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US$ 1899 / pp
Georgia
Dates:
May - October 2020/2021
Duration:
10 days
Tour:
Private
Georgia - a land of endless wonders, unspoiled by modern tourism and still retaining its authentic character. Once experienced, it will stay with you forever. Exploring Georgia is a constant pleasure. Experience the past coming to live and listen to history told by fortresses, monasteries and towns built-in into the rocks, see the country's fascinating natural sceneries ranging from magical valleys to gorgeous mountain ranges. The traditions of the East and West meet in Georgia to form a culture unlike any other in the World.
Day 1: Arrival at Tbilisi
Arrival at Tbilisi. Meet & greet at the airport, private transfer to your hotel and check-in (after 14:00). Daytime at leisure to explore the capital of Georgia, enigmatic and fascinating travel destination. In the evening, meet your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner at one of the best restaurants in Tbilisi. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Tbilisi
Breakfast. Take off for a guided sightseeing tour of Tbilisi, the city with a history dating back to at least the 5th century AD. Start at Metekhi Сhurch and the monument to Vakhtang Gorgasali, the legendary founder of Tbilisi. Take a cable car to visit Narikala Fortress to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. Stroll down to the district of sulfur bathhouses and pass by the only mosque in Tbilisi. Walk through the Sharden area, full of narrow streets with cosy cafés, wine tasting bars, and souvenir shops, and breathe in the history of Old Tbilisi. Visit Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica, and the famous Rezo Gabriadze Theatre’s clock tower, before crossing the Bridge of Peace to Rike Park. In the evening join your fellow travellers for a Georgian cuisine dinner in one of the best local restaurants.The dinner will be accompanied by polyphonic singing and national dances. Overnight at the hotel in Tbilisi.
Day 3: Tbilsi - Akhasheni
After breakfast at the hotel, take a drive to ‘Khareba’ tunnel winery. Join the local bread baking masterclass and enjoy a full lunch. After lunch take a guided tour around the winery and enjoy tasting a few different local wines. Then drive to Akhasheni Wine Resort 4* for overnight (for both 3* and 4* packages). NOTE: The end of September is a great harvesting season and during September group tours you are invited to join the locals in producing the wines. Start with harvesting grapes (‘Rtveli’) and press them with their feet in the traditional ‘Satsnakheli.
Day 4: Akhasheni - Gremi - Telavi - Signaghi - Akhasheni
After breakfast at the hotel, take a ride to Gremi, architectural complex built in the 16th century. It used to be the royal residence and the capital of Kakheti Kingdom. Gloomy and monumental, the Gremi castle is one of the most visited historical monuments in Georgia. Stop in the city of Telavi with a lovely fortress to have a short walk in the old Telavi and visit local bazaar with fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses and dry fruits. Take a delightful Georgian cuisine cooking class and after an hour of cooking enjoy your hand-made Khachapuri and Khinkali. Then we take a ride to Sighnaghi - an old castle town with magnificent views over Alazani Valley. Walk the city walls and enjoy the views. Return back to Ahkasheni Wine Resort for overnight.
Day 5: Akhasheni - Mtskheta - Stepantsminda
After breakfast, we check out and head to the North of Georgia. After we pass through Tbilisi the first stop will be at Jvari Monastery, a true architectural masterpiece of the Early Middle Ages, which is picturesquely perched above the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari Rivers. Continue to Mtskheta, one of the oldest towns in Georgia and the country’s cultural and religious centre. Proceed to the Ananuri Complex, a former residence of Argveti Dukes, with its churches and towers dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries and beautifully overlooking Jinvali Reservoir. Drive towards the Cross Pass to make a short stop at the Soviet-era “People’s Friendship” mountain viewpoint, which overlooks a deep gorge of the Caucasus Mountains. In the evening, we reach Stepantsminda for an overnight stop at the hotel.
