A five-day tour of Georgia is the best way to enjoy Georgian hospitality, visit tourist places, taste Georgian cuisine and famous Georgian wine.
Day 1
Meeting at Tbilisi International Airport and transfer to the hotel.
Sightseeing tour in the historical part of Tbilisi
Metekhi Plateau is a historical district of Tbilisi, located on a cliff overlooking the Mtkvari (Kura) River.
The monument “Georgian Mother” – which has become one of the symbols of Tbilisi. The statue symbolizes the Georgian national character: a female figure holds a cup of wine in her left hand to greet those who came as a friend, and in her right hand a sword for those who came as an enemy.
The Narikala Fortress is the most famous and ancient monument of Tbilisi antiquity, since the fourth century is called the date of construction of the fortress. The original name of the fortress was Shuris Tsikhe (Enviable Fortress), and the modern name was given by the Mongols, having captured Tbilisi – “narin kala” in Mongolian means “small fortress”.
Abanotubani (Bath Quarter) is a historical district in the center of Tbilisi, famous for its complex of baths standing on natural sulfur springs. Baths form a separate quarter of the city, which is a popular place for many tourists.
Sioni Cathedral (VI-XII centuries) – historically the main temple of Tbilisi, built in the name of the Assumption of the Mother of God – one of the most famous monuments of the old city, named after the Jerusalem Zion Mountain. Among the relics kept in the temple is the ancient cross of St. Nina, woven from vines, which, according to legend, the Mother of God handed over to St. Nina before sending her to Georgia.
Day 2.
Excursion to Gergeti Holy Trinity Church
After breakfast, departure along the Georgian military road towards Gergeti Trinity Church. En route we will visit the Jvari monastery.
Visiting Ananuri fortress (XVI c). Ananuri Fortress is located in the village of the same name, 70 km from Tbilisi. Ananuri served as the main stronghold for the Aragvi eristavis, the rulers of this region. The fortress was built in the gorge of the two rivers Aragvi and Vedzatkhevi in such a way that not one army could pass by unnoticed. Ananuri Fortress played a significant role in numerous wars and has never been taken by storm in its history. Today it is one of the main points of tourist routes in Georgia.
Next stop at the viewing platform in Gudauri. Located on the Georgian Military Highway between the ski resort town of Gudauri and the Jvari pass, the monument is a large round stone and concrete structure overlooking the Devil’s Valley in the Caucasus mountains.
Arrival in Kazbegi (passing through the Jvari Pass 2379 m above sea level). Ascent to the Gergeti Trinity – among all the churches of Europe located in the alpine zone, Gergeti Trinity is located at the highest point – 2200 m. The church is located at the foot of the peak of Mkinvartsveri (from Georgian: “Ice peak”). In Soviet times, the church was closed, now returned to the Georgian Orthodox Church. Gergeti Holy Trinity Church is very popular among tourists – this is one of the most beautiful places in the mountains of Georgia.
Lunch (at your discretion) in Stepantsminda (an urban-type settlement). In the evening, we return to Tbilisi.
Day 3.
Jvari Monastery, Stalin Museum, Uplistsikhe, Mtskheta
Jvari (in Georgian “the cross”) (VI century) is a rare case of the early medieval Georgian church, which has survived to this day almost unchanged. It is located on the top of a mountain, from the slopes of which one can see how the jets of two rivers merge – the Kura and the Aragvi.
Arrival in Gori and (in case of your interest) visiting Joseph Stalin’s house-museum. The museum has three departments, all located in the central district of Gori. There are many things on display that actually or presumably belonged to Stalin, including some of the furniture from his offices, and gifts. A large number of illustrations, paintings, documents, photographs and newspaper articles are also presented. In front of the main museum is the house in which Stalin was born and spent the first four years of his life. The museum features a personal railway carriage of Stalin. The railway carriage was used by him since 1941, including for trips to the Tehran and Yalta conferences.
