Culinary Masterclass

Day 1: Kopitnari Airport – Tbilisi (250 km)

• arrival in Kutaisi airport.
• pickup of vehicles, drive for lunch in the Kutaisi area.
• transfer to Tbilisi via the Rikoti Pass and check-in at the hotel.
• welcome dinner in the old town.
• optional night tour of the old town.
• overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 2: Tbilisi Exploration – Sarajishvili Factory (20 km)

• after breakfast at the hotel, explore the old town, stroll along Shota Rustaveli Avenue, visit Sioni Cathedral and Anchiskhati Basilica, take a cable car ride to Narikala Fortress for a magnificent city view, walk to the waterfall located in the city center, in the sulfur bath district.
• lunch on your own, free time in the city.
• optionally, drive to a local agrotourism farm for workshops on making natural Georgian cheese, cheese production demonstration, and workshops (approximately 2-3 hours) ending with a traditional Georgian dinner – supra with local wine and homemade Georgian dishes.
• optionally, visit private baths with sauna and hot mineral waters, massages, and peeling.
• visit the oldest Georgian brandy factory, Sarajishvili, and enjoy a tasting of XO VIP brandy.
• dinner at a well-known restaurant, combined with a traditional Georgian dance show.
• return to the hotel for overnight stay in Tbilisi.

Day 3: Tbilisi – David Gareja – Supra – Gurjaani (210 km)

• after breakfast, depart for Kakheti – the wine-producing region known for its medieval fortresses, charming towns, and impressive monasteries.
• drive to the steppes in the south of the country, traditional Georgian lunch consisting of Swan cuisine delicacies.
• explore the David Gareja complex of rock monasteries, carved in the 6th century right on the border with Azerbaijan.
• traditional Georgian lunch consisting of Swan cuisine delicacies.
• drive to a local agrotourism farm in the steppes for workshops on Swan cuisine or cheese-making workshops from the remote mountainous region of Svaneti (Kubdari, chzhinti, nadhugi, and sulguni with mint).
• organize a supra – a traditional Georgian feast at a friend’s winery, combined with wine tasting and local food, Georgian cuisine workshops (bread baking or making churchkhela) with live music.
• drive to a winery in Gurjaani, accommodation.
• overnight stay in Gurjaani.

Day 4: Gurjaani – Pankisi – Gurjaani (160 km)

• breakfast at the winery.
• after breakfast, depart for the Pankisi Gorge – a valley near the border with Chechnya and Dagestan, inhabited by Chechens and Kists.
• performance by local musicians outdoors and presentation of Chechen songs.
• culinary workshops on preparing traditional Chechen dishes, mainly featuring beef and mutton.
• return to Gurjaani.
• dinner and overnight stay at the winery.

Day 5: Gurjaani – Ananuri – Stepantsminda/Gudauri (220 km)

• after breakfast departure towards the famous Georgian Military Road, connecting Tbilisi with Vladikavkaz, with a stop at Ananuri Fortress from the 17th century, beautifully located above the Zhinvali reservoir.
• stop at a beautiful viewpoint just before the Cross Pass (2395 m above sea level).
• visit a local in Stepantsminda – tea and jam tasting.
• dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 6: Stepantsminda/Gudauri – Truso Valley – Tsminda Sameba – Stepantsminda/Gudauri (100 km)

• breakfast at the hotel.
• off-road trip to the Truso Valley, known for its mineral springs, lakes, medieval watchtowers, Abano Monastery, and Zakagori Fortress.
• hike through the valley, tasting mineral waters, and a picnic with local shepherds and barbecue.
• drive to Stepantsminda.
• jeep ride to one of the most beautifully located monasteries in Georgia – Tsminda Sameba, located at an altitude of 2170 m at the foot of Mount Kazbek (5033 m).
• dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Gudauri/Stepantsminda.

Day 7: Stepantsminda/Gudauri – Mtskheta – Kutaisi (320 km)

• breakfast at the hotel, departure towards Kutaisi.
• sightseeing around Tbilisi – drive to the Jvari Monastery located on top of a hill, then to the town of Mtskheta, which served as the capital until the 5th century AD, visiting the legendary Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, the coronation and burial place of Georgian rulers.
• free time in the city, souvenir shopping opportunity.
• cooking workshop with the chef: Adzhapsandali or Lobio and Khachapuri.
• departure towards Kutaisi, the historical capital of legendary Colchis, and currently the third-largest city in Georgia and the capital of the Imereti region.
• farewell dinner at a well-known restaurant.
• accommodation in a hotel, overnight stay.

Day 8: Transfer to the Airport (20 km)

• transfer from the hotel to the airport