10 Day Authentic Georgia

After breakfast drive to the West through Gori, Kartli region, and visit the house-museum of Joseph Stalin. Stalin was born and lived here with his family for four years. Museum consists of a memorial house, an exposition building, and Stalin’s personal coach with the interior. Museum houses Stalin’s personal items, a study room of the Kremlin, manuscripts, and gifts.

Drive to Uplistsikhe - 14 km away from Gori. Explore the oldest inhabited caves cut in limestone rocks that date back to the Early Iron Age. Uplistsikhe caves translated as the” Fortress of the Lord” was once a town with temples and public spaces like theatre, big and small marketplaces, poor peoples’ residential areas, jails, secret tunnels and passes connecting ancient chambers and halls. The archaeological artifacts discovered here date as early as Early Iron Ages. Most of the items found in Uplistsikhe are now in a collection of Georgian National Museum.

Uplistsikhe also has a small museum where visitors can watch 8 minutes movie about the excavations of the caves and its history.

The trip continues to the western part of Georgia through Rikoti Pass on Lesser Caucasus, natural border of East and West. 1800 m long tunnel was dig in 19th c on the watershed of the rivers of the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea basins. The small 9th c Ubisa monastery is located on the way, behind the green cover. Don’t miss to see 14th c fantastic murals on the walls of Ubisa Basilica painted by local painter Damiane in Paleologos style.

In the evening arrive to Kutaisi, the third largest city in Georgia, Imereti region. Take a walk in central square and park, visit beautiful Bagrati Cathedral (built in 11th c.), the Cathedral is among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Overnight in Kutaisi.

Breakfast, check out, drive to Sataplia caves and natural reserve. 

The Sataplia natural reserve is famous for its unique Colchian deciduous forest, dinosaur footprints conserved on the sandstone rocks and karst caves. Only 300 meters long caves are open for public, which contains stalactites and stalagmites of extraordinary beauty. The impression of the cave is enhanced with light and audio effects.

Next site to visit is Martvili Canyons,. Take a boat trip in the river Abasha, observe waterfalls and the surrounding area.

Continue tour to the Caucasus Mountains and arrive in Mestia, the main town of Zemo (upper) Svaneti region. Svaneti is unique for well-preserved mediaeval community; the area was isolated from the world until 20th c because of the poor conditions of roads, frequent avalanches and long winter with high snow cover blocking the mountain passes. Traditional stone dwellings and towers, which were used for defensive purposes, stand as the symbols of equality, pride and strength of locals. Some of them date back as early as 9th c. 

Dinner and overnight in Mestia.

Breakfast in Mestia. Today we have off-road adventure to the most remote and isolated village Ushguli with 4x4WD vehicles. The community comprises 4 villages and the whole area has been included in UNESCO World Heritage Site. The village is the highest settled area in the whole Europe (2200 m above sea level). We will pass several villages on the way to Upper Svaneti, including Ipari and Kala and visit small churches with frescos preserved throughout the centuries.

Drive back to Mestia for dinner and overnight.

Trekking for Chalaadi glacier.

Trail: Round-trip, Trekking in nature, good for all skill levels.

Max. elevation: 1925 m

Min. elevation: 1665 m

Total climb: 337 m

Total descent: 337 m

Drive to the Mestiachala river by 4x4WD vehicles, a starting point of the trail. Cross the bridge and start walking uphill through the forest. After about 1.5 km., the trail continues on a rocky area, covered with stones of different shapes and sizes, so one should walk extra carefully. From here, you can already observe mount Chatini (4412 m) in front of you. Continue towards Chatini mountain and at 1920m asl. reach our destination point - Chalaadi glacier.

This round-trip in nature is good for all skill levels. 

Return back to the hotel. Free evening.

Dinner and overnight in Mestia.

After breakfast check out. Before leave Mestia, visit Margiani dwelling and tower. The Margiani family lived here since XII- up to XX century. The traditional living room with a wide space and little daylight inside, consists of centrally locate open fireplace, shared sleeping area along two walls and a stable below it. All family members, the humans and domestic animals shared the warmth through long winter around the fire. A big carved armchair belongs to the head of the family, sitting in the middle of the room; simple branches on both sides belonged to all adult man. Escape tunnel and defensive tower are part of the dwelling.

If the weather permits, take Hatsvali cable car ride up to Zuruldi Mountain (2455m). The breathtaking panoramic views of Ushba and Tetnuldi mountain picks open above the town. A hot cup of coffee and drive to the lowlands of Black Sea.

Supplement for Hatsvali cable car is Mestia Museum. Fantastic location, distinctive collection of manuscripts, gospel books, medieval goldsmith and icons are displayed in the permanent exhibition hall.

Leave Svaneti. Late afternoon arrival in Zugdidi – the administrative town of Samegrelo region and capital of former principality of Mingrelia. In Zugdidi visit Dadiani museum, established inside the palace by Prince David Dadiani. Museum’s collection includes important Georgian cultural and archaeological artifacts, death masks of Napoleon Bonaparte, and botanical garden around.

In the evening drive to Adjara and its capital city Batumi. 

Walk along the city’s boulevards.

Overnight in Batumi. 

Breakfast. 

Visit Gonio Fortress located in about 10 km on the direction of Georgia-Turkish border of Sarpi. Excursion will take about 30 minutes.

Next stop is open area ethnographical museum Borjgalo. Wood carving master Kemal Turmanidze, with the support of his family, created this unique museum. Carved models of mountain houses and dolls to human size show the local domestic lifestyle in the villages of Adjara.

Return back to batumi and take half day walking tour. Visit Batumi Boulevard, Piazza square, Alphabet tower, Ali and Nino kinetic sculpture. Leisure evening.

Overnight in Batumi.

Breakfast in the hotel. Check out.

Drive 45 km to Shekvetili Dendrological Park and Georgia in Miniatures. These lovely places summarize all tour covered in previous days.

Next site to visit is Vani archaeological museum. The permanent exhibition of the museum displays cultural development of the site between 800 BC and 100 AD (gold work, silver, unique bronze sculptures and their fragments, samples of coins, etc.). Highlights of the exhibition include spectacular collection of jewellery

In the evening arrive to Kutaisi. 

Take a walk through the city center.

Overnight in Kutaisi.

Breakfast, check out and drive back to Tbilisi.

Visit Mtskheta town, the former capital of early Georgian kingdom Iberia (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th), Antioch (5th c) and Jvari Monasteries (6th). Various legends of early Christian times about the storage of the Robe of the Savior are associated with the cathedral.

Arrive in Tbilisi. Check in the hotel. Leisure evening.

Overnight in Tbilisi hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Relaxing morning. 

Check out time until 12:00 pm.

End of service.

Have a nice flight.