- Bagrati Cathedral
- Gelati and Motsameta Monastery
- The fortresses Gremi & Rabati
- Cooking masterclass at our friends’ place
- Davit Gareja Cave Monastery
- Wine & Chacha tastings
- Sighnaghi, the city of love
- Georgian Folk Evening with live music
Along the rich history of Georgia
Come with us on a journey of discovery along with Georgia's most important monuments and experience the history and culture of this fascinating country first hand.
In the cradle of wine, as Georgia is also called, there is no shortage of culinary delights including cooking masterclasses, wine tastings and a traditional Georgian evening with barbecue and live music (polyphonic songs) by our friends from the Quartet Droni.
Along the rich history of Georgia
The perfect trip for culture lovers: Let yourself be enchanted by the historical, cultural and architectural highlights of Georgia during 11 days.
11
Days
1 - 8
Guests
price from
2,263.00 USD
Price per person (based on 2 pers. in a double room)
Route
-
Tbilisi (arrival)
The transfer to your accommodation in Tbilisi takes around 30 minutes. Together with your guide, you discuss your tour which starts the next day and then you enjoy your free evening in Tbilisi.
Accommodation options
- $$ Silver 34 Boutique Hotel
- $ Tbilisi View Hotel
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Tbilisi
From there we go down to the Abanotubani district with its sulfur baths – after Narikala the second eldest part of Tbilisi. According to the Georgian Chronicles, Tbilisi was founded in the 5th century by King Vakhtang Gorgassali I, which was impressed by the hot springs in this area. These springs actually gave Tbilisi its name because in Georgian «tbili» means «warm».
We continue our tour and visit other highlights such as the Bridge of Peace, the Dry Bridge Flea Market and – if you are interested – other sights as well. By funicular, we go to the hill Mtatsminda, where we visit one of the best restaurants in Tbilisi for lunch.
Accommodation options
- $$ Silver 34 Boutique Hotel
- $ Tbilisi View Hotel
-
Tbilisi, Ananuri, Gudauri, Sno, Stepantsminda
On the shore of Zhinvali Reservoir, we visit the Ananuri Fortress. The oldest parts of the complex were built in the 13th century. We continue our journey more and more into the mountains of the Greater Caucasus.
In Georgia’s ski resort number one, Gudauri, we have a ride with a recently established cable car that takes us to Kobi. The 7.5 km long journey takes around 15 minutes. After a few kilometers, we leave the main road and drive to Sno: This small town is famous for its mineral water which people drink in the whole country. Overnight in Stepantsminda (Kazbegi).
Accommodation options
- $$ Rooms Kazbegi
- $ Stancia Kazbegi
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Stepantsminda, Gudauri, Mtskheta, Jvari, Tbilisi
Near Gudauri we make a stopover to enjoy the breathtaking view from the Russian-Georgian Friendship Memorial. We continue our way, drive along the Zhinvali Reservoir and reach Mtskheta. The cozy city used to be the capital of the Georgian Kingdom of Iberia between the 3rd century BC and the 5th century AD. The city’s most impressive building and one of Georgia’s most sacred places is the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Founded in 1010, the church contains the graves of Sidonia and other ancient Georgian kings.
After lunch, we drive on top of the hill which is overlooking Mtskheta to visit the Jvari Monastery. We enjoy the unique view from there and drive back to Tbilisi.
Accommodation options
- $$ Silver 34 Boutique Hotel
- $ Tbilisi View Hotel
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Tbilisi, Samtavisi, Uplistsikhe, Khidistavi, Vedreba, Zeda Sazano
Then we visit the cave town of Uplistsikhe, one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia. For lunch, we are invited to our friend Tsotne. Of course, there is plenty of wine there and Tsotne can tell you a lot about wine culture and tradition.
Another stopover is at the Qinzvisi Monastery before we reach the West Georgian region Imereti. We spend the rest of the day at a beautiful vineyard in the village of Zeda Sazano. There you can taste traditional Kvevri wines and bake your own traditional Georgian bread in a clay oven. Dinner and overnight stay at the winery.
Accommodation options
- $$ Sazano Wine Cellar & Hotel
- $ Sazano Wine Cellar & Hotel
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Zeda Sazano, Kutaisi
Afterwards, we visit the main cultural and architectural highlights of Kutaisi and its surroundings. The Bagrati Cathedral was built in the 11th century by King Bagrat III. In the north-west of Kutaisi we visit another two impressive buildings: The Gelati Monastery, part of the UNESCO World Heritage, was founded in 1106. During the Golden Age in Georgian history, between the 11th and the 13th century, it was one of the main religious buildings in the region. It was also famous for its academy and centre of science.
On the way back to Kutaisi we visit the Motsameta Monastery as well. In the evening there will be enough time to explore the city centre of Kutaisi and to taste some delicious Imeretian food.
Accommodation options
- $$ Best Western Kutaisi
- $ Hotel Ponte
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Kutaisi, Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe, Vardzia
When Georgia belonged to the Soviet Union, this was one of the most popular holiday destinations for the comrades. Joseph Stalin used to recover in Borjomi as well as Lavrentiy Beria, the head of the Soviet secret services. In Borjomi, we have a walk in Central Park. Inside the park, we try the local mineral water, which is sold to many different countries in the world. The next stop is Akhaltsikhe, the capital of Samtskhe-Javakheti where we visit the Rabati Castle, an architectural complex whose buildings are mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The day's main highlight is Vardzia, a cave town from the 12th century AD, which was carved out of the entire wall of a cliff. In the late 1100s, the medieval kingdom of Georgia was constantly under threat from the Mongol Empire. To help her people avoid the Mongol onslaught, Tamar the queen of Georgia ordered the construction of an underground sanctuary and secretly they started building this fortress under the Erusheli Mountain
Accommodation options
- $$ Vardzia Resort
- $ Vardzia Resort
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Vardzia, Ninotsminda, Poka, Manglisi, Tbilisi
In this southern part of Samtskhe-Javakheti, many Armenians are living, which is reflected in various buildings. We visit one of the Armenian Apostolic Churches of the region and then drive eastwards through the Javakheti Plateau, where we meet Lake Paravani, the largest lake in Georgia.
On the shore of the lake, we visit the St. Nino Nunnery of Poka, famous for its homemade cheese. There are also many other specialties to taste and buy, such as bread, honey, spices and jam.
Via Tsalka and the Tsalka Reservoir, we reach Manglisi, where we stop to visit the cathedral. Then we drive back to the capital Tbilisi. You're invited for a dinner incl. wine in an amazing restaurant.
Accommodation options
- $$ Silver 34 Boutique Hotel
- $ Tbilisi View Hotel
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Tbilisi, Telavi, Alaverdi, Gremi, Akhalsopeli, Sighnaghi
However, we will not visit those wineries where the tourist masses cavort, but authentic, typical places that we have carefully selected for you. Via the Gombori mountain pass, we reach Kakheti’s capital Telavi, where we visit the Batonis Tsikhe Fortress. After a stopover at the Alaverdi Monastery and a visit to the Gremi Fortress, we will stay with our friends Tika and Maka in their country house.
In a cooking masterclass, you learn how to prepare traditional Georgian dishes such as Khinkali (dumplings) and Khachapuri (cheese bread). We enjoy our lunch with wine and Chacha in the beautiful garden. In the late afternoon, we head to Sighnaghi, the city of love, where another wine tasting awaits us.
Accommodation options
- $$ Kabadoni Boutique Hotel
- $ Lost Ridge Inn
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Sighnaghi, Davit Gareja, Tbilisi
The complex was built in the middle of the 6th century. After a long period in which it was no longer inhabited, a small monastic community lives and works there again today. Depending on the situation on the border, we can visit the whole complex or only a part of it.
Afterward, we return to the capital of Tbilisi. In the evening you’re invited to a friend’s place to have a traditional Georgian barbecue with Mtsvadi (Shashlik), Khachapuri and Georgian wine and Chacha. Our friends from the folk music ensemble Quartet Droni will join us and entertain us with traditional Georgian polyphonic music.
Accommodation options
- $$ Silver 34 Boutique Hotel
- $ Tbilisi View Hotel
-
Tbilisi (departure)
The journey takes around 30 minutes.
Highlights
Our guests were particularly impressed by these highlights:
