Tour program for 5 days / 4 nights
Day 1: Airport – Tbilisi (free day, without a guide)
Arrival at the airport, transfer to the hotel, check-in. Free time.
Overnight at the hotel in Tbilisi.
Day 2: Tbilisi – Sightseeing tour – Uplistsikhe – Tbilisi
Breakfast at the hotel. A walking sightseeing tour of old Tbilisi begins with the Abanotubani sulfur baths district of Tbilisi, where the history of Tbilisi began. According to legend, this is where Tbilisi was founded. A walk to the mysterious waterfall in Fig Gorge, where you will see amazing buildings built right at the very edge of a steep cliff. On the way to the waterfall, you will see the only Sunni mosque in Tbilisi.
Then, along the narrow streets of the old town, we approach the Metekhi Bridge and climb to the Metekhi Church (13th century), standing at the very edge of the rocky bank of the Kura. The first Georgian Christian martyr, Saint Shushanik, is buried in the church. An equestrian monument to Vakhtang Gorgasali, the founder of Tbilisi, is erected near the church. Lunch.
A cable car ride to the Narikala Fortress (4th century), from whose walls a beautiful panorama of Tbilisi opens up, especially at night. Descent to Rike Park on the bank of the Kura River. A walk through the park and the pedestrian Bridge of Peace, built by the Italian architect Michele de Lucchi.
A visit to one of the most significant churches in Tbilisi: the Sioni Church, where the relic of the "Cross of Saint Nino" is kept. A walk along Chardin Street, named after the French Catholic missionary. Now it resembles the Champs Elysees with numerous restaurants and cafes, boutiques and salons, wine shops and art galleries. This is a cult place in Tbilisi and a very pleasant street for walking. Here you will see a monument to the famous film director Sergei Parajanov, as well as a small sculpture of the toastmaster.
Lunch. Trip to the city of Gori. Visit to Uplistsikhe (Lord's Fortress) - an ancient cave city-fortress, one of the first cities in Georgia. Carved into a rock, located 12 km east of the city of Gori, on the left bank of the Kura River. The city arose at the end of the 2nd - beginning of the 1st millennium BC, experienced several ups and downs, is a multi-layered archaeological site, one of the most important monuments of Georgian culture. The only above-ground monument of the ancient period that has survived to this day. An open-air city museum.
Return to Tbilisi. Free evening in the city. Night at a hotel in Tbilisi.
Day 3: Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Jvari – Ananuri Fortress – Tbilisi
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the Jvari Monastery (the Temple of the “Holy Cross”), which was immortalized in literature by Mikhail Lermontov (the poem “Mtsyri”). This is an ancient monument, built at the dawn of Georgian Christianity in the 6th century (586-605). The temple stands on a high mountain, from where a beautiful panorama of the confluence of two majestic rivers, the Aragvi and the Kura, opens up. The monastery is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Trip to the first capital of Georgia – the city of Mtskheta, located about 20 kilometers north of Tbilisi, at the confluence of the Aragvi and Kura rivers. The city is the religious center of Georgia. This was the place where Christianity was proclaimed the official religion in Georgia in 337. The city-museum of Mtskheta is under the auspices of UNESCO.
Visit to the Cathedral of St. Svetitskhoveli (11th century), where the Tunic of the Lord is kept. Svetitskhoveli is one of the largest Christian churches in Georgia. It was built in the 11th century on the site of the first Georgian church of the 4th century. Lunch.
Visit to the active Samtavro Convent (11th century), where King Mirian and his wife Nana are buried - the first to be baptized into Christianity by St. Nino in 337. St. Nina lived here, having arrived in Georgia to preach the Christian religion. The temple contains many relics: part of the Life-Giving Pillar, miraculous icons, and relics of saints. Lunch.
Excursion to the Ananuri Fortress, which became the scene of numerous battles. This is the main stronghold guarding the road to the ancient capital of Dusheti, and centuries later - the main highway connecting Georgia with Russia. From the huge complex, stone fortress walls with the main quadrangular and several round towers, two domed churches, a bell tower and other buildings have survived to this day.
Return to Tbilisi, free time, night at a hotel in Tbilisi.
Day 4: Tbilisi – Bodbe – Sighnaghi – Kindzmarauli – Tbilisi
Breakfast at the hotel. We will go to eastern Georgia – Kakheti.
Bodbe is a convent built in the 4th century in honor of the Assumption of the Baptist of Georgia, Saint Nino of Cappadocia. The grave of St. Nino is in the church, and not far away in the forest where Nino prayed, there is a spring and a bath with healing water.
Sighnaghi is an ancient town, famous for its fortress wall, from where a very beautiful view of the Alazani Valley opens up. It is also called the "city of love", because here you can register a legal marriage at any time of the day, and get a divorce only on one day – the 13th. A walk along the cozy, cobbled streets of the city and the wall of the Sighnaghi fortress, from where a stunning view of the Alazani Valley opens up. Lunch in Sighnaghi in national style.
Then we will go to the easternmost corner of Kakheti – the city of Kvareli. We will visit one of the largest wineries in Georgia – the Kindzmarauli corporation. You will have a tour of the factory, wine tasting.
Return to Tbilisi. Free time in the city, night at a hotel in Tbilisi.
Day 5 Tbilisi – Dry Bridge – airport
Breakfast at the hotel. Free time in the city. Visit to the Dry Bridge vernissage, where you can buy a variety of souvenirs. Transfer to the airport. Flight from Tbilisi.
The tour price includes:
The tour price does NOT include: