Gem of the Caucasus | 15-day Georgia small group tour

Day 1, Wednesday: Tbilisi – arrival and orientation

Arrive in Tbilisi. Our representative will meet you in the airport and arrange for an airport transfer. Check-in after 3pm. Orientation session with our travel agency’s manager: itinerary brief, hand-outs, other details.

Day 2, Thursday: Tour to Kakheti region – Ruispiri, Gremi, Eniseli

Depart Tbilisi early in the morning to start a 2-day tour of Kakheti – eastern region of Georgia, dubbed as a birthplace of Georgian wine. Journey to Kakheti follows a fascinating road through Gombori mountain pass (elevation of 1.639 m / 5,377 ft above sea level). Make a short photo/tea/coffee stop at the highest point of the road — picturesque views over the mountains range and green hills guaranteed. After passing through the Gombori mountain pass, your first destination this day will be the Ruispiri village. You will visit a small family run biodynamic organic wine cellar. Here you will learn all about traditional Georgian winemaking traditions, followed by wine tasting. In about another 40-minute drive arrive to Gremi architectural complex. Remains of 16th century citadel, and once flourishing town, stand out in the middle of Alazani valley. Visit Gremi museum and its major highlight, the former King of Kakheti’s residence, and the Church of the Archangels. Continue tour by visiting one of the oldest professional wineries in the area, in the village of Eniseli. Learn all about traditional Georgian winemaking. Try local wines made of indigenous varieties like Saperavi, Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane. Lunch on winery premises. Afternoon arrive at local guesthouse and winery, of course. Have a free relaxing evening in the middle of Alazani valley, enjoy the unity with nature. Overnight.

Day 3, Friday: Tour to Kakheti (continued) – Zegaani, Sighnaghi, Nukriani – Tbilisi

After amazing breakfast continue exploring the region by visiting the Zegaani monastery, nested in the forest – it is a true gem of the valley, real oasis. Keep on further with your Georgia tour program. A brief 50-minute drive will bring you to the town of Sighnaghi, also known as a “city of love” (mostly for the fact that one can register a marriage there 24/7). Previously a royal residence, this small Kakhetian town is surrounded by an ancient city walls with watchtowers. A brief tour of Sighnaghi will be followed by delicious late-lunch in the private house in the nearby village of Nukriani. The family here is making their living by producing felt and wool footwear. Have one for yourself, embroidered with your name on it (or anything else written). Drive back to Tbilisi. Check-in to the hotel. Overnight.

Day 4, Saturday: Tbilisi city walking tour and evening train to Batumi

This day of your Georgia tour is dedicated to its major city – Tbilisi. For many centuries of its existence this was a place where people of all faiths, cultural and national backgrounds used to live together, making it a contemporary metropolis filled with history and atmosphere of the rich and great past. Begin at the Metekhi church and King Vakhtang monument where you will listen to the Tbilisi founding legend, continue by cable car to ancient Narikala fortress, walk down to the “Legvtakhevi” (fig) gorge and Tbilisi waterfall, passing by the church and mosque. You will then enter the famous sulphur bath area of old town, and finish this tour in the cozy restaurants and cafes district called Shardeni. After lunch take a 5-hour long comfortable train journey to the very West of Georgia – Adjara region and its capital city, Batumi. Arrival late evening. Check-in to the hotel. Overnight.

Day 5, Sunday: Batumi city tour

After breakfast embark on a great relaxing tour of this beautiful city. Visit famous Batumi boulevard, Europe square, Nuriegel lake, Piazza square, moving statue “Ali and Nino” (constantly-moving metal statue of a man (Ali) and woman (Nino) slowly passing through and around each another. It represents love, as well as the friendship between different nationalities). Have a walk on Batumi pierce, and drive the longest cable car in the country up the mountain overlooking Batumi. It takes you 250 meters from sea level up to the Anuria Mountain, looking back over the city to the sea. Visit Batumi botanical garden. Its location is what makes it unique, among other reasons. Miles of floral specimens from all over the world, with myriad paths, eventually leading down to the water of Mtsvane Kontskhi (Green Cape), where you can take a quick dip at the beach to cool down after all the walking. Dinner and overnight.

Day 6, Monday: Batumi – Ozurgeti (full day tea tour)

In the morning depart Batumi towards Guria region of the country. For more than a century this place was famous for its tea plantations. During Soviet times Georgian tea was one of the major products Guria was busy with. Local climate and soil quality made it possible to grow a very high quality tea. After the collapse of the Soviet empire tea production, along with many other economic spheres experienced a drastic fall, to complete abandonment of the fields. In recent years local people started to bring back the tradition of tea making. And now you have a chance not just to see how tea is being grown, but to actually harvest tea leaves, and take part in the whole process of domestic real tea making in of the local tea farms. All of this will be of course supplemented with organic farm-to-table lunch, made of locally produced and grown products. Drive to the nearby local guesthouse for overnight.

