Country Of Wonders Tour

Day 1: Departure for Tbilisi

Day 2: Tbilisi

Early in the morning arrive at Tbilisi, meet at the airport, and transfer to a hotel. After late breakfast Tbilisi sightseeing tour. During the tour, we take you to places that will show you the old city.

You can take a glance at the history of the city from the early centuries to nowadays by walking in the narrow streets of the city and exploring the religious and secular architecture. Here you find different religious buildings – churches, synagogues, mosques, as well as famous 19th-century houses with wooden multi-colored balconies.

You visit the sulfur bath which made an unforgettable impression on Pushkin, Lermontov, and Dumas. During the tour, you enjoy the superb panoramic views of the Old City. This marks the end of the Old Town. Afterwards we visit the stunning treasury of the Georgian National Art Museum, before taking a stroll along Rustaveli Avenue – the main street in Tbilisi.

Day 3: Tbilisi – David Gareja – Telavi

We start from Tbilisi in the morning and drive to David Gareja cave complex (6th century) located in a stark, semi-desert landscape. First, we see Lavra Monastery and then walk up for about 50 minutes to Udabno Monastery to enjoy its wonderful painted caves and dramatic views across Azerbaijan. Drive to Telavi and en route visit a local farmer to taste homemade Georgian wines straight from the clay jars kept under the ground and learn more about the Georgian way of wine-making.

Day 4: Land of Wine

In the morning we visit the beautiful Alaverdi Cathedral (11th century) and then drive to a wine factory to get acquainted with the way of producing Georgian wines and taste some manufactured wines in the factory. Afterwards we head to a local village to have homemade lunch at a local family and…yes…more homemade wine.

Lunch will be lead by ‘Tamada’ a toastmaster offering us numerous toasts and letting us to approach closely to Georgian tradition of ‘Supra’ (party). After lunch we visit a local Duke’s estate – garden and the house-museum.

Here in Tsinandli, we have one more chance to taste some of Georgian wines, those that are produced in the factory established in the 19th century. Later drive back to Telavi.

Day 5: Telavi – Mtskheta – Gudauri

Today we drive to the west to visit the ancient capital and religious centre of Georgia – Mtskheta and its historic Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral – both UNESCO World Heritage sights. Afterwards we drive up the famous Georgian Military Highway, en route visiting Ananuri architectural complex. The drive is very scenic as it heads up into the Great Caucasus Mountains.

Day 6: Gudauri – Kazbegi – Gudauri

A stunning drive from Gudauri along the Tergi River will bring us to Kazbegi - the main town in the region. From Kazbegi a leisurely 1.5-hour walk up through beautiful valleys and woodland leads us to Gergeti Trinity Church located at 2170m. Weather permitting you may catch a glimpse of one of the highest glaciers in the Caucasus - Mt Kazbegi (5047m).

Then we walk back to Kazbegi. In one of the families, we’ll see how locals make cheese and then travel to another village to visit a local master who will tell us more about Georgian iconography and ‘Teka’ – wool artifacts making. Drive back to Gudauri.

Day 7: Gudauri – Gori – Bakuriani

In the morning we will drive to visit the town of Gori – the heart of the Kartli region and its historical place: Uplistsikhe Cave Town (1st millennium BC) and Stalin Museum. Uplistsikhe is the place where the Great Silk Road used to pass. This is an old and interesting complex with dwelling quarters, wine cellars, bakeries, a three-nave basilica church hewn out in the rock, and even an antic theatre.

We visit the Stalin Museum, the original house where he was born, his bulletproof carriage, and then drive to the Meskheti-Javakheti region. We travel through forested hills and rocky mountains to Bakuriani ski resort.

Day 8: Bakuriani – Vardzia – Bakuriani

Today we drive to Vardzia – the magnificent cave town of the Golden Age. The cave complex stretching over half a kilometer once consisted of some 3000 caves and was one of the best examples of Georgia’s renaissance. It’s got a church hewn out in rock with amazing 12th-century frescos. The complex also includes dwellings quarters, small hall-type churches, refectories, wine cellars, etc On the way to Vardzia we will also visit Khertvisi fortress. Afterwards, return to Bakuriani.

Day 9: Bakuriani –Kutaisi

In the morning we travel in a tiny train “Kukushka” specially designed for Russian kings to travel through the beautiful forests of the area.

Afterward, we drive to Kutaisi – the second largest in the country and the land of the Golden Fleece. Upon arrival to Kutaisi we visit magnificent Gelati monastery and academy – UNESCO World Heritage sights. Later drive to visit fabulous cave formations – stalactites and stalagmites forming for thousands of years undiscovered by any human during many centuries and now open for visitors to take a walk through the enchanting grotto.

Day 10: Kutaisi – Zugdidi – Mestia

In the morning we drive to the city of Zugdidi and visit one of the famous Georgian dukes’ – Dadiani palace. Afterwards it’s time to get ready for the most exciting part of your trip - a journey to Svaneti, the region of the highest mountains and glaciers and the most abiding ancient traditions. En route visit Enguri hydro-electric Power. On the way we also visit the beautiful Lenjeri church painted inside and outside.

Day 11: Mestia – Ushguli – Mestia

In the morning a three-hour drive will take us to the highest permanent village in Europe – Ushguli (2200m). Ushguli and generally the whole Upper Svaneti region is a UNESCO World Heritage Sight. The village is most famous for its abundance of watchtowers and this is where you get the view of the highest mountain in Georgia – Mt. Shkhara (5068m). In Ushguli we visit Lamaria Church (12th century) and take a walk around the village and drive back to Mestia.

­¯250m (walking time: 2 hours).

Day 12: Mestia – Batumi

Before leaving Upper Svaneti we visit the marvelous Ethnography Museum of Mestia housing gilded icons and crosses, century-old manuscripts, unearthed items, etc. Then we visit the Svanetian tower and house and drive down to the seaside and the town of Batumi. Upon arrival, we have time at leisure to relax on the beach and enjoy the boulevard.

Day 13: Batumi

In the morning we visit the Roman-style Gonio Fortress (1st century AD). We also visited the Botanical Gardens. Then we have a Batumi walking tour including the agricultural market, mosque, Piazza, the square with the statue of Medea, St. Mary church, and the promenade.

Day 14: Batumi – Tbilisi

In the morning transfer to Tbilisi and enjoy free time in the Old Town.

Day 15: Departure

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