A journey through Winter, spring, summer and autumn in 10 days. It is only in that you can emerse yourself in all seasons during just one trip. Such a wealth of climatic the seasons zones comes from a complex relief of a small country. More than two thirds of the territory is occupied by mountains, height of many of which exceeds 5 kilometers. If we move from west to east, subtropical climate of the Black Sea coastline will be replaced by continental Mediterranean climate. And traveling up along roads into in mountainous regions will reveal harsh beauty of wooded cliffs and emerald alpine fields. During this tour Exotour will give you a chance to try ripe fruits in the valleys and to immediately see blossoming trees of the same fruits in the gorges, to mould snowballs among glaciers, and the same day to have a swim in warm Black Sea...

Day 1. Arrival in Georgia Duration: 10 days / 9 nights Day 2. Tour: - - Tbilisi Distance: 2 000 kilometers Day 3. Tour: Tbilisi - - Overnight places: Day 4. Tour: Telavi - - Tbilisi Tbilisi - 4 nights Day 5. Tour: Tbilisi - - Tskaltubo Telavi - 1 night Day 6. Tour: Tskaltubo - Tskaltubo - 1 night Day 7. Tour: Mestia - - Mestia Mestia - 2 nights Day 8. Tour: Mestia - Batumi - 1 night Day 9. Tour: Batumi - Bakuriani - 1 night Day 10. Tour: Bakuriani - - Tbilisi

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Day 1. Arrival in Georgia

Fresh experiences on the very first day! Shortly after arriving in Tbilisi and having settled in our hotel "Georgian House" a walk through winding streets of the historic part of the capital of Georgia await you. You will see beautifully illuminated old town and feel the charm of the tourist center near the Chardin Street. A wonderful panorama of night Tbilisi opens up from the observation deck on the Mtatsminda Mountain where an extensive park with a huge Ferris wheel, attractions, cafés and an excellent restaurant are situated.

Day 2. Tour: Tbilisi - Mtskheta - Tbilisi

In the morning you will learn about The Narikala Fortress tops Sololaki The complex of ancient baths is built the history of Tbilisi and its ridge towering above the Old over hot springs to which Tbilisi owes attractions. The first stop of the Tbilisi. Its towers have been silent its name. Here, in the heart of the tour - beautiful Metekhi Church, witnesses of city life for fifteen Old Town, you will feel unique flavor situated on a steep cliff above the hundred years. And the walls of of Tbilisi, will walk along a narrow Fig river Mtkvari. There is a monument the ancient fortress offer a gorge, in the deep end of which a to King Vakhtang Gorgasali who convenient place to take a beautiful waterfall shows up before founded Tbilisi in the V century. A photograph of the panorama of your eyes. You are advised to little square at the Metekhi Church the Georgian capital with a huge remember this place - in the evening offers a beautiful view of the Old cathedral of the Holy Trinity in the you can go back to take a dip in the Town and Narikala Fortress. It will foreground. After that you can go healing waters and enjoy a massage be your next stop after a down to the area of sulfur baths from a real Georgian bath attendant breathtaking ascent by a cable named Abanotubani. "mekise". way.

Tbilisi Botanical Garden stretches Ancient capital of Georgia is near along a narrow gorge just outside Tbilisi and its monuments are the Narikala fortress - place where among those on the UNESCO for centuries royal gardens have World Heritage List. You will not be been erupting into bloom. Flora left indifferent by strict classicism from all over the world grows in of Chirch which blends into this picturesque corner. After this the mountainous terrain of the it seems logical to proceed to area since the VI century. Also, the Open-Air Ethnographic Museum, splendor of Svetitskhoveli where you will see dwellings and Cathedral of Mtskheta, which traditional way of life of different keeps the treasures of Christian regions of Georgia. By the way, the World’s sacred places, will make an museum is located near Turtle unforgettable impression. We Lake with lovely bungalows and conclude the day with a visit to cafes. It is a convenient place for monasteries in Zedazeni and making a short break before Shiomghvime founded by fathers traveling to the town of Mtskheta. of the Georgian monasticism.

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Day 3. Tour: Tbilisi - David Gareja - Signagi – Telavi

Today you will simultaneously visit The same view, but from a two countries. We will travel to the different angle is waiting for us cave city - David Gareja Monastery - in the town of Signagi which is a huge complex that lies in semi- surrounded with a wall with 28 desert on both sides of the border watch towers. Here, it is between Georgia and Azerbaijan. convenient to buy souvenirs, You will see the Lavra, founded in especially garments with the VI century by hermit David. You After leaving the desert you will find traditional Georgian will visit cells carved into the rock by yourself among mountains covered embroidery and handmade generations of his followers. You will with dense forest that hides the jewelry. At the local history be able to hear an impressive story convent of Bodbe. The vaults of the museum you can acquaint of the life of St. David and Garedja medieval church preserved yourself with the specifics of monks. magnificent paintings on biblical the region, which for themes perfectly. Near the altar rests quite a long period of time was Equal to the Apostles Nino of a separate kingdom. Cappadocia, who preached Romantically disposed guests Christianity in Georgia in the early IV will not be disappointed either. century. The territory of the There is an acting registry, monastery offers spectacular views of where citizens of any country the land of the best Georgian wines - will be able to register a Valley with peaks of the marriage and receive help to towering behind it. mark this event with the real Georgian celebration.