Day 7, Tuesday: Ozurgeti – Martvili – Tskaltubo

Keep on the journey through Georgia by arriving in the Samegrelo region. The area is famous in the country for its distinguished nature, soft climate, unique cuisine, and indigenous vines. Visit a small family winery to try a very special limited production wine, and have another amazing lunch. To make this day even more special we will drive to famous Martvili canyons after lunch. Martvili canyons used to be a bath place for Dadiani royal family. Now people visit it to enjoy the scenery, its waterfalls and take a boat trip in the river with deep green color. Drive to Tskhaltubo town for dinner and overnight.

Day 8, Wednesday: Sataplia – Gelati – Motsameta – Kutaisi

After breakfast, start this day with a visit to yet another magnificent site of Georgia – Sataplia nature reserve. It is a really picturesque place. And is also famous for the fact that the footprints of Herbivorous and Raptor dinosaurs of different epochs were found here. Easy-found trails and routes lead to the conservation building of dinosaur footprints, exhibition hall, unique karst caves, Colchic Forest and the wild bee habitat area. Not to mention amazing landscape views. Continue Georgia tour by visiting one of the major religious sites of the country – Gelati Church and Motsameta monastery. Both being enormously important to the Georgia’s history, marking significant historical events, blended with legends and facts. Arrive in Kutaisi for overnight.

Day 9, Thursday: Kutaisi – Borjomi – Akhaltsikhe

After yet another wonderful homemade-like breakfast continue your Georgia tour by driving South-West of the country, to the region called Samtskhe-Javakheti. After about 2 hour drive from Kutaisi you will arrive to the beautiful town called Borjomi. This small city is nestled between high mountains, and is a birthplace of numerous mineral water sources. Waters of Borjomi were the reason for XIXth century Russian Grand Duke Nicholas to commission the Royal residence here. Visit Borjomi Park and try waters at its source. Continue to the village of Chitakhevi, and visit a true gem of the area – St.George Church, dubbed as “Green Monastery” for its location inside a picturesque mountain forest. Continue to Akhaltsikhe – the central town of Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia. The old city is home to the ever-popular Rabati Fortress, built in the 9th century, but later rebuilt by the Ottomans. One of the most important facts about Rabati is that it includes Georgian Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic and Catholic churches. The town takes pride in this symbol of ethnic and religious diversity. Transfer to local gueshouse for overnight.

Day 10, Friday: Tour to Vardzia

In the morning continue your journey by driving further South, to the place called Vardzia. A very extensive and complex cave town, Vardzia transports you to the 12th century, when Georgia was flourishing and powerful under the rule of Queen Tamar. Explore the remains of ancient caves. Lunch on premises of small local farm. The place originally was organized as a family guesthouse. But it grew over the last few years to become one of the leading examples of sustainable development. Located on the bank of River Mtkvari, this farm/hotel has its own fish pond, rabbit and pig yards, chicken coop, as well as a rich kitchen-garden. And, most remarkably, solar-panel powered greenhouse. Needles to mention that the place has its own wine. Drive back to Akhalstikhe for rest, dinner and overnight.

Day 11, Saturday: Full day farm tour

Depart Akhaltsikhe and in about 40 minutes arrive in the local village to spend this wonderful day engaging in farming activities. You will learn and taste local produce, take part in easy agricultural work (i.e. hoeing, irrigating lands, harvesting fruits and vegetables); contribute to your own lunch making process, whilst learning secrets of local cuisine. All of these surrounded by truly magnificent views over the mountains, ancient fortress, and of course the freshest clean air. Drive to Borjomi for overnight.

Day 12, Sunday: Borjomi – Gori – Mtskheta – Tbilisi  

After breakfast depart Borjomi towards Tbilisi. Your first stop this day will be the small town of Gori. The place is now famous for being a birthplace of Joseph Stalin. While being an extremely controversial figure, his museum is worth visiting since you are in Georgia. Exhibits of the museum take you on Stalin’s life journey from being a rebel, revolutionary group member and prison escapee in Royal Russia through to becoming Communist leader and one of the world’s most notorious dictators. Major highlight: Stalin’s armored train wagon. Continue to Mtskheta. Visit the old town and its principal sight – Svetitskhoveli monastery. The name of the monastery means “living pillar”. It is believed that the place is a burial site of Jesus Christ’s mantle. Being the principal church in Georgia, the monastery is also one of the most revered places in Caucasus. Arrive in Tbilisi. Check-in to the hotel. Overnight.

Day 13, Monday: Free day in Tbilisi

We suggest you use this day to absorb all of the impressions of the last two weeks, stroll lightly through Georgia’s capital old town streets, do some memorabilia shopping, and simply enjoy this magic city. Among other suggestions would be to visit:

• Sulphur Baths;
• Tbilisi Ethnographical museum;
• “Rachis Ubani” restaurant for lunch;
• Turtle lake (via cable car)
• Opera and Ballet theater;
• “Kartuli Sakhli” restaurant for dinner.

Day 14, Tuesday: Departure from Tbilisi

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Our driver will take you back to Tbilisi airport.