Day 6: Stepantsminda
After breakfast, switch to a four-wheel-drive vehicle to reach Gergeti Holy Trinity Church (located at an altitude of 2,170 m) and enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Kazbegi. After lunch, take a ride to the border with Russia through a scenic Darial Gorge. The evening is free at leisure to enjoy the greatest mountain views and a glass of wine at a cosy terrace of “Rooms Hotel” overlooking the top of Kazbek mountain. Overnight at the hotel in Stepantsminda.
Day 7: Stepantsminda - Gori - Borjomi
After breakfast, drive to Stalin’s hometown of Gori. Visit the Stalin Museum, which includes more than 60,000 artefacts, the tiny house where Stalin was born, and an impressive bulletproof train that Stalin used to travel to Yalta and Potsdam. Drive to Borjomi. Overnight at the hotel in Borjomi.
Day 8: Borjomi - Rabati - Vardzia
After breakfast, take a ride to Rabati fortress in the town of Akhatsikhe. Its name comes from Arabic meaning “fortified place”. The old stone Rabati fortress is standing on the small hill on the very shores of the Potskhovi River. After lunch at a restaurant near the fortress, take a drive to Vardzia, a significant cave monastery. En route, short photo-stop at Khertvisi fortress (10-11th century). Vardzia is not just a set of random rooms cut in rocks. It is a multi-storied complex with streets, tunnels, and stairs leading to monasteries, temples, fortresses, baths, libraries dwelling houses and so forth. Take a guided tour and then drive back to Borjomi. The evening is free at leisure.
Day 9: Borjomi - Tbilisi.
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and take a ride to Tbilisi. The evening is free at leisure. NOTE: for September/October tours: This weekend Tbilisi celebrates its birthday called “Tbilisoba”. The harvest time is almost over, the weather is still warm, and the beautiful colors of nature are out - that’s all you need to be in a festive mood! In the evening we have a great farewell dinner with city views!
Day 10: Departure from Tbilisi
Breakfast, hotel check-out. Transfer to the airport.
Georgia
No visa to Georgia needed for the citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, USA and all European countries.
Accommodation
Centrally located hand-picked hotels 3* or 4* (twin sharing)
On days 3 & 4 only 4* hotel is available
Our 4* package means best of the best 4-star hotels including award-winning "Rooms Hotel" in Stepantsminda
Meals
Breakfasts daily at the hotels (except the day of arrival)
Dinners on days 1,2, 9
Lunches on days 3, 4
Winemaking and local bread baking master classes on day 3
Wine tasting in Khareba Winery on day 3
Cooking class in Telavi on day 4
Guided tours
Tbilisi city tour
All sightseeing as per program with English-speaking guides and all entrance fees included
Transportation
Transfers from/to the airport by a comfort class private car
Group transportation by comfortable comfort class coach
Support
Group tour is fully escorted by an English-speaking tour leader
24/7 phone/WhatsApp support line
English-speaking guides
Meet & greet at the airport
Entrance tickets
All attractions visited during sightseeing tours as per program
Borjomi cable car return tickets (to use during your leisure time)
Georgian polyphonic singing and traditional dance show
Not Included
International flights
Meals not mentioned
Optional tours and activities
Personal expenses
Adore historical monuments older than Istanbul and Rome
Taste unique & opulent Caucasian cuisine & take a cooking master class
Learn about World's oldest winemaking culture, tour the wineries, enjoy wine and cognac tasting.
Caucasian folk show & polyphonic singing: unbelievable cultural experience
Learn how to bake the traditional Georgian bread
Immerse yourself into the stunning scenery of the Caucasus Mountains
Lyn Lennard
Australia
We have finished our trip in Mongolia and I busted to say thank you very much for all your assistance while we were on the ground in Russia. By far the best guide we had was Yuri in Moscow - he was excellent. We had a very good visit to Novgorod where Natalia was an excellent guide too, and we learnt much about Russian history: It was very good to have the car to take us around the Golden Circle and Victor was a good driver. and the guide in Peterhof and Faberge museum was very nice, approachable, taxis were always waiting for us when we got off the boat etc. We both had a very good holiday and learnt a lot about Russian history and culture: thanks again.
