Upon your arrival in Tbilisi, a tour driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in. After a short rest, you'll head out on a Tbilisi sightseeing tour. Start at Metekhi church and the monument to Vakhtang Gorgasali, the legendary founder of Tbilisi. Take a cable car to Narikala Fortress to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. Walk down to the district of sulfur bath houses, passing by the only mosque in Tbilisi. Stroll through Shardeni Street full of narrow streets with cozy cafés, wine tasting bars, and souvenir shops and breathe in the living past.
In the afternoon you'll continue your tour by driving towards Mtskheta, where you'll visit the Jvari and Svetitskhoveli monasteries. Drive to Saguramo village and visit the old Marani (vineyard). You'll have the option to have dinner at the vineyard premises, after which the group will return to Tbilisi.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight in Tbilisi
At 9:00 am you'll be met by your driver and guide at your hotel to start the journey to Kakheti, the cradle of Georgian winemaking. The scenic drive takes you through Gombori Pass (62 miles and 2 hours drive time). On the way, in Vardisubani village, you'll visit a family that makes qvevri, traditional wine clay vessels.
Continue on to Telavi, the administrative and historic center of the region. See the small charming streets of old Telavi and make a photo stop at the monument to King Irakli II. Continue to Schuchmann Château in Kisikhevi village. There you'll explore private wine production facilities and have a traditional lunch accompanied with the finest wines produced from famous Georgian grapes: Saperavi, Mtsvane, and Kisi.
Afterward, you'll drive to Alaverdi Monastery, one of the most amazing Georgian historical sights, also famous for its own monastic wine production. The final stop for today is at Twins Wine Cellar in Napareuli village. The premises of the winery include a vast vineyard, a museum of traditional Georgian winemaking in qvevri, and facilities for various workshops. You'll have the opportunity to crush grapes yourself as well as learn to bake puri, traditional Georgian bread, and cook the national dessert, churchkhela. Enjoy an excellent way to end the day with a tasting of five different wines produced at the Twins Winery.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Overnight in Telavi
Today you'll continue to explore the Alazani Valley in Kakheti. After breakfast take a drive to the Gremi architectural complex, a 16th century royal residence and the capital of the Kakheti Kingdom. Eerie and monumental, the Gremi castle is one of the most visited sites in Georgia. Afterward, drive to the Eniseli village to visit the Eniseli Bagrationi winery for a tour and wine tasting. You'll enjoy lunch at the restaurant on top of the hill overlooking the Alazani Valley.
Continue on to Kvareli, one of the largest towns in Kakheti. Your next stop will be at the unique Winery Khareba, located in a tunnel carved out of the rock. Originally built for military purposes, today the tunnel is used to store Khareba’s finest wines. Here you'll take a wine tour and do some wine tasting. Take a short tour around the town, visiting the Kvareli Castle before driving to Tkhilistskaro village. You'll spend the night in the family run winery and guest house, where you'll enjoy a traditional Kakhetian dinner, as well as some local wine.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Overnight in Tkhilistskaro
In the morning, stop at the local village and visit a local family that makes cheese. Continue the drive towards Sighnaghi and make a stop at a local winery for lunch. Continue to Sighnaghi, known as the city of love and the Royal Town, it was at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road and is surrounded by defensive walls with 23 towers. Visit the Pheasant’s Tears winery in Sighnaghi, where you'll go on a wine tour and and have dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Overnight at Sighnaghi hotel
After breakfast you'll drive to a semi-desert area near Davit Gareja known as Udabno. On the way, you'll stop at a local market to pick up some snacks. Arrive at the David Gareja Monastery and start your walking tour to the Lavra Cave Monastery, founded in the 6th century. The Lavra Monastery is an inhabited complex of caves with a courtyard, church and other buildings. Continue walking to Udabno (roundtrip walking may take up to 2 hours) where you can rest and enjoy the view of Azerbaijan from the Georgian side. Udabno is famous for its wall-paintings, dating from the end of the 12th century. The thousand-year-old frescos here depict scenes from the Bible such as The Last Supper and The Exaltation of the Cross. After some rest, return down along another path before driving back to Tbilisi.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Overnight at Tbilisi hotel
The tour concludes today. Check-out from the hotel before noon and enjoy a free day the rest of the day until your airport transfer.
Meals included: Breakfast
