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The country of amazing contrast
Kutaisi – Zugdidi – Mestia – Ushguli – Akhaltsykhe Fortress – Vardzia – Borjomi – Gori – Tbilisi – Mtskheta – David-Gareji – Manavi – Sighnaghi – Gremi – Alaverdi – Ikalto – Telavi – Kutaisi
Day 1: Kutaisi
Arrival to Kutaisi. Meet the representative of the company. Hotel accommodation.
Excursion in the ancient city Kutaisi, that is more than 3 thousand years old. Visit Gelati monastery and academy (XXII c.), established by the great Georgian king - David IV the Builder. Gelati monastery and academy are included into the list of World Heritage sites of UNESCO. Visit Bagrati Cathedral. Visit the Prometheus cave, where we recall the legend of Prometheus. According to the legend, Prometheus was chained on the rock because he gave fire to humanity.
Dinner. Overnight in Kutaisi.
     Day 2: Kutaisi – Zugdidi – Mestia
Breakfast. Departure to Zugdidi. The treasure of Zugdidi is graceful patrimonial palace of Dadiani princes, with the nicest park. Currently, it is a museum with magnificent historic collection, including the death mask of Napoleon Bonaparte. The oldest aristocratic family of Dadiani is known for its relation with Napoleon Bonaparte. One of the most precious Christian relics - Cincture of the Virgin Mary is kept in Vlakerna church. It belonged to Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. On the way to Mestia, we can enjoy the fantastic views of four waterfalls and three mountain peaks of the Caucasus - Ushba, Mazera, Shkhelda. Hotel accommodation in Mestia. Dinner. Overnight.
     Day 3: Mestia – Ushguli – Kutaisi
Breakfast. Excursion in Mestia, that is included to the in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visit the historic- ethnographical museum, district of medieval church and fortifications in Mestia. Arrival to Ushguli. Excursion in Ushguli - Svanetian village located at an altitude of 2200 m. above sea level, the highest mountain permanent settlement in Europe, included to the World Heritage sites list of UNESCO. Visit of Lamaria church (2300 m. above sea level), Ushguli museum of icons, Towers of Queen Tamara, Ushguli Ethnographic Museum. Return to Kutaisi. Dinner. Overnight.
     Day 4: Kutaisi – Akhaltsykhe – Vardzia – Borjomi
Breakfast. Visit recently reconstructed Akhaltsikhe fortress, the motherland of Sharl Aznavur, the ancient center of Catholicism in Georgia. In the complex, together with Orthodox Church of St. Marina, are placed mosque, catholic church and monastery of Benedictine Sisters, synagogue and Armenian church. Visit Vardzia cave monastery complex (XII- XIII c.) – 19 stored rock town. Situated 900 m along the left bank of Kura river, in the plumb wall of the mountain, around 600 buildings are cut out – churches, chapels, living caves, storage rooms, baths, libraries. There are preserved secret passages, remains of plumbing, and irrigation system. Vardzia - is the site of Golden Age. More than thousands of monks lived there, and when being attacked, 20 thousand of people could find shelter there. Hotel accommodation in Akhaltsykhe/Borjomi. Dinner. Overnight.
     Day 5: Akhaltsykhe – Borjomi – Gori – Tbilisi
Breakfast. Departure to Borjomi. Tasting famous mineral water Borjomi from spring. Departure to Tbilisi. On the way, excursion to Gori. Visit museum of Stalin. Museum consists of three blocks - museum, house and railway carriage. Arrival to Tbilisi. Hotel accommodation. Dinner. Overnight.
     Day 6: Tbilisi
Excursion in Tbilisi. The capital of Georgia is unique. Located on several hills, ancient district is spread out on the terraces of the slope. Tbilisi - is a beautiful Kura river with its picturesque rocky shores that flows across the whole city.
"Old Town" - is the historic center of Tbilisi, that is located at the root of Mtatsminda (Holy Mount) mountain. Almost every building of the Old Town is historical and cultural site, this part of the city is always cheerful. Here, alone or in groups, tourists walk around, some of them meet their beloved ones near the Clock Tower. This amazing Tower was recently constructed by the Puppet Theatre director Rezo Gabriadze. Here artists exhibit their paintings, artisans offer numerous souvenirs. Every building is not more than three stored resembling old Tbilisi architectural style with brick walls and curved wooden balconies.
Tbilisi is one of the rare places in the world, where Orthodox Church, catholic cathedral, synagogue and mosque can peacefully coexist in the territory of Old Town. During the excursion, visit of: Metekhi Church (V c.), Narikala fortress (IV c.), Sioni Cathedral (VI-VII c.), Anchiskhati Basilica of St Mary, the oldest existing church in the capital, Synaxis of Saint Trinity - the temple complex of Tsminda Sameba - the main Cathedral of Georgian Orthodox Church. Walk on Rustaveli Avenue.
