GEORGIA IN TEN DAYS

Day 1. Tour of Tbilisi

Arrival. Transfer to the hotel. Walking tour of Tbilisi. The ancient city is nestled in the valley of the Kura River, giving it a special atmosphere. We will see the palace of Queen Daredjan - Sachino, the plateau of Metekhi with a monument to the city's founder, King Vakhtang, take a cable car up to the Narikala fortress, and descend into the Fig Gorge. We will listen to stories about the sulfur baths, which are the heart of the old city. Then we will visit the Maidan, the Sharden district, Sioni, the Bridge of Peace, the Anchiskhati Basilica, the Gabriadze Tower, and Freedom Square. After the tour, we will have an evening dinner in an ethnic restaurant with national dances and songs. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 2. Kakheti - St. Nino monastery - Sighnaghi - Khareba wine tunnel - Tsinandali

We depart for Kakheti, the easternmost region of Georgia known not only for its wine but also for its abundance of historical landmarks. We will visit the beautiful Bodbe Monastery of St. Nino, and then make a stop in the town of Sighnaghi, which is situated above the Alazani Valley. This cozy town is known as the "City of Love." We will descend into the valley and take a break at the Khareba Wine Tunnel, where wine from a local winery is stored in tunnels that were dug 8 km into the Caucasus Mountains. Of course, we will try some of the wine. We must hurry to our next stop, the estate of the Chavchavadze princes in Tsinandali. We will visit their estate, take a stroll through the beautiful old park, and peek into their enoteca, where bottles of wine dating back to the 19th century are stored. We will return to Tbilisi via the picturesque but not too high Gombori Pass. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 3. Georgian Military Road - Ananuri fortress - Arch of Friendship - St. Trinity Church - Mount Kazbek

Along the Georgian Military Road. We are heading towards the mountains of the Caucasus. On the way, we will stop at the fortress of Ananuri. This historic fortress is located on the banks of the picturesque Zhinvali reservoir, which is filled with the purest water from the Aragvi River. There is a beautiful beach on the shore, so if you wish, you can swim. Near the resort village of Pasanauri, we will stop and see the confluence of the Black and White Aragvi rivers. The next stop is the observation platform called the Arch of Friendship. It is located above a precipice and offers a beautiful view of the Caucasus Mountains. We will cross the Cross Pass, drive past the travertine, mineral water springs, and arrive at the village of Stepantsminda, located at the foot of Mount Kazbek. We will climb up to the Holy Trinity Church (14th century) at an altitude of 2200 meters. It looks very beautiful against the backdrop of Mount Kazbek. On the way back, we can stop at an open-air restaurant on the banks of the Aragvi River and try authentic mountain khinkali. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 4. Mtskheta - Jvari - Uplistsikhe - Kutaisi

Leaving Tbilisi. We head to Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia. We will visit the 11th-century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, which is called the second Jerusalem due to its abundance of ancient artifacts. We will also hike up to the Jvari Monastery, which inspired Lermontov to write the poem "Mtsyri." From Mtskheta, we will drive to the ancient cave city of Uplistsikhe, which is carved into a sloping mountain and has been well preserved. After strolling through the ancient streets, we will return to our time. Our journey continues westward, into the Imereti region, where we will spend the night in Kutaisi.

Day 5. Kutaisi - Prometheus Cave - Gelati academy - Sataplia Cave 

We will begin this day by exploring the surroundings of Kutaisi. First stop is the Gelati Academy, the first in Georgia, founded in the 12th century. Then, it's time to descend into the depths of the earth. We will visit the Sataplia Cave, where traces of dinosaurs have been preserved, and the huge Prometheus Cave with its underground river. In the evening, we will take a walk around Kutaisi. It's a cozy and charming city, where V. Mayakovsky spent his youth and which became famous for its legend of the Argonauts. Overnight in Kutaisi.

Day 6. Zugdidi - Inguri Dam - Svaneti

We're heading to the mountains of Svaneti. Each mountain range has its own unique features. Svaneti is located in the Western Caucasus Mountains, which are higher and more inaccessible. To break up the long journey, we'll stop in the town of Zugdidi. We'll visit the Dadiani Palace, built in a neo-Gothic style, and see their collection, one of the best in Georgia, which includes antique weapons, a treasury, personal items, and Napoleon Bonaparte's death mask, as well as works of art and rich furnishings. We'll continue our journey and stop near the Inguri Dam, which is one of the seven highest dams in the world. We'll have an exciting tour of the labyrinth of this giant structure. By evening, we'll arrive at the administrative center of Svaneti, Mestia. Overnight in Mestia.

Day 7. Svaneti - Ushguli - Chalaadi glacier

We begin our journey through the land of medieval towers and harsh traditions. We will visit the village of Ushguli, one of the oldest in Svaneti and the highest in Europe. Ancient family towers against the backdrop of impregnable icy mountains bring people to primitive delight. There we will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the life of the Svans in ancient times, we will visit the ancestral tower and a residential house from the 14th century. On this day we have another hike to the Chalaadi glacier. We will hike there on foot and see how rivers are born from the depths of centuries-old ice. Overnight in Mestia.

Day 8. Martvili canyon - Okatse Gorge - Kutaisi

We leave Svaneti and start heading back. Our path leads to the Martvili Canyon. You will see beautiful cascading waterfalls and take a boat ride on the blue waters of the canyon. From there, we will turn to the Okatse Gorge and take a walk on a suspension bridge hanging at a height of 140 meters. At the end of it, there is an observation deck that takes your breath away. Overnight in Kutaisi.

Day 9. Rabat fortress - Borjomi

We are heading towards Tbilisi. But first, after passing through Borjomi Gorge, we will visit the huge fortress complex of Rabat. It has been completely restored and leaves the best impressions. And we will spend the night in the resort town of Borjomi. We will take a walk in the shady park where Chekhov, Gorky, and Tchaikovsky used to stroll, and drink mineral water straight from the source. Overnight stay in Borjomi.

Day 10. Chateau Mukhrani - Tbilisi

We are very close to Tbilisi now. On our way, we will stop at the estate and winery of the princes Bagration-Mukhransky and taste their excellent Kartli wines. And for lunch, we will be hosted by a rural family, where we will have a farewell meal. The lunch will be diverse with plenty of Georgian dishes, homemade wine, and most importantly, a wonderful tamada (toastmaster) with his endless toasts accompanied by guitar strings. Overnight stay in Tbilisi.

End of tour

The cost of the tour is available upon request.

The tour price includes: guide, Mercedes Vito minivan, airport transfers, dinner at an ethnic restaurant, tickets to all mentioned attractions, wine tastings as per the program, and a farewell lunch with a rural family.

The cost does not include accommodation and meals on the way.