Georgia «Summer tour»

Tour Program

This tour is for those who is visiting Georgia for the first time! And of course for those who has good memories from Georgia! In 10 days you will be able to feel and see the soul of Georgia, its hospitality, its wealth and its beauty. The goal is to show you all the beauty and let you fall in love with the country!

Data 06.05

Transfer from Tbilisi airport to hotel.

Data 06.06

Walking tour to Tbilisi

09:30 – Breakfast in hotel

10:00 – Walking tour to Tbilisi

You will visit a lot of beautiful places such as:

• Holy Trinity Church (the third biggest church in orthodox world);
• Churches: Metekhi, Anchiskhati and Sioni;
• Narikala Castle;
• Mosk;
• Synagogue;
• Botanic Garden;
• Walk in famous streets of Tbilisi SHARENI and LESELIDZE.

(The tour price does not include dinner and supper)

Data 06.07

Starting trip to Kakheti

09:30 – Breakfast in hotel

10:00 – Starting trip to Kakheti

Program for the Tour:

Bodbe -  it is considered as national sanctuary of Georgia as there is a large Episcopalian monastery complex built and named after St. George. Here apostle Nino evangelist from Cappadocia found her shelter and spent her last days. She was an extraordinary woman who traveled, on her feet, all over the country, healing people and enlightening them to Christian religion. She passed away in 335 in age of sixty and according to her will she was buried in Bodbe.

The ensemble of Temple Bodbe had to be recovered and restored many times. In the XVI-XVII centuries, the village was one of the main educational centers of Georgia. In 1837 the monastery was abolished, but in 1889 they opened a convent named after St. Nino which is still active. Here at the convent there is St. Nino’s Spring, that according to a local legend, was emerged through St. Nino’s prayers and is believed to have a healing power.

Sighnaghi – City of Love. It was declared as a city in 1801. There is also a castle that was built in 1762, unfortunately its initial look was not saved to the present days. The City itself is situated along almost 40 hectares of land, and the heights of the castle walls is 4 km. In the castle along the perimeter you can see 28 watchtowers and 5 entrances. Each tower has its name. The city retains remarkable examples of architecture of 19th century’s residential buildings. The structure of buildings is presented in southern Italian classicism style with Georgian elements. The city is impressive with its magnificent history.

Tsinandali – it is one of the significant estates in Kakheti region. Tsinandali represents four different phenomena and is associated with Chavchavadze (Georgian noble name) family spring residence and several white grapes’ vineyard. The palace was built in the 19th century, its wine cellars and vineyards tell us the story of remarkable Chavchavadze family and its history, equally attracting and charming for both Georgians and foreigners.

Data 06.08

Continuation of Kakheti tour

At 6:00pm checking in hotel and Dinner  

09:30 – Breakfast in hotel

10:00 – continuation of Kakheti tour

Alaverdi - one of the most famous medieval churches in Georgia. It was built at the beginning of the XI century and is located 20 km. from Telavi. It is one of the tallest buildings (45 meters) of its time. Alaverdi was the burial place of kings of Kakheti.

Ikalto – it is one of the greatest monasteries in Georgia, and definitely the one in Kakheti. Ikalto Monastery was built and developed at the end of VI century, by Zenon from Ikalto, he is one of 13 Assyrian fathers. All other monasteries in Georgia are dated from the VII century.

Historians trace a link between wine making and developing Kakheti kingdom as in the monasteries of that time they had winepresses, wine cellars, and although many were destroyed, some of them still exist.

During the reign of David the builder, in around XII century, Assumption Church was erected and the Academy was built. A famous Georgian writer Shota Rustaveli was going to this academy, which is the reason of the event called Shotaoba, celebrated in November.

Gremy - in 1466 became the capital of Kakheti. For that time Kakheti was an independent kingdom. Architects used the terrain in very clever and original way, they built churches, kings’ residence and other facilities on the mountain. Market place was located on the west, and noble palaces on the east. For that time the whole area of ​​the city was about 50 hectares. However, Gremy’s prosperity did not last long.  In 1616 cruel ruler Shah Abbas of Persia wiped it off the face of the earth. Gremy, the prosperous and beautiful city turned into a pile of ruins. Former center of Kakheti could never regain its previous look, and in the middle of the XVII century Telavi became the capital of Kakheti. Today, in Gremy you can see a beautiful church of St. Archangels, built in 1565 by King Levan. The church interior is decorated with paintings that derives a great interest for painting lovers. Architecture is strict with concise characteristic of medieval Georgia. As a material for construction of the church they used bricks instead of stones.

Kvareli Munisipality - is located in Kakheti, north-east of Alazani Valley and borders Dagestan (former Soviet Union country as well). The famous Georgian wine “Kindzmarauli” is made here. One of “Kindzmarauli Corporation” factory is next to the vineyard itself and the other is in Kvareli city. Here you can also visit Wine Museum, so called Kvareli Tunnel, where they hold 25 000 bottles of high quality wine and get brief impression of wine making and growing grapes.   

