The Treasures of Georgia 10 - 21 September 2022
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THE TREASURES OF GEORGIA 10 - 21 SEPTEMBER 2022 FROM £3,395 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. Bodbe Monastery Uplistsikhe Alazani Valley 12-DAY ITINERARY, DEPARTING 10 SEPTEMBER 2022 10 September London ancient land of Colchis, spectacular and filled with historical sights. modern and contemporary paintings Visit Bodbe Nunnery, just outside Suggested flights (not included in the by Georgian artists and masterpieces Sighnaghi. In the 4th century, after cost of the tour) Georgian Airways of Oriental, Western European and Georgia converted to Christianity, A9 752 departing London Gatwick at Russian decorative arts. Dinner at a Saint Nino, the queen responsible for 22.50 hrs. local restaurant. the conversion, withdrew to Bodbe Gorge where she died. She wanted 11 September Tbilisi to be buried in a church in Bodbe 12 September Tbilisi Arrive Tbilisi at 06.35 hrs. Transfer and rather than being taken away to be Morning walking tour of Tbilisi. check into the centrally located 5* buried elsewhere by the king. Legend Begin with the Georgian Synagogue, Biltmore Hotel where two nights are has it that the king came with 200 a Jewish house which was built spent. Rooms are ready for immediate horsemen but could not move her, with bricks, in an eclectic style, occupation. Morning at leisure. so he ordered that a small monastery between 1895 and 1903. Continue be built for her to be buried in. The Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon to Sioni Cathedral, which is one of monastery is now a convent for nuns. orientational city tour of the vibrant the most remarkable examples of Visit Sighnaghi, located in the most Tbilisi Old Town. Hidden in its Georgian medieval architecture, richly easterly region of Georgia. It is unique labyrinthine streets are monuments, decorated with frescoes and icons for being surrounded by fortress walls churches, art galleries, museums and in gold and dark turquoise colours. which have been well preserved and theatres, sulphur bath houses and This is followed by Anchiskhati is famous for its wine and carpet buildings with gaping holes in their Basilica, the oldest church in Tbilisi, making culture. The houses within facades that have their own stories dating back to the 6th century. End Sighnaghi’s walls date from the 18th to tell. Visit Metekhi Church of the at Narikala Fortress, the main citadel and 19th centuries. Walk through the Assumption, the Orthodox church of the city where you can enjoy the narrow, cobbled streets of the town which was built by the Georgian King wonderful views of Tbilisi. in the shadow of richly decorated St. Demetrius II in the 13th century. Lunch at a local restaurant followed wooden balconies and enjoy the Visit one of the city’s historic sulphur by a visit to Rustaveli Avenue, the breathtaking views of the Kizikhi area. bath houses for which Tbilisi is central avenue in Tbilisi named renowned. The city has an abundance Lunch at local winery. Drive to Lopota after the medieval Georgian poet, of hot springs, high in sulphurs and check into the Lopota Lake Resort Shota Rustaveli. Dinner at a local and other minerals, with a constant for two nights. Dinner at the hotel. restaurant. temperature of 38C to 40C, and the waters have long been used as a 14 September Lopota / Nekresi / therapeutic aid for a range of ailments 13 September Tbilisi / Bodbe / Gremi / Tsinandali / Lopota including skin conditions and Sighnaghi / Lopota Depart by coach for Nekresi arthritis. Visit the Georgian National Depart by coach for Kakheti (105 Monastery Complex. Drive to Gremi Museum, the largest museum kms) and explore what locals call architectural complex. complex in the country. Here visit the ‘the motherland of wine’, the fertile Proceed to Kakheti for a cooking Museum of Georgia which contains Alazani Valley with its medieval demonstration, where you can learn a collection of magnificent medieval monasteries and unique wineries. how to prepare a famous Georgian Christian art, including stunning The eastern region of Georgia is pork barbecue ‘Mtsvadi’ and gold and silver jewellery from the surrounded by picturesque mountains participate in the making of 020 3411 4595 | [email protected] | THEULTIMATETRAVELCOMPANY.CO.UK Metekhi Church Old City wall around Sighnaghi Churchkhela. Churchkhela is a demonstration, where you can see 17 September Kazbegi traditional Georgian sweet snack how Georgian bread is baked. Lunch Morning visit to Kazbegi, a small made of walnuts and grape juice. with wine tasting with a local family. town with views of Mt. Kazbek, the Lunch with wine tasting with a local Drive back to Tbilisi, check into the seventh highest peak in the Caucasus family. Visit Tsinandali