Cave Cities - 8 Days

Arrival at Shota Rustaveli airport, group transfer to hotel in Tbilisi. Hotel accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel. 10:00 – City tour. Old town, sulfur baths, Metekhi temple, chairlift to Narikala fortress with wonderful view over the whole city; Sightseeing of Chardin Street, Liberty Square, Rustaveli Avenue. Visit to the National Museum of Georgia. Departure to Mtskheta, the old capital of Georgia. Sightseeing of the 6th century Jvari Temple, which stands on a mountain, offering a beautiful panorama of Mtskheta and the view where the two rivers Kura and Aragvi merge. Lunch (optional). Then visit the 11th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, where according to legend the chiton of Jesus, brought to Georgia by Mtskheta Jews – Rabbi Elioz and his brother Longinose, who were present at the crucifixion, is buried. Walk through the narrow streets of the city.
Return to Tbilisi.

Breakfast at the hotel. 10:00 departure to Gori, one of the oldest cities in Georgia. Gori, one of the oldest cities in Georgia. The city takes its name from the rock formation (goraki) in the center. Gori is first mentioned in the VII century AD. although archaeological evidence suggests that on the site of Gori, there were settlements of urban type from the early Bronze Age, about 3 thousand years BC. The city remembers the invasions of Iranian Shah Tamazi, Ottoman Turks, Shah Abbas and other invaders. The city has always provided fierce resistance to the enemies and 40 years of XVIII century the city was finally liberated from the invaders. In Gori was born Joseph Stalin, a Russian revolutionary, Soviet political, government, military and party figure. From January 21, 1924 to March 5, 1953 he was the USSR leader. Marshal of the USSR.Generalissimo of the Soviet Union.Visiting the museum of Stalin, which houses his personal belongings.
Observation of the cave town Uplitsikhe, “Lord’s fortress”. The city appeared at the end of II – at the beginning of I millennium BC One of the first cities on the territory of Georgia, finally abandoned in XIX century. The town has lived through several ups and downs, is a multi-layered archaeological site, one of the most important monuments of Georgian culture. The uniqueness of the monument lies in the fact that it has preserved the remains of architectural and religious constructions built over several millennia.
Accommodation in the hotel Borjomi.

The resort is located at an altitude of 810-850 m above sea level, belongs to the group of low mountain resorts and is surrounded by mountain ranges covered with broad-leaved pine forests. Borjomi is known for its therapeutic mineral water. Archeological excavations have revealed stone baths here, which indicates that the healing properties of the mineral water were known and used in ancient times. Great interest of tourists is the city’s central park and the palace of the Russian tsars Romanov, built in the late XIX century.
Breakfast at hotel. Free day.

SPA day!

SPA day!

Breakfast at Borjomi hotel.
10:00 Departure to the ancient cave town of Vardzia – outstanding monument of medieval Georgian architecture, cave monastery complex of the XII-XIII centuries in the south of Georgia, in Javakheti. Ensemble of the monastery was created mainly in 1156-1205. In 2005 the complex was included on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Visiting Khertvisi-one of the oldest and best preserved medieval Georgian fortresses in Javakheti. Khertvisi is located on a high rocky hill in a gorge at the confluence of the Kura River and its right tributary, the River Paravani. Chronicler Leontimroveli mentions Khertvisi – which he considers one of the first cities in Georgia – in connection with the campaigns of Alexander the Great. (IV century BC) In 985 in the fortress was built church. In XVI century was conquered by the Turks. In 1828 during the Russo-Turkish War Hertvisi was liberated.
Departure to Akhaltsikhe and visit Rabati fortress. The predecessor of the fortress is the fortress of Lomisa. (lion), founded in the IX century Guaram Mampali, the youngest son of Ashot I, founder of the principality of Tao-Klarjet. At the end of the 9th century, Lomisa became the patrimonial domain of the Georgian princes Jakeli, of the house of Chorchaneli, who were very large feudal lords and constantly competed with the Bagrationi dynasty. At the end of the 12th century, during the reign of Queen Tamara, all the possessions of the disgraced Jaqeli family were given to another branch of the house of Chorchaneli. Their efforts transformed Lomisa into Akhal-Tsikhe (the New Fortress), which in addition to the fortress had a system of city-wide fortifications. 1579 The Dukes of Jakeli voluntarily surrendered Akhaltsikhe to the Turks and converted to Islam. This helped them to maintain their power.1628 The Ottomans declared the city the center of the province and from then on it was an important fortification of the borders of the Ottoman Empire. In 1828 during the Russian-Turkish war Hertvisi was liberated.
Return to the hotel Borjomi.

Breakfast at the hotel. Group transfer to Shota Rustavel Airport. Shota Rustavel