Mystical Mutso & Pankisi Adventure

Day 0:

• arrival in Tbilisi in the late evening hours

Day 1: Tbilisi Airport – Mtskheta – Tbilisi sightseeing (70 km)

• late arrival in Tbilisi, hotel accommodation, time to rest
• 11:00 – 14:00 after breakfast at the hotel, sightseeing in the old town, 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
• 14:00 – 15:00 lunch on your own
• 15:00 – 16:00 learning Georgian dance under the supervision of professional instructors / dancers
• 16:00 – 19:00 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
• 19:00 – 20:00 free time in the city to buy souvenirs and 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
• 20:00 – 23.00 dinner at a famous restaurant, combined with a show of traditional Georgian dances
• return to the hotel for overnight stay in Tbilisi

Day 2: Tbilisi – Ananuri – Rafting – Shatili (180 km)

• 08:00 – 09:00 breakfast at the hotel
• 09:00 – 13:00 departure towards the famous Georgian Military Road, connecting Tbilisi with Vladikavkaz
• along the way, visiting the Jvari Monastery located on the top of a hill
• stop at the Ananuri fortress from the 17th century, picturesquely located on the Zhinvali reservoir
• 13:00 p.m. – 15:00 rafting with picnic on the mountain river Aragvi
• 15:00 – 19:00 departure east to Shatila in Khevsureti on the border with Chechnya
• journey to picturesque viewpoints, crossing the Datwis Jwari pass (2689 m), – stops at viewpoints
• arrival in Shatili, visiting the medieval complex of defensive towers and stone houses, whose history dates back to the 7th century.
• 19:00 – 21:00 arrival, accommodation, dinner and overnight stay in the guesthouse

Day 3: Mutso – Shatili – Pankisi (330 km)

• 04:00 in the early morning hours, departure from Shatili, transfer to another Caucasian village of Mutso, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List – travel partly on horseback, partly by car
• 09:00 – 14:00 breakfast among the defensive towers in the mountains and greeting the sunrise
• 09:00 – 10:00 drive through the mountains to Pankisi – a region inhabited by the Chechen Kist minority, culinary workshops on site
• 19:00 evening of Chechen singing dinner and overnight stay with Chechen families

Day 4: Pankisi – Tibetans (60 km)

• 08:00 – 09:00 after breakfast, departure from Pankisi
• 09:00 driving a ZIL truck (or similar) to the mountains to the Tibetani pastoral settlement, then trekking along the plateau to the accommodation, pastoral settlement – passing through viewpoints
• Chechen feast with preparation of ram dishes, Chechen stories
• 19:00 – 21:00 dinner and overnight stay in shepherd’s huts and tents

Day 5: Tibetans – Khorojani (70 km)

• 08:00 – 09:00 breakfast
• 09:00 after breakfast, leave the camp
• ZIL ride to another shepherd’s camp in Khorojani, visit to a Chechen shepherd, bathing in a mountain river and light trekking in the field, survival elements
• participating in the preparation of Chechen dishes, milking cows in the evening (for those interested)
• 19:00 – 21:00 dinner and overnight stay in the camp, partly in tents

Day 6: Khorojani – Pankisi – Gurjaani (80 km +)

• 08:00 – 09:00 breakfast
• 09:00 after breakfast, leave the camp
• 13:00/14:00 arrival at the vineyard in Gurjaani, Georgian feast with Tamada (leader) and a show of Georgian songs
• overnight stay at the vineyard and partly with nearby families

Day 7: Gurjaani – Airport transfer (100 km)

• transfer from the vineyard to the airport