Exploring Georgia

Transfer from airport to hotel. Hotel check in.
Tour to Mtskheta, one of the oldest Georgian cities, which was a capital of Eastern Georgia up to the 5th c. then the court 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.
After lunch go for tour of Tbilisi historical district. 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.
After the excursion dinner in authentic restaurant with entertaining program – Georgian polyphonic singing, folk dances and music.
Overnight in Tbilisi hotel.

Hotel check out. Drive from Tbilisi to Gori J. Stalin’s Museum. The museum has exhibition of personal items and documents belonged to J. Stalin and his family.
Next site is Uplistsikhe cave-town — first human settlement mentioned in manuscripts (2n millennium BC).
Lunch in Gori. After the lunch continue driving to Tskaltubo via Ricoti Pass. See baskets and ceramic jars and other handmade crafts at markets by the road.
Arrive to Tskaltubo. Hotel check in.  Night in Tskaltubo Hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. Hotel check out.
9:00 start to Kutaisi to see Bagtary Cathedral, 11 th century cathedral church recognized as a masterpiece of medieval Georgian architecture. Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery were included to the worlds UNESCO Heritage Sites list.
10:00 Next site to see is Monastery of Gelaty. It contains the Church of Virgin founded by the king of Georgia David the Builder in 1106 and the 13th century churches of St. George and St. Nicolas. The Monastery for a long time was one of the main cultural and intellectual centers in Georgia. Its academy employed some of the most celebrated scientists, theologians and philosophers from abroad and including Constantinople.  Another place to visit is a small and beautiful monastery – Motsameta.
13:20 Lunch on Rikoti path.
15:00 Arrive to Akhaltsikhe. Hotel check in.
16:00 explore Rabat fortress and its facilities.
Night in Akhaltsikhe hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. Hotel check out.
Drive to visit one of the oldest fortresses in Georgia — Khertvisi fortress (9th c.)
Continue to Vardzia – cave city built by Queen Tamar and her father in 12th – 13th cc. During the reign of Tamar Vardzia was a monastery accommodating up to 2000 monks. It had 6000 apartments, throne hall and a large church with a tower.
Have lunch near the Vardzia site.
Continue driving to Tbilisi.
Make a stop in Borjomi Kharagauli National park to taste mineral waters and have a short walk.
Night in Tbilisi Hotel.

After breakfast in the hotel check our and drive from Tbilisi to Tsinandali. Village of Tsinandaliis 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.
Visit to Shumi Winery to taste wines and have excursion in the vineyard.
Lunch in Telavi.
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 )
Nekresi 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 wine tasting (3 types of wine). We also see here “Marani”, traditional wine cellar, and vineyard.
Next site to visit is Nunisi old winery in the village of Velistsikhe. It is represented by 16th century vine storage with old limestone wine pressor and 33 big wine jars (kvevri) sunk underneath the ground. The place has a rather rich exposition of old household items, pottery, utensils, jewelries, and other staff related to different ages. Arrive to Signaghi. Hotel check in. Night in Signaghi hotel.

Breakfast in the  hotel. Hotel check out.
10:00 Excursion and walk in Sighnaghi with a guide. Visit Sighnaghi Museum which features rich collection of ethnographic, numismatic, photo and documentary items. Also the museum has a gallery where the pictures of Niko Pirosmani are exhibited.
Visit St. Nino’s Monastery in Bodbe located very close to Sighnaghi. The Church was originally built between the 9th and 11th centuries, but has been significantly modified since then. The monastery now functions as a nunnery and is one of the major pilgrimage sites in Georgia, due to its association with St. Nino, the 4th century female evangelist of Georgians, whose relics are shrine there.
Visit Kakhetian winery and have vine tasting and lunch. Three different types of wine prepared according to Georgian technology will be suggested. (wine tasting is optional 15$ per person).
Ninotsminda Cathedral is highly significant to the development of Georgian architecture, as it predates Jvari Monastery in Mtskheta, and served as a model for the development of the later tetraconch (four-apse) form. The site is ruined today, with only the eastern apse and a portion of the western wall remaining.
The ruined apse is decorated with 16th century frescoes of the Hodegetria, severely vandalized with bullet holes from Dagestan bandits in the 18th and 19th centuries. Outlines of the foundations indicate that the church originally had an octagonal center, surrounded by corner niches. Historical records indicate that restoration work was undertaken in the 10th and 11th centuries, and also during 1671 and 1774. However, the cathedral collapsed during earthquakes in 1824 and 1848 and was not reconstructed.
Arrival 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. Trip back to Tbilisi. Night in Tbilisi hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Hotel check out before 12:00 pm.
Transfer to the airport. Departure. End of service.