Discover Georgia (Arrive & Depart Tbilisi Airport)

After breakfast, meet your guide at the hotel reception for a tour of Tbilisi. Start by visiting Sameba (St. Trinity) Cathedral, the tallest in Georgia. Stroll through Rike Park and cross the modern Bridge of Peace, then take a cable car up to Narikala Fortress for breathtaking panoramic views of the city. Visit the statue of Mother of Georgia before heading to the Sulphur Bath district, passing by the only mosque in Tbilisi. Explore the charming Sharden area with its narrow streets, cozy cafés, wine tasting bars, and souvenir shops. Visit Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica (the oldest surviving church in Tbilisi), and the clock tower of the famous Rezo Gabriadze Theatre.

After enjoy some free time to explore the city. In the evening head for dinner at a local restaurant with a folk music and dance performance. Overnight in Tbilisi.

After breakfast, depart for the mountains. Stop at Zhinvali Water Reservoir to admire the beauty of nature and visit Ananuri Fortress, a 17th-century complex that once served as the residence of the Argveti Dukes. Continue along the Georgian Military Highway, stopping at Gudauri viewpoint to enjoy views of the stunning scenery. Arrive in Stepantsminda, check into your hotel or guesthouse.

For an additional fee (~6 EUR), drive up to the famous Gergeti Trinity Church, located at 2,170 meters in in the foot of Mkinvartsveri (Kazbek) Mountain – the third highest peak in the country (5,054 m). The church offers spectacular views and is a popular wedding venue. After exploring, return to Stepantsminda for dinner and overnight.
Driving distance/time: ~ 170 km/~ 3.5 h

After breakfast, drive back to Tbilisi. On the way, stop in Mtskheta, an ancient town that was once the capital of the Georgian Iberian Kingdom. Mtskheta is a UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its charming wooden balconies, colorful houses, lovely souvenir stands. It is important town to every ortodox, as it is home to one of the country’s most important churches – Svetitskhoveli. Continue to Jvari Monastery, also a UNESCO site, perched on a hill with magnificent views of the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi Rivers.

Return to Tbilisi and check into your hotel. The evening is free to explore. Overnight in Tbilisi.
Driving distance/time: ~ 170 km/~ 3.5 h

After breakfast, depart for the Kakheti wine region. First, visit Sighnaghi, an 18th-century town often called the “City of Love” for its 24/7 marriage services. This royal town, once an important trading center on the Great Silk Road, was surrounded by a wall with 23 watch towers and 6 gates, and the ruins of this wall are still visible today. Wander through its charming streets, climb the wall for stunning views of the Alazani Valley and the Great Caucasus Mountains, and visit the Sighnaghi Museum to admire works by the famous Georgian painter Niko Pirosmani.

Next, visit one of the local wineries in Kakheti, where you’ll learn about the ancient art of wine-making using the UNESCO-listed Qvevri method. Enjoy a wine tasting and a delicious lunch made from local ingredients. Depending on the season, you may even participate in the grape harvest and wine-making process (extra charge).

Afterward, drive to Telavi, the administrative center of Kakheti. Overnight in Telavi.
Driving distance/time: ~ 180 km/ ~ 3 h

After breakfast, explore Telavi with a visit to the local food market, famous for its fresh produce, spices, wines and sunflower oil. See the monument to Erekle II, the 18th-century King of Kakheti, and the impressive 900-year-old tree, 12 meters wide and 46 meters tall.

Continue to Tsinandali, where you can visit the house-museum and botanical park of Aleksandre Chavchavadze (1786-1846), a prominent public figure, benefactor, poet, and wine collector. Explore his house, park, and wine cellar, which houses a collection of vintage wines, with the oldest bottle dating back to 1841. Afterward, indulge in a tasting at the museum‘s tasting-romm, where you savor the rich flavors of „Tsinandali Estate“ wines.

You will then continue the journey by visiting another of the region’s famous landmarks, the Alaverdi Cathedral. Surrounded by vineyards where the Alaverdi monks still make wine, this temple dates back to the 6th century. The cathedral is remarkable not only for its unique frescoes but also for its height: until 2004, when the Holy Trinity Cathedral was built in Tbilisi, the 55-meter Alaverdi Cathedral was the tallest church in Georgia.

Drive back to Tbilisi via the scenic Gombori Mountain Pass, reaching its highest point at 1,620 meters. Upon arrival in Tbilisi, enjoy some rest before your final day in the city. Overnight in Tbilisi. Driving distance/time: ~ 150 km/~3 h

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day at your leisure, exploring Tbilisi on your own. Overnight in Tbilisi.