Highlights of Georgia - 15 Days

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

Breakfast at the hotel.
10:00 – City tour of Tbilisi. 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 and offers a beautiful panorama of Mtskheta and the view where the two rivers Kura and Aragvi merge. Lunch. 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 hotel.
10:00 departure to Gudauri (famous Georgian ski resort), on the way visit Ananuri fortress of the 16th century. Further on through the cross pass (alt. 2395 m. above sea level) arrival in Stepantsminda, the old name of Kazbegi, settlement of urban type, climatic and balneological resort.
Lunch. Here you can eat real Georgian khinkali. Walking in the mountains in the direction of the Temple of the Holy Trinity (3km), or by jeep (6km), the temple was built in the XIV century, which offers an amazing bird’s-eye view of the Caucasus Mountains.
Return to Tbilisi.

Breakfast at hotel. Free day.

Breakfast at hotel.
10:00 – Departure to Kakheti through the Gombor pass. The height of 1839 m above sea level. This historic place, an ancient trade route and one of the directions of the Persian invasion of Georgia. The pass itself has magnificent scenery, the mountain Tsivi (1991 m above sea level) and unspoiled nature.
Telavi was the former capital of the Kakheti Kingdom. Today it is the center of a municipality and the capital of the Kakheti region. House Museum Batonis-Tsikeh, the palace in the fortress was the residence of the last king of Georgia, Irakli II. Visit to the traditional market of the city.
Gremi royal fortress, the medieval capital of the Kakheti kingdom was built in the XVI century under King Levan of Kakheti. By order of Levan on a small mountain was built a palace and churches, and at the foot of the rose a rich trade city with a population of over 100 thousand people.
At that time a branch of the legendary Silk Road passed here, which contributed to the prosperity of the city. Gremi existed for a century and a half. At the beginning of XVII century it was destroyed to the ground by the troops of Shah Abbas I of Iran. In XVII century Kakhetian rulers moved the capital of the state to Telavi.
Continuing to Tsinandali, tour the family estate of Prince Chavchavadze, father of Griboyedov’s wife. The estate has an old wine cellar, whose collection contains the famous old wines of Europe. This is where Georgian wine was first bottled. The “Saperavi” from 1842 and other historic vintages from the 19th century are still kept in the Tsinandale Enoteka. The collection starts from 1814 and includes such legendary wines of the nineteenth century as Tsinandali, Saperavi, Chateau Lafite, Chateau Ikem, etc.
The monastery of Bodbe. It was founded in the IX century. There are relics of St. Nina, the enlightener of Georgia, who died there in 347, at the age of 67, after 35 years of apostolic life.
Sighnaghi is the city of love, a recently reconstructed medieval fortress city with a mesmerizing view of the Alazani Valley. In Sighnaghi couples can get married at any time with their passports. Opportunity to visit the museum of Signagi, which presents 16 works of world famous Georgian painter Niko Pirosmani (opcion). Free time – dinner in a restaurant, return to Tbilisi.

Breakfast at hotel. 10:00
Departure to Gori, one of the oldest cities in Georgia. The city takes its name from the rock formation (goraki) in the city center. Gori is first mentioned in the VII century AD. e., although archaeological evidence suggests that in place of Gori, there were settlements of urban type from the early Bronze Age, about 3 thousand years BC. In Gori was born Joseph Stalin-the Russian revolutionary, Soviet political, state, military and party leader. From January 21, 1924 to March 5, 1953 the head of the USSR. Visit to the museum of Stalin where his personal belongings are kept.
Observation of the cave town Uplitsikhe , “Lord’s fortress”. The city appeared at the end of II – beginning of I millennium BC. The city is a multi-layered archeological site, one of the most important monuments of Georgian culture.
The resort town of Borjomi is located 810-850 m above sea level, belongs to the group of low mountain resorts and is surrounded by mountain massifs covered with broad-leaved coniferous forests. Borjomi is famous for its healing 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. Tourists are greatly interested in the city’s central park and the palace of the Russian tsars Romanov, built in the late 19th century.
Accommodation in Borjomi hotel.

10:00 – Breakfast at the Hotel Borjomi. 10:00
Departure to the ancient cave city of Vardzia, an outstanding monument of medieval Georgian architecture, the cave monastery complex of the XII-XIII centuries in the south of Georgia, in Javakheti. The ensemble of the monastery was created mainly in 1156-1205. George III and his daughter, Queen Tamara. In 2005 the complex was included in 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 a church was built in the fortress. In the XVI century was captured 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 Tao-Klarjet principality. 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 house 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 retain their power. In 1628 the Ottomans declared the city the center of the province and it was an important fortification on the borders of the Ottoman Empire. In 1828 during the Russo-Turkish War the city was liberated.
Return to the hotel Borjomi.

