CAVE CITY

Day 1: Kutaisi Airport – Tbilisi (250 km)

• arrival in the Kopitnari airport, near Kutaisi
• transfer to Tbilisi and hotel accommodation
• a short stop for a snack after the flight
• welcome dinner in the old town
• for those interested, a night tour of the old town
• dinner at a local restaurant
• overnight stay at a hotel

Day 2: Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Tbilisi sightseeing (60 km)

• after breakfast, sightseeing around Tbilisi – the city of Mtskheta, which until the 5th century AD served as the capital; visiting the legendary temple of Svetitskhoveli, the place of coronation and final resting place of the rulers of Georgia; transfer to the Jvari Monastery located on the top of the hill
• free time, break for an individual meal
• sightseeing in the old town of Tbilisi, walk along Rustaveli Shota Avenue, Sioni Cathedral and Anchiskhati Basilica, cable car ride to the Narikala Fortress with a wonderful view of the city, walk to the waterfall located in the city center, in the district sulfur baths
• dinner at a famous restaurant, combined with a show of traditional Georgian dances
• return to the hotel for overnight stay in Tbilisi

Day 3: Tbilisi – David Gareja – Bodbe – Signagi – Telavi (255 km)

• after breakfast, departure to Kakheti – a land known for its wine production and unique medieval heritage. Drive to the steppes in the south of the country and visit the complex of David Gareja rock monasteries from the 6th century
• transfer to Sighnaghi – a town with a 2.5-kilometer defensive wall, known for the oldest wine festival in Georgia, and on the way visiting the Bodbe Monastery – the burial place of St. Nino, who converted Georgia to Christianity
• supra – a traditional Georgian feast at a friendly farmers house on a vineyard, wine degustation and local food tasting, Georgian cuisine workshops (baking bread, making churchkhela or khinkali) with taditional live music
• accomodation in Telavi

 Day 4: Telavi – Sarajishvili Factory – Ananuri – Gudauri/Stepantsminda (215 km)

• after breakfast, drive to Georgian Military Road, connecting Tbilisi to Vladikavkaz
• visit to the Sarajishvili cognac factory in Tbilisi combined with alcohol tasting,
• break for an individual meal
• on the way visiting the Ananuri fortress from the 17th century, located by the Zhinvali water reservoir
• photo stop at the Jvari Pass (2379 m)
• arriving in Stepantsminda/Gudauri, dinner and overnight in the hotel

Day 5: Gudauri/Stepantsminda – Truso Valley – Tsminda Sameba – Gudauri/Stepantsminda (40 km)

• after breakfast, all day off-road to the Truso Valley, known for its mineral springs, lakes, medieval defensive towers, the Abano monastery and the Zakagori fortress
• a walk in the valley, tasting the mineral waters and an outdoor picnic with local shepherds and baking skewers
• in the afternoon, drive to one of the most beautifully situated monasteries in Georgia – Gergeti Holy Trinity which lies at an altitude of 2250 m above sea level. at the foot of Mount Kazbek (5033 m)
• return to Gudauri/Stepantsminda, dinner and overnight in the hotel

Day 6: Gudauri/Stepantsminda – Uplistsikhe – Gori – Borjomi – Akhaltsikhe (280 km)

• after breakfast departure to Uplistsikhe, the oldest cave city in the Caucasus region, dates to the second millennium BC
• transfer to Gori – the hometown of Joseph Stalin, short stop at the Stalin Museum – memorial house where Stalin is believed to have been born, an exhibition building, and Stalin’s personal train car, in which he traveled to Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam
• free time, break for an individual meal
• transfer to Borjomi and a walk through the beautiful park with numerous medical waters
• dinner and overnight in hotel in Akhaltsikhe

 Day 7: Akhaltsikhe – Vardzia – Khertwisi – Kutaisi (295 km)

• after breakfast, transfer to the monumental rock city of Vardzia, founded in the times of Queen Tamara (12th-13th centuries), which in its heyday could accommodate up to 50,000 people. inhabitants
• visiting the Khertvisi fortress, the construction of which began in the 2nd century BC.
• transfer to Kutaisi, the historical capital of the legendary Colchis, and currently the third largest city in Georgia and the capital of the Imereti region; visiting the 11th-century Bagrati Cathedral
• farewell dinner at a local restaurant or Georgian evening: organization of supra – a traditional Georgian feast at a friendly host’s vineyard, combined with tasting of alcohol and local Imereti dishes and live music
• overnight stay at a hotel in Kutaisi

Day 8: Kutaisi – Gelati – Motsameta – Kutaisi Airport (40 km)

• after breakfast, visit the historic Gelati and Motsameta monasteries located near Kutaisi, which are extremely important for Georgians
• transfer and transfer towards the airport