10-Day Tour to Georgia, Tbilisi: Caucasus Mountains and Black Sea

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Tbilisi City tour⌄

   Trinity cathedral (1995-2004) the highest church in Georgia, where thousands of children are baptized every year.

   Metekhi church of 13th c. which stands on a plateau overlooking the river Mtkvari and Old Tbilisi

   Ride up to Narikala fortress by the areal cable car connecting Europe Square and the hilltop the fortress stands on. Built in 4th c. Narikala served as a main fortification of Tbilisi throughout the centuries and was attacked numerous times.

   ake stroll downhill to the old city; follow Botanical Street, visit Tbilisi Mosque, Legvtakhevi (the Fig Ravine) and witness the natural waterfall in downtown. Continue to the Ottoman’s time Sulfur Bathhouses. Walk along the Meidan square, Sharden and The King Erekle II streets; explore souvenir shops and art galleries nearby.

   Sioni cathedral, the former seat of patriarch, also stands here. The cathedral was first established in 6th-7th cc., but was destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout the centuries. The present cathedral dates back to 13th c.

   Anchiskhati basilica, built in 7th c AD.

   Visit Golden Treasury of Georgian National Museum . The collection features gold and silver artifacts and jewelry dating back to pre-Christian period from Kakheti (East Georgia), Vani (West Georgia), Mtskheta, Trialeti Kurgans, Zhinvali, Akhalgori, Martkopi, etc.

   Take a walk on Rustaveli Avenue towards Georgian Parliament, Rustaveli Drama theatre, National Museum of contemporary Arts, the State Opera and Ballet house, Prospero’s book store, shopping center and Rose Revolution square.

   Overnight: Overnight in Tbilisi 3* hotel

2. 2Tbilisi - Gori - Upliststikhe - Kutaisi⌄

   The museum houses a collection of private items that belonged to the Soviet Dictator - Joseph Stalin.

   Uplistsikhe cave town – one of the oldest inhabited places of Georgia. It dates back to early Iron Ages. The town is cut out from rock with secret tunnels and passes connecting ancient chambers and halls.

   ontinue driving to the West Imereti region. The road goes through Rikoti Pass and tunnel, the largest one in Georgia. Evening arrive in Kutaisi the center of Imereti region. Enjoy the sunset from the yard of Bagrati Cathedral 11th c. included in UNESCO World Heritage Site.

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight in Kutaisi 3* hotel

3. 3Kutaisi - Sataplia - Martvili - Mestia⌄

   The sight is famous for dinosaur footprints conserved here. The cave is 900 meters long and contains lots of stalactites and stalagmites of extraordinary beauty. The impression of the cave is enhanced with light and audio effects.

   Martvili Canyon, sight of local waterfalls. Take a boat trip in the river Abasha and observe the surrounding area.

   Continue driving to the North and arrive in Mestia – the heart of Svaneti region – located at an elevation of 1500 meters. Svaneti is unique for its Svan towers, which were used for defensive as well as dwelling purposes. Some of them date back as early as 9th c.

   Meals: Breakfast · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight in Mestia - Guesthouse

4. 4Mestia - Ushguli - Mestia⌄

   Today we have off-road adventure to the most remote and isolated village Ushguli with 4x4WD vehicles. The community comprises 4 villages and the whole area has been included in UNESCO World Heritage Site. The village is the highest settled area in the whole Europe (2200 m above sea level). We will pass several villages on the way to Upper Svaneti, including Ipari and Kala and visit small churches with frescos preserved throughout the centuries.

   Meals: Breakfast · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight in Mestia - Guesthouse

5. 5MESTIA- CHALAADI GLACIER-MESTIA trekking day⌄

   Trail: 25 km in 1 hour Trekking in nature, round-trip, suitable for all skill levels. Max. elevation: 1925 m Min. elevation: 1665 m Total climb: 337 m Total descent: 337 m Drive to the Mestiachala river, the trail's beginning point. Start walking uphill through the forest after crossing the bridge. About 1.5 km later, The trail continues through a rocky area covered in stones of varying sizes and shapes, necessitating extra caution when walking. You can already see the 4412-meter Mount Chatini in front of you from here. We continue toward the 1920-meter-high Chatini mountain. We reach the Chalaadi glacier, our final destination.

   Meals: Breakfast · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight in Mestia 3 * hotel/Guesthouse

6. 6Mestia-Zugdidi-Batumi⌄

   Margiani tower – a Svan tower from 12th cand Svanetian dwelling “Machubi”. Visit Svaneti Museum, where you see unique manuscripts , the 9th 10th 12th cc Gospel books, chained golden and silver icons. Italian photographer and mountaineer Vittorio Sella (1859 –1943) took photographs of mountains, local villages and people, which are regarded as some of the finest ever made.

   If the weather permits, take the Hatsvali cable car up to Zuruldi Mountain, which is 2455 meters high. You can see Ushba (4,710 meters to the south and 4,690 meters to the north) and Tetnuldi (4852 meters) from here. After having a steaming cup of coffee, say your goodbyes to Svaneti and drive to the Black Sea and lowlands. Mestia Museum is a Hatsvali cable car supplement. The permanent exhibition hall is a wonderful location that houses a truly exceptional collection of manuscripts, gospel books, medieval goldsmithing, and icons.

   Arrive in Zugdidi, the administrative town of the Samegrelo region and former capital of Mingrelia, in the late afternoon. Visit the Dadiani museum in Zugdidi, which was established within the palace by Prince David Dadiani. The death masks of Napoleon Bonaparte, important Georgian cultural and archaeological artifacts, and a nearby botanical garden are all part of the museum's collection.

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight in Batumi 3* hotel

7. 7Batumi⌄

   Visit Gonio fortress - 10 km from Batumi. Have an excursion there.

   The open-air ethnographical museum in Borjgalo is the next stop. Kemal Turmanidze, a master of wood carving, built this one-of-a-kind museum with the help of his family. He carved human-sized dollhouses and models of various styles of houses to show how people in the Adjara mountains live at home.

   Have a half-day Batumi city walking tour. Visit Batumi Boulevard, Ali and Nino kinetic sculpture, piazza square, Alphabet tower. Have free evening.

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight in Batumi 3* hotel

8. 8Batumi - Vani - Kutaisi⌄

   Visit Shekvetili Dendrological Park and Georgia in Miniatures.

   The Vani archaeological museum is the next stop. The museum's permanent exhibition showcases the site's cultural development from 800 BC to 100 AD through unique bronze sculptures and their fragments, samples of coins, and more. The exhibition's spectacular jewelry collection is one of its highlights. In the evening arrive in Kutaisi, have a free walk in the city center.

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight in Kutaisi 3* hotel

9. 9Kutaisi - Mtskheta - Tbilisi⌄

   Visit Mtskheta town on the way, which has been considered as the “holy city” for centuries. Mtskheta is famous for two UNESCO World Heritage sites – Svetitskhoveli Cathedral . Svetitskhoveli Cathedral translated as the “living pillar cathedral” was built in 11th c. and is associated with various legends from early Christian times.

   Jvari Monastery, stands on the hill overlooking the confluence of the rivers Mtkvari and Aragvi. The monastery was constructed during 6th c

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight in Tbilisi 3* hotel

10. 10Tbilisi⌄

    Breakfast at the hotel. Check out untill 12:00 pm. End of service.

    Meals: Breakfast