Wonders of Georgia - Tour in Georgia 11 Days

Arrive at Tbilisi International Airport. Meet your guide and drive to Tbilisi. Check-in to the hotel at noon.

Tbilisi sightseeing tour – the Old Town and the New City. We begin our tour at the compact area of Old Tbilisi. Starting at the church of Metekhi, we walk to the brick domes of sulfur baths and then on to Narikala fortress – overlooking Mtkvari river gorge. After that we visit the synagogue, and the Sioni and Anchiskhati churches, which mark the end of the Old Town. After we visit the treasury of the National Museum of Georgia, walking along Rustaveli Avenue – the main street in Visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the third biggest Orthodox Church in the world. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast in the hotel, we visit the ancient capital– Mtskheta and see its historical sites: Jvari monastery (6th century) and Svetitskhoveli cathedral (11th century). Both are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Then we drive north towards the Northern Caucasus along the well-known Georgian Military Road. On the way, we visit Ananuri – a 17th-century complex. An exciting drive from Gudauri along the Terek River will take us to Kazbegi – the main town in the region. From Kazbegi, drive with 4 WD vehicles to Gergeti Trinity church located at 2170m. In good weather, you can see one of the highest glaciers in the Caucasus – the mountain Kazbegi (5047m). Overnight in Tbilisi.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you will explore the centuries-long history of Kakheti wine culture. In the morning, visit Bodbe Nunnery, where Saint Nino was buried and Sighnaghi, a beautiful town founded in the 18th century that overlooks amazing Alazani Valley and spectacular Great Caucasus Mountains.

After that, say goodbye to our amazing hosts and drive to Tunnel Khareba Winery. Where you will taste different types of wine (include Qvevri wine). After we will visit Numisi winery. The cellar is built in ancient classical architecture with white river stones and bricks. The cellar introduces excellent arched wine storage, with old limestone wine presser (Satsnakheli) & 33 clay pitchers (Qvevi) sunk underneath the ground. Drive to Tbilisi. End of the tour. Free time. Overnight at the hotel in Tbilisi.

Optional:

You can Continue tour to Wine Yard N1, traditional local winery, where you will enjoy the soul of Georgian hospitality

Wine yard N1, offers BIO wine tasting, master classes, lunch and a sense of Georgian hospitality. (45 EUR per person)

Drive to South Georgia, Samtskhe-javakheti region. On the way we will visit incredible Dashbashi Canyon. (1110-1448 meters above sea level) It is a natural monument on volcanic height of the river, Ktsia (Khrami). It is a rare gorge of canyon, characterized with biodiversity.

The Dashbashi waterfall hidden in the green attracts many visitors with its perfect atmosphere, like a paradise beauty. There's now a diamond in the sky in the Dashbashi canyon. The bridge hanging above Dashbashi Canyon could inspire you to have a drink and enjoy the view at the gigantic diamond multi-level bar at its center or ride across on a bicycle attached to a zip line.

Now see beautiful Javakheti lakes. On your way, you will pass amazing, very different nature in Georgia, Javakheti volcanic plateau, up to 2 000meter. The difference from the other part of Georgia is that here landscape is almost empty, here you can’t find forest, that is why climate here is one of the most cold and harsh in Georgia. Here you will see several beautiful lakes: Paravani and Sagamo lakes. Lake Sagamo – literally the name means Evening. Close to the lake located village Sagamo. The lake is tectonic origin, in winter completely frozen. Pharavani lake, altitude 2 080m. The lake is biggest in the country. Vardzia Cave town, very impressive historical-cultural monument, founded in 12th century, 13 floors and hundreds of rooms, halls and churches, huge complex made in rocks. There once were about 3,000 caves and 50,000 people lived there. You visit the church carved into the rock with amazing frescoes of the 12th century. The monastery has never been restored since then, but in the second half of XIX c every now and then several monks lived there. Some traces of revival of the monastery live are noticeable even nowadays. Drive to Akhaltsikhe. Overnight in Akhaltsikhe.

After breakfast, explore Rabati Castle is a medieval structure in Akhaltsikhe, Georgia, which dates back to the 13th century. The castle complex is comprised of a mosque, a minaret, a synagogue, a Christian church, a palace, a citadel, as well as landscaped gardens, vineyards on terraces, outdoor pools with fountains, a history museum, a hotel, a restaurant, souvenir and wine shops.

We visit resort Borjomi. Borjomi is famous for its mineral water industry (which is the number one export of Georgia). You will be able to taste mineral water in the Borjomi Park. 

Drive to Kutaisi the second biggest city in Georgia. Visit Bagrati Cathedral XI c. Overnight in Kutaisi.

