Day 1: Arrival

After arrival at Tbilisi International Airport, our company representative will meet you in the Airport holding a board with your name written on it. He will accompany you to the vehicle and will take you to your hotel to check-in to your room and rest for a day to get over the jetlag and gather strength until beginning your adventure.

Day 2: Tbilisi city tour + Old Town Mtskheta-Samtavro and Jvari Monastery tour

After breakfast full-day tour in Tbilisi. We will start our tour with visiting The Bridge of peace and beautiful European Park which is situated in the Old Town, from the park we proceed the way by cable car to Narikala Fortress. The fortress was established in the 4th century and considerably expanded over subsequent centuries. Enjoy are spectacular views of the city from the battlements. We will continue exploring the Tbilisi Old Town with Sulfur Baths and Leghvtakhevi Waterfall – this district is called “Abanotubani”. Abanotubani is the place, where according to legend, King Vakhtang Gorgasali’s falcon fell, leading to the discovery of the hot springs and, subsequently the founding of a new capital.

We will visit the  Ancient city of Mtskheta, Samtavro and Jvari Monastery (6th century), Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century). Significant religious site is the Svetitskhoveli. It was built in the 11th century (1010-1029) on the site of the Twelve Apostles Church, the first Christian Georgian church erected in the 4th century. There is a religious legend, connected with this church origination, about Elioz, a citizen of Mtskheta, who found the Tunic of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. Elioz’s sister – Sidonia – died as soon as she touched the tunic. She was buried wrapped in it. Soon a big tree, cedar of Lebanan, grew on Sidonia’s grave. When the ruler Mirian decided to build a temple on the place where the Tunic of the God was buried the cedar was cut down. They made seven columns from the tree and began to install them in the church. Six columns were in place but the seventh was not; it was hanging in mid-air. The Baptist of Georgia, St. Nino prayed all night long and then the column “without a touch of a human hand” froze on its place and … started shedding holy ointment. The miraculous chrism cured patients of heavy illnesses. Hence the temple’s name – Svetitskhoveli; in Georgian, it means “the Life-Giving Pillar”. One of the greatest religious holidays of Georgia is Mtskhetoba-Svetitskhovloba is dedicated to the Life-Giving Pillar and the Tunic of God. It is marked two times a year (on July 13th and October 14th). Next to Mtskheta, on top of a hill above the Aragvi River is the Jvari Monastery. This complex contains several buildings from different periods including a classic Georgian cruciform church dating from the mid-6th century. There are beautiful views from here.

Due to its historical significance and several cultural monuments, the “Historical Monuments of Mtskheta” became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. As the birthplace and one of the most vibrant centers of Christianity in Georgia, Mtskheta was declared as the “Holy City” by the Georgian Orthodox Church in 2014.

In 2016 the Historical Monuments of Mtskheta were placed by UNESCO under Enhanced Protection, a mechanism established by the 1999 Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. Back to Tbilisi Hotel and overnight.

Day 3: Ananuri -Gudauri-Kazbegi

After breakfast transfer to Mtiuleti region. On the way to Kazbegi we will visit Ananuri fortress: seat the Dukes of Aragvi and its earliest parts date from the 13th century. The fortress is on the UNESCO Tentative list.  We will continue our tour by visiting Friendship Monument – the monument is a large round stone and concrete structure overlooking the Devil’s Valley in the Caucasus Mountains. Thereafter we will visit Gergeti Trinity Church – The Church is situated on the right bank of the river Chkheri (the left tributary of the river Terek). Will enjoy the stunning views of Mount Kazbeki, the third highest mountain in Georgia (after Mount Shkhara and Janga). Back to Tbilisi Hotel and overnight.

Day 4: Departure

After breakfast check-out from a hotel and transfer to Tbilisi International Airport.