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Autotour – Culture and Mountains of Georgia

Autotour – Culture and Mountains of Georgia

$11 / per person
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On our website you will come across many tours guided or accompanied by a car but if you want more independence and flexibility during your stay, if you are ready to drive on the beautiful roads of our country in this case, we invite you to discover Georgia in full freedom. Your trip will be a good example of cooperation: we will take care of your travel plan, we technically prepare your stay, we will always be there for useful advice and assistance and you can manage the pace of your trips by yourself.

To discover the whole country you need a few weeks but 11 days will be enough to visit the very important places: Kazbegui, the region of Svanetie, Vardzia – the city carved in the rocks and Koutaissi – second most important city and the gastronomic capital of the country .

Tour Plan

1

Arrival - Tbilisi

Arrive in Tbilisi - the capital of the country. Our driver welcomes you at the airport. Transfer to the hotel.

Transfer: Private vehicle, around 00h30, 20 km. Overnight in Tbilisi.

2

Visit the capital of Georgia

In the morning pick up the car near your hotel or from car rental office.

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.
3

Discover UNESCO sights and Greater Caucasus

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.

4

From the North to the central part of the country

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. Optional hiking: 1-2 h, 6 km. Elevation of optional hiking: +/- 450 m Overnight in Gori.
5

Visit rock-hewn town and departure to the West

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 our tour to visit Atenis Sioni - an Orthodox church of the seventh century located almost 10 kilometers south of the town Gori. The church is situated in valley of Tana, well known with its historic monuments, authentic landscapes and its very special regional wine.

Departure to the West part of Georgia, Kutaisi. According to the Greek poem of Apollonius of Rhodes, Kutaisi was the city of King Aiets, father of Medea, wife of Jason. Kutaisi is the second largest city of the country.

Transfer: Private vehicle, around 3h30, 195km. Walking hours: around 2h. Overnight in Kutaisi.

6

Visit UNESCO sights and departure to Svaneti

Visit Kutaisi 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. Visit local market.

Continue to Mestia, Svaneti, mountain region, via Zugdidi. Visit Dadiani Palaces to see the exhibition of Georgian cultural heritage connected to the emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte, Tagiloni treasure materials and the memorial relics of Dadiani dynasty.

Arrive in Svaneti which is one of significant areas of the myth of Argonauts, here used to get the gold with lamb leather. Situated on the southern slopes of the central Greater Caucasus, surrounded by 3,000–5,000 meter peaks.

Transfer: Private vehicle, around 5h, 250km. Walking hours: around 1-2h. Overnight in Mestia.
7

Visit Upper Svaneti

Take difficult road to Upper Svaneti, Ushguli village (Ushguli is accessible only with 4x4 car, if your vehicle is not 4x4, you definitely need to rent local 4x4 car on spot). Ushguli is one of the two highest villages in Europe and recognized by UNESCO, with very authentic Svanetian towers, located at the foot of the Glacier Shkhara (5068 m). Visit medieval Church Lamaria.  At the end of the day return to Mestia. Transfer: Private vehicle, around 2h, 95km. Walking hours: around 3-5h. Elevation of hiking: +/- 150m. Difficulty level of hiking: easy. Overnight in Mestia.
8

Visit Svaneti and its cultural treasure

ightseeing of Mestia on foot, visit typical watchtowers, picturesque landscapes, small church with mural paintings, ethnographical museum with its extraordinary treasure.

Take the road back to Kutaisi.

Transfer: Private vehicle, around 5h, 250km. Walking hours: around 2-3h. Overnight in Kutaisi.
9

Departure to the South

In the morning departure to the South part of Georgia, Samthkhe-Javaheti region. Stop in Borjomi, remarkable with its natural mineral springs, it is possible to visit Borjomi public park, take taste of Borjomi sour water.

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

Continue the road to the medieval monastery Sapara (IX-X CC) set in a green forested canyon.

Departure to Vardzia. Transfer: Private vehicle, around 5h, 255km. Walking hours: around 2h. Overnight in Vardzia.
10

Cave town and alpine landscapes

Visit 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, 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. Return to Tbilisi via Tsalka. This region is known for its abundance of lakes and it is very different from other regions of Georgia with its alpine landscapes. Here we discover Poka Monastery and Paravani Lake - the largest natural lake in the country. Arrive in Tbilisi in the evening and drop off the car at your hotel or at car rental office. Transfer: Private vehicle, around 4h30, 225km. Walking hours: around 2h. Overnight in Tbilisi.
11

Tbilisi - Departure

Transfer to the airport, departure.

Tour Location

ITINERARY Day 1 Arrival - Tbilisi Day 2 Tbilisi Day 3 Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Ananuri – Kazbeghi (Stephantsminda) Day 4 Kazbeghi – Gori Day 5 Gori – Uplistsikhe – Kutaisi Day 6 Kutaisi – Zugdidi – Mestia Day 7 Mestia – Ushguli – Mestia Day 8 Mestia – Kutaisi Day 9 Kutasi – Borjomi – Vardzia Day 10 Vardzia – Tsalka – Tbilisi Day 11 Tbilisi - Departure