PAINTS OF GEORGIA
The Highlights of the Tour
- Explore the unique architectural style of Old Tbilisi known for its cozy old buildings with carved balconies and specific ornaments
- See masterpieces of famous Georgian painter Niko Pirosmani at Sighnaghi museum
- Get acquainted with the art of Georgian traditional wine and cuisine and take part in cooking master classes (Khachapuri, Khinkali, Churchkhela, Georgian bread)
- Visit UNESCO site of Georgia – The City-Museum Reserve of Mtskheta
DURATION: 9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS
DAY 1. TBILISI - KAKHETI
Arrival in Tbilisi. You will be met by our driver transferred to the hotel in Kakheti free time
to Kakheti. Hotel accommodation.
DAY 2. KAKHETI
Breakfast in the hotel. Trip by one of the largest regions of Georgia – Kakheti, the true cradle of winemaking.
Excursion to house-museum of Alexander Chavchavadze, the famous Georgian commander and nobleman. You will learn history of Chavchavadze family and hear love story of Alexander Chavchavadze daughter Nino and famous Russian writer and poet Alexander Griboedov. Here you will see how nobles of the XIX century lived in Georgia. The landscape garden of this estate is the first European-type recreation zone in Georgia.
Master-class Georgian cuisine (Khachapuri, Khinkali, Churchkhela, Georgian bread optional) Lunch and Wine degustation in the at Shumi Winery. Excursion to Gremi. It is a 16th-century architectural monument – the royal citadel and the Church of the Archangels. Excursion to the Kvareli Gvirabi, which is Georgia’s largest wine cellar – 7.7 km of tunnels and galleries that maintain a constant temperature of 12-14 degrees C and 70% relative humidity all year round – perfect storage conditions for wine. Dinner and Wine degustation in the Shilda Winery.
DAY 3. KAKHETI - TBILISI
Breakfast in the hotel. Excursion to the Bodbe monastery – a place where Georgia's enlightener Saint Nino is buried. In the 4th century, Christianity became the official state religion thanks to St. Nino Equal to the Apostles. Visit to the city of love – Signagi, which is located at an altitude 850 meters above sea level. It was founded in the 17th century. Signagi affords spectacular views of the Alazani Valley. The city is surrounded by fence, which is the second longest wall in the world after The Great Wall of China. Walk around the city with a visit to towers.
Lunch and wine tasting at OKRO'S Natural Wine Restaurant. Transfer to Tbilisi. Tbilisi walking sightseeing tour. You will visit the area of sulfur baths, Narikala fortress, Bridge of Peace, Anchiskhati Basilica (one of the oldest churches in Georgia), Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theater, Sioni Cathedral. You will learn about the history of Tbilisi creation, pass through the ancient streets, which still preserves its charm and see how modernity comfortably rhymes with antiquity. (Tour duration: 3-3.5 hours)
DAY 4. TBILISI
Breakfast in the hotel.Exclusive Tour "Bourgeoisie Tbilisi". Walking tour of XIX century Tbilisi. You will dip into the atmosphere of past centuries with architect Tata Lortkipanidze. You will see the preserved frescoes of the front entrances and learn history and hear legends of each house in the Sololaki district. (Tour duration: 3.5-4 hours) Tour to the Opera and Ballet State Theatre. Together with the guide to see the unique building of the theatre with its blue and red halls and the main hall see the personal belongings of theatre singers, dancers, composers, conductors, directors and artists. The funicular riding for a fantastic view of the Tbilisi. Free time.
DAY 5. TBILISI-MTSKHETA-TBILISI
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the ancient capital of Georgia, the city of Mtskheta. Nowadays, it is a city-museum and is included in the UNESCO Heritage Site. In this city, in Svetitskhoveli cathedral (XI century), which also is included in UNESCO Heritage Site, saint relic of all Christians - the robe of Christ is being kept. Walk around the city. Visit to the Jvari Church (VI-VII century). Here, the great Russian writer Lermontov wrote his famous work Mtsiri.
Lunch and Wine tasting in Iago’s Winery. Here is produced Chinuri wine in the traditional way in clay jugs - kvevri. For the first time in 20 years, London’s Ritz-Carlton hotel has changed the wine list in order to add this wine. Transfer to Tbilisi. Visiting the Sulphur baths. Free time.
DAY 6. TBILISI-BORJOMI
Breakfast in the Hotel. Transfer to Borjomi.
On the way the excursion is in the house-museum of Joseph Stalin in Gori, where the famous armored train of the leader of nations is located.
In Borjomi: the cable car riding for an excellent view of the park and town. Walk around the city. Visit to the Borjomi Park (warm mineral spring, waterfall). Here you can taste the real Borjomi mineral water. Visit to the open sulfur pools in the forest. Swimming in the pools in the open air.
Hotel accommodation. Free time.
DAY 7. BORJOMI – RABATI - VARDZIA – BORJOMI (220 km)
Breakfast in the Hotel.
Transfer to the rock city of Vardzia, which was the residence of Queen Tamar in the XII century. It was consisted of 13 floors and 3000 rooms. The monastery and the church of St. Tamar are located here now. Nowadays, the complex is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Trial List. On the way to Vardzia, guests will visit the Rabat fortress, which is considered as one of the most tolerant places on the territory of Georgia. Since the 9th century, representatives of different confessions peacefully coexisted on this place, as evidenced by the placement of various churches of all confessions on the territory of Vardzia. Lunch in the restaurant of the hotel "Vardzia Resort". Return to Borjomi. Free time.
DAY 8. BORJOMI – TBILISI
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Tbilisi.
Exclusive Tour "The Story of One Street". In the first half of the 20th century, famous Russian poets stayed in Tbilisi - Yesenin, Bulgakov, Gumilyov, Zabolotsky, Mandelstam, Mayakovsky. Each of them has interesting and funny stories connected with Tbilisi, and all these poets are united by the one Tbilisi street. Where they spent their time, what sorts of fun they had, who were their friends, tragicomic stories, curiosities and fond memories, and this is not all with what you will get acquainted during our travel along one of the oldest streets of Tbilisi - Machabeli. (Tour duration 2-2.5 hours)
Free time.
DAY 9.
Breakfast at the hotel. free time. Transfer to the airport.
