The Mountains of Georgia tour
There are few places in Europe more awe-inspiring than the mountains of the high Caucasus. And at the same time, there are few countries with such a rich and vibrant traditon of folk-music as Georgia. Our small-group Mountains of Georgia tour combines these two unique elements in a journey through Ancient Colchis and Svaneti that takes you to new frontiers.
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Tour features
- Small group travel: maximum group size is 12 guests.
- Fixed departure dates
- Accompanied by a Tour manager throughout your journey
- Tour cost includes entrance fees to main sites/museums
- Private luxury minibus
- Tblisi
- Stunning Georgian musical performances
- Mestia and Svaneti
- Kutaisi
- Gelati monastery
- Vardzia cave monastery
- 3 nights in Tbilisi (classic room)
- 2 nights in Akhaltsikhe (classic room)
- 3 nights in Mestia (classic room)
- 3 night in Kutaisi (classic room)
- All meals are included
- Arrival/Departure airport for this tour: Tbilisi airport
- Transfers and pick-ups/drop-offs from/to the main airport of arrival on the day of arrival/departure of the tour are included
- Medium (Some long drives of up to 8 hours a day)
- International flights
- Personal expenses during the tour
- Customary (though not obligatory) tips to guide and driver
- EU travellers no longer need visas for Georgia
- There are some long and unavoidable drives on this tour, but the scenery we pass through is always changing and spectacular.
Full Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Tbilisi
Arrival at Tbilisi international Airport. Transfer by bus to the hotel ( 30 minutes drive).
Evening meal and overnight in Tbilisi.
Day 2
Tbilisi
In centuries past, Tbilisi was an object of rivalry. contested successively by Romans, Parthians, Persians, Arabs, Byzantines and Turks. It is little wonder therefore that it was one of the most cosmopolitan of all cities of the Caucasus: home to large populations of Armenians, Russians and Jews. Though the modern city now sprawls for kilometres along the banks for the Kura, the historic centre is remarkably untouched. We begin with a full orientation day in the city. In the morning we take the cable car up to the Narikala Fortress and walk down via the Sulphur baths to the Kura river. Our walk then continues past the Zioni cathedral and the Anchiskhati Basilica stopping off at the curious statue of the Tamada.
In the afternoon, we visit the Tbilisi National Museum.
Evening meal and overnight in Tbilisi.
Day 3
Drive to Kutaisi
We depart Tbilisi in the morning on our journey to Kutaisi. A short distance out of the city we make a brief stop at the iconic Jvari monastery before we take time to explore the other historical monuments of Mtskheta (a UNESCO world heritage site) – including the 11th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral before resuming our journey to Kutaisi.
Once upon a time the capital of Colchis, Georgia’s second city Kutaisi claims to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. We will have time to explore it further on our return, but for tonight it will serve as a convenient place for an overnight stop.
Dinner and overnight in Kutaisi.
Day 4
Journey to Svaneti
Today is the start of our big adventure as we depart for Mestia for Svaneti: the most remote and also the most distinctive of all Georgia. It is a long journey that will take us much of the day, but the road takes us through spectacular scenery which become ever more awesome with each corner in the road.
We stop off en route to visit Dadiani Palace Museum in Zugdidi.
Overnight in Mestia
Day 5
Svaneti
The indigenous population of the region – the Svans – are known for having maintained their unique traditions and their own unwritten language. The songs and dances of Svaneti are amongst the most noble in Georgia and their three-part polyphonic singing is perhaps one of the most archaic polyphonic tradition in the world. Their villages are characterised by the numerous medieval watchtowers that puncture the skyline. In earlier times, these served as a safe retreat for families but today serve as a reminder of the region’s unruly past and its frequent blood feuds. We visit several cultural sites including the Laghaami 10th century church and the National Museum.
Evening meal and overnight in Mestia.
Day 6
Svaneti
Today our exploration of Svaneti continues with Tetnuldi mountain views and the beautiful Tsvirmi village church. In the evening we are treated to a concert of traditional Svan music.
Evening meal and overnight in Mestia
Day 7
Return to Kutaisi
Today is the long return journey to Kutaisi but on the way we pay visits to the Martvili monastery and the Archeopolis fortress.
Dinner and overnight in Kutaisi.
Day 8
Kutaisi
As Georgia’s second city, Kutaisi merits a day’s exploratino of its own. We pay a visit to the Gelati monastery – perhaps the most splendid in Georgia – as well and the Vani gold hellenic site.
And we have the honour of a concert of choral chant in Bagrat cathedral.
Dinner and overnight in Kutaisi
Day 9
Akhaltsikhe
We depart from Kutaisi on our journey to Akhaltsikhe, passing on the way the Ubisa monastery.
After lunch we also visit the Atsquri fortress before arriving at Akhaltsikhe where we visit the Rabat Fortress and the National Museum.
Evening meal and overnight in Akhaltsikhe
Day 10
Akhaltsikhe
Today we journey to Vardzia cave city – a spectacular rock-hewn monastery from the mediaeval period not unlike some of the similar complexes in Cappadocia in Turkey and remarkable for some of the well-preserved frescoes including the depiction of the 12th century founder of the complex, Queen Tamara (12-13th century).
In the afternoon we visit the Sapara monastery.
Evening meal and overnight in Akhaltsikhe
Day 11
Return to Tbilisi
In the morning we return to Tbilisi and arrive there shortly after lunch. For the rest of the afternoon you will be free do some last minute shopping or perhaps to buy some supplies of Georgian wine.
Evening meal and overnight in Tbilisi
Day 12
Departures from Tbilisi
see photo gallery of this tour
