Route: Tbilisi city-tour, Uplistsikhe-Gelaty-Motsameta-Bagrat Temple, Ethnographic Museum and House – Museum of mountain climber Michael Khergiani, Church of the Transfiguration-Hatsvali, Tower of Love-Lamaria-Ushguli, Shdugra Waterfall, Martvili-Prometheus cave, Kutaisi-Mtskheta-Djvari.
Duration: 9 nights/10 days
DAY |
DESTINATION |
Day 1 |
Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the hotel. Night in Tbilisi |
Day 2 |
Tbilisi city-tour. Night in Tbilisi |
Day 3 |
Uplistsikhe-Gelaty-Motsameta-Bagrat Temple. Night in Kutaisi |
Day 4 |
Dadiani Palace-Inguri. Night in Mestia
|
Day 5 |
Ethnographic Museum and House – Museum of mountain climber Michael Khergiani, Church of the Transfiguration-Hatsvali. Night in Mestia |
Day 6 |
Tower of Love-Lamaria-Ushguli. Night in Mestia |
Day 7 |
Shdugra Waterfall. Night in Mestia |
Day 8 |
Martvili-Prometheus cave. Night in Kutaisi |
Day 9 |
Kutaisi-Mtskheta-Djvari. Night in Tbilisi |
Day 10 |
Transfer to Tbilisi airport |
Svaneti is the most mountainous, historical and geographical region. Svaneti is characterized by a pronounced individualism. The top, the sheer rock, the fortress-towers that have become symbols of freedom and a strong soul have long attracted the attention of travelers, tourists and mountain sports enthusiasts. This ancient culture is very interesting with numerous cultural monuments, characteristic frescoes, rules of tradition and diversity, and impressive nature.
1 Day: Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the hotel.
Meeting at the airport.
Transfer to the hotel.
Free time.
Night in Tbilisi
2 Day: Tbilisi city-tour
Breakfast
Exit to a sightseeing tour of Tbilisi, during which we will get acquainted with both the history and architecture of the old part of Tbilisi. The Georgian capital is a hospitable city full of joy. Everyone who comes to the streets of Tbilisi will certainly feel the spirit of ancient history. During our walk, we will visit the bridge of Peace, walk along the street of Chardin, visit the area of natural sulfur ban-Abanotubani. We will also take the cable car up to the defensive fortress of Narikala, which locals call the heart and soul of Tbilisi. The exact date of its construction is unknown, but there is evidence that it already existed in the IV century, which means that it was built even before the city itself was formed. For all the time of its existence, no one managed to take the fortress by storm.
Night in Tbilisi
3 Day: Uplistsikhe-Gelaty-Motsameta-Bagrat Temple
Breakfast
Uplistsikhe is literally the “fortress of God”, an ancient rock-cut city that has played a significant role in Georgian history for about 3000 years. Archaeological excavations have revealed unusual artifacts Dating from the late bronze age up to the late middle Ages.According to UNESCO, the cave fortress city of Uplistsikhe is located on a rocky massif 15 km East of Gori on the left Bank of the Mtkvari river. The fortress has been mentioned in Chronicles since ancient times. Its history begins in the I-II millennia BC. Uplistsikhe was an important religious, political and cultural center in the Hellenistic and late antique periods (IV century BC – IV century ad).
Gelati-the majestic Gelati monastery complex is located 11 km from the city of Kutaisi, the capital of Imereti. The monastery was built by the will of king David Agmashenebeli, whose name means “Builder”in Georgian. King David, having managed to unite the divided principalities and won a victory over the Seljuks, decided to mark the victory by building a cult monastery.
Motsameta monastery is an ancient Georgian monastic monastery with a legendary past. The monastery was built on the site where, according to legend, the Holy princes Constantine and David were martyred, hence the name — Motsameta (from the Georgian word “motsami” — Martyr). In front of the entrance to the monastery there is a viewing platform with a view of the mountain gorge, which is surrounded by forests.
