Description
Day 1:
Excursion to the Open Air Museum of Ethnography, which occupies 52 hectares of land and houses more than eight thousand artifacts from all over Georgia. A walk along Rustaveli Avenue, the main throughfare of Tbilisi;
Lunch at the restaurant with traditional Georgian dishes;
Master class in baking Georgian bread “shoti”;
Sightseeing tour in Tbilisi: Old Town (Abanotubani –the ancient part of the city, known for its sulfuric baths, Meidan square – the place where the Georgian Orthodox Church, Mosque, Synagogue and Armenian Apostholic Church are located several meters away from each other, Metechi Church, Narikala Castle, Shardeni Street with its wine cellars, cafes and art galleries). Mtatsminda (Holy Mountain), St. David Church (XIX c);
Free time, Overnight in Tbilisi
Day 2
Departure to Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia(Jvari Monastery, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral which are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Samtavro Church and Nunnery of St. Nino, a brief walk along picturesque streets of Mtskheta).
Lunch at “Salobie”, established in 1960. A medieval monastic complex Shiomgvime. Drive back to Tbilisi. Sameba (Holy Trinity Cathedral) – the third-tallest Eastern Orthodox cathedral in the world. Freetime. OvernightinTbilsi.
Day 3
Departure to Kakheti, the cradle of Georgian winemaking. Ujarma Fortress (III-IV cc), Shuamta Monasteries, the Ikalto Academy, built in the XI century, where the famous Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli studied; Alaverdi Cathedral, the second tallest cathedral in Georgia after Holy Trinity in Tbilisi (XI c).
Lunch at the “Matsoni House” near Alaverdi. Museum of History and Enthography and Batonis-Tsikhe Fortress in Telavi, a walk to the 800-year old giant plane tree. A house-museum of Alexander Chavchavadze and park in Tsinandali. Wine tasting in the Twins Wine House, the village of Napareuli. Drive back to Tbilisi, overnight in Tbilisi.
Day 4
Departure to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi). En route the Ananuri Fortress, which overlooks the beautiful Zhinvali Water Reservoir. Gergeti Church (XIV c). Lunch at the Rooms Hotel (Stepantsminda).A newly opened monastic complex located near the Dariali Gorge (close to the Georgian-Russian border) with its own trout farm. Drive back to Tbilisi.
