Departures:
July: 5, 12, 19, 26
August: 2, 9, 16, 16, 23, 30
September: 9, 16, 23, 30
October: 7, 14, 21, 27
November: 3, 10, 17, 24
- 10 days - 9 nights
- Groups of 8 -12 persons
Price per person from:
1690€
Your Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
- Arrival at Kutaisi International Airport. Transfer to Kutaisi hotel.
Day 2
Kutaisi-Uplishice-Mtzheta-Tbilisi- Wine tasting-Tbilisi
- Breakfast.
- Transfer from Kutaisi to Tbilisi.
- On the way, we visit the cave city of Upliscije (translated from Georgian as God's Fortress) which has a 3000 year history. About 150 caves of various shapes and sizes of the whole complex have been preserved to this day.
- The next stop is the city of Mtzheta, the ancient capital of Georgia, so here are preserved the oldest monasteries and temples that appeared during the period of the birth of Christianity. Right here is the temple of Svetitshoveli (from the Georgian "Pillar of Life") which was originally erected in wood in the 4th century, but after many raids and destruction in the 11th century, the temple was replaced by a new cathedral, which has been preserved to the present day. The interior walls of the temple are covered with frescoes, some of which are preserved from the 16th-17th centuries. In addition, here you can see intertwined tombstones on the floor: for a long time Svetichoveli was the place of coronation of kings and their tomb.
- Samtavro Monastery - The monastery, together with the cathedral of Svetichoveli and Jvari, is on the UNESCO list. The main temple of Samtauro was erected in the 11th century, but the first references to the church in this place are known from the 4th century (mentioned in the description of the life of St. Nino). Today there are craft workshops open here. Samtavro is one of the most significant historical and cultural attractions of Mtzhet.
- Wine tasting at Tbilisi Georgian Craft Wine Delivery, where you can taste real Georgian wine along with snacks.
- Hotel accommodation in Tbilisi
Day 3
Tbilisi - Alaverdi - Necresi - Kindzmarauli - Signahi - Tbilis
- Breakfast
- Drive to the region famous for its vineyards and Kahetia wine. The road passes through the Gombori Pass (65 km forest road), which is known for its picturesque scenery The Alaverdi Cathedral and Monastery is the Cathedral of St. George, being the second highest cathedral in Georgia and the main cathedral in the whole of Kakhetia. Today, Alaverdi is a functioning male monastery and a whole complex of structures. The interior of the church contains ancient frescoes, impressive for their beauty, images of the apostles of the church, inscriptions in Old Georgian and paintings dating back to the 15th century. The Necresi Monastery - this complex consists of several buildings dating back to the 4th-9th centuries.
- The monastery offers incredibly picturesque views of the Alazan valley. Here there are many benches where you can sit and relax in silence, admiring the view. Drive in the direction of Quareli (town) where one of the oldest and largest wine producers of Georgia Kindzmarauli Corporation is located. In times of peace, this winery produced wine for the royal family, and in times of war, when the population used the fortress of Quareli as a shelter, the winery was of strategic importance in feeding the population.
- Here you can also taste various types of wine and, if you wish, buy some as a souvenir. Our last stop is the town of Signahi also known as the City of Love. The town sits on top of a cliff overlooking the Alazan Valley, which is one of Georgia's most famous wine regions. Its charming cobbled streets and alleyways, restored wood-carved balconies and the detailed facades of the buildings in the old centre give the town a romantic mystery.
- We end this trip with a visit to Sighnaghi. The town is located in the eastern part of Kakheti, and is known as the City of Love. It is situated on top of a cliff overlooking the Alazani Valley, one of Georgia's most famous wine regions.
- Transfer to the hotel in Tbilisi.
Day 4
Tbilisi - Sevan - Sevanawak - Dilijan - Agarqin - Ereván
- Breakfast
- Journey to the Georgian-Armenian border.