Free time. We offer you:
Dinner. Overnight.
     Day 7: Tbilisi – Mtskheta - Tbilisi
Breakfast. Excursion to ancient capital of Georgia – Mtskheta - the town-museum, included to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (1010-1029), at the basement of which one of the major Christian relics - Lords Tunic is buried, brought in Georgian by Ellious, Jewish citizen of Mtskheta who witnessed crucifixion. This is the burial place of many Georgian kings too. Visit Samtavro Monastery, where the blackberry bush grows, flowers and fruits whole year round. St. Nino – the enlightener of IV century - lived and preached nearby. Wonderworking icon of Iberian Mother of God, wonderworking icon of St. Nino, grave of St. King Mirian and Queen Nana, hallows of St. Abibos Nekreseli, St. Shio Mgvimeli are located inside. Visit Temple-Monastery Jvari (VI c.). Return to Tbilisi. Dinner. Overnight.
     Day 8: Tbilisi - David Gareji - Manavi - Sighnaghi
Breakfast. Excursion in David Gareji – the complex of georgian cave monasteries of V century, that were founded by Holy Father David. According to legend, Saint David reached Jerusalem, he took three stones at the gates of of Jerusalem, and went back. Legend says that with those stones he carried out from Jerusalem all the good of Lord. Then the Patriarch of Jerusalem caught up with him and asked to leave these stones. David left two stones, and one of them he brought to Georgia. This stone is still at his grave in the Laura of David-Gareji. You can see it and pray over this stone. Many churches and refectories of the complex preserved frescoes (VI-IXvv.), including Portrait of Queen Tamara. Arrival to the "town of everlasting love" Sighnaghi. First, passing through, acquaintance with the history of the Manavi Fortress (XI century) and the Manavi Temple (XVIII century). The church was built in 1794 by the abbot of the monastery of John the Baptist from the monastery David Gareji - Ephraim. In the 17th century here was located the royal vineyards and the estate of Heraclius II. Stop in the pearl of Kakheti - a private estate "Chateau Fort de Manavi". In the program of the visit: tasting of wines and chacha, produced according to traditional old Georgian technology directly in the marani "Chateau Fort de Manavi" from grapes grown in the estate's own vineyards. The highlight of the tasting will be "Manavi Green" - a wine made from a special grape variety that grows only in the area of the village of Manavi in Georgia. Lunch in traditional Georgian style. The menu includes only Georgian cuisine from ECO products grown on the "Chateau Fort de Manavi" farm. Excursion in the evening Sighnaghi "city of everlasting love" that is placed at the top of the ridge, overlooking Alazani valley. Now it is fully restored to its original form. Hotel accommodation in Sighnaghi. Overnight.      Day 9: Sighnaghi - Gremi - Alaverdi - Ikalto - Telavi Breakfast. Arrival to Tbilisi. On the way, excursion in Gremi royal fortress (XVI c.). The complex is surrounded by the wall with towers and embrasures. The remains of the secret underground passage, that leads to the river, survived. Here is also located the complex of Church of Archangels (XVI -XVII c.). Then, visit of Alaverdi Cathedral (XI c.), the second highest building (more than 50 m), and also monastery cellar. Excurison in the ancient Ikalto Academy (X-XII c.), where studied the great Georgian poet and philosopher Shota Rustaveli, the author of the worldknown poem "The Knight in the Panther's Skin".Excursion in Telavi - main city and administrative center of Kakhetia, museum - fortress of king Erekle II (XVIII c.), that signed Treaty of Georgievsk with the Russian Empire. Hotel accommodation in Telavi. Dinner. Overnight.
     Day 10: Telavi – Tbilisi – Kutaisi
Breakfast. Departure to Tbilisi. Free time. We offer you to visit Ethnographical open space Museum which occupies 52 hectares. There are 14 ethnographic departments representing different Georgian regions: Kartli, Samegrelo, Adjara, Abkhazia, Svaneti, Khevsureti, Kakheti, Meskheti, Javakheti, Guria, Imereti, Racha, Lechkhumi and Osetia. Along with the architectural monuments, ethnographic artifacts are exhibited as well - various kinds of tools, textiles and ceramics. The museum also exhibited basilica of Sioni V-VI centuries. The museum has a rich collection of gravestones with relief images on them. Arrival to Kutaisi. Hotel accommodation. Dinner. Overnight.
Day 11: Kutaisi
Breakfast. Free time. Purchase of souvenirs. Transfer to the airport and home return.
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