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Special Itinerary – "THE BEST OF GEORGIA”
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ITINERARY:
DAY 01 ARRIVAL IN TBILISI
Arrival in Tbilisi. Airport meeting and greeting with a guide. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation. Short rest.
TBILISI CITY-TOUR – MTSKHETA - TBILISI
PM - Half-day City-tour:
Metekhi church (XIIIc); Abanot-ubani (natural sulphur springs, bath –houses built in XVI-XVII cc); Narikala church (the church, first was built in IV c. and in XI it was destroyed. Finally, it was rebuilt in late XX c. There is a great view of old district of Tbilisi from this church); Karvasla: where you can see ancient Georgians clothes and hand made goods. Souvenir shopping (optional).
Proceed to ancient capital of Georgia – Mtskheta, Lunch in a restaurant:
Drive to Mtskheta (35minutes to drive). In the ancient times, Mtskheta was the capital of Georgia and is most important religious centre. It is situated at the convergence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi Rivers. There are a number of very significant archaeological and religious monuments in and around town. Lunch in a Georgian restaurant "Aragvi” or similar. Visits to Jvari church (VI c), Svetitskhoveli cathedral (XI c) and Dedata/Mothers’ Monastery.
Return to Tbilisi and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 02 TBILISI – KAKHETI REGION – TBILISI
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day trip to Kakheti region with Lunch:
Kakheti is synonymous with wine. There are hundreds of different grapes grown here, and every village has its own particular variety. Visit to Tsinandali-village that is a source of famous white wine. Tour to Teliani Valley wine factory with wine tasting and tour inside the factory. Proceed to Telavi (main city of Kakheti). Lunch in a restaurant. Visit to Alaverdi Cathedral (VI c). The cathedral was originally founded as a monastery in the 6th century. This 50m tall building is one of the biggest structures of its time. Return to Tbilisi, visiting Batonistsikhe Castle en route. The Castle is the main architectural and historical feature of Telavi. It was the residence of the Kakhetian Kings in the 17th cc.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 03 TBILISI – KAZBEGI TOWN – TBILISI
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day trip to Kazbegi town:
Kazbegi town is located 157km from Tbilisi (1740m above sea level) on the south slops of Caucasus main range. Drive along the Georgian military highway. This ancient route through the Caucasus has been much celebrated by everyone from poets to guidebook writers for the romantic image of it. The place is remarkable for its landscapes; flora and fauna, people and history, and many travelers to Georgia will regard this as a highlight of their visit. On the way, all sightseeing including Ananuri fortified monastery. Lunch in a Georgian restaurant in Pasanauri. Visit to Holy trinity monastery on the top of a mount by 4x4 vehicles (optional, for extra cost).
Return to Tbilisi, Transfer to the hotel and overnight.
DAY 04 TBILISI – DAVIT GAREJA CAVE TOWN – TBILISI
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day tour to Davit Gareja cave town (Kakheti region)
Remarkable complex of cave monasteries, covering a large area of almost desert-like wilderness. The monastery was founded by Davit, one of the 13 Syrian Fathers in the 6th c. The monasteries of Davit Gareji were made by expanding caves in the soft limestone. They became centers of pilgrimage because it was said that 1/3 of Jerusalem’s spiritual treasure was kept here; Udabno Monastery consists of many caves. In X-XIII cc an excellent fresco school flourished here. Lunch boxes en route.
Return to Tbilisi, hotel accommodation and overnight
DAY 05 TBILISI–SHIO MGHVIME–GORI–UPLISTSIKHE CAVE TOWN–TBILISI
Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed to Shio Mghvime Monastery:
This monastery is one of the oldest monasteries still functioning in Georgia. The founder, Shio, was one of the 13 Syrian Fathers who came to Georgia in the 6th Century. An open-cross cupola church dating from around this time still stands here. Near this place, Shio lived in a dark hole, where he is buried.
Drive to Uplistsikhe cave city, Lunch in a restaurant, Visit to Stalin museum in Gori.
Proceed to Uplistsikhe cave town, which is one of the oldest places of settlement in the Caucasus. It was founded in the late Bronze Age, (around 900 BC), but developed mainly from the 5th century to the 1st centuries BC. Before Georgia became a Christian country, this was a special site for pagan rituals. The main caravan road from Asia to Europe used to run just 2km northern of the city, which became a very important trade centre. Proceed to Gori – an ancient city, which still draws people that are fascinated by the figure of Stalin. Visit to Stalin museum.
Return to Tbilisi and overnight
DAY 06 TBILISI – BOLNISI – DMANISI - TBILISI
Breakfast at the hotel, Proceed for F/D Bolnisi Sioni and Dmanisi Sioni tour:
Bolnisi Sioni, a V c. basilica, is significant for three main reasons: it is one of the most monumental churches of its time; it has interesting ornamentation inside, and on the façade were found the earliest examples of Georgian writing known in the country itself. The basilica is built of what is known as bolnisis tufa, a stone with a green tint. Bolnisi is a three-nave basilica, but it has an open ambulatory on the north side, a porch to the south-west and a baptismal chapel in the southeast, all features of the original building. In the middle ages, the Ancient city of Dmanisi was one of the min towns on the caravan road from Georgia and Armenia to the Middle East. The basilica dates from the VII c. however, and it was the seat of a bishop. The ruins cover a large area divided into two parts, 13 hectares on the hill above the Mashaveri River to the north, and 12 hectares of suburbs by the Pinezauri River to the south.
Return to Tbilisi, lunch en route, free evening for leisure and overnight
DAY 07 TBILISI CITY-TOUR
Breakfast at the hotel; Full-day city tour:
Visits to Sameba church (built in 2004) the biggest church in Georgia, and Golden Fund at the State history museum; A walking tour in a downtown; Proceed to "Turtle lake” and open-air ethnography museum. Lunch in a city restaurant; Free time for leisure.
Return to the hotel and overnight
DAY 08 DEPARTURE FROM TBILISI
Early transfer to Tbilisi airport, departure.
Cost for 1 person 510€ (for group from 10 persons).
Cost for 1 person 540€ (for group from 7 persons).
Cost for 1 person 640€ (for group from 4 persons).
INTO THE PRICE ENTERS:
• Hotel accommodation 2-3* and-or a guest-house
• A food day 1 – a supper in tavern, day 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 – 3 rd a single food, day 8 - a breakfast
• Transport on the country, a transfer from/in the airport
• Services of the guide accompanying on all route and guides
• A friendly dinner in Tbilisi pub
IT IS IN ADDITION PAID
• Avia-flight.
• surcharge for hotel accommodation 4-5*
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