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Dates for Guaranteed Departures:
From: |
To: |
24.05.2011 |
01.06.2011 |
02.06.2011 |
10.06.2011 |
30.06.2011 |
08.07.2011 |
03.08.2011 |
11.08.2011 |
31.08.2011 |
08.09.2011 |
20.09.2011 |
28.09.2011 |
12.10.2011 |
20.10.2011 |
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Day 1 |
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Meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel
Overnight in Tbilisi. |
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Day 2 |
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Tbilisi tour (50 KM)
Free morning in Tbilisi. 15:00 Evening Tbilisi tour. We will visit the Old Tbilisi Sulfur Baths, Georgian Orthodox and Armenian Gregorian churches, and a Jewish synagogue and a Turkish mosque side by side, reflecting Tbilisi's acceptance and tolerance of different religions. We can also see a recent monument, the Tbilisi Sameba Cathedral, the largest cathedral in the Caucasus. Tour includes following sights: Metekhi Church is erected on the cliff, overlooking the Mtkvari River. There is a statue of King Vakhtang Gorgaslani, founder of Tbilisi, in front of the church. The church dates back to the 12th century and has a diverse history, connected with Mongol invasions and political repressions of the Soviet Empire. The colorful Darejani Palace is also situated on the cliff, like the nest of a swallow. The Sulfur Baths are located in Old Tbilisi, on the other side of the river, opposite Darejani Palace. Tbilisi was named after the natural Sulphur springs. The Orthodox Narikala St. Nikolas Church is in the same district. The church is furnished with frescoed portraits of martyrs and scenes from the Bible. It is wrapped in a defensive Narikala fortress, established in the fourth century. We can walk up the stairs of the fortress and overlook Tbilisi. Walk down the path from the hill and on cobbled Leselidze Street, we come across the 13th century Armenian St. George Church and a Jewish synagogue with an elegant facade.On the opposite side of the street is Sioni Church, leading to the bank of the Mtkvari. Here you discover Shardeni Street with its fashionable cozy cafes and art galleries. Walking we will com across the Anchiskhati church, the oldest church in Tbilisi keeping the miraculous icon of Jesus Christ. Finally the tour takes you to Rustaveli Avenue, where attractions such as the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Parliament, Rustaveli Theatre, different art galleries and cafes will draw your attention.
Overnight in Tbilisi. |
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Day 3 |
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Tbilisi/ Mtskheta /Gori/ Uplistsikhe/ Kutaisi (350 KM)
After breakfast drive to Mtskheta (UNESCO Heritage Site), an ancient capital of the Georgian Kingdom from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD. Jvari Monastery (6th c.); Svetitskhoveli Cathedral built in the 11th century. Drive to Gori. The city was founded by one of the greatest kings of Georgia, David the Builder (1089–1125). On the way visit Samtavisi, an 11th century Georgian Orthodox cathedral. The first monastery on this place was founded by the Assyrian missionary Isidore in 572 and later rebuilt in the 10th century. Visit The Joseph Stalin Museum in Gori (entrance fee: USD 6). Afterwards visit Uplistsikhe (entrance fee: USD 1, 70), "the lord's fortress", which is an ancient rock-hewn town in eastern Georgia. Built on a high rocky left bank of Mtkvari River, it contains various structures dating from the 2nd ML BC to the Late Middle Ages, and is notable for the unique combination of various styles of rock-cut cultures. Drive to Kutaisi.