- On the way, we visit the picturesque Lake Sevan, which is called the Pearl of Armenia. The lake is located at 1,900 metres above sea level and is the largest of the Caucasian lakes. The lake is famous for the purest fresh water and mountain air. On the shore of Lake Sevan there are several interesting spots, some of them located on the Sevan peninsula, which was once a real island, but due to the artificial lowering of the water level in the lake it turned into a peninsula.
- Sevanavank Monastery (9th century) is the oldest monastery on the northwestern shore of Lake Sevan, located on the Sevan peninsula. The Sevan road stretches for a long time between gorges and mountains, gaining altitude up to the pass. The straightest road passes through the longest tunnel in all of Armenia - the Dilijan Tunnel. Dilijan is the counterpart of the Georgian town of Borjomi. During the summer, fleeing the heat of Yerevan, many holidaymakers travel here, relax, enjoy the tranquillity, drink mineral water and breathe the aromatic air of the mountain forests of the Dilijan reserve. The city itself stretches in a mountain gorge for many kilometres along a long road.
- Next is the ancient Agarzin Complex (monastery) located high in the forested mountains where eagles are driven, and the name of the monastery in the Armenian language translates as "eagle game". This includes the Church of St. Grigor (11th century), the Church of St. Astvatsacin (1281), the Church of St. Stepanos (1244), the 13th century chapel, the tomb of the royal family of the Bagratid (12th century), the refectory (1248) and the various facilities for monastic services erected in the 12th-13th century.
- Accommodation at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 5
Ereván - Garni - Gegart - Ereván
- Breakfast.
- The pagan temple of Garni is the only surviving monument of its kind from the Hellenistic period on Armenian territory. After the adoption of Christianity, the temple became the summer residence of Armenian kings. As a result of the severe earthquake of 1679, the temple was almost completely destroyed, but was later restored. Today you can see the remains of an ancient fortress, the royal palace, and a royal bath with multi-coloured mosaics and a mysterious inscription - "They worked without receiving anything" - around the temple.
- Lavash pastry workshop in Garney The famous monastery of Gegard was built in the 12th-13th century. It was originally called Ayrivank ("monastery of the caves") and was later renamed Gegard ("spear"), with which, according to legend, a Roman legionary penetrated Christ. The complex consists of the main church of Catholique, a rock-hewn remnant of two churches, the chapel and the temple of the Virgin, which is considered the oldest monument in the complex.
- Next we have a guided tour of Yerevan. An ancient city with 3 millennia of history, unique architecture and unrepeatable atmosphere combining East and West, hot temperament and European civilization. Walking around the city Yerevan is the best way to really immerse yourself in the local culture, history and cuisine. Republic Square, with its musical fountains, is one of the truly magnificent attractions of Yerevan. Don't miss another of the city's main attractions, the Cascade Complex, whose height offers spectacular views of Yerevan, which you can enjoy to the full on a night when the city is brightly lit.
- And finally we have a tasting of ARARAT cognac, the most famous and successful brand of Armenian cognac all over the world. In the cognac factory you can follow the stages of cognac making, also enjoy the delicious taste and aroma of the different varieties of ARARAT cognac from the primary source.
- Transfer to the hotel.
Day 6
Ereván - Coro - Virap - Norawank - Areni - Ereván
- Breakfast.
- Journey to the Temple of Coro Virap. It is considered one of the holy places of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Because of its geographical location, the Chorus Virap is the closest place to Mount Ararat, from where the opportunity to witness the legendary mountain appears.
- Afterwards we will visit the monastic complex of Noravank, which is surrounded by steep cliffs with a difficult passage. In the "In Areni" winery, historical and local Armenian grape varieties are masterfully showcased. Here, historical winemaking traditions are uniquely combined with modern equipment.
- Return to Yerevan.
Day 7
Ereván - Gümri - Vardzia - Rabat Fortress - Ahalcih
- Breakfast
- Travel to one of the most colourful cities - Gyumri. The national traditions here are rooted in the distant past, the uniqueness of the spirit is manifested in almost everything. The houses are striking for the subtlety of the architectural work, the variety of the colour range of the tufa, the masterly patterns of the wooden balconies. Steeped in centuries, Gümri was the centre of cultural events. Built in 1834, the Black Fortress is one of the famous monuments of Gümri. It is an ensemble of military and architectural structures. In the central part is the Alexandropol Fortress with three gates, in the centre is the layout of the Church of St. Alexander, as well as the southern and northern fortresses that serve as the general protection complex of Alexandropolis.
