THE TREASURES OF 19 – 30 SEPTEMBER 2020

FROM £3,660 PER PERSON

Tour Leader: Bridget Wheeler RICH HERITAGE, MEDIEVAL HISTORY & NATURAL BEAUTY

Situated between the subtropical Black Sea coast, the Caspian Sea and the snowy peaks of the Caucasus, the state of Georgia sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Georgia’s rich heritage has been hugely influenced by both Byzantine and Persian cultures. With Russia (and Chechnya, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkar, North Osetia-Alania) to the north, Turkey to the west, Armenia and Iran to the south and Azerbaijan to the east, Georgia remains a fiercely independent nation after years of oppression by the Russian Tsars and the Soviet Union. Georgia’s mix of natural beauty and medieval history has made this small country one of Eastern Europe’s most fascinating destinations.

Uplistsikhe Alazani Valley

12-DAY ITINERARY, DEPARTING 19 SEPTEMBER 2020 19 September London gold and silver jewellery from the and filled with historical sights. ancient land of Colchis, spectacular Visit Bodbe Nunnery, just outside Depart London Heathrow on a modern and contemporary paintings Sighnaghi. In the 4th century, after Georgian Airways overnight flight to by Georgian artists and masterpieces Georgia converted to Christianity, . of Oriental, Western European and Saint Nino, the queen responsible for Russian decorative arts. Dinner at a the conversion, withdrew to Bodbe 20 September Tbilisi local restaurant. Gorge where she died. She wanted to be buried in a church in Bodbe Arrive in Tbilisi in the early morning. 21 September Tbilisi rather than being taken away to be Transfer and check into the centrally buried elsewhere by the king. Legend located 5* Biltmore Hotel where two Morning walking tour of Tbilisi. has it that the king came with 200 nights are spent. Rooms are ready for Begin with the Georgian Synagogue, horsemen but could not move her, immediate occupation. Morning at a Jewish house which was built so he ordered that a small monastery leisure. with bricks, in an eclectic style, be built for her to be buried in. The between 1895 and 1903. Continue monastery is now a convent for nuns. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon to Sioni Cathedral, which is one of Visit Sighnaghi, located in the most orientational city tour of the vibrant the most remarkable examples of easterly region of Georgia. It is unique Tbilisi Old Town. Hidden in its Georgian medieval architecture, richly for being surrounded by fortress walls labyrinthine streets are monuments, decorated with frescoes and icons which have been well preserved and churches, art galleries, museums and in gold and dark turquoise colours. is famous for its wine and carpet theatres, sulphur bath houses and This is followed by Anchiskhati making culture. The houses within buildings with gaping holes in their Basilica, the oldest church in Tbilisi, Sighnaghi’s walls date from the 18th facades that have their own stories dating back to the 6th century. End and 19th centuries. Walk through the to tell. Visit Church of the at Narikala Fortress, the main citadel narrow, cobbled streets of the town Assumption, the Orthodox church of the city where you can enjoy the in the shadow of richly decorated which was built by the Georgian King wonderful views of Tbilisi. wooden balconies and enjoy the St Demetrius II in the 13th century. Lunch at a local restaurant followed breathtaking views of the Kizikhi area. Visit one of the city’s historic sulphur by a visit to Rustaveli Avenue, the bath houses for which Tbilisi is central avenue in Tbilisi named after Lunch at local winery. Drive to Lopota renowned. The city has an abundance the medieval Georgian poet, Shota and check into the Lopota Lake Resort of hot springs, high in sulphurs Rustaveli. Dinner at a local restaurant. for two nights. Dinner at the hotel. and other minerals, with a constant temperature of 38C to 40C, and the 22 September Tbilisi / Bodbe / 23 September Lopota / Nekresi / waters have long been used as a Sighnaghi / Lopota / Tsinandali / Lopota therapeutic aid for a range of ailments including skin conditions and Depart by coach for (105 Depart by coach for Nekresi arthritis. Visit the Georgian National kms) and explore what locals call Monastery Complex. Drive to Gremi Museum, the largest museum ‘the motherland of wine’, the fertile architectural complex. Proceed to complex in the country. Here visit the Alazani Valley with its medieval Kakheti for a cooking demonstration, Museum of Georgia which contains monasteries and unique wineries. where you can learn how to prepare a collection of magnificent medieval The eastern region of Georgia is a famous Georgian pork barbecue Christian art, including stunning surrounded by picturesque mountains ‘Mtsvadi’ and participate in the

