GREATER CAUCASUS
IMERETI, SAMEGRELO, SVANETI, RACHA-LECHKHUMI
Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Mestia, Adiszi, Iprari, Uszguli, Oni
8-10 Days
Tbilisi
Change Airport- Adventure
- Bespoke
- Trekking
Expedition overview
Day 0:
- arrival in Tbilisi in the late evening hours
Day 1: Tbilisi Airport – Exploring Tbilisi (20 km)
- arrival in Tbilisi in the early morning, hotel accommodation, time to rest, breakfast at the hotel
- exploring the old town of Tbilisi and the main landmarks of the capital: Sioni Cathedral and Anchiskhati Basilica – the oldest monastery in Tbilisi, a cable car ride to Narikala Fortress, offering a magnificent view of the city, and a walk to the waterfall located in the sulfur bath district
- free time, lunch break on your own
- optionally, visit to the famous sulfur baths of Tbilisi, private baths with sauna and hot mineral waters, massages, and peeling
- dinner at a renowned restaurant, combined with a performance of traditional Georgian dances
- overnight stay at a hotel in Tbilisi
Day 2: Tbilisi – Zugdidi – Mestia – 1500m ↗ (450 km)
- after breakfast, a breathtaking drive to Svaneti; a town with medieval stone towers and buildings listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site
- on the way, a stop in Zugdidi at the Dadiani Residence – one of the most famous Georgian princely families from the 19th century
- lunch break on your own
- a stop at the impressive Enguri River Dam
- arrival in Mestia – Reinhold Messner’s favorite place along with a mecca for climbers with the unique twin-peaked mountain Uszba
- visiting the Svan Tower, which houses a museum
- accommodation in a guesthouse, overnight stay in Mestia
Day 3: Mestia – Zhabeshi – Adishi – 1500m ↗ 1690m ↗ 2030m – 16km – 8h
- breakfast at the guesthouse/agritourism
- transfer to Zhabeshi (1690 m above sea level/30 min), then trekking to the village of Adishi (2030 m above sea level). Along the way, enjoy the panoramic view of the vast Inguri River valley and surrounding icy peaks (distance about 16km, estimated time about 8 hours. Our vehicles will carry our luggage to Adishi)
- picnic/lunch
- dinner and overnight stay in guesthouse in Adishi
Day 4: Adishi – Chalde – Iprari 2030m ↗ 2722m ↘ 1890m – 18.7km – 8h
- breakfast at the guesthouse
- the trail starts at the top of the village of Adishi, with the opportunity to see the St. George Church and the impressive Lardaadi Glacier. Our vehicles will carry our luggage to the next overnight place
- picnic/lunch
- the route involves a fairly demanding ascent from the Adishi glacier to the Chkhutnieri Pass (2722 m), crossing a steep, shrub-covered slope, and crossing the Adishchala River, which flows from the Adishi glacier. Passing through the village of Chalde (1890 m above sea level) and reaching Iprari (distance about 18.7km, estimated time about 8 hours)
- dinner and overnight stay in guesthouse
Day 5: Iprari – Lalchori – Davberi – Ushguli – 1890m ↗ 2200m – 12km – 4/5h
- breakfast at the agritourism
- the third part of the trail starts in the village of Iprari at an altitude of 1890m above sea level. Walk to the Lalchori village, following the Inguri River, and soon entering the Davberi village
- picnic/lunch
- after 4-5 hours from leaving Iprari, you can already admire the beautiful panorama of Ushguli (distance about 12km, estimated time about 5 hours)
- dinner and overnight stay in guesthouse in Ushguli
Day 6: Ushguli – Oni
- after breakfast, departure by off-road vehicles from Ushguli to Racha
- picnic in nature and stops at beautiful viewpoints
- dinner and overnight stay in Racha
Day 7: Oni
- breakfast
- visit to wineries, the synagogue in Oni, possible short trekking in the mountains, or rafting
- dinner and overnight stay in Racha
Day 8: Oni – Supra – Gelati – Motsameta – Kutaisi (110 km)
- after breakfast, drive towards Kutaisi
- visit Motsameta and Gelati – a UNESCO-listed medieval monastery complex
- dinner, organization of supra – a traditional Georgian feast, full of local flavors, toasts, live music, wine, and chacha – organized in a friendly agritourism, plus culinary workshops
- overnight stay at a hotel in Kutaisi
Day 9: Kutaisi – Prometheus Cave – Mtskheta – Tbilisi (270 km)
- after breakfast, visit the largest Prometheus Cave in Georgia, the length of the underground route is almost 1.5 km, the entrance is at an altitude of about 100 m above sea level, and the lowest point in the cave is 40 m below sea level, a light show takes place in one of the six chambers to Georgian music
- visiting the surroundings of Tbilisi – the city of Mtskheta, which until the 5th century AD served as the capital; visiting the legendary temple of Svetitskhoveli, the coronation and final resting place of the rulers of Georgia; transfer to the Jvari Monastery located on the top of the hill