- We then cross the Armenian-Georgian border and drive to Vardzia - the Vardzia Cave City, founded in the 12th century, is one of the most important and impressive historical monuments in Georgia. In ancient times, the complex consisted of 13 floors connected to each other by a complex system of tunnels. The complex housed dwellings, dining halls, granaries, cellars (maranas), as well as libraries. The city had drinking water and sewage systems.
- The rocky Vardzii Monastery is the part of the Vardziya Istoriko-architectural museum. It is an amazing place for history and culture lovers.
- Visit to the Rabat Fortress (lower part) - which is the main attraction of the Georgian town of Akhalcihe.
- Accommodation in Ahalcikhe.
Duration - 6 hours, +/- 600m
Day 8
Ahalcihe-Borjomi-Green Monastery-Kutaisi
- Breakfast.
- Trip to Borjomi. The mineral water "Borjomi"(town) is widely known in all countries of the post-Soviet space for its curative properties. One of the main places of recreation in Borjomi is the city park. It houses cafes, attractions and a cable car where you can take a ride up the mountain and enjoy the magnificent panoramic views of the surrounding area.
- The Green Monastery is one of the oldest men's monasteries on the territory of Georgia. This small laurel, hidden in a forest, was given the name Mtzwane(green), as it is located in a thickness of forest and bushes and is built of stones that have been covered with dense green moss over time.
- Overnight transfer and guided tour in Kutaisi. The visit to the temple of Bagrat is an important monument of Georgian culture, both by architectural decision and by symbolic significance. A visit to the monastery of Gelat, one of the largest medieval Orthodox monasteries, which was also a center of science and education, and the Academy it housed was one of the most important centuries of culture in ancient Georgia.
- Monastery of Mozameta - The second name of the temple is Monastery of Saint David and Constantine. The temple is an astonishingly picturesque corner, full of silence and peace, and also relates to the history of Georgian princes, martyrs classified among the saints, brothers Constantine and David
- Accommodation in Kutaisi.
Day 9
Kutaisi - Okatse Canyon - Prometheus Cave
- Breakfast.
- Travel to the Okatse canyon, a natural monument of Georgia with panoramic views. The Okatse Canyon has already attracted and surprised a large number of tourists with its magnificent fauna, its amazing waterfalls and its spectacular views. Through the canyon there is a 2 km long footpath and an observation platform with panoramic views of the entire valley.
- The cave Prometheus is the largest cave in Georgia. Only a tenth of it is open for tourists to visit, and yet the walk through the cave takes almost an hour. Inside there are underground lakes and rivers and also here there is very high humidity. Today, the Prometheus cave, surrounded by a natural area specially decorated with a radius of 3 kilometers, is one of the most tempting places for guests of Georgia. The visit to the cave offers a unique opportunity to see the underworld of this region in all its beauties. The route passes impressive stalactites and stalagmites, underground waterfalls, rivers and even a lake.
- Back to Kutaisi.
Day 10
- 03:30 Transfer to the airport. Departure to Spain
Price includes:
- Flight from Bilbao (1 stop), direct flights from Barcelona, Madrid
- All the transfers in the program
- Accommodation in double room, breakfast included (Tbilisi: Reikartz King Tamaru other similar category; Kutaisi: Sani hotel or other similar category; Akhaltsikhe: Tourist hotel or other similar category Yerevan: Hotel Koñak, Komfort or other similar category);
- Service of guided tours;
- Tickets to the monuments of the program and guided tours;
- Wine tasting in Tbilisi, Kahetia in Areni and Ararat cognac factory;
- Gala Dinner.
- Mineral water.
Not included:
- Air and fuel charges
- No visa required
- Air surcharge in case of change in fare or fees
- Any item not specified in the price includes (extras in hotels, drinks at meals and personal expenses)
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