020 3411 4595 | [email protected] | THEULTIMATETRAVELCOMPANY.CO.UK

Old City wall around Sighnaghi

making of Churchkhela. Churchkhela how Georgian bread is baked. Lunch 26 September Kazbegi is a traditional Georgian sweet snack with wine tasting with a local family. made of walnuts and grape juice. Drive back to Tbilisi, check into the Morning visit to Kazbegi, a small Lunch with wine tasting with a local Biltmore Hotel where one night is town with views of Mt. Kazbek, the family. Visit Tsinandali Family Estate spent. Evening at leisure. Dinner at a seventh highest peak in the Caucasus which once belonged to the 19th local restaurant. Mountains. Mt. Kazbek is associated century aristocratic poet Alexander with the myth of Prometheus. Chavchavadze. The complex 25 September Tbilisi / Mtskheta / According to legend he was chained comprises a memorial house, a / Kazbegi on the mountain as a punishment for landscape garden, a historical winery, having stolen fire from the Gods and wine cellar, hotel and a café. Drive Drive to Mtskheta, the ancient capital given it to mortals. Take a four-wheel back to Lopota. Dinner at the hotel. located at the confluence of the drive to 14th-century Gergeti Holy Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers. See the Trinity Church which is located at 24 September Lopota / Alaverdi / UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jvari, a height of 2,170 metres under Mt. Ikalto / Tbilisi a cross-shaped monastery which Kazbegi. dates to the 6th century, located at Depart by coach for Alaverdi the top of a hill. Experience making ‘Khinkali’, Monastery. The monastery was Georgian dumplings filled with founded by the Assyrian monk Joseph Lunch at a local restaurant outside minced meat in dough which (Yoseb, Amba) Alaverdeli, who came Tbilisi. Visit the grand 11th- originated in the Georgian mountain from Antioch and settled in Alaverdi, century , a regions, followed by lunch with a local then a small village and former pagan masterpiece of medieval Georgian family. Drive towards the Russian religious centre dedicated to the architecture with stunning views border, enjoying the views of the Moon. At a height of over 55 metres, over the Kura and Aragvi Rivers, dramatic Dariali Gorge followed by a Alaverdi Cathedral is the second set on the southern slopes of the hike to Gveleti Waterfall. Dinner at the tallest religious building in Georgia, Caucasus Mountains. Drive along the hotel. after Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, Georgian Military Highway and visit which was consecrated in 2004. Ananuri Fortress, a former residence 27 September Kazbegi / Gori / Visit Ikalto Monastery Complex. The of the Dukes of the Aragvi region. Uplistsikhe / Kutaisi monastery was the first in Kakheti This complex features churches and region; it was built in the 6th century towers dating back to the 14th-18th Drive to Gori (190 kms) and visit the by a Christian preacher, Zenon of centuries, overlooking the beautiful Museum, devoted to Ikalto, who was one of the Assyrian Jinvali lake, in a picturesque the most famous native of the city, fathers settled in Georgia to preach landscape. who became head of the government Christianity. Zenon lived in the and led the Soviet Union from 1925 monastery, preached and healed. He Continue your journey and explore to 1953. Lunch at a local restaurant had disciples and followers which led Khevi Province, the heart of the in Gori. Visit Uplistsikhe, known to the expansion of the monastery. country, known for its severe as ‘God’s Fortress’ the remarkable Zenon Ikalto was buried under one scenery and numerous architectural ancient cave city, all hewn out of of the churches of the complex. monuments and archaeological sites. rock. The city played a significant role Proceed to Kakheti for a cooking Check into Hotel Kazbegi for two in Georgian history over a period of demonstration, where you can see nights. Dinner at the hotel. approximately 3,000 years.

