Itinerary

Day 1

Tbilisi sightseeing tour

We will start today with a walk to have a view over the red roofs of the capital and continue on to the Old City, visiting the multicultural sites: old churches and a synagogue, caravanserais, sulfur baths and the bazaar. After lunch a visit to the Art Museum Treasury will be scheduled. The city tour will then continue, bringing us from the past into the present of Tbilisi. Dinner will be held in a local restaurant.

Including: Mother of Georgia statue, Narikala Fortress (I B.C. : XVIII A.D.); Sulfur Baths (XVII A.D.); Wine Street; Sachino Queen's Palace; Metekhi Castle (XIII A.D.); The Great Synagogue (1804 A.D.); former Silk Road's caravanserais, carpet and souvenir shops and galleries; Sioni Cathedral (XV A.D.); Anchiskhati Basilica : the oldest church building in Tbilisi (VI A.D.); Art Museum Treasury; stroll on Rustaveli avenue : the “Champs d'Elisee” of Tbilisi;

Optional: Tbilisi by night
Overnight: hotel in Tbilisi

Day 2

Tbilisi-Mtzkheta-Uplistsikhe-Kutaisi

The day will start with visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in Mtzkheta - the first capital of united Georgia where Christianity was stated as a governmental religion in IV A.D. century. We will continue with lunch en route and on to one of the main ancient Silk Road cities : Uplistsikhe via city of Gori : J.Stalin's birthplace. Kutaisi : the second largest city of Georgia, known as Aia in ancient greek mythology, will be our next and last destination for the day. After checking-in the guesthouse in Kutaisi an evening walk to yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site will be proposed.

Including: Djvari Monastery (VI A.D.) and Svetizkhoveli Cathedral (XI A.D.) : the holiest place in Georgia in Mzkheta; Samtavro Necropolis (II millennium B.C.); Uplistsikhe cave-town (II-I millennium B.C.); Bagrati Cathedral (XI A.D.) : symbol of united Georgia in Kutaisi.

Optional: J.Stalin's House-Museum (1937-1957) in Gori, Ateni Sioni cross-domed church (VII cent. A.D.) in village of Ateni
Overnight: guesthouse in Kutaisi

Day 3

Kutaisi-Vani-Nokalakevi-Kutaisi

This day will start with a morning visit to yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site : an academy and monastery complex, located not far from Kutaisi. The next two destinations will be Vani and Nokalakevi : archeological sites in the area that was known to ancient Greeks as Land of Colchis or of Golden Fleece. Sometime in the afternoon a picnic-lunch will take place.

Vani Archeological Museum was founded in 1985 during the international symposium, following systematic archeological studies carried out since 1947 in the Vani environs. The Museum is situated close to the archeological site of Vani that is famous for its marvelous discoveries of VII-IV Centuries BC. We will also be able to enter to the Gold Fund that was opened at the Museum in 1987, after the discovery of a rich burial. One of the most successful discoveries took place in 2003 :2004, when over 1000 golden objects were unearthed. Some of these objects formed a new exhibition, named "Colchis, the Land of Golden Fleece" (expected to be reopened late 2009 in Tbilisi).

Nokalakevi, also known as Archaeopolis - is another archeological site, that dates back to the early I millenium B.C and has functioned as as the capital of medieval Georgia. Remains of the original walls of a royal palace, acropolis, rich burials, baths, and the early christian churches can be seen along the stunning surrounding cliffs. Rich collection of excavated materials are exposed in the local museum.

Including: Gelati Academy and Monastery Complex (XI cent. A.D.), Vani and Nokalakevi archeological sites (I millennium B.C.) and local archeological museums.
Optional: History Museum in Kutaisi (closed on Mondays)
Overnight: guesthouse in Kutaisi

Day 4

Including: Batumi Archeological Museum, Gonio Fortress (I cent. B.C. : XIX cent. A.D.)
Optional: History Museum in Kutaisi (closed on Mondays)
Overnight: hotel in Batumi

Day 5

Batumi-Sataplia-Navenakhevi-Tbilisi

This day will be long as to drive towards the capital of Georgia. En route we will have lunch somewhere on Rikoti Range, but before that you will have opportunity to explore unique (only two similar in CIS) footprints of dinosaurs and stalactite-stalagmite grottos in the areas of Sataplia and Navenakhevi. After checking in the hotel, a dinner at the local restaurant will be waiting for us in Tbilisi.

Including: Sataplia Natural Reserve (footprints of dinosaurs), Navenakhevi Grotto
Optional: in the morning - Batumi Botanical Garden on Green Cape
Overnight: hotel in Tbilisi

Day 6

Tbilisi-Bolnisi-Dmanisi-Tbilisi (B/PL/D)

Extensive archaeological studies began in the area of Dmanisi, where we are driving today in 1936 and continued in the 1960s. Beyond a rich collection of ancient and medieval artifacts and the ruins of various buildings and structures, unique remains of prehistoric animals and humans have been unearthed. The fascinating fossil hominin skulls and jaws described as Homo Georgicus were found at Dmanisi between 1991 and 2005. They represent a stage soon after the transition between Australopithecus and Homo Erectus, and have been dated at 1.8 million years before the present. After a picnic-lunch en route we will drive back to Tbilisi through a site that homes the oldest existing inscription in Georgian language. Dinner will be held in Tbilisi after a meeting with an archeologist, that will answer the unopened questions that appeared during the tour.

Including: Bolnisi Sioni (the oldest remaining building and inscription in Georgian language of V cent. A.D.), Dmanisi archeological site (where 1,8 million year-old first European skulls were discovered)

Optional: Tsugrughasheni church environs (XIII cent. A.D.)
Overnight: hotel in Tbilisi

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Airport Transfer Land Transportation Guide (Russian, English, German, French speaking) services Museums and Sites Entrance Fees Accommodation in hotels in 3-star hotels in Tbilisi and Batumi Accommodation in guesthouse in Kutaisi A bottle of mineral water per person per day

Exclusions -

Air Transportation Visa Support (can be arranged at a special price)