Cultural tour
(7 days)
Day 1: TBILISI – Arrive in Tbilisi. Transfer in hotel. Overnight in Tbilisi hotel.
Day 2: TBILISI – City tour in Tbilisi. Visit Sameba (Holy Trinity Cathedral)- the largest religious building in Georgia and South Caucasus. Called as “Millennium Building”. Visit Metekhi church of Holy Virgin, located on the left bank of the river Mtkvari. On the cliff plateau ( 5th – 13th c). Abanotubani – the Sulphur Baths Tbilisi was named after the natural sulphur springs in this area. Narikala Castle, an ancient fortress overlooking Tbilisi. The fortress was established in the 4th century. Royal palace was resided here. Visit of the Art Museum of Georgia. Dinner in Georgian Restaurant. Visit Anchiskhati Basilica and Sioni Cathedral,the oldest surviving Georgian Orthodox churches in Tbilisi. Built in the 5th-6th centuries. Walk on the street Rustaveli. Dinner and overnight in Tbilisi hotel.
Day 3: TBILISI / SIGHNAGHI / TELAVI /TBILISI – Depart to the region Kakheti. Visit Bodbe Monastery nestled among tall Cypress trees on a steep hillside overlooking the Alazani Valley, where it commands views of the Greater Caucasus mountains. St. Nino grave, the 4th-century female evangelist of Georgians, whose relics are buried there. Lunch in Sighnaghi, town of Kakheti. Visit Sighnaghi Museum – exhibits paintings by the famous painter Niko Pirosmani. Continuation of visit Tsinandali – a village in Kakheti, noted for the estate and its historic winery which once belonged to the 19th-century aristocratic poet Alexander Chavchavadze. Visit of the Museum of Alexander Chavchavadze. Return, dinner and overnight in Tbilisi hotel.
Day 4: TBILISI / MTSKHETA / KAZBEGUI – Departure to Mtskheta- the capital of the early Georgian Kingdom of Iberia during the 3rd century BC – 5th century AD. Visit of Svetitskhoveli, Georgian Orthodox cathedral, known as the burial site of Christ’s mantle. Built in the 11 th century. It is the second largest church building in the country and is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit of Jvari Monastery Georgian Orthodox monastery of the 6th century (UNESCO World Heritage site). It stands on the rocky mountaintop at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers. The rout continues to Stepantsminda which is known for its scenic location in the Greater Caucasus Mountains, and is a center for trekkers and mountain climbing. Visit of Gergeti Trinity Church, situated on the right bank of the river Chkheri (the left tributary of the river Terek), at an elevation of 2170 meters, under Mount Kazbegi. The Church was built in the 14th century, and is the only cross-cupola church in Khevi province. Stop Ananuri, a castle complex on the Aragvi River in Georgia. Built in the 17 th century. It comprises a tower, small church, big temple and a bell-tower. It overlooks the artificial reservoir of Zhinvali. Dinner and overnight in Kazbegui.
Day 5 : KAZBEGUI/GORI/KUTAISI – Morning departure to Gori, visit of rock-town of Uplistsikhe, identified by archaeologists as one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia (optional visit museum of Stalin in Gori). Lunch in the restaurant in Gori. Departure to Kutaisi and visit of Monastery of Gelati. It contains the Church of the Virgin founded by the King of Georgia David the Builder in 1106, and the 13th-century churches of St George and St Nicholas. Dinner and overnight in Kutaisi.
Day 6 : KUTAISI / BORJOMI / VARZIA – Morning departure to South Georgia, Samtskhe-Javakhetia region. On the way stop in the Borjomi Valley enjoying famous mineral water. Continuation to Akhaltsikhe city and lunch in Akhaltsikhe. Visit the fortress Rabati, dating X s and well renovated recently. Continue to Vardzia. Dinner and overnight in Vardzia near the troglodyte site.
Day 7 : VARZIA / TBILISI – Morning visit of Vardzia – a cave monastery, consisted of over six thousand apartments in a thirteen story complex. The city included a church, a throne room, and a complex irrigation system watering terraced farmlands. The only access to the complex was through some well hidden tunnels near the Mtkvari River. Departure to Tbilisi. Picnic lunch on the road. Dinner and overnight in Tbilisi hotel.
Day 8 : TBILISI / Départure- Transfer to the airport and departure.
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