Auto tour in Eastern part of Georgia

Arrival in Kutaisi.

Kutaisi is the second largest and the most important city in Georgia - in the West part of the country. Here is one of three international airports of Georgia, mostly low cost airlines operate in Kutaisi airport.

Pick up the car at the airport.

Transfer: Private vehicle, around 30min, 35 km. Overnight in Kutaisi.

Visit the city and its UNESCO sites: Gelati monastery, which is the illustration of the Georgian culture since X C until the XVIII C, the masterpiece of the Golden Age of medieval Georgia, the center of science and education during that period. After we visit recently renovated Bagrati cathedral – the symbol of the city, dated back to the X century.

Departure to Tbilisi - the capital of Georgia. Tbilisi is an economic, social and political center of the country.

Transfer: Private vehicle, around 4h00, 245 km. Walking hours: around 1h. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Walking city tour of Tbilisi, explore its old district with paved streets and traditional houses with wooden balconies, at the bank of Mtkvari river. We visit the landmarks of the city: Metekhi church and its plateau which unfolds a superb view of the old city, Narikala Fortress - the ancient symbol of the city, the district of baths (Abanotubani) known for its Sulphur hot springs.

In the afternoon visit the National Museum and its collections of “golden treasure” from the ancient period. Optional: Instead of visiting the museum, we suggest to go up to Mtatsminda to discover the splendid panorama over the city or visit the recently renovated Marjanishvili district with its Art Nouveau buildings.

Transfer: Private vehicle, around 1h. Walking hours: around 3h. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Visit Tsinandali - palace and historic winery-estate which once belonged to the 19th-century aristocratic poet Alexander Chavchavadze, the palace combines Georgian architecture with Italian inspiration. Arrive in the capital and historical city of Kakheti – Telavi.

The next step allows us to discover the 11th century Alaverdi Cathedral.

Continue to explore the ruins of Ikalto academy where was studied the eminent poet Shota Rustaveli in the 12th century, an author of the great masterpiece of Georgian literature "The Knight in the Panther's Skin “. Departure back to the capital.

Transfer: Private vehicle, around 3h45, 200 km. Walking hours: 1-2h. Overnight in Telavi.

Departure for Mtskheta – an old capital of Iberia kingdom, visit Jvari (Cross) monastery perched on a hill and overlooking the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers. Visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral ("Life-giving column") dated back to the 11tcentury. Shopping of Georgian national handmade souvenirs. Possibility of buying national handcrafted souvenirs.

On the way of Kazbegi visit Ananuri Fortress offers picturesque views over the Jinvali Reservoir. Cross the legendary Georgian Military Highway, one of the world’s most beautiful roads, through the valleys, ravines and finally over the 2300-meters Cross Pass. Arrive in Stepantsminda, Kazbegi.

Transfer: Private vehicle, around 3h, 160km. Walking hours: around 2h. Overnight in Kazbegi.

Early in the morning, visit Gergeti Trinity church situated 300 m above the village. Option: it is possible to organize hiking up to Gergeti Church (6 km, 2 h).

Departure to Gori – soviet city and the central part of Georgia, the hometown of J. Stalin, where you can visit the house-museum of Stalin and its armored car.

Transfer: Private vehicle, around 3h30, 200km. Walking hours: around 1 h. Optional hiking: 2 h, 6 km. Elevation of optional hiking: +/- 450 m Overnight in Gori.

Discover an abandoned rock-hewn town Uplistsikhe (about 1h30), dug into the rocks dates back to the 2nd century, is overlooking to the river Mtkvari.

Continue to Samtskhe-Javakheti region, the South part of the country. Stop in Borjomi, remarkable with its natural mineral springs, visit Borjomi public park.

Visit Rabati Fortress in Akhaltsikhe - renovated medieval fortress built in the 9th century, especially beautiful and illuminated at night.

Transfer: Private vehicle, around 2h40, 155km. Walking hours: around 2-3h. Overnight in Akhaltsikhe.

Departure to Vardzia Cave Town, located at the left bank of Mtkvari river. The monastery complex caved in a rock, is XII-XIII CC Georgian picturesque monument, surrounded  by high mountains and rock cliffs, special kind of architecture. We visit this site which still requires a good physical shape - the multi-storey caves are connected by narrow tunnels, carved into the rocks.

Continue to the West part of the country – Kutaisi.

Transfer: Private vehicle, around 5h15, 290km. Walking hours: around 2h. Overnight in Kutaisi.

Road to Kutaisi International airport, drop of the car at the airport and departure.