Small Group Georgia Tour 2020

Arrive in Tbilisi and transfer to the hotel. Check-in at 14:00. Overnight at the hotel.
Driving distance: 30 km - - - Hotel

After breakfast at 09:00 meet your guide and depart towards the Kakheti, the Eastern part of Georgia famous for its viticulture and winemaking traditions. Beautiful road to Kakheti lies through Gombori pass. Our first stop will be in Telavi, the administrative and historic center of the region. Have a short walk in the old Telavi and have a photo stop at the monument to King Erekli II. Visit local bazaar with fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses and dry fruits. Drive to Tsinandali, residence of dukes of Georgia, with beautiful English garden, museum, and wine cellar which belonged to prince Chavchavadze, public figure and poet of 19th century. Our next stop will be be the Khareba Winery, near the town of Kvareli. On the way there, you will enjoy picturesque landscapes of vinwyards and wine-producing villages. Khareba's unique wine cellar is located in a tunnel carved out of the rock. Originally built for military purposes, today the tunnel is used to store Kakheti’s finest wines. Enjoy a wine tour and a tasting session. Transfer to Akhasheni Wine Resort for the night, arriving at 17:30-18:00. This resort is surrounded by beautiful vineyards and offers stunning views of the Caucasus Mountains - the perfect place to take a break before continuing our journey in Georgia.
You will meet other members of the group travelling from Azerbaijan on this day. At 18:00, visit a local family to enjoy a traditional feast and hear some wonderful Georgian toasts.
Driving distance: 160 km B - - Hotel

Breakfast. At 10:00, continue exploring Kakheti by visiting Sighnaghi, the Royal Town and “City of Love”. This city, surrounded by defensive walls with 23 towers, was an important trading centre on the Great Silk Road. Continue to Bodbe Convent – according to legend, this is the burial place of St. Nino, who converted Georgia to Christianity in the 4th century. Since 1889, following a decree by Tsar Alexander III of Russia, Bodbe Convent functions as a nunnery. Arrive in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, at 16:00–17:00. Overnight at the hotel.
Driving distance: 160 km B - - Hotel

Breakfast, followed by a sightseeing tour of Tbilisi. Start at Metekhi Church and the monument to Vakhtang Gorgasali, the legendary founder of Tbilisi. Visit Narikala Fortress to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. Walk past Tbilisi’s only mosque, down to the sulphur bath houses district. Enjoy a stroll through the Sharden area, which is full of narrow streets with cozy cafés, wine bars, and souvenir shops, and breathe in the history of Old Tbilisi. Also visit Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica, and the famous Rezo Gabriadze Theatre’s clock tower, before crossing the Bridge of Peace to Rike Park. After a couple of hours at your leisure, meet the rest of the group at the hotel to go for a dinner to welcome you to Georgia (departing from the hotel by bus at 19:00). Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Driving distance: 5 km B - - Hotel

After breakfast, start exploring the north of Georgia. The first stop will be at Jvary Monastery, which is built on a hilltop and is a true architectural masterpiece of the early Medieval Period. From here you can enjoy the views of the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers. Continue to Mtskheta, one of the oldest towns in Georgia and the country’s cultural and religious centre. Mtskheta was the capital of the eastern Georgian Kingdom of Kartli from the 3rd century BC. Visit Svetitskhoveli, which is the main cathedral of Mtskheta and a sacred place where the robe of Christ is kept. Next, drive over the Cross Pass and make a short stop at the Soviet-era “People’s Friendship” viewpoint, which overlooks a deep gorge of the Caucasus mountain range. In Kazbegi, switch to a four-wheel drive vehicle to reach Gergeti Holy Trinity Church (located at an altitude of 2,170 m) and enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Kazbegi. Reach Gudauri at about 19:00 for overnight at the hotel.
Driving distance: 210 km B - - Hotel

Breakfast. Drive to the Ananuri architectural complex, a former residence of Argveti dukes, which features churches and towers dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries and beautifully overlooks the Jinvali Reservoir. Then explore the cave town of Uplistsikhe, which dates to the Hellenistic Period and is notable for its unique combination of various styles of rock-cut architecture, including both pagan and Christian. Continue to Stalin’s hometown of Gori. Visit the Stalin Museum, which includes more than 60,000 artifacts, the tiny house where Stalin was born, and the impressive bulletproof train that Stalin used to travel to Yalta and Potsdam. Reach Tbilisi in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours
Driving distance: 250 km B - - Hotel

Check-out from the hotel at noon. Free time until transfer to Tbilisi International Airport. End of the tour. B - - - - -