Myths and legends of ancient Colchis Retreat in the nature of Western Georgia

Get acquainted with the history and culture of one of the oldest countries in the world, learn about the method of Georgian winemaking, which is more than 8000 years old. We will relax, enjoy fresh air and delicious dishes, get acquainted with 1500 varieties of wines that are made in Georgia, learn to dance Georgian dances, take sulfur baths and rejuvenate. We will learn to cook in Georgian and speak Georgian toast. You will distinguish Georgian wine by microzones and become experts in the history of Western Georgia. We will visit not popular, but amazing places of nature of Georgia, taste the most delicious dishes and be filled with energy in the near future.

The route is medium, active, there are places for walking in the form of trekking.

Day - 1

Tbilisi – Racha – moving from Eastern Georgia to Western Georgia with a visit to the mountainous region and its panoramic places.

Overnight in Ambrolauri, Racha region

Day 2.

• Day in the region of Racha - here is born wine Hvanchkar
• Lake Shaori
• temple of Nikortsminda - unique in relief decor and monumental painting of the 11th century
• Love Falls, lakes over the abyss, forests and small trekking routes
• Wine farming in the village of Khvanchkar
• The Gelati Monastery is the most significant medieval monastery in Georgia, located near Kutaisi. The center of church and cultural life, the residence of the Catholicos from the 2nd half of the XVI century to 1814. UNESCO Monument (1994). The monastery was founded by King David IV the Builder in 1106 and became his tomb. The cathedral church was built before 1125 and for another five years was decorated with mosaics, which are revered as the best in the whole of Transcaucasia. At that time, the monastery was the seat of the Gelati Academy, whose members were keenly interested in ancient Greek philosophy. In the XIII century, the churches of St. Nicholas and St. George were added to the monastery ensemble, as well as a three-tier belfry. Transcription refers to different periods of Georgian history, from the XII to the XVIII century; portraits of crowned persons are especially noteworthy. Previously, many valuable icons and objects of applied art were preserved in the monastery; in Soviet times they were seized and distributed to museums.
• Moving to the city of Tskaltubo, overnight in the Balneological resort.

Day 3.

Prometheus Cave is a castre cave, passing under a depth of 800 m, 1450 m long tourist route. Opened to the public in 2011, the maximum height is 21 m. A total of 17 rooms were found, of which only 5 are open to the public. Unique nature reserve (category III according to the classification of the International Union of Nature Conservation). It is possible to swim out of the caves by boat (optional) or through a specially cut tunnel.

• Ancient Colchis
• Vani settlement is a multi-layered archaeological site in western Georgia, located on a hill near the city of Vani in the Imereti region. It is located in the depths of the ancient region, known in the ancient world as Colchis, and is included in the list of immovable cultural monuments of national heritage of Georgia. The remains of fortifications and temples, local and foreign Greek pottery, as well as exquisite local gold products, now exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Vani and in the State Museum of History in Tbilisi, testify that Vani was a lively urban settlement from the VIII century to the middle of the I century BC. The ancient name of Vani is unknown: this place is identified with Surius Pliny the Elder according to one version and with Strabo's Levkothea on another. Also, artifacts found on the territory indicate a large exchange of goods between the two countries. Here the TETRA coin (from silver) was minted from the VII century BC and was equal to the Greek drachma.

• Sulfur baths Vani is a natural hydrogen sulfide spring with hot water according to the weather and the desire of the group to bathe in hydrogen sulfide springs.
• Balneological resort Sairme - a fairy tale drowning in the forest, an open mineral pool, you can swim, drink mineral water from the source
• Wine farming - wine tasting, dinner in the family estate in Imeretian. (Tasting is included in the price)

• Bagrat Temple is a temple erected in Kutaisi during the reign of Bagrat III as the main cathedral of the united Georgian Kingdom and consecrated in honor of the Assumption of the Virgin in 1003. Majestic in size and proportions, the temple became a fundamentally new word in the history of Transcaucasian architecture, was magnificently decorated with carvings and mosaics and played an exceptional role in the medieval history of Georgia. This is where David IV of the Builder was crowned. During the attack of the Turks in 1691, an explosion of gunpowder destroyed the roof and dome of the cathedral, which was not later restored. In 1770, the artillery of the Russian general Totleben destroyed the Kutaisi fortress and the entire eastern part of the Bagrat temple. In 1994, the Bagrat temple was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, in 2001 it was transferred to the Georgian Orthodox Church, which periodically held services in ruins.

• Dinner in a Georgian restaurant and acquaintance with Imeretian cuisine. (not included in the price)

Day 4.

• Canyon and History Day:
• Okatse Canyon is a 7.5 km walk in both directions, for non-walkers you can take a car for an additional cost for a ride to the canyon.
• Martvili Canyon - boat rafting on the Abasha River, a walk over the waterfalls of the canyon.
• Nokalakevi fortress from the 6th century BC is the main city at the base of the Colchis kingdom.
• Moving to Batumi, staying on the coast

Day 5

• Morning free for the beach
• City tour
• Lunch with Adjara Khachapuri
• Mirveti and Mahunzeti Falls
• Free evening for the beach
• Overnight in Batumi

Day 6

1. Free morning for the beach
2. Miniature Georgia
3. Music Park
4. Dendrological Park
5. Free evening
6. Overnight in Batumi

Day 7.

• Free morning depending on flight
• Transfer to the airport
• kutaisi
• Tbilisi

The price includes:

• Hotels 3-4* with breakfasts Ambrolauri, Tskaltubo, Kutaisi.
• Batumi - hotel or apartment Orbi City hotel in the first strip from the sea
• Guided tours
• Comfortable transport for all routes
• Entrance tickets for all places visited
• Water, Wifi in the car
• All passengers in cars are insured from the company

The price does not include:

• Flight
• Nutrition