TRIP in WEST GEORGIA

Day 0:

• arrival in Tbilisi in the late evening hours

Day 1: 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 coronation and final resting place of the rulers of Georgia; drive to the hill top Jvari Monastery,
• free time for shopping for souvenirs and a break for an individual meal
• visiting the capital, a walk along Shota Rustaveli Avenue and the old town, the Sioni Cathedral and the Anchiskhati Basilica, a cable car ride to the Narikala Fortress with a wonderful view of the city, a walk to the waterfall located in the city center, in the sulfur baths district
• for those interested (optional) a visit to the famous Tbilisi sulfur baths, a visit to private baths with a sauna and hot health waters, massages and peeling
• dinner at a famous restaurant, combined with a show of traditional Georgian dances
• return to the hotel for overnight stay

Day 2: Tbilisi – Dawid Gareja – Signagi – Bodbe – Signagi (250 km)

• after breakfast, transfer to the steppe in the south of the country and visit the complex of David Gareja rock monasteries, carved in the 6th century right next to the border with Azerbaijan
• a snack break in Udabno at a local restaurant serving specialties of Svan cuisine
• transfer to Signagi – a town with a 2.5-kilometer defensive wall, known for the oldest wine festival in Georgia, the primitivist painter Niko Pirosmani and the singer Hamlet Gonashwili come from this region, he was considered the “Voice of Georgia”.
• along the way, visiting the Bodbe Monastery – the burial place of Saint. Nino, who converted Georgia to Christianity
• dinner at a local restaurant
• overnight stay at a hotel in Signagi

 Day 3: Signagi – Gurjaani – Wine tour – Gremi – Supra – Signagi (130 km)

• after breakfast, sightseeing in Kakheti – departure to Alazani, one of the largest valleys in Europe
• stop at the local market in Gurjaani
• visit to the vineyard and museum in Numisi, Kindzmarauli wine factory, Khareba vineyard – a tunnel converted into a wine warehouse – tastings
• visiting the Gremi fortress, which was the capital of the kingdom of Kakheti until the 16th century
• organization of supra – a traditional Georgian feast at a friendly host’s vineyard, combined with tasting of wines and local dishes, Georgian cuisine workshops (baking bread, making churchkhela or khinkali) and live music
• return to Signagi, overnight stay

Day 4: Signagi – Ananuri – Gudauri/ Stepantsminda (260 km)

• after breakfast, departure from Kakheti towards the famous Georgian Military Road, connecting Tbilisi with Vladikavkaz
• break for an individual meal
• along the way, a stop at the Ananuri fortress from the 17th century, picturesquely located on the Zhinvali reservoir
• stop at a beautiful viewpoint just before the Jvari Pass (2,395 m above sea level)
• transfer to Gudauri/Stepantsminda, dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

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

• after breakfast, departure by off-road vehicle to the Truso Valley, known for its springs
• minerals, lakes, medieval defensive towers, the Abano monastery and the Zakagori fortress
• a walk around the valley, tasting mineral waters and having a picnic outdoors with the locals
• shepherds and baking skewers
• transfer to the town of Stepantsminda, entry to one of the most beautifully situated monasteries in Georgia – Tsminda Sameba, which is located at an altitude of 2,170 m above sea level. at the foot of Mount Kazbek (5033 m above sea level)
• return to Gudauri/Stepantsminda, dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

Day 6: Gudauri/Stepantsminda – Uplistsikhe – Borjomi – Akhaltsikhe (340 km)

• after breakfast, departure towards Uplistsikhe – the oldest rock city in Georgia, where the settlement dates back to the second millennium BC.
• lunch break on your own
• transfer to Borjomi – a short stop at the famous Georgian health resort with a spa park and sources of healing mineral water
• transfer to Akhaltsikhe, stop at the Rabati fortress, a city of intersection of many cultures
• accommodation, dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Akhaltsikhe

 Day 7: Akhaltsikhe – Vardzia – Chertwisi – Rabati – Kutaisi (290 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
• stop at the Khertwisi fortress, the construction of which began in the 2nd century BC.
• visiting the Rabati fortress – a place of intersection of many cultures, the largest building of this type in Georgia
• arrival 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 Mocameta and Gelati monasteries – included in the UNESCO list
• dinner at a popular local restaurant
• accommodation and overnight stay in Kutaisi

 Day 8: Kutaisi – Prometheus Cave – Martvili Canyon – Enguri – Mestia (240 km)

• after breakfast, visit the Prometheus Cave located near Kutaisi, 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
• trip to the Martvili Canyon
• lunch break on your own
• departure towards Svaneti – a city with medieval stone towers among the majestic Caucasus mountains and Reinhold Messner’s favorite place along with a mecca for climbers with the unique two-peaked mountain Ushba
• along the way, a stop at one of the highest dams in the world on the Inguri River
• accommodation, dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Mestia

 Day 9: Mestia – Ushguli – Mestia (95 km)

• after breakfast, a full-day jeep trip to Ushguli – one of the highest villages in Europe, where time stands still, known for its 37 preserved stone towers dating back to the 9th-12th centuries.
• a walk around the village and towards the Shkhara glacier,
• lunch break
• for those interested, a visit to the local ethnographic museum
• return, dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Mestia

 Day 10: Mestia – Batumi (260 km)

• after breakfast, transfer from Mestia to Batumi and rest by the sea for the next days, during which the following optional trips are possible:

 Day 11-12: Batumi

• trekking in Mtirala National Park, near Batumi, jungle-like experience – plants overgrown with epiphytes, tree trunks with moss, waterfalls
• driving along a captivating route to the Machunceti and Mirweti waterfalls and visiting medieval stone bridges and a visit to a vineyard located in the Adjara mountains, from which there is a beautiful view of the surrounding area, tasting of local alcohols, lunch with traditional Adjara dishes
• walking tour around Batumi, walking along the promenade, entry to the Alphabet Tower, cable car to the viewpoint, visit to the dolphinarium, botanical garden, walk around the old town and dinner in a local, atmospheric restaurant or in a small pub next to the fish market combined with tasting local beer craftsmanship
• trip to the botanical garden and lunch/dinner at the local fish market
• rafting near Batumi, for beginners and advanced, combined with a picnic in a picturesque place
• full-day off road trip to the Goderdzi Pass and Green Lake with a picnic.

Day 13: Transfer Batumi – Tbilisi (360 km)

• after breakfast, free time for sunbathing until noon
• transfer to Tbilisi, farewell dinner on the way
• overnight stay at the hotel and rest before the flight

Day 14: Transfer to the airport (20 km)

• transfer to the airport