Francisco Caycedo
USA
Travelled to Russia FIFA World Cup 2018 with a family of 4 including (2 boys: 4 and 12 y/o) . What an amazing experience it was! Super well organized, transfers were always on time, hotels were good, we couldn’t ask for a more responsible tour guide, Phillip was awesome and in care of every little detail to make us feel like at home, would recommend the company with no hesitation at all!
Stacy
Australia
Trans- Scandinavian train tour on a private, September 2019 I’s looking for a train trip around Scandinavia and found it was not widely available option with many operators. Mostly, they do coach tours or cruises. World of Discoveries was the first company which offered a solution, a privately arranged non-escorted train trip tour for our small party of just 6 people. We are experienced travelers in our early 40th and always want to be immersed in the culture of a new country, eat local food, meet the people. We wanted an authentic experience and it was a great trip all round. We did not have to worry about our accommodation, or train tickets, or activities in various locations. We had our transfers to and from hotels pre-arranged. Guides provided great insight into Scandinavian culture and were undeniably helpful as we all had different ideas about spare time and extra activities. We went out at every visited city and they gave us lots of great recommendations. Could have stayed for more! Would love the same experience when we visit other, less traveled and remote parts of the world with World of Discoveries! Would love the same experience when we visit other, less traveled and remote parts of the world with World of Discoveries!
Katherine Ratcliff
Australia
CENTRAL ASIA, I’LL BE BACK! Central Asia was on my bucket list for years but I was reluctant to travel alone and my partner did not want to go. I found World of Discoveries most helpful in arranging my age/gender travel companion in our small group tour in October 2019. Everything run smooth from inquiry to farewell dinner in Nur-Sultan The tour was good value for money. Most meals included and great. Lots of local experiences. Great people on tour, helpful guides. I would love to return to explore more of Uzbekistan and would love to visit Tajikistan (that was not part of the tour). Yurt experience was just amazing. Such a great scenery and heartily people.
William Watt
Australia
I am a Sydney-based journalist who travelled to the 2018 World Cup with Discovery Russia, the sister company of World of Discoveries. Following is my review of that fabulous experience ... What a trip ... the World Cup, five cities, amazing camaraderie, and great tour leadership against the background of one of the globe’s most amazing countries ... Russia. My World Cup tour with Discovery Russia was one of the great experiences of my travel life. The Discovery Russia team provided a wonderful platform with an itinerary both practical and flexible. The local tours in each of the venue cities - Moscow, Kazan, Samara, Sochi and St Petersburg were informative and, importantly, fun. Considering the accommodation pressures created by the huge influx of Cup tourists, the hotels selected by Discovery Russia were more than adequate. Special mention goes to the Grand Hotel Tchaikovsky In St Petersburg. The tour leadership provided by the company was both expert and considerate. Importantly each traveller’s individual enjoyment and safety appeared to be the paramount consideration. This World Cup holiday was meant to be a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience for me but I am now planning for the next Cup. Bring on 2022 in Qatar!
Rick, Emily and John Stewart
Australia
Impeccable service, incredible Trans Siberian! In fact, the great services provided by your team started from my first correspondence with Julie. She has been very professional with providing details of the itinerary and assuring and re-assuring that the trip will be well-planned, It was because of her assurance that gave us the confidence to take the next step and book our Trans Sibetian holiday. And everything ran like clockwork from Moscow to Vladivostok. The Russian people were extremely friendly throughout. The Trans Siberian was a great experience and fulfilled our dreams. The scenery and ever changing vistas were spectacular. The train facilities were adequate but perhaps a shower facility in 1st Class would have been nice. I will recommend your services in the future!
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