At 6:00pm checking in Hotel

Data 06.09

Tour to Mtskheta and Sanctities of Georgia

09:30 – Breakfast in Hotel

10:00 – Start tour to Mtskheta and Sanctities of Georgia

Mtskheta - once old capital of Georgia. Today the city is the administrative center of Mtskheta - Mtianeti. It holds unique culture and monuments. Mtskheta is listed in UNESCO World Heritage and is one of the most important centers of Georgian culture. 

In Mtskheta you visit:

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral Church - named after 12 Apostles of Christ without doubt is one of the most important churches in Georgia. Svetitshoveli from ancient times was the patriarchal cathedral, because it is the burial place of the robe of Christ. Svetitshoveli is cross domed building with fine architectural ornaments and frescoes.

Djvari Monastery - is located on the hill of mountain, east of city Mtskheta. In 20s of V century a wooden cross was erected here, as a symbol of unification of the country.

After we continue tour to Kazbegi.

At the beginning the road will lead us to Jinvali water reservoir. Clear blue water with the background of green mountains looks amazing. 70 km from Tbilisi, on Georgian Military Highway, in an attractive location, on the shore of the water reservoir and at the confluence of river Aragvi and Vedzathevi, there is Ananuri Castle. This is the main reference point that guards the road leading to the ancient capital of Dusheti, centuries later it became the main road connecting Georgia to Russia. When you look at the old castle it looks like it grew out of the ground and took the entire space. We have only stone walls with the main quadrangle and several round towers, two domed church, and few other buildings left from this huge complex. Atmosphere is amazing!

In Kazbegi you can enjoy beautiful mountains of Georgia. We are going to walk up on one of them to visit Gergeti Trinity Church. It was built on top of ridge, at the foot of Kazbegi (5033m). It is an ancient spiritual masterpiece of mountain architecture, and it blends seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. The church was built of stones, 600 years ago and is one of the historical attractions and pride of the country!

In case of lack of time to do Kazbegi tour in 1 day, we’ll continue next day.

Check in Hotel

Dinner

Data 06.10

Tour to Gori

09:30 – Breakfast in Hotel

10:00 – Starting tour to Gori

Gori - the capital of Shida Kartli. It is located at the confluence of River Mtkvari and Liakhvi, 89 km. from Tbilisi, 588 m. above sea level. According to historical sources, Gori was built by David the Builder at the beginning of XII century. Here you can visit historical and natural sights, such as natural glacier, which is located in the vicinity of village Ateni.

Goristsikhe (Gori Castle) – according to historical sources the castle has been mentioned since XII century. Archaeological excavations proved that in II - I BC, there was a protective installation built there. This grand castle is still standing on a rocky hill in the center of the city.

Uflistsikhe – is located 8 km from Gori city. Uflistsikhe was built in cave and now is considered as a town-reserve.  In VII-VI BC it was built as a fortress. Now it is a museum with more than 3000 exhibits.  

• Tour back to Tbilisi and checking in Hotel.

Data 06.11

Tour to Akhaltsikhe and Bordjomi

09:30 – Breakfast in Hotel

10:00 – Tour to Akhaltsikhe and Bordjomi

City of Akhaltsikhe (old name Lomsiya) - is the administrative center of Samtskhe- Javakheti and Akhaltsikhe region. The city is located at river Potskhovi, with an altitude of 1000 m above sea level. In sources Akhaltsikhe has been mentioned with its old name Lomsiya since the XII century. In the XIII-XVII centuries, the city/castle belonged to Atabag Djakeli and it was considered their ancestral possession.

In Akhaltsikhe you will visit Rabat, centuries ago it was the palace of the sovereigns of Akhaltsikhe. The attractive part of Rabat is its “Halls” that represents the ancient style of Georgian folk habitation. Roman chronicler described Georgian houses as a Hall with a cover, so-called crowning, with wooden beams which are placed in a peculiar arrangement. If you look at the crown from bottom up, it looks like a pyramid. The architecture of Georgian halls, as well as the decoration (ornaments and other figures carved on wood), proves the skill of our ancient masters and delicate, artistic taste of Georgian people. Besides historical castles, in the complex you can see towers, churches, monastic cells and modern institutions of different types, such as tourist information center, restaurants, cafes, gift and clothing shops, museums, civil wedding centers and etc.

One of the most impressive and enormous historical monuments is "Vardzia", cave monastery complex, Georgian art and cultural monument of the XII - XIII centuries. “Vardzia” is a vivid proof of how Georgia was strong and developed in the XII century. “Vardzia” consists of 13 floors with more than 3,000 caves that was holding 5,000 people. Here you find living cells, wine cellars, pharmacy, library and all the necessary conditions for housing.

Checking in Hotel in Akhaltsikhe and Dinner.

Data 06.12

Continuation of Bordjomi tour

09:30 – Breakfast in Hotel

10:00 – Continuation of Bordjomi tour

Bordjomi – You can walk in the park and enjoy the beauty of the nature and breath fresh, pure air, drink real mineral water “Bordjomi” which is distributed all over the world.

Heading back to Tbilisi

Data 06.13

Free schedule for the day

09:30 – Breakfast in Hotel

Free schedule for the day. If willing you can walk around Tbilisi.

Data  06.14

09:30 – Breakfast in Hotel

Farewell to the city.

Depending on the time left we will take you to the airport.

The above price does not include: airfare, meal unless it included in the program, museum entry tickets.