Meeting at Tbilisi International Airport and transfer to the hotel.
Day 1
Tbilisi city tour – sightseeing tour in the historical part of Tbilisi
Metekhi Plateau – a historic neighborhood of Tbilisi, located on the elevated cliff that overlooks the Mtkvari river. The neighborhood is home to the eponymous Metekhi Church of Assumption. The name Metekhi comes from the Greek metoh, which means the location of the church. It is believed that the area was inhabited even under King Vakhtang Gorgasali, who built his palace here, and in the 8th century, on the Metekhi Rock, according to legend, St. Abo of Tbilisi was martyred.
The Bridge of Peace – a bow-shaped pedestrian bridge, a steel and glass construction illuminated with numerous LEDs, over the Kura River, linking the Rike Park with Old town in central Tbilisi.
Abanotubani – the ancient district of Tbilisi, known for its sulphuric baths.
Narikala – an ancient fortress overlooking Tbilisi and the Mtkvari (Kura) River.
The Sioni Cathedral of the Dormition – a Georgian Orthodox cathedral. Following a medieval Georgian tradition of naming churches after particular places in the Holy Land, the Sioni Cathedral bears the name of Mount Zion at Jerusalem.
Tbilisi State Puppet Theater named after Rezo Gabriadze.
Anchiskhati Basilica of St Mary (VI century – the oldest surviving church in Tbilisi).
Metekhi Plateau, Tbilisi
Day 2
Excursion to Gergeti Trinity Church
En route visit Ananuri Fortress – a castle complex on the Aragvi River. Ananuri was a castle and seat of the eristavis (Dukes) of Aragvi, a feudal dynasty which ruled the area from the 13th century. The castle was the scene of numerous battles.
Near the village Pasanauri there is an amazing place that attracts thousands of tourists. This is the confluence of two rivers – the White and Black Aragvi.
Next stop at the observation deck on the top of the mountain with a panoramic view, at the arch of friendship of nations. 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 to Kazbegi passing through the Jvari Pass 2379 m above sea level. Ascent to 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 Mkinvartsveri peak (from Georgian “ice peak” or “glacier peak”; Mount Kazbek is a dormant stratovolcano and one of the major mountains of the Caucasus. Mount Kazbek is the third-highest peak in Georgia and the seventh-highest summit in the Caucasus Mountains).
Dinner (at your discretion) in Stepantsminda – the center of the Kazbegi Municipality.
In the evening return to Tbilisi.
Ananuri fortress
Day 3
Excursion to Uplistsikhe and Mtskheta
En route we will visit Jvari Monastery (VI c.). Jvari is a rare case of an Early Medieval Georgian church that has survived to the present day almost unchanged. It is located on top of a mountain, from the slopes of which you can see how the jets of two rivers merge – the Kura and Aragvi.
Arrival in Gori city and visiting Joseph Stalin’s house-museum. 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. The museum features a personal railway carriage of Stalin, that was used by him since 1941, including for trips to the Tehran and Yalta conferences.
Uplistsikhe (literally, “the lord’s fortress”) – one of the rarest monuments in the world, the oldest cave city, one of the first cities in Georgia. 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.
Dinner at your discretion.
Next, we will visit the ancient capital of Georgia, now the holy city of Mtskheta. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral – the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church, in honor of the Twelve Apostles, built in 1010-1029. A masterpiece of the Early and High Middle Ages, Svetitskhoveli is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Known as the burial site of the claimed Christ’s mantle, Svetitskhoveli has long been one of the principal Georgian Orthodox churches and is among the most venerated places of worship in the region.
Overnight in Tbilisi.
Gori Cathedral
Day 4
Free day in Tbilisi – for a walk in the city and to buy souvenirs. If you wish, you can order an additional excursion.
Day 5
Two days in Kakheti for a wine tour
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, tasting Chacha – Georgian strong alcoholic drink; on the stop you can buy spices, Churchkhela – traditional Georgian national delicacy.
Arrival at the Bodbe Monastery – a convent of the Bodbe diocese of the Georgian Orthodox Church. A Georgian Orthodox monastic complex originally built in the 9th century, it has been significantly remodeled, especially in the 17th century. 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 shrined there.
Sighnaghi – the city of love, is located on terraces connected by winding steep streets. Although it is one of Georgia’s smallest towns, Signagi serves as a popular tourist destination due to its location at the heart of Georgia’s wine-growing regions, as well as its picturesque landscapes, pastel houses and narrow, cobblestone streets. Located on a steep hill, Signagi overlooks the vast Alazani Valley, with the Caucasus Mountains visible at a distance.
Dinner at your discretion.
Overnight in Sighnaghi.
Kakhetian traditional winemaking
Day 6
Wine tour in Kvareli
In the morning we will go to Kvareli – a town in northeastern in Kakheti Province, located in the Alazani Valley, near the foothills of the Greater Caucasus Mountains.
Visit to the wine cellar “Gvirabi” – Kvareli Wine Cave. The unique wine cellar and tourist complex is built on the edge of Alazani Valley. This is a place that attracts all tourists and awakens unforgettable emotions in them. The cave, carved into the Caucasus rock massif, was opened in 1962 specifically for the World Congress of Vine and Wine. Throughout the year, the cave temperature ranges from 12-16 ° C, which creates an ideal environment for wine storage and aging. The total length of the Wine Tunnel is 7.7 km, which consists of two main and 13 connecting tunnels.
Tourists will have: tasting 4 types of wine, Chacha tasting, bread baking in Tone, dipping Churchkhela, Mtsvadi (veal, pork or chicken) grilling, Khachapuri or Lobiani baking, Khinkali wrapping.
By the end of the Kakheti wine tour, we will arrive in Telavi – the main city and administrative center of Georgia’s eastern province of Kakheti. In the evening return to Tbilisi and hotel accommodation.
The wine cellar "Gvirabi"
Day 7
Transfer to Tbilisi international airport.
The price will include: Hotel accommodation with breakfast, private guide service, all transfers, all wine tasting according to the program, entrance fee to the Stalin Museum with local guide service, entrance fee to Uplistsikhe Cave Town with local guide service.
Please note: the tour is designed so that tourists will arrive in Tbilisi in the morning. If tourists will arrive in the evening, the tour will be slightly modified – the tour program will start from the second day and tourists will have free time in Tbilisi in the afternoon.
Dinner cost per person about 15 USD.
