Grand Tour: Ancient Civilization of the Caucasus

Tour Itinerary


Day 1: Arrival to Tbilisi

Arrival to Tbilisi International Airport. Meeting with driver, transfer to the hotel.

Night stay in Tbilisi.

 Day 2: Walking Tbilisi City Tour (10 km)

 

Breakfast in the hotel.

10:00 Meeting with guide.

The Old Tbilisi walking tour is the perfect thing to do to feel the beauty of this magnificent city. During this tour, you will walk through the old town’s tiny, cobblestoned streets. You’ll have a chance to discover secrets behind colorful streets and hear beautiful legends and stories.

Firstly, Tour starts with walking from Rike park and the Peace Bridge. Secondly, after some walking, we go up to Narikala Fortress & Mother of Georgia by Cable-car to enjoy the birds-eye views of Tbilisi. After that, walking down from the fortress, we move to the Sulphur Baths, known as the city’s heart. Finally, we end up at the Leghvtakhevi waterfall – beautiful and the most adored place for unforgettable pictures and selfies.

Free time for lunch.

Then we will walk through Meidan Bazar – right underneath the Meidan square, the heart of the tourist centre of Tbilisi. In this underground tunnel – shop all products of typical touristic interest are assembled. Everything is Made in Georgia here: from wine to hand crafted socks, from postcards to Georgian jams, sauces, spices and tea.

The next stop will be at the Georgian national museum, where impressive galleries are lined with the art and artifacts of this diverse nation, dating back to the 8th millennium BC.

After transfer to the hotel, free time.

Evening dinner in a Georgian restaurant, where you will taste delicious Georgian foods and enjoy watching Georgian national dances.

 

After transfer to the hotel. Night Stay in Tbilisi. (Breakfast/-/Dinner)

 Day 3: Tbilisi-Vardisubani-Gremi-Nekresi-Kvareli-Telavi (210 km)

Breakfast in the hotel. Check out.

09:00 Meeting with the guide at the lobby.  Our trip takes us to Kakheti, you will start with Kakheti winery where you will have chance to taste Georgian traditional delicious wines. Drive to Kbilashvili winery, two of the most well-known qvevri makers in Kakheti are Remi Kbilashvili and his son, Zaza Kbilashvili. The Kbilashvili family’s qvevri workshop and winery are located in the small village of Vardisubani, about 3 kilometers from Telavi.

We will have an informative tour on the qvevri production process, which includes everything from amassing the clay to drying it and sculpting the final product.

Drive to the Kvareli region, firstly we will visit Gremi, which was built in the 16th century in the times of King Levan of Kakheti, who announced Gremi the capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti.

Afterwards we drive to Nekresi monastery, consisting of various buildings dated to the 4th – 9th centuries.

Have you heard about the Tunnel Winery Khareba?It is the largest of Georgia’s wine cellars. There are perfect storage conditions for wine, 7,7 km of tunnels, and galleries maintain a constant temperature of 12-14 degrees. You have a walking tour with a local Georgian guide to find out more information and details about wine and taste it. In addition, we will have delicious lunch, wine tasting of 4 types, Chacha degustation, also we will have master-classes of baking Georgian Bread, making churchkhela, “Mtsvadi” on the grill, baking Khachapuri and making Khinkali.

Afterwards, we drive to Telavi, check in.  Free time. Night stay in Telavi. (B/L/-)

 

Day 4: Telavi-Tsinandali-Bodbe-Sighnaghi-Tbilisi (190 km)

Breakfast in the hotel. Check out.

09:00 Meeting with guide at the lobby.   

First destination of the day will be Telavi Bazaar, which is located in the Kakheti region of Georgia, it has been a cornerstone of culinary and cultural exchange since the 17th century. Renowned as the new trading center after the devastating invasions of Abbas I, it has successfully evolved into an enticing market full of local delicacies and artisanal offerings.

After that you will visit Tsinandali Estate which is recognized as a historical site of wine’s origin, with the first recorded bottling of wine taking place there in the 1800s. It since maintains production with the traditional methods of Georgian winemaking as well as using modern technology to produce classical European vintages. They produce several distinguished, full-bodied vintages while farming organically over 11 different local vine species.

Free time for lunch.

The next stop is Monastery of St. Nino, named Bodbe Nunnery. Here you can enjoy with peaceful environment & a magical view of Alazani Valley.

Finally, we stop at the viewpoint of Sighnaghi and take some beautiful pictures.

Sighnaghi is a town in Kakheti. However, Georgia’s smallest town serves as a popular tourist destination due to its picturesque landscapes, pastel houses with wooden fretwork balconies, and narrow cobblestone streets.

