Gorgeous Georgia

Details

Join us for an amazing journey that will take you to a fascinating country. A land of wine and gold, delightful monasteries, castles and cathedrals and spectacular mountain scenery. From the Gardens of the Romanovs to Stalin’s birth place; from the magical Saro Fortress to the statue of Medea and the Golden fleece in the land of Kolkhis; this will be an epic adventure.

This rich itinerary will introduce you to the vast diversity of this country: from the warm Black Sea, to perpetually snow-covered peaks of the Greater Caucasus; from fertile valleys full of vineyards, to rocky canyons and the vibrant city of Tbilisi, barren plateaus to futuristic skyscrapers and primeval rock-hewn towns and picturesque monasteries.

Georgia, however, does not consist only of marvellous nature and historical treasures – it is the motherland of wine and delicious cuisine. Georgian feasts, enriched with poetic toasts, are legendary, the itinerary includes copious dinners, which will allow you to experience the flavours of Caucasian feasts and hospitality.

You can travel by EASYJET or BA. The trip price is the same.

Day 1 Saturday June 14th : Arrival into Tbilisi

For those flying EASYJET arrival around 10 pm. A quick supper and check into the hotel.

Day 2 Sunday June 15th : Tbilisi city tour

For those flying BA arrival into Tbilisi at 5:30 am . Check into the hotel, a few hours to sleep / shower and late breakfast at the hotel.

Visit the National Museum which holds a striking collection of ancient gold treasures followed by a walking tour of Tbilisi's historical centre with its winding narrow streets, ancient shrines, oriental-style sulphur baths, historical houses with wooden, carved balconies. A cable car ride above the old town to the Narikala castle hill.

Dinner in a local restaurant with music and Georgian dances.

Overnight in the hotel in Tbilisi

Day 3, Monday June 16th : UPLISTSIKHE CAVE CITY, STALIN MUSEUM, GELATI MONASTERY

Departure to central province of Georgia – Kartli. Sightseeing of an ancient cave city Uplistsikhe, where we'll also hear a few Georgian polyphonic songs.

Visit Stalin's house & museum in the city of Gori (his birth place)
Transfer to the city of Kutaisi. Visit the medieval monastery & academy of Gelati. Royal tombs, magnificent frescoes & building of a XII-century university.

Dinner & overnight in a hotel

Day 4 Tuesday June 17th : PROMETHEUS CAVE, MARTVILI CANYON, TEA FACTORY

Visit the huge Prometheus karst cave a 1.4-kilometre-long walk inside the cave through impressive chambers, one of each exceeds 20 meters in height.

Then to one of the magnificent canyons (Martvili or Okatse) hidden in the middle of green mountain slopes. In good weather possible boat trip in the blue waters of Martvili Canyon.

Excursion to a tea plantation and factory, introduction to the tea production process. Tastings. Late afternoon dinner. Drive to the Black Sea coast and reach Batumi, the biggest sea resort in modern Georgia.

Day 5 Wednesday June 17th : BATUMI SEA RESORT & BOTANICAL GARDENS

Drive through the New Boulevard : a long strip of skyscrapers, hotels in extravagant shapes forming the “Little Dubai” at Batumi seashore. Walk around the city centre. We'll see the statue of Medea holding the Golden Fleece. This part of Georgia in ancient time was called Kolkhis – The Land of the Golden Fleece.

Walk through coastal promenade decorated with exotic, tropical plants and surrounded by extraordinary, newly built skyscrapers. Free time then head for a Dolphins’ acrobatic show at the local dolphinarium.
Drive to the Green Cape and visit the huge Botanical Gardens with impressive trees and plants from all around the world. The unique microclimate of Batumi allows North American sequoias, Australian Eucalyptuses, Himalayan Bamboo, Georgian tangerines, Japanese Cryptomeria to grow.

Supper in local restaurant. Drive to Kutaisi for an overnight.

Day 6 Thursday June 18th : VARDZIA CAVE CITY & SARO PREHISTORICAL FORTRESS

Drive far to the south to visit the rocky canyon of the river Kura.
Sightseeing of the prehistoric fortress of Saro. A fortress as old as the legendary Troy or Mycenae, a monument from the very beginnings of human civilisation and the time when Georgian tribes were forming their first states. Built directly at the top of the Kura canyon it allows visitors to admire the spectacular, 500-meter-deep gorge.

The medieval cave city of Vardzia, which consists of 500 chambers carved into the vertical wall of the canyon.

Supper in the city Akhaltsikhe.

Day 7 Friday June 19th : RABAT CASTLE BORJOMI RESORT WINE TASTING

Visit Georgian-Turkish castle of Rabati with recently renovated gardens, walls, and golden-domed mosque.

Then to the resort of Borjomi, famous for its sulphur springs. It developed during 19th century as a residence of the House of the Romanovs, the ruling dynasty of the Russian Empire. A short walk in the spa park followed by a chance to try the healing waters from its springs.
Drive to the region of Kartli.

Wine tasting in one of the cellars. We will be accustomed to a local way of wine making that use clay jars called kvevri.

Then to the Greater Caucasus through the so-called Georgian Military Road. After crossing Jvari Pass (2395 m) we'll reach a guesthouse in the town of Stepantsminda for our overnight stay.

Day 8 Saturday June 20th MOUNT KAZBEK & THE ANCIENT CAPITAL OF MTSKHETA

Early start for the best possible views and a short drive to the Holy Trinity (Tsminda Sameba) monastery. a crown of rocky peaks of the Dariali Gorge, snowy Kazbek peak (5047 m ASL) and green alpine meadows below.

Drive back from Caucasus to central part of the country through Greater Caucasus Range.

We will make stops in the most attractive points getting magnificent panoramic views at the viewing platform just below the Jvari Pass & have look at the travertine formation of colourful rocks.

Sightseeing of Ananuri castle standing on the shore of the blue Zhinvali reservoir. Transfer to the ancient capital and religious heart of the country – city Mtskheta. A visit to sights connected with baptism of the country in 4th century AD. The magnificent Svetitskhoveli cathedral church, a spiritual heart of Georgia, contains a royal necropolis and important Christian relics.

After sightseeing in the town, we drive to the 6th-century Jvari monastery built at the top of a nearby hill where we’ll see the old capital lying in the fork of the Kura & Aragvi rivers.

Drive to Tbilisi for an evening meal.

For those leaving by EasyJet – transfer to the airport.

For those flying by BA overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 9 Sunday June 21st : Departure (BA flight)

Early morning transfer to Tbilisi airport for 7:30 am departure to London

MINIMUM NUMBERS: 10 People required to confirm trip. Do not book flights until we give you the go ahead to do so

COST:

£995 For payment upto Jan 31st 2025 (Special early bird rate)
£1095 For payment upto Feb 28th 2025
£1195 For payment after Feb 28th 2025

Single room supplement available £225

Kats Adventures Limited
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41764527
Ref: name / Georgia

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