Next stop will be a fashionable salon of the XIX century, which still remains one of the cultural centers of Georgia. This is Tsinandali - House-Museum of Prince Alexander , who combined outstanding qualities of an officer, poet and public figure in one person. The manor house is surrounded by a beautiful park with a bamboo love labyrinth. It served as a summer residence for the Russian imperial dynasty of the Romanov. The estate features art salon and a wine cellar with a bar. This is a convenient opportunity to taste different varieties of Georgian wines, including the famous "Tsinandali" before an overnight stay in Telavi.

Day 4. Tour: Telavi - Kvareli – Tbilisi

Today we take a closer look at Kakheti - the most Shuamta Monastery that is tucked in the thick fertile corner of Georgia, where they make the best mountain forest will be remembered for the silence wine and grape harvest is transformed into a and solitude of the place. Alaverdi Cathedral impresses national holiday. Wealth of this land can be seen one with its grandeur, rising high into the sky amidst and tried at the main market of Telavi, where there the Alazani valley. The road passes the town of Kvareli is a large selection of national Georgian sweets situated along the foot of the . made from fruit juices, as well as a variety of spices. Along the way we will make two stops. Having haggled to your heart’s content at the market, you can start sightseeing.

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The first stop will be at the ruins of The first thing to do in Kvareli will the town of Gremi destroyed by be to visit the memorial house of Shah Abbas of Iran in the early XVII great Georgian writer, poet and century. A citadel with the original public figure Ilia Chavchavadze. church of the Archangels and a high Residential house, family tower, royal castle still remain there. And wine cellar, bakery, water mill will the next stop is the monastery offer you a glance at traditional complex of Nekresi. It consists of Georgian lifestyle on a rich estate. buildings of different ages, located A little later you will learn about high on a hillside. On the territory the difference between Georgian of the Monastery, you will see an and European art of winemaking. interesting building which, at first It will be explained at the largest glance, does not resemnble a wine storage in the country, church. It was built in the IV which is housed in an 8-kilometer century and is the oldest Christian tunnel that once was a bomb church in Georgia. While the maze shelter. Here you can taste fine of ruins even more ancient - that of wines from different parts of a Zoroastrian temple are visible Georgia, and later enjoy views of from the heights of the monastery Kvareli Lake before leaving for walls, at the foot of the mountain. Tbilisi.

Day 5. Tour: Tbilisi - Kutaisi – Tskaltubo

A long road to western Georgia will Immediately after the pass you will be Next stop is Georgian "Jurassic not be boring. You will see witness met by subtropical climate of Colchis Park". It lies among relict forest how nature varies from region to lowland. Kutaisi is the second largest which grows luxuriantly in the region. First already familiar city in Georgia and the parliamentary crater of an extinct volcano. landscape of eastern Georgia will be capital of the country. The historical This is Sataplia National Park. A dramatically replaced by serpentine part of the city attracts with its tourist trail passes along rocks roads of the Rikoti pass. Along this interesting architecture and unique that preserved dinosaur segment of the winding road there charm. While Bagrat Church that footprints. Among the trees are real masterpieces of folk art. The towers over the city impresses with its one can see models of ancient locals are famous for their pottery, facades of the XI century. You will reptiles. The pavilion of the and you can see the entire exhibition become even more impressed with museum displays finds that are of diverse handmade pottery, which the historical and architectural Gelati millions of years old, and - a will make excellent souvenirs. Complex. Here, a famous academy cafe. The most fascinating part existed in the monastery in the XII of the program is a deep dive century and its founder - King David into the long cave with the Builder, the greatest monarch in beautifully illuminated the history of Georgia is buried there. stalactites and stalagmites.

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Day 6. Tour: Tskaltubo – Mestia

Get ready to experience the adrenaline rush! Today we are going to embark on a winding road to get to the most hard-to-reach place of the Caucasus! Mountainous, mysterious, patriarchal Svaneti will appear before your eyes as it was many centuries ago. A land of thousand towers - a veritable goldmine of architectural treasures, ancient relics and mind-blowing landscapes - is waiting for you!

Enguri Hess - the largest water-power plant in the Caucasus. The dam is 270 meters. It is surrounded by high mountains and forested gorges. The view is difficult to describe, it must be seen. Mestia – the old capital fo Svaneti and young ski resort in the subalpine zone. During a walk through the city you will take a first look at the famous defense towers of the Svan. They have been standing around the area for several centuries now, forming a unique landscape of Svaneti villages.