Kutaisi is the second biggest city in Georgia which, according to the legend was the ultimate destination of the Jason and Argonauts searching for the Golden Fleece. Visit Bagrati Cathedral (XI c.), built by King David the Builder. After drive to explore Prometheus cave - one of Georgia’s natural wonders providing visitors with breathtaking examples of stalactites, stalagmites, curtains, petrified waterfalls, cave pearls, underground rivers, and lakes. There are 22 halls found, where just 6 halls are open for tourists. It is possible to walk through the length of 1420 meters in the cave's territory visit the halls and enjoy boat tour by walking the river. Discover real masterpieces of nature - stalactites and stalagmites at Prometheus Cave, which are the most beautiful forms created by nature. While visiting the cave, hanging waterfalls are waiting for you

Now visit Martvili canyon, amazing place where we can walk on the small trail in a natural canyon of the river Abasha, we can see unique Kolkheti forests flora with impressive waterfalls. The canyon trail is very small and we will walk about 40 minutes

700 m long stone-paved circular route starts from Martvili Canyon visitor centre and crosses the Dadiani historical trail. There are 2 bridges, 3 platform views and historical 30 steps stair constructed by large limestone boulders.

Visitors can enjoy a 300-meter boat tour on river Abasha and beautiful views of the mountain river canyon.

Overnight in Kutaisi.

After breakfast drive to mysterious Svaneti region through Enguri gorge. On the way we will stop to Enguri Dam - a unique hydraulic structure, which is considered one of the highest in the world. But tourists love to visit it not only because of its impressive size, but also because of its interesting appearance and surrounding nature. The Enguri dam can be safely called one of the most beautiful in the world, and all thanks to the mountain landscapes surrounding it. The Enguri River flowing here forms a deep turquoise lake. Charming landscapes have long attracted tourists, so a few years ago, it was decided to improve the tourist infrastructure near the dam.

First, we will take a half-an-hour tour of the dam. The panoramic views from the top of the dam and the history of the hulking construction await us. Afterwards we will enjoy a ~50 minutes boat tour on the Enguri River, surrounded by jaw-dropping nature. The length of the tour is 8km both ways. Finally arrive to Mestia and rest.

Svaneti is known for its original architecture and is called “the Country of Thousand Towers. Mestia still has dozens of such medieval stone houses with the watchtowers and inhabited towers which were used to protect valleys and churches (the 10 th – 14 th centuries). Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel drive to Ushguli village, one of the highest standing settlements in Europe (2,200 m). Ushguli is located under the Skhara Peak, between 2070-2200 meters. It used to be the highest inhabited village in Europe until 2015, when another village in Georgia – Bochorna took the title, though Bochorna has only 1 inhabitant. There are about 60 families living in Ushguli now.

Ushguli is only accessible in the summer months, as it’s located in an area where avalanches are very common. Through the rest of the year, roads are covered in snow and getting to Ushguli is only possible via a helicopter.

It is thanks to this isolation that Ushguli is so unique – people have lived here in isolation from the rest of the world for hundreds of years. In winter months families spend most of their days reading, taking care of animals and chit-chatting with neighbors – there’s not much else you can do in the freezing cold of the Svaneti winters.

Another thing that makes Ushguli unique, is the fact that it has never had a ruler – Ushguli has always been under the Georgian kingdom but never had a direct ruler – as the Georgian saying says: “True freedom is only high in the mountains”.

Spend time in Ushguli strolling old narrow streets. Visit Lamaria Church complex with impressive wall frescos (XII). Locals believe that it was under this church that Queen Tamara was buried. Enjoy picturesque view of Mt. Shkhara. Ushguli architectural complex is a valuable architectural and historical monument listed in the World heritage of UNESCO for its exclusiveness. Return to Mestia and overnight at hotel.

Drive back to Kutaisi after breakfast. On the way, stop at Dadiani’s (Princes of West Georgia) Palace in Zugdidi. Dadiani Palace was the home of the final ruling family of the Principality of Samegrelo, whose reign ended in 1857 when Russian Imperial rule began. The complex was built primarily by Russian architect Leonid Vassilyev. It includes the palace of Ekaterine Chavchavadze-Dadiani, the last queen of Samegrelo, a residence for her son Niko Dadiani, a monastery, and a large garden which is now the Zugdidi Botanical Gardens. Continue driving to Kutaisi. Overnight in Kutaisi.

After breakfast drive back to Tbilisi. On the way visit Gori. Explore Joseph Stalin Museum featuring original house where he was born, and his private armored train carriage. Continue to Uplistsikhe (“Fortress of God”). Uplistsikhe is located on the left bank of Mtkvari River and is notable for unique combination of various styles of rock-cut cultures and the co-existence of pagan and Christian architecture. Overnight at the hotel in Tbilisi.

Check-out from the hotel. Transfer to Tbilisi International Airport. Departure. End of the tour.