Welcome to Georgia

On arrival at Tbilisi International Airport you will be met by our local representative and you will be transferred to the hotel.

Day is free, for you to explore the city at your own pace.

Tbilisi is the capital of the country of Georgia. Its cobblestoned old town reflects a long, complicated history, with periods under Persian and Russian rule. Its diverse architecture encompasses Eastern Orthodox churches, ornate art nouveau buildings and Soviet Modernist structures. Looming over it all are Narikala, a reconstructed 4th-century fortress, and Kartlis Deda, an iconic statue of the “Mother of Georgia.”

Overnight in Tbilisi.

Breakfast at the hotel.

We will start our tour by visiting The Bridge of peace and beautiful European Park which is situated in the Old Town, from the park we proceed the way by cable car to Narikala Fortress. The fortress was established in the 4th century and considerably expanded over subsequent centuries. Enjoy are spectacular views of the city from the battlements. We will continue exploring the Tbilisi Old Town with Sulfur Baths and Leghvtakhevi Waterfall – this district is called “Abanotubani”. Abanotubani is the place, where according to legend, King Vakhtang Gorgasali’s falcon fell, leading to the discovery of the hot springs and, subsequently the founding of a new capital. Will move to Holy Trinity church of Sameba The Sameba Cathedral is located on Elia Hill, which rises above the left bank of the Mtkvari River in the historic neighborhood of Avlabari District. Visit the Ancient city of Mtskheta, Samtavro and Jvari Monastery (6th century), Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century). Significant religious site is the Svetitskhoveli. It was built in the 11 th century (1010-1029) on the site of the Twelve Apostles Church, the first Christian Georgian church erected in the 4 th century. 

There is a religious legend, connected with this church origination, about Elioz, a citizen of Mtskheta, who found the Tunic of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. Elioz's sister – Sidonia – died as soon as she touched the tunic. She was buried wrapped in it. Soon a big tree, cedar of Lebanan, grew on Sidonia's grave. When the ruler Mirian decided to build a temple on the place where the Tunic of the God was buried the cedar was cut down. They made seven columns from the tree and began to install them in the church. 

Six columns were in place but the seventh was not; it was hanging in mid-air. The Baptist of Georgia, St. Nino prayed all night long and then the column “without a touch of a human hand” froze on its place and … started shedding holy ointment. The miraculous chrism cured patients of heavy illnesses. Hence the temple's name – Svetitskhoveli; in Georgian it means “the Life-Giving Pillar”. One of the greatest religious holidays of Georgia is Mtskhetoba-Svetitskhovloba is dedicated to the Life-Giving Pillar and the Tunic of the God. It is marked two times a year (on July13th and October 14th).Next to Mtskheta, on top of a hill above the Aragvi River is the Jvari Monastery. This complex contains several buildings from different periods including a classic Georgian cruciform church dating from the mid-6th century. There are beautiful views from here. Guests can enjoy panorama of Tbilisi and have some relaxing free time and dining (extra cost). After the tour your driver cum guide will bring you back to the hotel.

Overnight in Tbilisi.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today morning explore the wine region of Kakheti, first you will be visiting Sighnaghi (City of love), a small town in the east of Georgia situated on the mountainside. It was founded in the 17th century. Is famous for its long city walls (18th Century), with watchtowers, there are well preserved 4.5 kilometer of stone walls and you can get the magnificent view of the Alazan valley and the great Caucasus Mountain. A famous Bodbe Monastery (4th century). Tour continues in Tsinandali Museum. Prince Alexander Chavchavadze, the founder of the Georgian romanticism turned the estate in the village of Tsinandali, which he inherited from his father into cultural and intellectual center of the country, the status it preserves to this day.  The complex in Tsinandali embraces the memorial house, a landscape garden, a historical winery, wine cellar, hotel and a café. The vineyards have been restored and wine production has resumed. Explore the territory of Tsinandali. Visit Korporation Kindzmarauli for wine degustation. After the tour your driver cum guide will bring you back to your hotel in Tbilisi.

Overnight in Tbilisi.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Start the day to explore the Mtiuleti region. On the way to Kazbegi we will visit Ananuri fortress, the fortress historically belonged to the eristavis (dukes) of Aragvi, who ruled as far as the Tergi valley from the 13th to 18th centuries, and is today a (very) popular stop on the Georgian Military Hwy. The fortress is on the UNESCO Tentative list. Within the fortress are two 17th-century churches, the larger of which, the Assumption Church, is covered with wonderful stone carvings on its exteriror walls, including a large cross on each and various ancient scripts from all over the region, some of which have now totally disappeared. Inside the Assumption Church are a few vivid 17th- and 18th-century frescoes, including a Last Judgement on the south wall, although much of the church is bare due to a 19th-century fire. You can climb the tallest of the fortress towers for fine views, as well as walk along the battlements: it was here that the last defenders were killed in 1739 when a rival duke set fire to Ananuri and murdered the Aragvi eristavi’s family.  We will continue our tour by visiting Friendship Monument, the Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument or Treaty of Georgievsk Monument is a monument built in 1983 to celebrate the bicentennial of the Treaty of Georgievsk and the ongoing friendship between Soviet Georgia and Soviet Russia. It is a large round stone and concrete structure overlooking the Devil's Valley in the Caucasus Mountains. Thereafter we will visit Gergeti Trinity Church, The Church is situated on the right bank of the river Chkheri (the left tributary of the river Terek). Will enjoy the stunning views of Mount Kazbeki, the third highest mountain in Georgia (after Mount Shkhara and Janga). After the tour your driver cum guide will bring you back to your hotel in Tbilisi.

