Georgia feel it. love it. Your Travel Agency The Name Inspires We’re pleased to invite you to travel to one of the most ancient and fascinating countries of the world – Georgia. Let us plan your holiday and with our experience, professionalism, creativity and enthusiasm we’ll Trust tailor a journey to the most magnificent places of Georgia and take you through the great adventures. Our tours are as unique as each of you. We’re glad to assist everyone – those who already know what they wish to see and do and those who require inspiration. We are here for you to create a journey that will surpass your expectations and interests. It’s essentially important for us to offer only personalized and premium quality service to our numerous partners around the world and to thousands of our guests. The slogan of “VisitGeorgia” is “The name inspires trust” and we do our best to make every guest trust the company. This catalogue provides you with the general information about Georgia and the tour options as well as details on what you should not miss when travelling to Georgia. It will help both professional tour operators and individual travelers to most conveniently plan their trips. We would like to thank each of our partner and guest for their interest in Georgia and trust in our company. We’re always ready to host you honorably. Alexander Mamulashvili Managing Director Your Travel Agency A land of endless wonders, unspoiled by modern tourism and still retaining its authentic character – Georgia. Once experienced, it will stay with you forever. Exploring Georgia is a constant pleasure. For walkers and hikers the country is sheer heaven, while botanists and birdwatchers will be simply enthralled and archaeologists can’t decide which of the numerous ancient fi ndings to visit fi rst. With the towering Caucasus Mountains forming the border between Europe and Asia, Georgia has long been an important contact zone – part of the Great Silk Road. In this mystical land you will be captivated by a thrilling blend of eastern enigma and western elegance. The traditions of the East and West meet in Georgia to form a culture unlike any other in the world. Country of endless wonders 4 | www.visitgeorgia.ge www.visitgeorgia.ge | 5 Caucasus Mountains Great Silk Road country Cradle of Wine Golden Fleece One of the fi rst Christian Language and script A 3000-year-old state Georgian folklore While travelling in Georgia you’ll Ancient Great Silk Road caravans Georgia is offi cially recognized as The Greek legend about the countries Georgia is one of those ancient Georgia has one of the world’s Georgian folklore has been created see the largest mountain range used to pass through Georgia along the home-land of wine – the place Argonauts tells the story about Christianity was fi rst preached in countries that has unique language richest and oldest histories. along many centuries. Georgian of Europe – the mighty Great the centuries. They connected east where wine was fi rst made Jason stealing the famous Golden Georgia back in the 1st century AD and script. Georgian language Archeological excavations provide dance is amazingly diverse and Caucasus. The permanently snow- to west and north to south and 8 000 years ago. 500 endemic vine Fleece from legendary Kingdom of by the Apostles of Christ. The country belongs to Iberian-Caucasian clear evidence that Georgian tribes represents every corner of Georgia: capped summits, alpine meadows, made signifi cant cultural infl uence breeds still grow here. Georgian Colchis. And the legendary Kingdom became Christian in 337 AD and was language family and is a unique formed their statehood as early delicate movements, stories told indigenous nature and mountain on Georgia. Antic cave town of way of Qvevri (clay vessel buried of Colchis was in nowadays west the third offi cially Christian country language having no parallels as the second millennium BC. The in dance and breathtaking stunts hidden ancient villages will make Uplistsikhe with more than 350 still underground) wine-making is listed Georgia. The national museum in the world.The religious center – worldwide. Georgian alphabet is remains of the fl ourishing Georgian fascinate the audience. unforgettable impression on you. existing caves was an important on UNESCO Intangible Heritage list. exhibits the jewelry from those Mtskheta is listed on UNESCO World one of the 14 existing alphabets states of Colchis and Iberia can be Georgian harmonious multipart Here you’ll explore the highest trade city lying on the route. It is When travelling in Georgia, you’ll ancient times of the Argonauts. Heritage list. According to the legend in the world and there’s no script seen while travelling in the ancient singing is inscribed in UNESCO permanently inhabited village well preserved and fascinates its taste Qvevri wines as well as The Gold, used to produce those one of the most important Christian similar to it. There are presently 33 cities of Vani, Kutaisi and Mtskheta. Intangible World Heritage List. of Europe – Ushguli, listed on visitors. excellent wines made according to exquisite items was mined and relics – part of the Robe of Christ is letters in Georgian. UNESCO World Heritage list. European wine-making methods. elaborated in Georgia. buried there. 