Special Religious Tour All Georgia

• Tbilisi-Mtskheta-Kutaisi-Telavi-Tbilisi

During this tour, you will visit:

Day 1

• Arrive in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, and have a short evening walk in the city. Overnight in a local hotel

Day 2

• In the morning, start your day by visiting the most important churches in Tbilisi. Start with Sameba Cathedral, which is the biggest construction of its kind in Georgia and a patriarchal church. Continue your way to Rustaveli Avenue and visit Qashveti Church. This church is adorned with beautiful fresco paintings. Walk on Rustaveli Avenue and Freedom Square and start your tour of the historical part of Tbilisi. Visit Anchiskhati Basilica, the residence of the patriarch of Georgia, the Roman Catholic Church, Sioni Cathedral, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and Metekhi Cathedral. After the tour, take a funicular train to Mta Tsminda, where you can visit the church of Father David. In the courtyard of Father David’s church, one can find a pantheon of public figures and enjoy beautiful views over the city.
• Overnight in Tbilisi

Day 3

• Today will be devoted to Mtskheta, which is the old capital of Georgia and a religious center. Mtskheta was the seat of the patriarch of the whole country. It’s also called Second Jerusalem because of the many Christian relics preserved in the city, including Jesus Christ's tunic. The first stop is Jvari monastery (VI c.), proudly standing on the mountain, overlooking the city and its environs. Another stop will be Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (XI c.), which is significant for many things. Most importantly, for Christ’s tunic that is buried under the cathedral, it is also the burial place of Georgian kings and Saint Andrew's holy parts. Have a short stop for coffee or lunch because your next stop will be Samtavro Nunnery. According to the narrative, Saint Nina’s blackberry bushes are growing in the courtyard of this nunnery. Visit Shiomghvime Monastery, one of the most beautiful and distinguished churches in the country.
• Travel to Kutaisi. Overnight in Kutaisi

Day 4

• Today you are going to visit the most important historical sights of the Georgian Golden Age. Start with the Gelati Monastery Complex (XII c.). Gelati is a very popular monastery for Georgians for several reasons: 1. It was an educational center for Georgia in the period of the Georgian Renaissance. 2. Gelati was a burial site for Georgian kings from XII–XIII c. 3. Gelati’s fresco painting is unique in the whole world. 4. Only one depiction of King David the Builder is preserved on the walls of Gelati Cathedral, and so on. The next stop is Bagrati Cathedral (X c.). In the opinion of locals, Bagrati is the main place of worship in Kutaisi. This is because Bagrati was built in honor of the unification of Georgia in X c. A.D. by King Bagrat (the name derives from the name of the king), and since then it has served as a place of the crowning of Georgian monarchs and a religious center. Motsameta Monastery is another place you are going to visit. The monastery stands above the Rioni River and is buried in coastal vegetation. According to the legend, the monastery was constructed on the site where Muslim aggressors executed David and Konstantin Mkheidze, Georgian princes who refused to accept Islam. Motsameta attracts crowds of tourists with an ancient superstition: if one crawls three times under the ark and makes a wish while touching the hallows, the princes David and Konstantin will grant it.
• Overnight in Kutaisi

Day 5

• In the morning, after breakfast, travel back to Tbilisi. On the way to Tbilisi, visit the Katskhi pillar. Katskhi is a unique church located on a naturally formed pillar. It is a monastery now and a church built in the X century.
• Free time in Tbilisi
• Overnight in Tbilisi

Day 6

• After having breakfast in the hotel, meet your guide and driver to start your way to Kakheti, the cradle of wine. In Kakheti, you have a long day full of historical sights. Your first stop after driving through one of the most beautiful roads in Georgia Gombori is a small town called Telavi. Telavi is the administrative center of the Kakheti region. It is also one of the oldest towns in Georgia. After a short walk in the old town of Telavi, visit the residence of King Erekle II. It was just restored and remade into a museum. Here you can see: numismatic material, late medieval armor, XVII–XIX cc copper items, weapons, etc. Visit the religious center of Kakheti: Alaverdi Monastery (XI c.). There you can find the burial site of Father Joseph Alaverdeli (VI c.) and mural paintings (XI c.). Alaverdi is also known for its vineyard and a long tradition of making different sorts of wines. Ikalto was the biggest educational center in Eastern Georgia in the Middle Ages. Now, there are three churches and the ruins of the academy building. The last destination point is the Gremi monastery and historical complex. Gremi was the capital of the Kakhetian kingdom in the XVI–XVII c. It consisted of three parts, but only the Archangels complex survived the devastating invasions of Shah-Abas I.
• Return to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi

Day 7

• Transfer to the airport
• Departure.

Inclusions