The Cave Cities
A small ancient settlements are scattered throughout this wild landscape with medieval watchtowers and fascinating views of snow-capped mountains, alpine meadows, roaring rivers and waterfalls. Still inhabited dwellings are recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Exploration of this remote part of the world and its preserved traditions will leave you with unforgettable pleasant memories!
Tour is filling up quickly. Reserve your place .
Full Board
All accommodation
All domestic transfers
Comfortable bus service
Tour guide and assistant
First Aid Kit
Museum tickets
Historical monuments entrance fees
Bottle of Mineral Water
Covid-19 Safety Kit
Details:
Regions: Tbilisi – Mtskheta -Kartli– Imereti
Duration: 7 nights
Food: Full Board
Accommodation: Hotels
Best Season: From May to early November
Group Size: Not limited
Travel: Bus/Minivan
Main Activities: Sightseeing/Archaic Cave Culture
Overview
Georgia has served from the earliest times as a crossroad of cultures, with its traditions and values tightly kept during the turbulent history. Travelers, public figures, writers and finally visitors have all remarked the beauty of the landscape, unique polyphonic music, dramatic mountains and surely delicious and original cuisine. All these have evolved steadily over three millennia – along with an indigenous language and script.
The tour consists of visiting ancient monuments, rock-hewn cities and some of the most important speleological caves.
You’ll have chance to step in the ancient history of civilization, represented today as remains of cave sites keeping secrets and mysteries. Be admired to enclose them all!
Better to see it once with your own eyes then hear about it a hundred times!
Locations
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival 1
Arrive in Tbilisi. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2 – Explore Old Town
Breakfast at hotel. Explore old town. Visit Narikhala fortress from 4th century built as a main stronghold of the city. Continue stroll in narrow streets of old town. Visit several art boutiques. To study more about Georgian culture, tradition and treasures visit Georgian National Museum and Museum of Fine Arts. Overnight at hotel.
Day 3 –The Former Capital
Breakfast in hotel. Drive to Mtskheta, the town significant for its cultural heritage dated back from 3rd century BC the UNESCO site. Visit 6th century Jvari monastery, 11th century Svetitskhoveli cathedral and Samtavro nunnery. Depart to Gori, town being famous as a birth place of J. Stalin. Excursion to Uplistsikhe rock-hewn city, dated back from 1st millennium BC – identified as one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia. *Optional visit at J. Stalin’s museum and house of birth. Trip continues to west Georgia and visit 12th century Gelati monastery and the former academy. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Kutaisi
Day 4 – The Two Caves
After breakfast *optional visit to ethnography museum of Kutaisi. Drive to Sataplia cave, famous for its Dinosaur footprints and amazing stalagmites. Explore Prometheus speleological cave; take a boat tour and reveal with mystic and breathtaking examples of stalactites, stalagmites, curtains, petrified waterfalls, cave pearls, underground rivers, and lakes. Transfer to Akhaltsikhe with brief stop at “Shrosha” clay market en-route. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Akhaltsikhe. Beauty
Day 5 – Mysterious Rock-Hewn City
Breakfast in hotel. *Optional visit to medieval castle Rabati restored recently awakens the lifestyle of 13th century. Tour continues to Vardzia rock-hewn city-complex from 12th century, with strategically superb location for defence and well developed urban settlements that can be compared with megapolis of same epoch. Depart to Tbilisi. Overnight at hotel.
*Optional visit 9th century Khertvisi castle, one of the old fortresses with walls remaining from 2nd century
Day 6 – David Gareja Monastery
Breakfast in hotel. Depart to David Gareja semi-desert area and monastery complex famous for 9th-14th centuries rock-hewn fresco paintings. The complex was founded by one of the holly Syrian fathers David in 6th century. Visit Lavra monastery, hike up to the natural border of Georgia and Azerbaijan to explore the frescoes. Depart to Sighnaghi royal town and enjoy tasting of organic wines. Transfer to Tbilisi. Overnight at hotel.
Day 7 – Free Day in Tbilisi
*Breakfast in hotel. Overnight at hotel.
*Optional visit at D. Sarajishvili cognac factory for cognac tasting
*Optional excursion to Aghmashenebeli Avenue;
*Optional SPA treatments at sulfur bathhouses.
*Optional sub-way tour.
*Optional visit Funicular;