia, Ushguli, Hatsvali

We will go hiking in Ushguli, the highest and inaccessible mountain village (2100 meters above sea level), UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Mestia, several hiking trails diverge to the foot of the Caucasian peaks and glaciers.

 Route

Ipari village; a tower of love, erected on stone right in the river.

Kala village; on the rock stands one of the most revered local churches: in Svan – Lagurka, and in Russian – the temple of Kirik and Iulita of the 11th century.

Queen Tamar Towers; Shkhara is the peak number 1. It is the third in the Caucasus, after Elbrus and Dykh-Tau, located on the Russian side.

Hatsvali is one of the youngest ski resorts in Georgia.

We leave for Batumi

Hotel accommodation in Batumi.

Evening walk in Batumi. It is not enough to say that this city is very beautiful at night – it is simply mesmerizing.

City tour in Batumi

 During the city tour, you will get acquainted with the main sights of Batumi, its history and architecture. A walk in Old Batumi, where the spirit of the past centuries reigns, awaits you. The old city is distinguished by a variety of architectural delights: the buildings are decorated with chimeras, mermaids, Atlanteans and other mythical creatures. You will also get acquainted with the modern architecture of Batumi, which is very avant-garde and interesting. Each building impresses with its variety of architectural forms and trends.

 Route

Primorsky Boulevard, the famous fountain with chacha, the Alphabet Tower, the movable statues of Ali and Nino, the statue of Medea, the fountain with the statue of Neptune, the church. St. Nikolai and them. St. Barbarians, Piazza square (a square in the Venetian style), Batumi seaport, May 6 park and Nurigel lake, dolphinarium, the building of the Ministry of Justice, Adjara House, singing and dancing fountains, Lake Ardahan.

A free day in Batumi

Batumi is the capital of the Adjara region and one of the most beautiful and cozy Georgian cities. If you want active rest with entertainment and impressions, you should visit Batumi Boulevard. What is situated here: bright attractions, singing fountains, numerous cafes and restaurants, a park of miracles, a Ferris wheel. There is not a single person who, having arrived in Batumi, has not visited Primorsky Boulevard. By the way, the boulevard is 7 km long, and it is located along the sea, so gain strength and get ready for a sea of impressions and positive emotions.

Return to Tbilisi

Hotel accommodation in Tbilisi, free time.