Kutaisi

Tours

The first stop of the day will be in Surami, where you will have the opportunity to taste a famous freshly-baked Nazuqi (sweet bread baked in an oven), which is a morning must-have for local Georgians. Continue on the tour to the Martvili district, one of the most gorgeous places in Georgia, combining different unique natural environments. You will be shocked with brilliant scenery, sensational waterfalls, and a boat trip in the river which possesses a deep-green color. You can board a boat with a boatman and he will take you on an unforgettable journey between the high rocks in the canyon. You will also have the chance to have lunch (by request) and try out traditional Georgian dishes. Get your camera ready for Kumistavi (Prometheus Cave), which is the biggest cave in Georgia. There are spectacular views of stalactites, stalagmites, petrified waterfalls, underground rivers, and lakes throughout this vast and impressive cave. Within the cave, there are colorful lights ranging from orange, red, pink, and blue. You have two options to enjoy your impressive cave tour. You may choose a walking tour along the 1,600-meter route, or can rather opt for a boat ride along the underground river. When the tour ends you will have the choice of being dropped in Kutaisi, the third-biggest city in Georgia, or Tbilisi.

The Kutaisi day tour begins with a walk through old streets of the downtown area, which you will see amazing historical monuments. After an hour of sightseeing, climb aboard a comfortable tour bus and head to villages in the surrounding area of Kutaisi. First, you will stop at the Gelati Monastery, built by the most powerful Georgian King David the Builder. Marvel at this architectural masterpiece from the Middle Ages and the astonishing mosaic fresco. Visit the grave of the King and learn about his last will left for generations. Hear legends and stories about heroes defending their homeland, before venturing to your next stop.  Arrive at Motsameta Monastery, which offers awe-inspiring views of the river and the surrounding countryside. It is named after the brothers Davit and Konstantin Mkheidze, tortured by Arabs for defending Christianity. Bagrati Cathedral will show you its own story and an impressive panoramic view of the city. Discover the unforgettable beauty of Prometheus Cave and feel like a hero of a mysterious adventure when riding a boat across the underground lake. There is also the opportunity for some hiking at the end, for the more resistant and curious, through Sataplia forest reserve with a cave and prehistoric footprints of dinosaurs (optional).

You will be picked up from your hotel at 07:30 AM and will arrive in Kutaisi at 10:00 AM. First, you will stop at the Gelati Monastery, built by the most powerful Georgian King David the Builder. Marvel at this architectural masterpiece from the Middle Ages. Visit the grave of the king and learn about his last will left for generations. Hear legends and stories about heroes defending their homeland, before venturing to your next stop. After, travel to Motsameta Monastery, which offers awe-inspiring views of the river and the surrounding countryside. It is named after the brothers Davit and Konstantin Mkheidze, tortured by Arabs for defending Christianity.  Next, visit the Bagrati Cathedral which will show you its own story and an impressive panoramic view of the city. Discover the unforgettable beauty of Prometheus Cave and feel like a hero of a mysterious adventure when riding a boat across the underground lake. There is also the opportunity for some hiking at the end, for the more resistant and curious, through Sataplia forest reserve with a cave and prehistoric dinosaur footprints. You will be dropped back at your hotel at 9:00 PM. 

Visit the Martvili Canyon and the Prometheus Cave, two of the most breathtaking natural features in Georgia. Learn about this diverse region from your local guide. Start your tour at Martvili Canyon, located in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region of Georgia. Experience one of the most scenic places in Georgia as you cruise along the emerald-colored river. Enjoy time to explore the area and sample the unique cuisine. Feel free to ask your guide for recommendations about where to go. Continue to Kumistavi or the Prometheus Cave named after a famous myth of Amirani. Witness the spectacular views of stalactites, stalagmites, petrified waterfalls, underground rivers, and cave lakes. Choose a walking tour along the 1600m route or hop on a boat for a ride along the underground river. After, be dropped back at Best Western Kutaisi hotel or the traveler's meeting point in Tbilisi (50m from Avlabari Metros station).