Afterwards, we drive back to Tbilisi. Transfer to the hotel. Night Stay in Tbilisi. (B/-/-)

 Day 5: Tbilisi-Vardzia-Rabat-Akhaltsikhe (250 km)

 

Breakfast in the hotel. Check out. 08:30 Meeting with guide at the lobby. Drive to the southern part of Georgia.  

Vardzia is a cave site in southern Georgia dating back to the 12th century, excavated from the slopes of the Erusheti Mountain on the left bank of the Mtkvari River. Excavations have shown that the area of Vardzia was inhabited even earlier during the Bronze Age. You can find a bell tower, the main church, cave dwellings, rooms, chapels, a pharmacy, and wine cellars. Beyond the bell tower, the complex rises to nineteen tiers, with steps leading to a cemetery.

Free time for lunch.

After we arrive at the city of Akhaltsikhe. Here we will visit Rabati Castle. Among the walls of Rabati, you will meet symbols of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Rabati castle was built in the 13th century and developed under the influence of different cultures over subsequent centuries, which is reflected in its architecture. Within the 7 hectares’ castle complex there is a church, a mosque, a minaret, and a synagogue. These three points of different culture will diversify your trip to Georgia. Check in at the hotel, dinner. Night stay in Akhaltsikhe. (B//D)

 Day 6: Akhaltsikhe-Borjomi-Kutaisi (220 km)

Breakfast in the hotel, check out.

09:00 Meeting with guide at the lobby.

Drive to Kutaisi, on the way we will stop in Borjomi, due to the supposed curative powers of the area’s mineral springs, it is a frequent destination for people with health problems. Did you know that Borjomi is famous for it’s life-giving water? With this trip to Georgia, you can experience the rejuvenating effect of live water on yourself, when you drink it.

Free time for lunch.

Arrival to Kutaisi, check in, free evening, night stay in Kutaisi. (B/-/-)

 Day 7: Kutaisi-Gelati Monastery-Prometheus cave-Okatse Canyon-Kutaisi (150 km)

Breakfast in the hotel.

Meeting with guide at the lobby.

Drive to Gelati monastery, which is located just eleven kilometers away from Kutaisi, this monastery complex was a well-known center for medieval culture and education. Gelati is an outstanding example of Georgian monumental art and mosaics.

After that you will visit Prometheus Cave which is full with stunning curtains of stalactites and stalagmites. 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 to visit the halls and enjoy a boat tour by walking the river (boat trip for extra fee).

Free time for lunch.

Next and last destination of this will be Okatse Canyon. Here you are walking 2-3 hours in some of the most pristine scenery in Georgia. The pedestrian trail passes through Dadiani historic forests, thus enjoy hiking and a 780 meters’ length hanging trail. The last destination is a panoramic view. (If you want to drive by off road car to the manic entrance 2 km approximately price for a car – USD$30)

After excursion transfer to the hotel. Night Stay in Kutaisi. (B/-/-)

 Day 8: Kutaisi-Martvili Canyon-Zugdidi-Mestia (270 km)

Breakfast in the hotel, check out.

Meeting with guide at the lobby. Drive to Martvili Canyon, which is 45 km away from Kutaisi. 700 meters circular hiking trail starts from the visitors’ centre and passes through Dadiani’s historic walkway. There are 2 bridges, 3 viewing platforms, and 30-step historic staircase that is built from limestone staircase. Here you have the opportunity to take a trip by boat, diving and explore beautiful places under the water.

Free time for lunch.

Arrival to Zugdidi which is in Samegrelo – Zemo Svaneti.  The most famous sightseeing of Zugdidi is the Dadiani Palace. It was a residence of Dadiani, princes of Samegrelo. It was built in the17th century by the prince of Odishi, Levan Dadiani. Nowadays, Dadiani Palace is a historical and architectural state museum. It is part of the palace complex of Samegrelo, which also includes a palace for Ekaterine Chavchavadze-Dadiani, a residence of her son Niko Dadiani, a church, and an adjacent botanical garden. The last destination is Mestia a municipality, in western Georgia, in the Samegrelo – Zemo Svaneti region. Mestia, as well as the whole Svaneti Region has the oldest history in Georgia. Mestia is distinguished by its amazing, beautiful nature and abundance of cultural monuments.

Check in, free evening, dinner night stay in Mestia. (B/-/D)

 Day 9: Mestia-Ushguli-Lamaria Church-Mestia (105 km)

Breakfast in the hotel. Meeting with the driver and guide.

By off-road Jeep drive to Ushguli. It is located at the bottom of Shkhara, near the estuary of Enguri and Shavtskala-Kvishara rivers. The altitude of Ushguli community varies from 2060 to 2200 metres.