The temple of Bagrati is the symbol of Kutaisi. A huge and powerful temple stands on a hill and can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. It was built during the reign of Bagrat III. Its construction began at the end of the X century, and was completed in 1003. The temple played an important role in the history of medieval temple architecture in Georgia. It was here that David IV the Builder was crowned in 1089.
Night in Kutaisi
4 Day: Dadiani Palace-Inguri
Breakfast
Dadiani Palace-located in the small town of Zugdidi, which once served as the brilliant capital of the Megrelian Principality. It attracts thousands of curious visitors with its monumental castle architecture and rich Museum collection. For many years, it was the main residence of the Megrelian rulers, and today it is an integral point to visit when traveling to Georgia.
Ingurskaya HPP is the largest hydroelectric power station in the Caucasus on the Inguri river. Construction work here began in 1961 and was completed in 1977. The Foundation for the construction of the Inguri HPP was laid by Georgian public figure Niko Nikoladze. One of the components of the hydroelectric power station is the dam, which has a total height of 271.5 meters and a length of 728 meters. Lengththe reservoir reaches 27 km, and the water is turquoise
Night in Mestia
5 Day: Ethnographic Museum and House – Museum of mountain climber Michael Khergiani, Church of the Transfiguration-Hatsvali
Breakfast
The Svaneti Museum is a reconstructed, well-designed Museum that contains items of archeology, icons, and some Ethnography. It gives an idea of the level of life and thinking of the Svans in the X-XIII centuries. The Museum was founded in 1936 and has accumulated 4,000 exhibits over the years of its existence.
The house-Museum of Mikhail Khergiani-Georgian mountaineer, international master of sports of the USSR, nicknamed the tiger of rocks is located in Mestia, Svaneti. In 1985, a memorial house-Museum was organized in the native house of hergiani. The first floor of the Museum displays personal belongings of the famous mountaineer, international master of sports Mikhail hergiani (1932-1969): clothing, climbing equipment, photos, awards, gifts – including a recording of a song by Vladimir Vysotsky, which he dedicated to Hergian, etc.
The Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour is an ancient Church that is on the list of attractions in Svaneti. It only opens during the service, but you can ask local residents to open it for you. Here you can find frescoes that have survived to our times, as well as an ancient relic — a minted icon of the Savior of the XIII century, made of an alloy of gold and silver. Thus, when visiting Svaneti, in addition to its natural beauty, you will find quite a lot of unique sights that everyone should see.
Hatsvali ski resort is located 6 kilometers from the village of Mestia in Svaneti. The Georgian authorities call this region one of the most promising in terms of tourism. Many people like Hatsvali just for its small size – even in the high season there are no queues or jostling on the tracks. There are four equipped slopes: the longest route is blue — 2600 meters, red for experienced skiers – 1800 meters, a 700-meter section for beginners and a separate track for athletes at 800 meters. The slopes are served by a number of lifts.
Night in Mestia
6 Day: Tower Of Love-Lamaria-Ushguli
Breakfast
In Svaneti there is a “Tower of love“, which is associated with a legend: the daughter of a noble Svan had a fiance who went to war. The girl promised to wait for him and not get married. The young man died on the battlefield. The girl did not believe in the death of her lover and waited for him. To ease the wait for her daughter, the father built a tower by the road, where the girl spent her entire life waiting for her lover.
Lamaria Ushguli is a Church of the virgin Mary, located in Svaneti, in the municipality of Mestia in the community of Ushguli, North of the village of Zhibiani, on a hill. Around the Church is a ringed fence with a fortified tower. It is a building of the type of Basilica of the IX-X century, three-sided, externally issued apse. The Church has an entrance from the West, and the meetinghouse – from the southwest. The iconostasis is stone, and leaning on a stone column the vault starts from the floor and is decorated with simple columns. Ushguli Lamaria is one of the most important and highly cultural and historical monuments of Svaneti.