6 | www.visitgeorgia.ge www.visitgeorgia.ge | 7 Day 5: Sighnaghi – Mtskheta – Gudauri silk from China to Europe used to stop here for family (local dukes, 19th c). The museum collection Today we visit the ancient capital and religious overnights. The town consists of living quarters, includes private belongings of the family as well center of Georgia – Mtskheta (3000 years Zoroastrian temples, market, pharmacy, wine- as ethnographic collection of the area. Most old) and see its historical places: ancient Jvari cellar and in its great days used to house 20 000 exciting part of our tour is still to come! We take a Monastery (6th c) and impressive Svetitskhoveli people. After the tour we travel to Akhaltsikhe tour to Upper Svaneti province – UNESCO World Cathedral (11th c). Continue to the Great for overnight. Heritage Site. We’ll have a few photo stops and Caucasus along Georgian Military Highway. arrive in Mestia. The real gem is history museum En route we visit the outstanding monument Day 8: Akhaltsikhe – Vardzia – Akhaltsikhe that we shouldn’t miss. Overnight in Mestia. of Georgian architecture – Ananuri Complex Today’s tour runs across the winding road in the famous for its carved facades. Travel to Gudauri lee of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Our first Day 11: Mestia – Ushguli – Mestia following the serpentine road of Cross Pass. stop will be at Khertvisi fortress (10th c) built A 4WD tour to the remote village of Ushguli Overnight in Gudauri ski resort (2200 m). on the confluence of two rivers. Continue to is truly unforgettable experience. We’ll pass the magnificent cave town – Vardzia (12th c). indigenous villages and arrive in Ushguli located Day 6: Gudauri – Kazbegi – Gudauri It stretches over half a kilometer along the river on 2200m. We take a walk in the village to take Our morning starts with a stop at the mosaic built Mtkvari and has 19 tiers. There used to be about a glance at local houses and towers and continue on a hilltop and offering the impressive views over 3000 caves (50000 people could live there). It has a our walk towards Lamaria church overlooking the the Great Caucasus Mountains. Next stop is at the church hewn out in rock with amazing 12th century village. From Lamaria we’ll enjoy the breathtaking highest point of the Cross Pass (2395m). We’ll have frescos. The complex also includes dwellings view to Mt. Shkhara – the highest of Georgia, a quick stop at auburn travertine taking the color quarters, small hall-type churches, refectories, 5068m. After the tour we return to Mestia. from mineral water that contains much iron. Finally, wine cellars and pharmacy. We’ll walk out the site we arrive in Kazbegi and enjoy the magnificent through a long tunnel and feel the heartbeat of the Day 12: Mestia – Batumi view to Mt. Kazbegi – 5047m. Take a walk to 14th cave town. After the tour we return to Akhaltsikhe We leave the mountains today and drive to century Gergeti Church (2170m) and admire the and visit renovated Rabath hilltop castle. maritime town of Batumi. Here we’ll visit grandeur of the surrounding mountains. In the Botanical Gardens with rare plants of different afternoon walk back to Kazbegi and visit a local Day 9: Akhaltsikhe – Kutaisi continents and ancient Gonio Fortress (1st master to learn more about Georgian Teka (felt) Travel to west Georgia, town of Kutaisi – century AD). While strolling in the streets of making secrets. After the tour transfer to Gudauri. according to the myth, Aia (nowadays Kutaisi) Batumi, we’ll see the most beautiful square was the capital of mighty Kingdom of Colchis of Georgia – Piazza, charming its visitors with Day 7: Gudauri – Uplistsikhe – Akhaltsikhe where the Argonauts sailed to steal the stained-glass and architecture. We’ll also see Descending from the mountains we visit “Iago’s legendary Golden Fleece. We’ll visit UNESCO the statue of Medea and astrological clock winery” in Chardakhi village, where we taste World Heritage Sites of Gelati Monastery and on Era Square and at the end take a walk in unique Bio-wines made according to Georgian Academy (12th c) and Bagrati Cathedral (11th c). Batumi Boulevard which is the favorite spot of located in a stark, semi-desert area. We’ll see traditional methods. It’s noteworthy that you can Gelati is exquisite with its murals and the altar the guests of Batumi with its modern sculptures, COUNTRY OF WONDERS Lavra caves where monks live and then take a find “Chinuri” wine on unique wine-list of hotel mosaic consisting of around 2 million gilded fountains and cafes.