7 Day Georgia's Cultural Heritage for small group

Pick up from the hotel.
Tbilisi historical district tour. Visit Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba) built in 21st c which presents a mixture of traditional Georgian church architecture. Continue the tour from Meteckhi plateau and visit Metekhi Church of 13th c. overlooking Mktvari river. Nearby the church stands the monument of king Vakhtang I Gorgosali (Vakhtang the Wolf Head) who established the city of Tbilisi – the capital of Easter Georgia. Continue to Narikala fortress by cable car and enjoy views of the city from the top. The fortress was built first built in 4th c. AD. Stroll down to the old city and visit Tbilisi Mosque, Legutakhevi (Fig ravine) waterfall and take a walk towards Sulfur bathehouse district – one of the oldest districts in Tbilisi. Walk on Maidan square. Sharden and Erekle II streets. Lots of cafes and pubs, souvenir shops and art galleries are located here. Sioni Cathedral the former seat of patriarch, also stands here. The Cathedral was built in 6th – 7th cc. Continue to Anchiskhati basilica, which is the oldest church in Tbilisi dating from 7th c.
Afterwards visit Golden Treasury of Georgian National Museum on Rustaveli Avenue. The Museum houses various archeological collections. Some of artifacts are dating back to 40 million years. The collection has many jewelry artifacts of the pre-Christian period as well.
Have a pleasant walk along the Rustaveli prospect towards Parliament, Drama Theatre named also after Rustaveli, National Museum of Contemporary Arts, The State Opera and Ballet Theatre, Rose revolution square.
Night in Tbilisi hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. Hotel check out. 9:00 Drive to Mtskheta — one of the oldest Georgian cities, which was a capital of Eastern Georgia up to the 5th c. then the royal residence was moved to Tbilisi. Archeologists discovered remains of the city dating back to 1000 year BC.
Mtskheta is a popular tourist destination as it contains two of the UNESCO World Heritage sites – Svetitskhoveli Cathedral of 12th c. and Jvari monastery of 6th c. Both of the sites represent true masterpiece of different styles of Georgian church architecture.
Visit the museum and house of Joseph Stalin, located in Gori town, where Stalin was born. The museum presents items related to Soviet leader’s life.
Continue to Uplistsikhe, an ancient village, located near Gori. Uplistsikhe is a rock-cut town approximately covering 8 ha., can be divided into 3 parts, the middle one is the largest and connected to the other two with passes and tunnels. The complex contains structures dating back to Early Iron Age.
Continue driving to Tskhaltubo via Ricoti Pass. See baskets and ceramic jars and other handmade crafts at markets by the road.
Arrive to Tskhaltubo. Hotel check in. Dinner in the hotel. Night in Tskhaltubo Hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. Hotel check out. Drive to Sataplia National Park to see Sataplia cave with footprints of dinosaurs. The cave has lots of stalagmites and stalactites of different shapes.
Later we will head to Zugdidi – municipal center of Samegrelo region in the past it was the capital of Mingrelian principality. Visit Dadiani palace – former Mingrelian royal family estate, nowadays it is museum.  Many of the museum exhibits are of a grate cultural and historical value.
Leave Samegrelo and travel to Mestia – municipal center of Svaneti region. Mestia is located 1500 m above the sea level. This region attracts tourists for centuries old buildings and watchtowers along with culture and traditions preserved since the medieval ages. Many buildings and Svan towers have the same appearance as they had ages ago.
Dinner and overnight in Mestia guesthouse.

After the breakfast we will travel by off road 4xWD to Ushguli village. On our way to Zemo-Svaneti we will pass several villages and visit ancient churches with well-preserved frescoes. Ushguli village with its watchtowers, dwellings and churches is UNESCO world heritage site.  Ushguli is also the highest settlement in Europe, it is 2200 m. over the sea level.
Drive to Hatsvali ski station and take a ride on the ski lift to enjoy the panoramic views of mounting landscapes and the sunset in highlands.
Dinner and overnight in Mestia guest house.

After the breakfast in the guesthouse we will explore Svan towers and Machubi dwelling. We will also visit Museum of Svaneti to see unique manuscripts (9 – 12 c.) and a very old Gospel book decorated with gold and silver. Guesthouse check out.
Drive to Tskaltubo. Prometheus cave is one of the largest caves in the word, has more than 16th halls and many underground rivers. The length of the tourist route is 1060 m., total length 15 555 m, the maximum height is 20 m., air temperature is 15 – 17 C all year round.
Night in Tskhaltubo hotel.

Check out after breakfast. At 9:30 start to Kutaisi to explore Kutaisi city and its surroundings: Bagrati Cathedral – a masterpiece of medieval Georgian church architecture. The cathedral was built in 11th c. and it was named after the King Bagrat III, who was the first King of united Georgia. Renovated in 2012, it stands on a hill and dominates the city of Kutaisi. Gelati Academy and Monastery (12th c. ) built during the reign of David the Builder, one of the most prominent Kings of Georgia. Gelati was a cultural and intellectual center for a long time and preserved lots of murals and manuscripts from 12th -17th cc.
Stop at Ricoti Pass for lunch. Continue to Tbilisi.
In the evening Georgian Supra – dinner in authentic restaurant with Georgian cuisine and glass of wine and entertaining program with folk songs and dances (Optional).
Night in Tbilisi Hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. Check out until 12:00 pm. End of service.