Family Estate Biltmore Hotel where one night is Mountains. Mt. Kazbek is associated which once belonged to the 19th spent. Evening at leisure. Dinner at a with the myth of Prometheus. century aristocratic poet Alexander local restaurant. According to legend he was chained Chavchavadze. The complex on the mountain as a punishment for comprises a memorial house, a having stolen fire from the Gods and landscape garden, a historical winery, 16 September Tbilisi / Mtskheta / given it to mortals. Take a four-wheel wine cellar, hotel and a café. Drive Ananuri / Kazbegi drive to 14th-century Gergeti Holy back to Lopota. Dinner at the hotel. Drive to Mtskheta, the ancient capital located at the confluence of the Trinity Church which is located at Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers. See the a height of 2,170 metres under Mt. 15 September Lopota / Alaverdi / UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jvari, Kazbegi. Ikalto / Tbilisi a cross-shaped monastery which Experience making ‘Khinkali’, Depart by coach for Alaverdi dates to the 6th century, located at Georgian dumplings filled with Monastery. The monastery was the top of a hill. minced meat in dough which founded by the Assyrian monk Lunch at a local restaurant outside originated in the Georgian mountain Joseph (Yoseb, Amba) Alaverdeli, Tbilisi. Visit the grand 11th- regions, followed by lunch with who came from Antioch and settled century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, a a local family. Drive towards the in Alaverdi, then a small village masterpiece of medieval Georgian Russian border, enjoying the views of and former pagan religious centre architecture with stunning views the dramatic Dariali Gorge followed dedicated to the Moon. At a height over the Kura and Aragvi Rivers, by a hike to Gveleti Waterfall. Dinner of over 55 metres, Alaverdi Cathedral set on the southern slopes of the at the hotel. is the second tallest religious Caucasus Mountains. Drive along the building in Georgia, after Holy Georgian Military Highway and visit Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, which 18 September Kazbegi / Gori / Ananuri Fortress, a former residence Uplistsikhe / Kutaisi was consecrated in 2004. Visit Ikalto of the Dukes of the Aragvi region. Drive to Gori (190 kms) and visit the Monastery Complex. The monastery This complex features churches and Joseph Stalin Museum, devoted to was the first in Kakheti region; it was towers dating back to the 14th-18th the most famous native of the city, built in the 6th century by a Christian centuries, overlooking the beautiful who became head of the government preacher, Zenon of Ikalto, who was Jinvali lake, in a picturesque and led the Soviet Union from 1925 to one of the Assyrian fathers settled in landscape. Continue your journey 1953. Georgia to preach Christianity. Zenon and explore Khevi Province, the heart lived in the monastery, preached of the country, known for its severe Lunch at a local restaurant in Gori. and healed. He had disciples and scenery and numerous architectural Visit Uplistsikhe, known as ‘God’s followers which led to the expansion monuments and archaeological sites. Fortress’ the remarkable ancient cave of the monastery. Zenon Ikalto was Check into Hotel Kazbegi for two city, all hewn out of rock. The city buried under one of the churches of nights. Dinner at the hotel. played a significant role in Georgian the complex. history over a period of approximately Proceed to Kakheti for a cooking 3,000 years. Archaeological 020 3411 4595 | [email protected] | THEULTIMATETRAVELCOMPANY.CO.UK TOUR PRICES PER PERSON Tour Price £3,395 Single Supplement £795 PRICE INCLUDES • Accommodation throughout as shown in the itinerary • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily • All entrance fees, visits, excursions and transportation as per the itinerary • Gratuities in restaurants for included meals • Gratuities to guide/s • Gratuities to driver/s • Porterage Jinvali Water Reservoir, Georgia • Local English-speaking guide/s • The services of your tour leader throughout excavations have revealed 20 September Kutaisi / Tbilisi extraordinary artefacts dating from PRICE EXCLUDES Visit the Prometheus Caves located the late Bronze Age up to the late in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Middle Ages. The ancient cave city • International flights region. This 1.2 km-long cave was built on a rocky bank of the • Alcoholic and non-alcoholic complex provides breath-taking Mtkvari River, approximately 15 examples of stalactites, stalagmites, beverages kilometres east of the town of Gori. curtains, petrified waterfalls, cave • Travel insurance Between the 6th century BC and pearls, underground rivers, and 11th century AD, it was one of the • Items of personal expenditure (e.g.