Discovering Georgia

Company representative meets you in the airport.  Transfer from airport to hotel. Hotel check in.
Tbilisi historical district tour. Visit Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba) built in 21st c which presents a mixture of traditional Georgian church architecture. 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. 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.
In the evening Georgian Supra in authentic restaurant with entertaining program – Georgian polyphonic singing, folk dances and music.
Overnight in Tbilisi hotel.

Mtskheta is 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. Archaeologists discovered remains of the city dating back to 1000 year BC. It 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.
Drive back to Tbilisi. Night in Tbilisi hotel.

9:00 after breakfast in the hotel start to Kazbegi tour. We will be travelling along the Georgian Military Road from Tbilisi and stop at the 16th century Ananuri Fortress located by the Aragvi River.
Continue the tour to Cross Pass, to enjoy breathtaking views of the mountains and Aragvi River. Drive to Stepantsminda village located at the foot of Kazbegi. Mount Kazbegi is 5033 m high and provides spectacular views over the surrounding landscapes.
On the slope of the mountain, discover the ancient 12th-century Gergeti Triniti Church and the 5th – century cave of Bethlehem.

9:00 Start from Tbilisi to Tsinandali via Telavi.
Village of  Tsinandali is a source of a famous white wine and site of the Chavchavadze family estate — the 19th-century poet, public figure, and Kakhetian prince Alexander Chavchavadze (1786-1846). Have excursion with a guide and one glass of wine. See the house which is nowadays a museum and a wonderful garden.
Continue our tour to see Gremi –it was Kakhetian Royal family residence in 15th century, the fortress has several inbuilt facilities including a Church of Archangels (1565 ).
Necresi Monastry — one of the most important cultural centers of Georgia. Beautifully set on the hilltop in the woods the monastery includes several structures built in different periods (4th.5th, 6th, 9th, 16th centuries).
Drive to Kvareli Wineyard and Winery to have lunch and wine tasting (3 types of wine), you can also have master classes on making  khinkali/churchkhela/bread (optional). We also see here marani (traditional wine cellar), vineyards (depending on the time of the year).
Next site to visit is Numisi old wine cellar in the village of Velistsikhe. It is represented by 16th century vine storage with old limestone wine presser and 33 big wine jars (kvevri) sunk underneath the ground. The place has a rather rich expositions of old household items, pottery, utensils, jewelries, and other staff related to different ages.
Drive back to Tbilisi. Night in Tbilisi hotel.

In the morning pick up from the hotel and drive in direction to Sagaredji, we will turn from the main highway and drive part of the way using ground road that leads to our destination – David Garedja Monastery caves. David Garedji the founder of David Garedja Orthodox Monastery Complex was a monk that came to Georgia from abroad together with other thirteen Assyrian monks. David Garedja Complex consists of about 20 rock-hewn monasteries spreading on the both sides of Georgian-Azerbaijani boundary. Though the monasteries experienced devastation after the Mongol army (12 c) and dramatic events of Persian invasion in 16 c. when important manuscripts were destroyed the monastery is of a great value due to frescoes of VIII-XIV cc. reflecting the history of Georgia.
Drive back to Tbilisi. Night in Tbilisi hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. Hotel check out until 12:00 pm. Transfer to airport. End of service.