Departure to Kutaisi.
On the way, Chiatura is a small mining town. It represents the largest reserves of manganese in Georgia. The deposit was discovered by the famous Georgian poet Akaki Tsereteli. The German Krupp family was one of the leading investors in Chiaturi mining. In 1913, 1 million tons of manganese ore were produced, which was half of the world’s production. The mine is now owned by Georgian Manganesen Holding, a subsidiary of the British company Stemkor. Part of the town lies on the adjacent plateaus, they are hundreds of meters higher than the center. Because of this difference in altitude, the city’s main means of transportation is the cable car. At first glance, even dangerous to get on this kind of “merry-go-round” . Carriages are shabby, rusty, creaky and look like the scenery of a horror movie. However, you should not worry about safety, a few years ago upgraded all the systems and changed the ropes.
On the road towards Kutaisi, at a distance of ten kilometers stands the Pillar of Katskhi, or Monastery on the Rock. The height of the pillar 40m. On top of the pillar in the 50s of the last century discovered the ancient ruins of a temple, which was built in the V-VI century. At the bottom of the pillar is a small church.
Accommodation in a hotel in Kutaisi.

Kutaisi is one of the oldest cities and centers of Georgian culture. The most important historical and economic center of Western Georgia.
Visit:
Temple of Bagrat.The church was built in 1003 as the main cathedral of the united kingdom of Georgia.
Gelati Monastery -Monument of World Heritage. Was founded by King David IV the Builder in 1106 and became his tomb.
The monastery of Saints David and Constantine, better known as Motsameta, is located on a picturesque cliff, the river Tskaltsiteli, a tributary of the river Rioni.
Prometheus Cave. Tourists can choose a 1,600-meter hike through the grottoes of the cave or take a boat ride on a real underground river past breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites, underground waterfalls, rivers, and even an entire lake. Free time. Overnight at hotel.
Return to the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.
10:00 excursion to the forest park and canyon Okatse or Martvilski canyon.
Martvilski Canyon is a beautiful canyon, washed in limestone by the river Abacha. Canyon is quite narrow, but the depth varies from 50 to 70 meters, the total length is about 2.5 kilometers. It is possible to slab it by boat.
CanyonOkace is a three-kilometer canyon with a depth of about 50 meters. Up to the middle of the canyon over the precipice laid suspension metal road with viewing platforms. Those who do not suffer from fear of heights can look over the canyon of the Okatse River and enjoy stunning views.
Departure to Svaneti Accommodation in Mestia hotel.

Amazing, bright, colorful, yet majestic and austere-such is the region of Svaneti. It is famous as a ski resort. Its capital is Mestia, the center of Mestia municipality in upper Svaneti. It is situated on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus. The height above sea level is 1500 m. Population – 1973 people.
Breakfast in hotel. Free day.
Svaneti is studded with fortress towers which were built in VII-XIII centuries and now are protected by UNESCO. Eight kilometers from the village of Mestia is located Khatsvali ski resort. The highest station of the ski elevator is located on the top of the mountain Zuruldy-about 2400m. the altitude difference is 500m. you can get here either by cable car or by micro-bus. (opcion) In Mestia is the museum of history and ethnography, the house-museum of Mikhail Khergiani in memory of the famous Georgian mountaineer.
You can book a jeep tour (opcion) for an additional fee in Ushguli. The fare is $18 per person. Ushguli – a settlement at an altitude of 2200 meters above sea level, considered one of the highest settlements in Europe. Ushguli village has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The unique watchtowers of Svaneti attract tourists from all over the world. They were built in XII-XIII centuries and are well preserved since then. The watchtowers are the symbol of Svaneti. From the village Ushguli offers a wonderful view of the mountain peak Shkhara in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Range, is its highest point, also the highest point of Georgia, the sixth highest peak in the Caucasus. The height of the main peak is 5193.2 m.
Return toMestia

Breakfast at the hotel. 12:00 excursion to the Mestia Ethnographic Museum.
12:00 departure to Batumi. On the way excursion to Inguri GES.
Accommodation at Batumi hotel.

Batumi is a port city, a Black Sea resort and the capital of the Georgian Republic of Adjara. The city is very modern and original, it attracts travelers with unusual buildings, original attractions and a peculiar mix of all kinds of shapes, colors and sounds. Lively green boulevard by the Black Sea: musical fountains, jogging paths, cafes and bars. The city is extremely democratic. There are a huge number of luxury casinos, expensive hotels and elite restaurants. Travelers can spend time here in comfort and have a good rest.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free days.
There is a possibility of booking additional excursions.

Free day!

Breakfast at the hotel. Group transfer to Shota Rustaveli airport in Tbilisi. Shota Rustaveli airport in Tbilisi.