Batumi is the Pearl of the Black Sea. Set off on a day trip from Kutaisi and you'll have chance to try the delicious, regional Adjarian Khachapuri and take a Batumi city tour. In Batumi, you'll find the perfect walking area — a beautiful boulevard lined with both new, fashionable and old, 19th-century buildings, and dotted with elegant squares, green parks, and nice relaxation areas with lakes and fountains. Take advantage of a wide range of services, from restaurants and hotels, to numerous bars and nightclubs, a diving club, and yacht club. Enjoy walking along the boulevard and discover all the most notable sights of Batumi, such as the Ali and Nino Monument, which is a metal structure of a man and woman passing through each other, symbolizing a tragic love story. You'll also find a ferris wheel and the 145-meter high Alphabet Tower, the monument to the old and unique Georgian script. Marvel at the many new towers, such as the Radisson and Sheraton hotels and Georgia’s tallest building, the 200-meter high Batumi Tower. Also, check out a series of great viewpoints and spots to take fantastic photos of the Old Boulevard. Visit Europe Square, where you'll find renovated old buildings, as well as new ones in the old style. Check out the castle with an astronomical clock and a stunning monument to Medea in the center. According to the myth of Argonauts, Medea was the first widely-known Georgian woman who took Golden Fleece to Ancient Greece from the oil-rich Georgian state of Colchis. Be amazed by Piazza Batumi, one of the most beautiful squares in Georgia framed with various hotels, cafes, and restaurants. In just a few short years, the square has become a popular international entertainment venue. At the end of the tour you'll be able to stay in Batumi or transfer back to Kutaisi.

After being collected from your Kutaisi accommodation, you will venture towards your kitchen where you will receive an introduction to Georgian cuisine. You will be able to choose from two of these following three options: Khinkali Khinkali is made by twisting knobs of dough stuffed with meat and spices, and is considered to be one of the most popular national dishes. Different regions of Georgia make khinkali with different fillings. The most popular filling is a mixture of pork and beef. In the mountains, khinkali is often made with a lamb filling. Churchkhela Churchkhela is a traditional candy made by repeatedly dipping a long string of nuts in tatara, a mixture of flour, sugar, and Badagi (fresh grape juice). Georgians usually make Churchkhela in autumn when grapes and nuts are harvested. Churchkhela can also be made with dried fruit such as peach, apple, or plum and pumpkin seeds. Khachapuri Khachapuri, is Georgian cheese pie consisting of bread stuffed with melted cheese, often served sliced like a double-crust pizza. Different regions of Georgia have their own type of khachapuri. The most common is Imeretian khachapuri, from the region of Imereti, which is circular.

Explore Bakuriani ski resort, one of the best resorts in Georgia. Begin with the Green monastery which was built between the 9th and 10th centuries and is 13 kilometers from Borjomi, a town known for its spring mineral water. Taste Borjomi mineral water and enjoy the beautiful nature. Take the Kukushka miniature train over the Borjomi Gorge to Bakuriani Ski Resort. Bakuriani Ski Resort is situated 1,700 meters above sea level on the northern slope of Trialeti Range, footsteps to the breathtaking Caucasus Mountains.  There are 29 kilometers of slopes available for skiing and snowboarding. See the modern developed ski area Didveli and the oldest ski area at Kokhta. The resort is an ideal destination not only for recreational purposes but also for sport and nature lovers.

Your wine tour takes place at a typical Imeretian village, about 30-40 minutes' drive from Kutaisi. On your way you will pass green valleys and amazing vineyards, before stopping at a private winery. Travelers can taste different wines produced according to traditional Georgian technology of wine making in a qvevri. A qvevri is a clay vessel buried in the ground which provides the best conditions for fermenting juice, and can be as small as 50 liters, or as large as 1,500 liters in volume. The vessel provides stable temperature conditions for fermenting purposes, and preserves its flavor and aromas all year around. Your host will introduce step by step the process of making wine, as well as the equipment used to produce this amazing drink. The tour duration is flexible, and can be easily planned according to your schedule.

