A journey through the millennia: From the imperial resort of Borjomi to megalithic monuments

Mtskheta - Borjomi - Akhaltsikhe - Vardzia - Lake Paravani

It is a four-day journey through the regions of Georgia and its history.

After the meeting in Tbilisi, we are waiting for the ancient Iberian capital - Mtskheta. I will tell you about the ancient Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, which for a millennium was the main cathedral of all Georgia. And together, holding our breath, we will see the view that has become the hallmark of Georgia. View of the confluence of the Aragvi and Kura rivers from the walls of the Jvari monastery. It was sung by Pushkin and Lermontov, many Georgian poets, and Ostap Bender, perhaps, would say that: “Too much chic.” But we won't agree with him.

Further, our way lies to the imperial resort of Borjomi. Along the way, we will make a short stop to try Tsotskhali, a wild trout native to the mountain rivers of Georgia. In Borjomi - a walk in the park with a story about the history of the resort. You will have the opportunity to taste mineral water and even take a warm thermal bath.

Along a winding road among dense forests and hills crowned with the ruins of medieval fortresses, we reach Akhaltsikhe. We will visit the Rabati fortress, I will tell you about its dramatic history and it will be time to check in at the hotel and have dinner.

2 days. Walk through Akhaltsikhe - the center of the region, which is called Samtskhe-Javakheti. I will tell you about those times when the Silk Road passed through the city and Akhaltsikhe was a crossroads of cultures, the Jewish quarter and famous natives of the city.

Next we are waiting for the monastery of Sapara. Stunning views and frescoes of the XIV century. Near the monastery we will have a small picnic in a picturesque place.

Loosing along the narrow gorge of Kura, past one of the most photogenic fortresses of Georgia - Khertvisi and the dramatic location on the edge of the cliff of the fortress of Tmogvi, we will find ourselves near the cave city of Vardzia. We will leave his inspection the next day and head to another monastery - Vanis Quabebi.

It's always crowded. We slowly explore the passages, passages, cells and temples, enjoy the sunset and views of the gorge, and begin to go down, where we will already be waiting for dinner and accommodation.

3 days. Vardzia Cave Monastery, a monument of the Golden Age of Georgia. We will look at the frescoes and talk about how it was this Golden Age. Queen Tamara and her father, George, about the battles and earthquakes that Vardzia witnessed. We will go through different levels of the underground city, find a spring, explore all the tunnels.

If you have the strength - in the afternoon you can walk to the picturesque ruins of the fortress of Tmogvi, if not - then relax and gain strength before the last day of our trip.

4 days. This is perhaps the most unusual day of our journey. We go to a place that can be called Georgian Tibet. Moonscapes and cold, dotted with boulders mountains, evoking thoughts of the otherworldly. And this area is also called Dukhoboriya. Spasovka, Orlovka, Gorelovka, Rodionovka are the names of villages in which Russian doukhobors once densely settled. Who they are and what they are now with their descendants, I will tell you during our journey.

In addition, several megalithic fortresses have been preserved here. Megaliths are ancient stone structures. The word itself in Greek means “big stone”. The most famous megalithic monument in the world is Stonehenge. It is believed that they were all built during the Bronze Age. And we will see the megalithic settlement of Saro and, if the weather permits, we will climb to one of the fortresses of Abuli or Shaori or admire them from the side of Lake Paravani - the largest lake in Georgia.

The St. Nino convent in the village will be the last point of our trip. We will see the temple of the XI century, I will tell the legend of St. Nino and the baptism of Georgia. The monastery produces cheese and chocolate using its own technology. Food can be purchased at the store at the monastery.

Then we go to Tbilisi with a stop for dinner in the Greek restaurant of Tsalka. I will tell you where the Greek family comes from.

Tired and content, after a good dinner and an incredible amount of what we saw and heard, we return to Tbilisi.

• guide
• transportation
• Food and accommodation are paid additionally