020 3411 4595 | [email protected] | THEULTIMATETRAVELCOMPANY.CO.UK TOUR PRICES PER PERSON

Tour Price £3,660 Single Supplement £795

PRICE INCLUDES • Economy class scheduled flights • Air passenger duty, passenger service charge, airline security charges, airport taxes and fuel surcharges where applicable - currently £117 (liable to change without notice) • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily • All entrance fees, visits, excursions and transportation as per the itinerary Jinvali Water Reservoir, • Gratuities for guide(s), driver(s) and in restaurants for included meals Porterage • Local English-speaking guide/s Archaeological excavations have cave complex provides breathtaking • The services of your tour leader revealed extraordinary artifacts examples of stalactites, stalagmites, throughout dating from the late Bronze Age up curtains, petrified waterfalls, cave to the late Middle Ages. The ancient pearls, underground rivers, and cave city was built on a rocky bank lakes. Its unique features include PRICE EXCLUDES of the Mtkvari River, approximately a variety of halls and a diversity of 15 kilometres east of the town of landscapes. • Alcoholic and non-alcoholic Gori. Between the 6th century BC and 11th century AD, it was one Lunch at a local restaurant. beverages of the most important political, Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at a • Travel insurance religious, and cultural centres of local restaurant. • Items of personal expenditure (e.g. pre-Christian Kartli, one of the telephone calls / laundry etc.) predecessors of the Georgian state 29 September Kutaisi / Tbilisi and flourished until it was ravaged • Government levies or taxes by the Mongols in the 13th century. Depart for Tbilisi (180 kms), with a introduced after costing and visit enroute to , home of the Continue your journey to Kutaisi 9th-century St. George’s monastery publication of this programme on (170 kms) and check into the Gala famous for its beautiful frescos. 17/12/19 Hotel where two nights are spent. Dinner at a local restaurant. Lunch at a local restaurant. Check into the Biltmore Hotel where one 28 September Kutaisi night is spent. Afternoon at leisure. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant Visit , the 11th- with a Georgian folk show. century cathedral, built during the reign of King Bagrat III and known 30 September Tbilisi / London as ‘the symbol of united Georgia’. The Cathedral was officially rebuilt Morning at leisure. Check out from on 16 September 2012. Visit Gelati hotel. Lunch at a local restaurant. Monastery, founded in 1106, by the Return to the Georgian National famous king of Georgia, Davit the Museum complex to visit the Builder. Gelati Complex includes an National Gallery, established in 1920 academy and remained for a long by Dimitri Shevardnadze which time one of the main centres in the houses various exhibitions of fine country for cultural enlightenment. arts and Sameba Cathedral, the The monastery has a great number main cathedral of the Georgian of preserved manuscripts dating Orthodox Church in the Armenian back to the 12th century and is Quarter. listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Prometheus Caves Transfer to Tbilisi airport for a located in the Samegrelo-Zemo Georgian Airways evening flight to Svaneti region. This 1.2 km-long London Heathrow. Old Meidan Square, Tbilisi YOUR TOUR LEADER

BRIDGET WHEELER

Bridget has worked in the travel industry for 35 years. After obtaining a degree from London University she started her career at Montpelier Travel before setting up Riverside Travel in the late 1990s, which then amalgamated with The Ultimate Travel Company in the early 2000s. She now divides her time between her office in Hampshire and The Ultimate Travel Company in Fulham. She has travelled extensively and has led numerous groups to various diverse destinations including Ethiopia, Cuba, Jordan, the Baltic States and Georgia.

020 3411 4595 | [email protected] | THEULTIMATETRAVELCOMPANY.CO.UK 25–27 VANSTON PLACE LONDON SW6 1AZ