Ushguli is the most extreme district of Zemo Svaneti, which unites several villages. It is located on the southern slopes of the Central Caucasus watershed, in the valley of the Tsaneri river (right tributary of the Inguri river), at an altitude of 1600-2200 meters above sea level. According to these indicators, it is the highest locality in Europe.
Night in Mestia
7 Day: Shdugra Waterfall
Breakfast
Ushba waterfall (Shdugra) is the richest waterfall in all of Georgia. It is located in Svaneti, near the village of Mazera. You can get to both, at the bottom of the waterfall as above. If you rise above your head, you can see the glacier at the bottom of the Ushba, as well as wonderful views of Svaneti. The path leading to the waterfall is about 3 kilometers long (in one direction).
Night in Mestia
8 Day: Martvili-Prometheus cave
Breakfast
Martvilsky canyon is located 45 kilometers from Kutaisi. The canyon is formed by the waters of the Abasha river. Its length is 2.4 km, and the height of the canyon walls reaches 40 m in some places. This natural attraction attracts many tourists who want to feel the contrast between the calm river and dynamic waterfalls. At first, the Martville canyon is a very quiet, deep gorge with high humidity, where the rocks are covered with moss, and the flow of the river is so slow that it seems as if time has stopped. In the middle of the canyon, a large 12-meter waterfall suddenly appears, from which tons of water fall every second.
Prometheus cave is located close to the Georgian town of Tskhaltubo. The cave was discovered in 1984 and almost immediately developed as a show cave. Kumistavi is the largest cave in Georgia. Although only one-tenth is open to tourists, it takes about an hour to study it.
Night in Kutaisi
9 Day: Kutaisi-Mtskheta-Djvari
Breakfast
Mtskheta is the most sacred city for pilgrimage in Georgia.
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is one of the main Orthodox Georgian churches. It was built in the XI century on the site of the first Christian Church of the Twelve Apostles in Georgia, built in the IV century. According to legend, it was here that king Mirian received Holy Baptism, who believed the preaching of the Holy equal-to-the-apostles Nina.
Jvari monastery temple is an ancient religious monument built at the dawn of Georgian Christianity in VI. The temple got its name Jvari (translated from the Georgian “cross”) for a reason. This explains the ancient legend that Nino of Cappadocia placed the Holy cross in this place, which marked the adoption of Christianity by Georgia
Night in Tbilisi
10 Day: Transfer to the airport
Transfer to the airport Tbilisi
Rates include:
- 3 nights’ accommodation with breakfast in Tbilisi hotel 3*: City Inn, Shine Palace
- *Other hotels by the request
- 2 nights’ accommodation with breakfast in Kutaisi hotel 3* Ponte
- *Other hotels by the request
- 5 nights’ accommodation with breakfast in Mestia hotel 3* or hotel 4*
- High-quality guide service
- Transport services during the tour
- Transfer aiport Tbilisi-hotel Tbilisi-airport Tbilisi
- Excursion: Tbilisi city tour
- Excursion: Uplistsikhe-Gelaty-Motsameta-Bagrat templeта
- Excursion: Dadiani Palace
- Excursion: Ethnographic Museum-house-Museum of Margiani-house-Museum of mountaineer Mikhail hergiani, Church of the Transfiguration-Hatsvali
- Excursion: Church of saints Kvirike and Ivlita-Ushguli – Church of the assumption of the blessed virgin or Lamaria
- Excursion: Tower Of Love-Lamaria-Ushguli
- Excursion: Martville canyon-Prometheus
- Excursion: Mtskheta-Jvari
- Entrance tickets: entrance tickets to the Narikala cable car, Martvil canyon, Dadiani Palace, ethnographic Museum, house Museum of mountaineer Mikhail hergiani, Hatsvali cable car, Uplistsikhe, Prometheus cave
- Bottle of drinking water for every day
Rate doesn’t include:
- Extra meals and drinks
- Extra tours
- Souvenirs