A visit to the Museum of History and Ethnography of Svaneti will help you understand this land and its people better , and dinner is not complete without a delicious local specialty - meat pie "Kubdari"!

Day 7. Tour: Mestia - Ushguli – Mestia

Upper Svaneti is a naturally - formed Museum of alpine meadows, wild glaciers, towering mountains and monuments of the middle-ages. Thus it was the entire region and not its separate monuments that were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Fortified village of Ushguli has been keeping the essence of Svaneti for a thousand year. It is the highest mountain settlement in Europe, upon arrival to where you will be immersed in the archaic world of ancient homes, old towers and strict, centuries-old customs.

A local museum will reveal secrets of the patriarchal life of the Svan, while the church of Lamaria of the XII century will enrich your experience with abundance of legends associated with this church. This day will certainly be the most memorable adventure of our tour.

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Day 8. Tour: Mestia - Batumi

From the Middle Ages to the has just started to Batumi - Adjarian capital and the beautiful antiquity! From cold mountain show us its charms. We will seaside resort. Free evening before going to glaciers to warm Black Sea! continue our tour towards the the night rest in this city will be devoted to We are descending from south and in the village of rest on the beach listening to the sound of Alpine Svaneti directly into Gonio, near the Turkish gentle waves of the sea and surrounded by subtropics of Adjara. border. We will stop at the cozy bungalows. The Batumi Boulevard offers Favorable climate and an easternmost outpost of the you numerous cafes, discos, bike rental, Ferris incredible wealth of nature Roman Empire. The Apsaro wheel, singing fountains and souvenir shops. overwhelm you in the Batumi Fortress had a theater and a Botanical Gardens. The 113 racecourse, garrisons of acres of the green cape Romans, Byzantines, Genoese houses more than 5000 and Ottoman were once species of plants from all deployed here. Just outside continents. You will walk the city walls there are through nine floristic sections remains of Roman baths and accompanied by our guide- the tomb of the Apostle botanist, surrounded by the Matthew, who came here in kingdom of luxuriant the wake of two more of vegetation and with a Christ's disciples – Andrew the magnificent view of the sea! First - called and Simon the Zealot.

Day 9. Tour: Batumi – Bakuriani

And here comes the mountains Steep slope of Erusheti Mountain Some more traveling and another again! But this time, these belong keeps one of the most important climate zone! Before you lies to the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. monuments of Georgia, the country Central Georgia with continental After the coastline jungles it is most prominent centre on the climate and deciduous-coniferous mountainous Adjara that awaits us. world tourist map. Vardzia Cave forests of the Borjomi- The road runs past the settlement Complex – the outstanding National Park. Europe's largest of , past Keda that is famous monument of the Georgian nature reserve stretches in the for its waterfalls, until we climb to architecture of the XII-XIII centuries mountains across 700 square the alpine meadows of the that started as a fortress and grown kilometers. Cool climate and charm mountain again resort Beshumi as the monastery town. Hundreds of local nature have long been with its never-frizzing Green Lake. of rooms carved into the rock particularly appreciated by The last effort - Goderdzi pass or stretching for nearly one kilometer residents of Georgia. Beauty of “the four seasons resort ". You and reaching the height of 13 Borjomi Gorge captivated should be watching carefully – this storeys. Secret passages, remains monarchs of the will be the most dramatic contrast of plumbing and irrigation systems and supreme rulers of the Soviet of nature for the time of the entire are preserved. Vardzia will astonish Union. It is now open to you! Small travel. Subtropics of Adjara and you with the scale of the project, walking in protected forest ensures alpine zone of the pass are very historical facts and legend about pleasant tiredness and sound sleep quickly replaced by the lunar Queen Tamar... upon arrival to the resort of landscape of South Georgia with Bakuriani. deep gorges and heaps of rocks!

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Day 10. Tour: Bakuriani - Borjomi – Tbilisi

We suggest waking up early. One should not miss the sunrise in the mountains. Bright light and morning mist around the mountains covered with pine trees ensure colorful pictures for lovers of beautiful scenery. Having seen this view, breathe pure mountain air and tasted healing jam made from pine cones or pollen, you will understand why the ski resort of Bakuriani is not empty in the summer.

20 minutes-drive away, at the bottom of the gorge of the river Mtkvari, spa resort of Borjomi stretches. This name is known worldwide for its mineral water from local sources. 130 years of laboratory test and consistent level of enrichment with 60 different minerals, specific taste and unique medicinal properties – the nature has been presenting us with this gift for 2000 years. Mineral water- tasting straight from the source, in its most natural form, will be a good conclusion of the tour before the transfer to the airport!

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