- free time for shopping for souvenirs and a break for an individual meal
- farewell dinner at a famous restaurant
- overnight stay at a hotel in Tbilisi
Day 10: Transfer to Kutaisi Airport (25 km)
- transfer to the airport
Information
WE CAN ENRICH THE PROGRAM WITH ADDITIONAL DAYS AND TREKKING:
- from the village of Mazeri to the Ushby glacier and to the Shdugra waterfall (6-7 h round trip)
- from the village of Mazeri through the Guli Pass and Koruldi lakes (demanding trekking, from
- Jvari/Koruldi on the other side pick up 4×4 cars and take them to Mestia) (10h)
- from Mestia to Lake Koruldi (6-7 h round trip) or optional entry by off-road vehicle
- from Ushguli to the Shkara glacier – the highest peak in Georgia (5 hours round trip)
- from Ushguli to Racha (Chvelpi) easy, cars will take our luggage, pick us up from Chvelpi and take us to the accommodation in Racha
The provided offer can be adjusted to meet the requirements of each client. We can suggest the appropriate standard of hotels, enrich the program with additional attractions, start from any airport in Georgia, and extend it for any number of days.
*PRICES MAY VARY DEPENDING ON THE DATE OR NUMBER OF PERSONS
*OFFER VALID FOR 14/30 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF DISPATCH
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We would be happy to help you organize your dream trip!
In Short
- Kutaisi – the third-largest city in Georgia, known from mythology for the story of the Argonauts and the quest for the Golden Fleece. It is the capital of the Imereti region with a charming old town and the majestic Bagrati Cathedral, built in 1003, towering over the city.
- Tbilisi – the capital of Georgia, the largest and one of the most beautiful cities located in the Mtkvari (Kura) river valley, surrounded by hills. Visiting the old town, the Narikala fortress, which dates back to the 4th century, and the district of health sulfur baths
- Mtskheta – the first capital of Georgia included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, where Georgia adopted Christianity (326), often called “little Jerusalem” with the majestic Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the Jvari Monastery – built in the 6th century, with a beautiful view of the Mtskheta and the intersecting Mtkvari rivers
- (Kura) and Aragvi
- Gelati – located near Kutaisi with three churches and an academy of sciences. The complex dates back to the golden age of the Georgian monarchy and is still a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Near Gelati is the Motsameta Monastery, located in the gorge of the Ckalcitela River.
- Prometheus Cave – the largest cave in Georgia open to tourists, almost 1.5 km long, with the lowest point of the cave located 40 m below sea level, with a room with a light illumination show accompanied by Georgian music
- Georgian traditional supra – a traditional dinner with toasts, live music, and Georgian cuisine specialties at a private winery, with workshops of local cuisine.
- Dadiani Palace – the residence of one of the most famous Georgian noble families from the 19th century.
- Enguri – an arched dam on the Enguri River in the western part of the country near Abkhazia. It has a height of 272 m and a length of 728 m. Commissioned in 1987, it is one of the tallest dams in the world.
- Mestia and Svaneti – a region known for its fantastic landscapes, unspoiled nature, unique folklore, cultural treasures, and brave mountain dwellers living in stone towers.
- Ushguli – one of the highest villages in Europe with 37 stone residential-defense towers, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, overlooking Georgia’s highest peak – Mount Shkhara at 5193m above sea level.
- Racha – a region in northwestern Georgia, under the High Caucasus range. An excellent place for nature lovers and unique flavors such as Chkhaveri wine and the famous dried ham.
Price includes
- preparation and development of a detailed program, supervision of its implementation
- transportation by air-conditioned coach/minibus, transfer to and from the airport
- mineral water in the coach 0.5L per person per day
- guarantee of a replacement coach/minibus in case of breakdown
- hotel or guesthouse reservations and check-in
- organization of a supra at a private winery, with a Tamada (toastmaster), Georgian toasts, and local wine
- off-road vehicles on the tour route
- meals: two meals a day (breakfasts, hearty Georgian dinners)
- drinks: mineral water, coffee and tea, wine for dinners at restaurants
- care of a English-speaking guide
- luggage transfer on horses
Price does not include
- airline ticket
- personal expenses
- entrance tickets, wine tastings at wineries
- additional meals during the day (lunch)
Gallery