Overnight in Tbilisi.

Breakfast at the hotel.

A visit to Borjomi resort and enjoy with its special nature and mineral water. Then we will stop at Bakuriani ski resort. The tour continues by visiting Rabati Castle. According to the Georgian Chronicles the city was established in the 9th century by Guaram Mampal, son of the King of Tao. From the 13th to the end of 14th centuries it was the capital city of Samtskhe-Saatabago, ruled by the Georgian princely (mtavari) family and a ruling dynasty of the Principality of Samtskhe, the House of Jaqeli. In 1393 the city was attacked by the armies of Tamerlane. Despite the Turko-Mongol invasions, the fortress withstood and continued to thrive. After the Treaty of Constantinople in 1590, the whole territory of Samtskhe-Saatabago came under the rule of Ottoman Empire. Turks Mostly used to build defensive edifices. In 1752 the first mosque was built in Rabati. Metropolitan John writes in the late 18th century that "despite the fact that a large part of the population has been Islamized, there's still a functioning Orthodox church". After the Treaty of Georgievsk between the Kingdom of Kartli and the Russian Empire was signed, the question of the fate of Akhaltsikhe arose. 

The first attempt to take the fortress in 1810 failed. Prince Paskevich successfully stormed the fortress 18 years later, in the great Battle of Akhalzic. After the Treaty of Adrianople in 1829, the Ottomans yielded part of Akhaltiske Region. The fortress and its adjacent buildings were extensively rebuilt and renovated in 2011-2012. After the tour your driver cum guide will bring you back to your hotel in Tbilisi.

Overnight in Tbilisi.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Day is free to relax and unwind in the hotel, or you can walk around the city of Tbilisi and buy something to bring back to your home country.

With its dramatic valley setting, picturesque Old Town, eclectic architecture and superb eating and drinking opportunities, Tbilisi is the vibrant, beating heart of Georgia and home to more than one in three of its citizens. Add to that the pull of the city's hipster culture, its techno scene and general air of cool, and Tbilisi is confidently sealing its reputation as the South Caucasus' most cosmopolitan city. While at first glance Tbilisi can seem both crowded and chaotic, many neighbourhoods retain a village-like feel with their narrow streets and small shops, while the Old Town is still redolent of an ancient Eurasian crossroads, with its winding lanes, balconied houses and leafy squares, all overlooked by the 17-century-old Narikala Fortress. Whichever side of the city you're looking for, you'll discover both on any exploration of Georgia's capital.

Overnight in Tbilisi.

Today head to the Joseph Stalin Museum is a museum in Gori, Georgia dedicated to the life of Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, who was born in Gori. The Museum retains its Soviet-era characteristics. The museum has three sections, all located in the town's central square. It was officially dedicated to Stalin in 1957. With the downfall of the Soviet Union and independence movement of Georgia, the museum was closed in 1989, but has since been reopened, and is a popular tourist attraction. On one side of the museum is Stalin's personal railway carriage. The green Pullman carriage, which is armour plated and weighs 83 tons, was used by Stalin from 1941 onwards, including his attendances at the Yalta Conference and the Tehran Conference. It was sent to the museum on being recovered from the railway yards at Rostov-on-Don in 1985. After move to Uplistsikhe, literally ‘Fortress of God’, is an ancient rock-hewn town which played a significant role in Georgian history over a period of approximately 3,000 years.  

Archaeological excavations have revealed extraordinary artifacts dating from the late Bronze Age all the way up to the late middle Ages. According to Unesco, Uplistsikhe Cave Town-Fortress is situated on a rocky massif in 15 km eastwards to town Gori on the left bank of the river Mtkvari. The fortress is mentioned in chronicles from earliest times. Its history begins in the I-II millennium B.C. Uplistsikhe was an important religious, political and cultural centre in the Hellenistic and the late Antique periods (IV c. B.C. – IV c. A.D.).  The town was in its heyday as far back as the 9th – 11th centuries. In 13th century, it was ravaged by Mongols. After the tour your driver cum guide will bring you back to your hotel in Tbilisi.

Overnight in Tbilisi.

After breakfast. The day is free until checkout time. The driver will pick you up and drop you to the airport for your onward flight.