Discover Georgia Tours
2010 Itinerary
Thursday, July 1st
Tbilisi - Borjomi
• 9:30 am: Introductions, loading the bus.
• 10 am: Walk to National Treasury Museum (20 minutes through Old
Town)
• 11:30 am: Depart for Mtskheta (30 minute drive); visit the Jvari
Monastery, one of the earliest surviving examples of the "cross-and-dome"
style architecture which blossomed in the 6th century.
• 12:30 pm: lunch in Mtskheta, ancient capital of Georgia
• 2:00 pm: Depart for Borjomi (1.5 hour drive). Unload luggage at
local homestays (staying two nights)
• 4:30 pm: Mtsvane (Green) Monastery (20 minute drive)
• 6:30 pm: Dinner at homestays
Friday, July 2nd
Borjomi - Vardzia
• 8:00 am: Breakfast at host families
• 9:00 am: Depart for Vardzia Cave Complex (2.5 hour drive).
Built in Queen Tamar's reign in the 12th century, the monastic and
village complex was a major pilgrimage site between Cappadocia and Bodbe
Convent in Eastern Georgia, and once housed more than 700 monks.
• 12:30 pm: Picnic in Vardzia
• 1:30 pm: Drive to Akhaltsikhe, visit the 12th century Sapara Monastery
• 5 pm: Visit other local sites, return to Borjomi
• 7 pm: dinner with host families
Saturday, July 3rd
Borjomi - Kutaisi
• 9 am: Depart Borjomi for Kutaisi, the ancient
capital of Kolchis (2.5 hour drive through the mountains). According to Greek Mythology, Kolchis was the destination of the Greek heroes Jason and the Argonauts.
• 11 am: Brief stop at the Ubisa Church, where restoration of the
11th century frescoes has recently been completed.
• 1 pm: Picnic by the river.
• 3:30 pm: Bagrati Cathedral and Fortress ruins, completed in 1033
AD. Roof was destroyed by Turkish invaders in 1691, but is due to be rebuilt
as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• 7:30 pm: Dinner in homestays (staying one night)
Sunday, July 4th
Kutaisi - Sighnaghi
• 9 am: Tour of the 12th c. Gelati Monastery Complex,
founded by King David the Builder. Cathedral, Church of St. George, renovated
12th c. Academy building;
- Optional Liturgy attendance.
• 12:30 pm: depart for Eastern Georgia (5 hour drive)
• 1:30 pm: picnic lunch
• 2:30 pm: optional stops along the drive include the Samtavisi
Church (Kartli region), and Ninotsminda Church (Kakheti region).
• 7:30 pm: reservation in Sighnaghi restaurant, check into homestays
(staying three nights)
Monday, July 5th
Sighnaghi
• 9:00 am: Free morning
• 10:30 am: Visit Sighnaghi Museum
• 11:30 am: Wine tasting, Old Town Studios
• 1:00 pm: lunch
• 2:30 pm:walk to Bodbe Convent (30 minutes)
• 7:30 pm: Free time before a traditional feast (supra) with the
Zedashe Ensemble www.zedashe.org
Tuesday, July 6th
Telavi: day-trip
• 9 am: Depart for Telavi, capital of King Erekle
II in the late 18th century (2 hour drive)
• 10 am: Visit to a 16th century wine cellar with ancient clay amphoras
and original wine-making implements.
• 12:00 noon: Tour of the Alaverdi Monastery Complex
• 1:30 pm: Picnic at the 12th c. Iqalto Monastery, site of an ancient
academy where Shota Rustaveli, author of the great epic poem, Knight in
the Panther’s Skin, is said to have studied.
• 3:00 pm: Gremi Cathedral and Fortress
• 6:30 pm: return to Sighnaghi homestays, light dinner
Wednesday, July 7th
Sighnaghi - Davit Gareji - Tbilisi
• 9:00 am: Depart Sighnaghi for the Davit Gareji
Cave Complex, founded by St. Davit in the 6th century (2 hour drive).
• 11:30 am: tour of the Lavra Monastery, optional hike to the Udabno
Monastery frescoed caves (1.5 hour hike), followed by a picnic.
• 3:00 pm: depart for Tbilisi, King Vakhtang Gorgasali's capital
city, founded in the 5th century at the site of hot springs on the banks
of the Mtkvari River (1 hour drive)
• 4:00 pm: check-in to GTM hotel, free evening
• 7:00 pm: optional group dinner, meet in the hotel lobby
Thursday, July 8th
Tbilisi - Kazbegi
• 9 am: Early breakfast, departure for excursion
into the high Caucasus (4 hour drive)
• 11 am: Tour of the Ananuri Castle
• 1 pm: Traditional khinkali dumplings for lunch in the village of
Pasanauri
• 4 pm: Homestay check-in, village of St. Stevens, elevation 7000
ft., (staying for two nights)
• 5 pm: Hike to the 13th c. Gergeti-Sameba Monastery, (1.5 minute
leisurely climb or 20 minutes by bumpy jeep upon request)
• 8pm: dinner at homestays
Friday, July 9th
Kazbegi
• 10 am: After breakfast, depart for Daryal Gorge
(30 drive) to check out the Russian border and the new monastery being
built there.
• 12 noon: hike to a waterfall
• 1:30 pm: lunch at the homestays
• 2:30 pm: Afternoon TBA. There are many beautiful villages, nature
walks, medieval towers and/or museums to visit for our afternoon activities,
depending on the weather
• 7 pm: Traditional feast at homestay in St. Stevens
Saturday, July 10th
Kazbegi - Mtskheta - Tbilisi
• 9 am Return to Tbilisi with luggage (3 hour drive)
• 1 pm: lunch in Mtskheta, ancient capital of Georgia
• 2 pm: Tour of the 12th c. Sveti-Tskhoveli Cathedral, center of
the Georgian Church, and burial site of many of the Georgian kings and
queens.
• 4 pm: Return to Tbilisi, check into hotel (staying two nights).
Free afternoon:
- Within walking distance of the hotel, one might visit the Botanical
Gardens, Narikala Fortress, and/or the many art galleries, carpet shops,
and boutiques tucked into the winding streets of Old Town. There are functioning
mosques, synagogues, Catholic churches, and many Orthodox churches also
within easy walking distance.
- Optional Orthodox Vespers services at the 6th c. Anchiskhati Church,
14th c. Sioni Cathedral, and/or 19th c. Jvris Mama Church present a good
chance to hear Georgian chanting, which we will also tour on Sunday morning.
• 8:00 pm: Dinner in the city with singing friends
Sunday, July 11th
Tbilisi
• 9 am: Tbilisi Church tour. We will stop into three
or four services to hear the chant styles.
o Others may wish to visit the Botanical Gardens, the Persian Baths, or
attend Liturgy at the Sameba Cathedral, served by His Beatitude Patriarch
Ilia II.
• 1:30 pm: lunch in the city
• 3:30 pm: TBA. Visits to the flea market for gift shopping has been
a popular option on past tours.
• 6:30 pm: Final dinner with the group, goodbyes