Tbilisoba Wine Fest & Highlights of the Caucasus

#2 Georgia #1 Azerbaijan - Georgia - Armenia

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Day 2: Akhasheni - Signagi - Manavi

Breakfast. We will travel to Signagi, an ancient fortress city with a magnificent view of the Alazan Valley. Walk along the city walls and enjoy the views. Excursion to the "city of eternal love" Signagi, which is located on top of a mountain range overlooking the Alazan Valley. Then you will learn the history of the Manavian Fortress (11th century) and the Manavian Temple (18th century). The church was built in 1794 by the abbot of the monastery of St. John the Baptist of the Monastery of David Gareji Ephraim. In the XVII century there were royal vineyards and the manor house of Heraclius the Second.

Day 3: Akhasheni - Signagi - Manavi

Stopover at the pearl of Kakheti - the private estate "Chateau Fort de Manavi". The program is: tasting of wine and chacha, produced according to traditional ancient Georgian technology directly from the kvevri in the "marani" (wine cellar) "Chateau Fort de Manavi", that is made from grapes grown in the estate's own vineyards. The highlight of the tasting will be the "Manavi Green," a wine made from a special grape variety that only grows in Manavi region in Georgia. Master-class on cooking dishes of Georgian traditional cuisine: "churchkhela", baking "dedas puri". If the weather is good, you can take part in harvesting grapes and making young wine. In the evening: dinner with unlimited wine included in the price in the traditional Georgian style. The menu includes only Georgian cuisine made of organic products grown in the "Château Fort de Manavi". Overnight in Manavi.

Day 4: Annanuri - Jinvali Reservoir - Gudauri- Stepantsminda

After breakfast we check out and go to the north of Georgia. First stop is at the Ananuri complex, the former residence of the princes of Argvet, with its churches and towers built in the 16th and 17th centuries, and a beautiful view of the Zhinvali Reservoir. We continue on to Krestovy Pass to make a short stop at the Soviet Friendship of Peoples observation deck, which overlooks a deep gorge in the Caucasus Mountains. By early dinner we reach Stepantsminda. Check-in at hotel. Dinner with real highlanders - try famous khinkali. Overnight at Sno hotel.

Day 5: Kazbegi

Breakfast. Jeep tour to Gergeti. Get to Gergeti Church of the Holy Trinity (located at an altitude of 2170 m) and enjoy the breathtaking view of the Kazbegi mountain. Rest and picnic with wine. Free evening time. Relax and enjoy the magnificent view of the mountains with a glass of wine on a cozy terrace "RoomsHotel" overlooking the top of the mountain Kazbegi. Overnight stay at Sno hotel.

Day 6: Kazbegi - Mtskheta - Gori - Uplistsikhe - Tbilisi

After breakfast, drive to the border with Russia in the picturesque Daryal Gorge. Then drive to Tbilisi through the ancient capital of Georgia - Mtskheta. Excursion to Mtskheta - museum city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit to the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (1010-1029), at the base of which the Holy Robe (Robe of the Lord), one of the main relics of Christianity is buried. The cathedral is also the burial place of many kings of Georgia. There is also a part of the life-giving pillar. Dinner in the famous Salobio with two glasses of wine included in the price. Tasting lobio in a pot with corn tortillas. Visit to the ancient temple-monastery Jvari (VI century) - the real architectural masterpiece of the early Middle Ages, which rises picturesquely above the confluence of the rivers Aragvi and Kura.

Day 7: Kazbegi - Mtskheta - Gori - Uplistsikhe - Tbilisi

Then drive to Stalin's hometown of Gori. Visit the Stalin Museum with over 60,000 artifacts, the tiny house where Stalin was born, and the impressive armored train on which Stalin rode to Yalta and Potsdam. Visit to the ancient cave town Uplistsikhe (I millennium BC), which has been сompleting over the centuries and included more than 700 caves and structures, including wine cellars, bakeries, an ancient theater, the reception hall of Queen Tamara, preserved to this day. Lunch, included in price. Departure to Tbilisi, accommodation, rest.

Day 8: 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 you can join your fellow travellers for a Georgian cuisine dinner in one of the best local restaurants accompanied by polyphonic singing and national dances (optional for an additional charge). Overnight at the hotel in Tbilisi.

Day 9: Tbilisi. TBILISOBA!

The day is free to enjoy the colorful celebration of Tbilisoba. Stroll through the colorful markets and enjoy the abundance of fruits, vegetables, cheeses, fresh churchella and pelamushi, fragrant hinkali, fried meat, bread and, of course, wine. Fantastic compositions of autumn fruits, many beautiful craft masterpieces, theatrical performances, scenes from Georgian history, folk music and dance numbers, a gala concert and open-air fireworks. That's what makes this Tbilisi festival so special. On these days, the entire center of the city becomes a festival site, traffic in the city is blocked off, and only hiking is available. Festive dinner in a national Georgian restaurant with folklore program with two glasses of wine - Georgian national dances and songs, included in the price Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 10: Departure from Tbilisi

Breakfast, hotel check-out. Transfer to the airport.