8 days/ 7 nights

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Day 1/Arrival

Arrive in Tbilisi, meet in the airport and transfer to a hotel. Overnight in Tbilisi in a hotel.

Day 2/Tbilisi Sightseeing Tour

After breakfast at the hotel we start our archeological adventures visiting open- air Ethnographic Museum near Turtle Lake. Here we are given a unique opportunity to explore different examples of folk architecture and craftwork from various regions of Georgia. We pay a visit to Old Town. Here our first stop is Sioni Cathedral. The Tbilisi Sioni Cathedral is situated in historic Sionis Kucha (Sioni Street) in downtown Tbilisi, with its eastern façade fronting the right embankment of the Kura River. Our next stop is Anchiskhati church. The church belongs to the Georgian Orthodox Church and dates back to the 6th century. Afterwards we enjoy the panoramic views of the whole town and through the ancient Narikala fortress (4th century), find ourselves in the historical domed sulphur bath area – connected with the name of our city. Overnight in Tbilisi in a hotel.

Day 3/Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Svetitskhoveli Cathedral – Jvari Monastery – Armaztsikhe-Bagineti – Dzalisa Archeological Site – Ananuri Fortress – Tbilisi

After breakfast at the hotel we drive to the ancient city Mtskheta. We will visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral(UNESCO), the second largest church building in Georgia where the robe of Jesus Christ is buried. A masterpiece of the Early and High Middle Ages, the XI century Cathedral is the burial place of the Royal family of Bagrationi and the patriarchs of Georgia. Our next stop is Jvari Monastery which is a 6th century Georgian Orthodox monastery near Mtskheta. Continuing our tour, we go to Armaztsikhe-Bagineti. Archeological findings on the territory of Armaztsikhe include segments of wall, towers, structures of the royal residence, and the ruins of the burial vault. Next, we visit Dzalisa Archeological Site displays the remains of a Roman town dating to the 1st-4th centuries AD. It is considered to be one of the most significant archaeological sites of the Classical period in the kingdom of Kartli. Afterwards we are given a vast opportunity to explore the mediaeval fortress of Ananuri. Driving back to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi in a hotel.

Day 4/Tbilisi – Bolnisi (Arukhlo Archeological Site, Tsughrughasheni Church, Bolnisi Local Museum) – Dmanisi (Dmanisi Historical & Architectural Museum-Reserve) – Tbilisi

After breakfast at the hotel we drive to Bolnisi. Here we pay a visit to the Neolithic period Archeological site Arukhlo. The place has served as a center of ritual activities. Our next stop is Tsughrughasheni church built in the 13th century supposedly by King George IV Lasha of the Bagrationi Dynasty. Moving on we visit Bolnisi Local Museum. The museum houses archaeological collection discovered in Bolnisi, dated from New Stone Age (4-5 Millennium B.C.) up to late medieval times. The trip leads us to Dmanisi – the motherland of the 1st European. We visit Dmanisi Historical & Architectural Museum-Reserve. The monument represents the medieval city site, where are held archaeological excavations. There are citadel, public and religious buildings. Driving back to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi in a hotel.

Day 5/ Tbilisi – Aspindza (Vardzia, Chbareti Georgian)– Akhaltsikhe (Rabati Fortress)

After breakfast at the hotel we head to Aspindza. Firstly, we visit Vardzia. This is a cave-palace-monastery complex dating back to the XII century. Here unique natural conditions contributing to the specific microclimate and landscape, historical context and diversity of cultural heritage. Moving on we visit Chobareti Georgian. Once a restricted military zone, the Akhaltsikhe-Aspindza region within the Samtskhe-Javakheti province of Georgia is now the focus of archaeological investigations. Our next archaeological site is Rabati Fortress, where we explore the archaeological artefacts, ethnographic objects, church, mosque and synagogue. At the end of the day, we drive to Akhaltsikhe to visit Samtskhe-Javakheti History Museum which has well-displayed exhibits ranging from archaeological finds from the 4th-millennium-BC Kura-Araxes culture to Christian stone carvings, Ottoman and Georgian weaponry, and regional costumes from the 18th and 19th centuries. Overnight in Akhaltsikhe in a hotel.

Day 6/ Akhaltsikhe – Borjomi – Vani – Sataplia Forest Reserve – Kutaisi (Kutaisi Museum)

After breakfast at the hotel we drive to Borjomi.  In the famous resort of Borjomi the visitors can walk in the Park and taste mineral water Borjomi from the spring. We visit multi-layer archaeological site – Vani. Remains of fortifications and temples, locally produced and imported Greek pottery, and sophisticated local goldwork—now on displayed at the Vani Archeological Museum. Our next stop is at Sataplia forest reserve with a cave and prehistoric footprints of dinosaurs. The trip leads to Kutaisi Museum. The museum contains more than 190,000 artifacts, displaying the archaeological, numismatic, paleographical, ethnographical and spiritual heritage of Georgia. Overnight in Kutaisi in a hotel.

 

Day 7/Kutaisi – Bagrati Cathedral – Gelati Monastery – Tbilisi

After breakfast at the hotel we drive to Bagrati Cathedral (UNESCO)․ The masterpiece of the medieval Georgian architecture was built in the 11th century. After strolling through the ruins in the complex we continue to Gelati Monastery (UNESCO). The church is characterized by the facades of smoothly hewn large blocks, balanced proportions and blind arches for exterior decoration. Driving back to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi in a hotel.

Day 8/Departure

Breakfast and check out from the hotel. Transfer to the airport and departure.