Day 1: Tbilisi - Gori - Uplistsikhe - Kutaisi - Gelati (Driving distance: 270 kilometers) Depart at 09:30 from your hotel in Tbilisi. Begin your tour by visiting Joseph Stalin's Museum in Gori, established as a local history museum but clearly intended to become a memorial to Stalin. The main building of the complex is a large palace in Stalinist Gothic style. Enshrined within a Greco-Italianate pavilion is a small wooden hut, in which Stalin was born in 1878 and spent his first four years. After visiting Gori, drive further to Uplistsikhe cave city (10 kilometers east of the town of Gori). Uplistsikhe is identified by archaeologists as one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia. It was an important religious, political and cultural center in the Hellenistic and Late Antiquity (4th-century BC - 4th-century AD). The central part of Uplistsikhe is the largest, containing a bulk of the Uplistsikhe rock cut structures, and is connected to the southern part via a narrow rock cut pass and a tunnel. Narrow alleys and sometimes staircases radiate from the central 'street' to the different structures. At the summit of the complex is a Christian basilica built of stone and brick in the 9th to 10th-centuries. The Uplistsikhe Cave complex has been on the tentative list for inclusion into the UNESCO World Heritage program since 2007. On the way to Kutaisi (221 kilometers west of Tbilisi) have a stop at picturesque monastery of Gelati, which is a monastic complex near Kutaisi. It contains the Church of the Virgin founded by the King of Georgia known as David the Builder in 1106, and the 13th-century Churches of St. George and St. Nicholas. The site is renowned for its collection of 12th to 19th-century mosaics, wall paintings, enamels and metalwork. King David the Builder began constructing the monastery and academy in 1106 as a grand tribute to his victory over the Turks. The academy was one of the first institutions of higher education founded in the Middle Ages, and became a principal cultural center in Georgia. In 1994, Gelati was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and in 2006 was included on the list of Immovable Monuments of Georgian Cultural Heritage. Overnight in Kutaisi. Either in a guesthouse or 3-star hotel. Day 2: Kutaisi - Sataplia caves - Bagrati Cathedral – Tbilisi (Driving distance: 260 kilometers) Begin a day from visiting Bagrati Cathedral, which is regarded as a masterpiece in the history of medieval Georgian architecture; the Bagrati Cathedral is frequently used as the symbol of the city of Kutaisi. It was built during the reign of King Bagrat III (hence the name) in the 11th-century but was severely devastated in 1692 during the Ottoman invasion. The Bagrati Cathedral sits on a hill just above Kutaisi and offers a magnificent view of the city. It was Unesco World Heritage Site listed in 1994. Have a stop at an interesting place for Kutaisi visitors, at Sataplia Cave complex. The Sataplia karst cave lies 6 kilometers northwest of Kutaisi within Sataplia state preserve. Sataplia is known for its dinosaur traces which were discovered by Kutaisi environmentalist P. Chabukiani, who detected there a settlement of the primitive man, together with the footprints of a dinosaur. The Sataplia karst cave begins from the north and leads to the east. The 300 meter long, 10 meter high and 12 meter wide karst cave abounds in stalactites and stalagmites and a spring winds along its bottom. The air and water temperatures in the Sataplia karst cave are nearly equal ( 12 to 13 celsius). There is a speleological museum near it now. Visit one of the unique natural attractions of Georgia - Martvili canyon. Over millions of years, the water has created a breathtaking gorge in limestone rocks, reaching a depth of 40 meters, at the bottom of which flows a river. The total reachable length of the canyon is one kilometer. In the upper part of the canyon, take a boat trip and reach the beginning with a 7 meter high powerful waterfall. Due to the extremely humid microclimate there are lianas hanging from the huge rocks and centuries-old walls are covered with moss. Here and there, water pulls out from the rocky wall forming small streams and pretty powerful waterfalls.