Uplistsikhe – one of the rarest monuments in the world, the oldest cave city, one of the first cities in Georgia. Uplistsikhe is carved into the rock located 12 km east of the city of Gori, on the left bank of the Mtkvari River. The city arose at the end of II – at the beginning of the first millennium BC and contains various structures dating from the Early Iron Age to the Late Middle Ages. The uniqueness of the monument lies in the fact that, thanks to its structure, it retained the remains of architectural and religious buildings built over several millennia. In its heyday, Uplistsikhe included more than 700 caves and cave structures, of which only 150 have survived to date.
There are archaeological data on the Uplistsikhe trade relations of this period with Urartu and Medes. The settlement was called Uplistsikhe already in the ancient period. Mention of medieval Georgian historians connect the foundation of the settlement with the mythological “Uplos, the son of Mtskhetos”. Based on this, the name “Uplistsikhe” is associated with Uplos. Nevertheless, in most popular sources, another interpretation of the name has been fixed, made on the basis of the modern Georgian language, in which “Uplos” is associated with the common noun “lord”: Uplistsikhe – “Fortress of the Lord”.
Svetitskhoveli is the cathedral patriarchal temple of the Georgian Orthodox Church in honor of the twelve Apostles, built in 1010-1029, on the site of the first Christian church in Georgia, erected over the grave of St. Sidonia, buried with the chiton of Jesus Christ taken out of Jerusalem. Svetitskhoveli has been the main cathedral of all Georgia for a millennium. One of the foundations of the temple was the sacred trunk (cedar) that stood at the burial place of the robe of Christ, after which the temple was named. (From Georgian: sveti – a pillar, tskhoveli – life-giving).
Day 4.
Excursion to Kakheti
Visiting the wine factory KTW (Kakhetian Traditional Winemaking), tasting of several varieties of wine. On the way to Sighnaghi, stop in the village of Badiauri, where we will see how the Kakhetian “mother’s bread” (Dedas Puri) is baked; at the stop you can buy spices, churchkhela – a traditional Georgian national delicacy.
Arrival at the Bodbe Monastery – the nunnery of the Bodbinsky diocese of the Georgian Orthodox Church. The Georgian Orthodox monastery complex, originally built in the 9th century, was extensively rebuilt, especially in the 17th century. Currently, the monastery functions as a convent and is one of the main places of pilgrimage in Georgia due to its association with St. Nino, a 4th-century Georgian evangelist whose relics are kept here. This is a beautiful place indeed – from here there is a wonderful view of Alazani valley.
Next we will visit Sighnaghi – the city of love, is located on terraces connected by winding steep streets. Despite being one of the smallest towns in Georgia, Sighnaghi is a popular tourist destination due to its location in the heart of Georgia’s wine regions, as well as picturesque scenery, pastel-colored houses and narrow cobbled streets. Situated on a steep hill, Sighnaghi towers over the vast Alazani Valley, and the Caucasus Mountains can be seen in the distance.
Dinner with traditional cuisine and Kakhetian wine. In the evening return to Tbilisi.
Day 5.
Transfer to Tbilisi International Airport.
Total cost of an individual tour:
EXCLUDING hotel accommodation:
for 2 persons: $1480 ($740 per person)
for 4 persons: $1900 ($475 per person)
for 6 persons: $2280 ($380 per person)
for 10 persons: $3550 ($355 per person)
with accommodation in a 4* hotel in the center of Tbilisi:
for 2 persons: $1750 ($875 per person)
for 4 persons:: $2500 ($625 per person)
for 6 persons:: $3180 ($530 per person)
for 10 persons:: $5100 ($510 per person)
with accommodation in a 3* hotel in the center of Tbilisi:
for 2 persons: $1650 ($825 per person)
for 4 persons: $2200 ($550 per person)
for 6 persons: $2760 ($460 per person)
for 10 persons: $4350 ($435 per person)
The price includes: hotel accommodation with breakfast in the center of Tbilisi, private guide services, driver services and all transfers, ascent to the Holy Trinity Church in Gergeti, entrance tickets to the Stalin Museum and local guide services, entrance tickets to Uplistsikhe and local guide services, tasting of Kakheti bread and cheese, wine tasting.