Dinner and overnight in Kutaisi. |
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Day 4 |
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Kutaisi tour/Sataplia Caves with dinosaur footprints (70 KM)
After breakfast start Kutaisi city tour. Kutaisi is the second largest city of Georgia in its west part founded about 40 centuries ago, former capital of the west Georgian Kingdom Colchis, to which is related the myth of Golden Fleece and Argonauts. Visiting Bagrati Temple (11th c. UNESCO heritage) and Gelati Monastery (12th c. UNESCO heritage). Visit smaller monastery of Motsameta, spectacularly sited on a cliff-edge. Afterwards drive to visit Sataplia caves (entrance fee is not yet stated, but approximately will be USD 1, 70-2, 30 . Sataplia State Reserve is a most multifarious and very rare monument. It is of complex character and contains geologic, paleontological, speleological and botanical monuments. The Sataplia Mountain is famous by its rarest and the most beautiful caves. This cave was firstly noticed by Kutaisi museum employee, pedagogues P. Chabukiani who was able to make organization of this valuable monument protection by the local government, and in 1933, there was found a dinosaur trace. Sataplia State Nature Reserve was created in 1935 to protect geological, paleontological, speleological and botanical monuments. The reserve is located in Tskaltubo region in 260 km. from Tbilisi, and in 9 km. from the resort Tskaltubo. Sataplia Nature Reserve represents the south-west edge of Racha gorge, total area of the Nature Reserve is 354 ha., 209 ha from here is covered by forest. Relief: Sataplia Nature reserve is mountainous, it's great area is
covered by most beautiful and multifarious wood strain Colchian type mixed forests. Mountainous Sataplia is located at 500 m. above sea level. Here we meet 5 carts caves which are famous for their beauty, size and from the scientists’ points of view were taken great consideration. One of these karst cavern length is 600 m., the beauty of this cavern is a cupola-shaped hall, located in 100 m. from the entrance, where the size and beauty of stalactites and stalagmites in the centre astonishes visitors. At the end of the cavern flows the spring which flows into the well, after that the water goes on in narrow impassable clefts and finds its way out in the south slope of the Sataplia Mountain as Oghaskura. There is an extinct volcano crater in the Nature Reserve. The highest top is at 520 m.
Above sea level. Back to Kutaisi.
Dinner and overnight in Kutaisi. |
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Day 5 |
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Kutaisi/Zugdidi/Mestia (250 KM)
After breakfast drive to Sugdidi. Visit Dadiani Palace there (entrance fee: USD 1, 70) . The representatives of Dadiani Dynasty were acquainted with world history, culture latest technical achievements. They were tightly involved in the social events. The Palace keeps 41 000 museum objects. Most of them are unique and invaluable examples of Georgian and foreign art. En route we visit Enguri Dam with the height of 271 meters (the highest dam of this type in the world). The Dam makes a water-storage reservoir in the picturesque gorges of Samegrelo and Svaneti mountains. It's time to get ready for the most exciting part of the trip - a journey to Svaneti, the region of the highest mountains and glaciers and the most abiding ancient traditions.
Dinner and overnight at the guesthouse in Mestia. |
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Day 6 |
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Mestia/Ushguli/Mestia (90 KM)
After breakfast drive to Ushguli by Jeeps. Visit Laghami Saint George's church (7th-12th c.c.) and Svan dwelling complex. Visits to: The church of St. George in Nakipari (1130 AD) and Ethnographic Museums in Ushguli. Ushguli is considered to be the highest populated place in Europe (2200 m above sea level). (NOTE: please note that in Svaneti region you may need approximately USD 6 for each sight, this is stated not by government, but by the local people who are taking care of each sightseeing place).
Dinner and overnight at the guesthouse in Mestia. |
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Day 7 |
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Mestia/Batumi (280 KM)
After breakfast visit Latali and Lenjeri single-nave basilicas of the 8th-9th-14th c.c., built by stones without ornamentation, with the interior richly decorated with murals. Afterwards drive to Batumi the most beautiful city of Georgia. Have a free time in Batumi to take a walk across the beach in a famous Batumi boulevard.
Overnight in Batumi.
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Day 8 |
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Batumi/Tbilisi (400 Km)
After breakfast Batumi sightseeing. Visit Gonio Fortress (entrance fee: USD 1, 70), Petra castle and Batumi botanical garden (entrance fee: USD 4, 50). In the evening drive to Tbilisi. Drive to the hotel to prepare for the farewell dinner.
Overnight in Tbilisi. |
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Day 9 |
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Transfer to the hotel. Departure home.
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Rates in Euro in 3* hotel (city center) per person in DBL/Twin room occupancy for: 715 Euro
Single Supplement: 145 Euro
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3 x overnights in hotel in Tbilisi |
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2 x overnights in hotel in Kutaisi |
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2 x overnights in hotel in Mestia
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1 x overnights in hotel in Batumi |
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Transportation as per program |
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Jeeps in Ushguli |
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English/Russian speaking Cultural tour guide |
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Catering BB: (breakfast at the hotel) |
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Dinners in Kutaisi and Mestia (4 x dinners) |
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1 bottle of mineral water per day/per person |
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Additional Supplements:
Hotel:
4* hotel supplement per person in DBL/ Twin occupancy – 125 Euro
4* hotel sgl supplement – 330 Euro
Catering:
HB supplement 70
Euro
FB supplement 90 Euro
Guide service:
Guide supplement (German, Italian, French, Spanish) for up to 6 pax – 240 Euro per group
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