Welcome To Georgia

Arrival in Tbilisi, Airport meeting & greeting, transfer to the hotel, overnight.

Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for City Tour.

Visit to the old part of Tbilisi city: Metekhi church (12th century) & Abanotubani – natural sulfur springs, bath–houses built in XVI-XVII cc..

Walking through some narrow streets (typical for old Tbilisi) where taverns, cafes, carpet and souvenir shops are situated.

Visit to the Peace Bridge, a bow-shaped pedestrian bridge, a steel and glass construction illuminated with numerous LEDs, over the Mtkvari river.

Walk to Rike park (Europe Square) and reaching Narikala on cable car. Narikala is the main fortress of Tbilisi, offering panoramic views over old and new city. A great place for photography and enjoying city views.

Walk from Rike park to Freedom Square and continue walking tour through Rustaveli avenue.

Return to the hotel, free time for leisure. Overnight.

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Jvari monastery near Mtskheta (26 km from Tbilisi). The name of this monastery is translated as the “Monastery of the Cross”

Its construction is dated back to the sixth century and stands on the rocky mountaintop at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers overlooking the town of Mtskheta, which was formerly the capital of the Kingdom of Iberia.

Proceed to Ananuri fortified monastery (50 km from Jvari monastery). Ananuri is a castle complex set on the Aragvi river. The fortifications consist of two castles joined by a crenelated curtain wall. The upper fortification with a large square tower, known as Sheupovari, is well preserved and is the location of the last defense of the Aragvi against the Shamshe. The lower fortification, with a round tower, is mostly in ruins.

Drive to the historic town of Mtskheta (44 km). En route, stop at Georgian restaurant for lunch (Optional. Lunch not included in package rate).

Drive to Svetitskhoveli cathedral(4th century) located in Mtskheta. A masterpiece of the Early Middle Ages, Svetitskhoveli is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is currently the second largest church building in Georgia, after the Holy Trinity Cathedral. A walking tour around Mtskheta town.

Return to the hotel in Tbilisi, free evening for leisure, overnight.

Breakfast at hotel. Proceed to Uplistsikhe cave town (100 km from Tbilisi), which is one of the oldest places of settlement in the Caucasus.

It was founded in the late Bronze Age, (around 900 BC), but developed mainly from the 5th century to the 1st centuries BC. Before Georgia became a Christian country, this was a special site for pagan rituals. The main caravan road from Asia to Europe used to run just 2 km northern of the city, which became a very important trade center.

Lunch in a Georgian restaurant in Gori (Optional. Lunch not included in package rate). Proceed to Shio Mgvime Monastery (75 km from Gori). The Shio-Mgvime monastery (literally meaning “the cave of Shio”) is a medieval monastic complex, near the town of Mtskheta. The first monastic community at this place was founded by the 6th-century monk Shio, one of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers who came to Georgia as Christian missionaries.

Return to the hotel in Tbilisi, free evening for leisure, overnight.

After breakfast at the hotel tour to Kakheti region(110 km to the first destination, Bodbe).

Kakheti is synonymous with wine. There are hundreds of different grapes grown here, and every village has its own particular variety.

Visit to The Monastery of St. Nino at Bodbe (9th century), nested among tall Cypress trees on a steep hillside overlooking the Alazani Valley, where it commands breathtaking views of the Greater Caucasus mountains.

Proceed to Sighnaghi (2 km from Bodbe), Kakhetian town surrounded by ancient wall, settled since the Paleolithic period.

Sighnaghi offers picturesque landscapes, pastel houses and narrow, cobblestone streets. Located on a steep hill, Sighnaghi overlooks the vast Alazani Valley, with the Caucasus Mountains visible at a distance. (Walking tour of Sighnaghi, Photography, enjoying landscapes).

Proceed to Gurjaani (23 km from Sighnaghi) and visiting Local Wine House, a family business run by locals, who do not like to call it a “business”, but rather “Sharing Georgian hospitality and traditions”.

Taking masterclasses in baking Georgian bread – “Shoti”, Georgian cheese-filled bread – “Khachapuri” and traditional Georgian sweet – “Churchkhela”. You will have an opportunity to attend the brewing of Georgian Vodka (“Zavodoba”), which is very interesting process; you will also see how traditional Georgian bread is baked and how Churchkhela is made. Brief lecture will be provided about masterpieces of Georgian cuisine, such as Khachapuri, Khinkali, Mtsvadi and many other Georgian dishes. You will have an opportunity to participate in this process and master old Georgian culinary technologies and finally taste the dishes made by your own hands. All this will be provided in a pleasant ethnographic environment decorated with old Georgian exhibits and other interesting things.

Wine tasting: Kakheti region is famous for its ancient wine growing traditions and hospitality. As a guest of the wine house you have an opportunity to taste several kinds of wine produced by family methods as well as by factory methods. There is 2 centuries old press (equipment used for wine squeezing), which is until now used for the purpose of making wine and which presents the pride of the cellar. Here you can also see old earthen crocks (“kvevri”), where different types of wine are stored. Guests can bottle wine which they take out of “kvevri” with their own hands and purchase it in a sealed condition.

And now it’s time for Georgian “SUPRA” – which means “feast“, but is something more than that, much more unique and unforgettable. While enjoying various assortment of delicious Georgian dishes, your host family dressed in national clothing – Chokha, will make sure to provide you with loads of moments to remember.

Return to Tbilisi (115 km from Gurjaani). Free evening, overnight at the hotel.

Check out from the hotel, transfer to Tbilisi international airport, Departure.