TO THE SEA

Day 1. Walking tour of Tbilisi.

Arrival in Tbilisi. Transfer to the hotel. Walking tour of Tbilisi. You can't see all the beauties of this ancient city in one day, but we'll visit the main places. We'll visit the Metekhi plateau, take a cable car up to the Narikala fortress, and descend into the secret Fig Gorge. We'll see the sulfur baths that Pushkin admired so much. Maidan, the Sharden quarter, Sioni, the Peace Bridge, the Anchiskhati Basilica, the Gabriadze Tower, Freedom Square - each of these places has a history, legends and stories. Overnight stay in Tbilisi.

Day 2. Kakheti - David Gareja Lavra - St.Nino monastery - Signagi - 16th century wine cellar

We are heading to Kakheti. As a warm-up, we will stop by a winery and taste a few varieties of wine straight from the tanks. Continuing our journey, we will visit the David Gareja Lavra, a complex of monasteries located 15 km away. We will explore the oldest one, founded back in the 6th century. The landscape surrounding the monasteries is unlike any natural area in Georgia. It's hilly steppes and striped pink rock formations. Our next stop is Bodbe, a women's monastery where St. Nino. From there, we are not far from Signagi - the city of love. This ancient town hovers above the Alazani Valley, and the view of the Caucasus Mountains is breathtaking. We will descend into the valley and stop for a rest in a 16th-century old princely cellar, which now houses an interesting ethnographic museum. Here we will have a master class on making khinkali and churchkhela, after which we will be invited to lunch with local homemade wine. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 3. Mtskheta - Jvari - Chateau Mukhrani - Borjomi 

We leave the city and head to Mtskheta - the ancient capital of Georgia. Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century) are places that have determined the history of Georgia and are full of ancient myths and legends. From Mtskheta, we drive to Chateau Mukhrani - the palace and winery of the Bagrationi-Mukhrani princes. Tasting their wines is a pleasure for everyone, as they produce wines that are only available from them. Our next destination is the resort town of Borjomi, which we reach through a forested gorge. We will take a walk in their historic park and drink mineral water straight from the source. Overnight in Borjomi.

Day 4. Fortress Rabati - cave city Vardzia

We are heading to the southern part of Georgia to the fortress of Rabati. This is a fully restored huge complex with complex fortifications, beautiful hanging gardens, and trading pavilions. The fortress has had a complicated history, but now it looks magnificent. Along the banks of the Kura River, we drive to the large cave city of Vardzia. It was carved into a sheer cliff in the 12th century. It is a full-fledged city with streets, rooms, underground passages, a church, and a lake. Overnight in Borjomi.

Day 5. Kutaisi - Prometheus Cave - Gelati academy 

We continue our journey towards the sea. We will stay in Kutaisi for one day as there are interesting sights to see around it. First, we will visit the Prometheus Cave. The length of this karst cave is 1.5 km, and at the end of it, there is an underground river where we can take a ride under the low vaults of the cave. After exploring the underground galleries, we will head to Gelati to see the first Georgian academy founded in the 12th century. After the tour, we will have lunch with a rural family. They will give us a master-class on how to make khachapuri, cornbread, and lobio. Then, we will have lunch with light Imeretian wines. In the evening, we will settle in a hotel and have a small tour of Kutaisi, a very charming and cozy city whose streets remember the young Vladimir Mayakovsky. We will spend the night in Kutaisi.

Day 6. Botanical Garden - Batumi

In the morning, we will head towards the sea. We will stop by the famous Batumi Botanical Garden and take a walk along its evergreen alleys. Next - Batumi. We will take a tour of this beautiful city - the boulevard, the piazza, the old colonial-style streets, the cafes, the singing fountains, and the eternal warm sea. We will spend the night in Batumi.

Day 7. Apsaros fortress - bridge and waterfall Makhuntseti

Today we will explore the surroundings of the city. In the morning, we will head to the town of Gonio, where the ancient fortress of Apsaros is located - the only trace of the Romans' presence in Georgia. The fortress is perfectly preserved and gives a complete impression of how Roman military settlements were organized. We will continue our journey and visit another witness of old times. We will walk across the 12th-century arched bridge in the town of Makhuntseti. Nearby, we will also see a magnificent waterfall, cascading down from a height of 30 meters. In the evening, we will return to Kutaisi. We will spend the night in Kutaisi.

Day 8. Kutaisi - Tbilisi

On this day, we will travel from Kutaisi to Tbilisi. We will arrive in the capital by lunchtime, and the rest of the day will be free for independent walks and activities. This marks the end of our tour.

The cost of the tour is available upon request.

The cost of the tour includes: guide, Mercedes Vito minivan, transfer from/to the airport, tickets to all mentioned sights, wine tastings according to the program, lunches on the 2nd and 5th day, and master classes specified in the program.

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