East Georgia Shatili

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 – Sarajishvili factory – 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
• for those interested (optional) visit and tasting at the “Sarajishvili” brandy factory – the first and oldest Georgian brandy from 1884.
• 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 in Tbilisi

 Day 3: Tbilisi – David Gareja – Udabno – Bodbe  – Supra – Signagi (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
• break for a snack in Udabno at a local restaurant serving specialties of Swan cuisine.
• 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 Signagi

Day 4: Signagi – Rafting – Shatili/Ardoti (260 km)

• after breakfast, departure from Kakheti towards Shatila in Khevsureti on the border with Chechnya
• stops at picturesque viewpoints, crossing the Datwis Jwari pass (2,689 m) and a picnic in the bosom of nature
• optional short Rafting on the mountain river Aragvi
• arrival in Shatila, accommodation and visit to the medieval complex of defensive towers and stone houses, whose history dates back to the 7th century.
• free time, dinner and overnight stay in Shatili/Ardoti

Day 5: Shatili/Ardoti – Mutso – Anatori – Ananuri – Gudauri/Stepantsminda (260 km)

• after breakfast, departure by off-road vehicles towards Mutso, ascent to the rocky hill where the fortress with stone defensive towers is located, offering a beautiful panoramic view of Khevsureti.
• on the way back to Shatili, visit the crypts of Anatori – the now abandoned village where centuries ago houses turned into a cemetery.
• break for a picnic/lunch.
• departure towards the famous Georgian Military Highway, connecting Tbilisi with Vladikavkaz.
• on the way, stop at the Ananuri fortress from the 17th century, beautifully located above the Zhinvali reservoir.
• stop at the beautiful viewpoint just before the Cross Pass (2395 m above sea level).
• transfer to Gudauri/Stepantsminda, dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 4: 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 7: Stepantsminda/Gudauri – Uplistsikhe – Kutaisi (250 km)

• after breakfast, departure to Uplistsikhe, the oldest rock city in Georgia, where settlements date back to the second millennium 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;
• supra in agritourism with Georgian cuisine workshops and live music
• free time, walk around the old capital of Colchis
• overnight stay at a hotel in Kutaisi

Day 8: Transfer to the airport (25 km)

• transfer to the airport