Free time for lunch. On the way of Lamaria Church you will experience the beautiful highland villages of Ushguli. Final destination will be Lamaria Church, of The Mother of God one of the most important and highly cultural-historical monuments of Svaneti. The church has an entrance from the west, and the chapel- from the south-west. The iconostasis is made of stone, the chambers of which rest on the stone pillars starting from the floor and are decorated with plain pillars.

Drive back to Mestia. Here you can ride a horse for an extra fee.

Dinner and night stay in Mestia. (B/-/D)

Day 10: Mestia-Svaneti Historical-Ethnographic Museum-Heshkili Huts-Hawvali-Mestia (40 km)

Breakfast in the hotel. Meeting with the driver and guide.

On this day you will visit Svaneti Historical-Ethnographic Museum, which is a museum in Mestia, Svaneti. It was founded in 1936. The museum preserves the materials obtained as a result of archeological excavations on the territory of the Svaneti region. Unique works can be found of Georgian engraving art and iconic painting samples of early and late medieval military equipment, iron, silver, copper handicrafts, jewelry, tableware, textiles, ethnographic items depicting the life of old Svaneti and others.

Next destination is Heshkilii Huts. Here you can see small wooden homes, one of them is even perched in a tree. Nowadays, there are only 6 huts, with seven rooms, about 23 people can stay here.

Free time for lunch.

Final destination of today will be Hawvali, which is a unique ski resort. Mestia and Hatsvali are connected with each other by the automobile road and the six chair ski lift. In the case of good weather, you can use the cable car for an extra fee.

After excursion transfer to the hotel. Free evening, dinner night stay in Mestia. (B/-/D)

 Day 11:  Mestia-Enguri Reservoir-Tbilisi (490 km)

Breakfast in the hotel, check out. Meeting with guide at the lobby. On the way to Tbilisi you will reach Enguri (Jvari) Reservoir and hydropower plant in western Georgia, located in Tsalenjikha Municipality on the river Enguri, originates on Shkhar.

The length of the reservoir is 30 km. It is the deepest reservoir in Georgia (226 m) and the largest hydropower plant in the Caucasus. Here you can have a boat trip for an extra fee.

Free time for lunch.

Arrival to Tbilisi, check in, free evening, night stay in Tbilisi. (B/-/-)

 Day 12: Departure

Breakfast in the hotel, check out, meeting with your guide at the lobby of the hotel and transfer to the Tbilisi international airport. Departure. *Note: If guests are travelling onwards elsewhere in Georgia we are happy to work with your plans*

 

 

                 PRICE FOR TOUR PER PERSON          

 

4* Hotel

      Occupancy/

        Number of pax

                                  Double

           

                                         Triple

           

     2

         AUD$3,999

 

     3

 

         AUD$3,199

    4

         AUD$2,799

 

 *Please note: Contact us for rates for larger groups. We do fantastic deals for Groups of 5 or more*

 

 Price includes:

·            Accommodation in Tbilisi 4 nights with breakfast at the 4* hotel;

·            Accommodation in Telavi 1 night with breakfast at the 3* hotel;

·            Accommodation in Akhaltsikhe 1 night with dinner and breakfast at the 3* hotel;

·            Accommodation in Kutaisi 2 nights with breakfast at the 3* hotel;

·            Accommodation in Mestia 3 nights with dinner and breakfast at the guesthouse;

·            Tours according to the itinerary;

·            English speaking guide service;

·            Transportation according to the program;

·            Off-road car to Ushguli;

·            Cable car ride in Tbilisi (single way);

·            Local guide in National museum & Svaneti Historical-Ethnographic Museum;

·            All entrance fees as per itinerary-Georgian national museum, Vardzia, Rabati castle, park of   

·            Borjomi, Prometheus cave, Okatse canyon, Martvili canyon, Tsinandali Estate, Gremi, Nekresi, 

·             Dadiani palace, Svaneti Historical-Ethnographic Museum;

·            Master-classes of baking Georgian Bread, making churchkhela, “Mtsvadi” on the grill, baking   

·             Khachapuri, Making Khinkali & lunch in Kakheti;

·            Master-classes of qvevri;

·            Dinner in Tbilisi;

·            Wine and Chacha tasting in Kakheti;

·            Bottle of water 0.500 ml per day;

·            24/7 Customer Support Line

Not included:

·            Airfare,

·            Boat trip in Martvili canyone, Prometheus cave & Enguri;  

·            Horse riding;

·            Cable car in Hawvali;

·            Off road transport to Okatse canyon entrance; 

·            Health and Travel Insurance;

·            Personal expenses;

·            Tips (at your discretion)

Notes:

ü  Calculated transport types are standard sedan and minivan 2011-2014 years;

ü  Itinerary could be changed upon request;

ü  Lunches and dinners in the best local restaurants or families for extra fee;

ü  If you have a departure from Kutaisi, then the last overnight will be in Kutaisi with an extra fee;

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