8-day Silk Road in Georgia Tour8 Days | Tbilisi, Sighnaghi, Mtskheta, Kutaisi, Akhaltsikhe, Dmanisi

The peculiarity of the tour is to highlight Georgia sights that had been one of the most important parts of the Great Silk Road. Many cities and monuments of the country still carry the spirit of that ancient time when noisy caravans loaded with a variety of goods filled up narrow cobbled streets. You will explore such attractions as the Royal Caravanserai, Fortress Narikala, Gremi and Khertvisi that had been key points on the Silk Road. In addition, Georgia will please your eyes with beautiful landscapes, and your taste buds with amazing traditional Georgian wines.

Tour itinerary:

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Day 1: Tbilisi – Arrival

Arrival in Tbilisi. Our driver will meet you at the airport and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Tbilisi

In the morning we will start discovering hub city of Caucasus from Metekhi church and the monument to Vakhtang Gorgasali, the legendary founder of Tbilisi. Then, cable car will take you to Narikala Fortress where you will enjoy breathtaking panoramic view of the city. The Fortress and its surroundings used to be an important trade point and place for rest on the Great Silk Road. Walk down to the district of Sulphur bath houses passing by the only mosque in Tbilisi. Stroll through the Sharden area full of narrow streets with cozy cafés, wine tasting bars, and souvenir shops. Visit Sioni Cathedral, the «Royal Caravan Saray» (1672), Anchiskhati Basilica, and the clock tower of famous Rezo Gabriadze Theatre. Cross the Bridge of Peace to Rike Park. Visit to the State Museum of Silk will round up the tour.

Day 3: Tbilisi – Sighnaghi – Gremi – Tbilisi

After breakfast, you will head to the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia, the cradle of Georgian wine. Our first stop will be in Sighnaghi, the city of love and the Royal Town, one of the crossroads of the Great Silk Road surrounded by defensive walls with 28 towers. The city tour will be followed by traditional Georgian wine tasting. We will continue to the Alazani valley and visit Gremi architectural complex. The complex that served as the royal residence reached us from the 16th century. Gremi castle was one of the busiest towns on the Silk Road. Drive back to Tbilisi. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Uplistsikhe – Kutaisi

After breakfast, drive to Mtskheta, one of the oldest towns and cultural and religious center of Georgia. Mtskheta was the capital of the Eastern Georgian Kingdom of Iberia from the third century BC. You will visit Jvari Monastery, a true architectural masterpiece of the early Medieval Period built on a hilltop. You will enjoy the views of the confluence of Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers. The next sight is Svetitskhoveli, the main cathedral of Mtskheta and a sacred place where the robe of Christ is being kept. Our tour will continue with a wine tasting experience in Chardakhi village. Drive to Uplistsikhe, another cross point of many Great Silk Road routes. Explore this cave town dating back to Hellenistic Period and notable for the unique combination of various styles of rock-cut cultures and the co-existence of pagan and Christian architecture. Drive to Kutaisi, the central city of Western Georgia. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Kutaisi – Borjomi – Akhaltsikhe

In the morning we will take a tour around Kutaisi. On the territory of contemporary Georgia, the major part of the Great Silk Road went through the territory of lower Svaneti. The route passed through 'Kotatisum' – the modern day Kutaisi, the second largest city in Georgia. Visit the Gelati monastery, and the famous 'Prometheus cave'. Drive towards Akhaltsikhe. Make an en-route stop in Borjomi. Stroll in Borjomi Central Park famous worldwide with its miniral water reserves. Arrive in Akhaltsikhe. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: Rabati (Akhaltsikhe) – Khertvisi – Vardziya – Akhaltsikhe

In the morning explore the Rabati fortress. The old stone Rabat fortress, the main sight of the Akhaltsikhe town, stands on the small hill on the very shores of the Potskhovi River. Its name means “fortified place” from Arabic. Drive to Vardzia. En route, short stop at Khertvisi Fortress, one of the strategic citadels on the Silk Road built in the 10th century. Arrive to Vardzia, which was erected in the 12-13th centuries during the rule of George III and his daughter Queen Tamara to protect southern boundaries of Georgia. Unlike majority of sights with random rooms cut in rocks,Vardzia is a multi-storied complex with streets, tunnels and stairs leading to monasteries, temples, fortresses, baths, libraries dwelling houses and so forth. Drive to Akhaltsikhe for overnight.

Day 7: Akhaltsikhe – Dmanisi – Bolnisi – Tbilisi

In the morning drive back towards Tbilisi using the so-called 'Southern' route, passing an amazing Paravani lake and Tsalkareservoire. Visit Dmanisi town. In the 9thcentury Dmanisi was a center of arabic state Dumanuss Emirate. Take an excursion to Dmanisi archaeological site* where in 1999 two 1,6 mln years old human crania were discovered. Visit Sioni of Bolnisi Cathedral built in 478-493, the oldest Church complex that still exists in Georgia. The cathedral is also known for its Georgian inscriptions that mention the Bishop David of Bolnisi and two Sassanid kings Peroz I and Kavadh I. These are one of the oldest historical documents of the Georgian alphabet. Arrive in Tbilisi. Overnight at the hotel.
*Dmanisi archaeological site is open from May 1st till October 31st, during the rest of the period the site is closed for visitors.

Day 8: Tbilisi – Departure

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Free time until trasnfer to the aiport. Departure. End of the tour.

Price includes:

All transfers: 1-2 pax by sedan type car; 3-7 pax by van type car; 8-13 pax by 20 seat bus, 14 pax and more by 45 seat coach;
Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
English speaking tour leader to accompany the travellers (days 1-7);
Sightseeing tour program;
Entrance tickets to sights as per itinerary;
Wine tasting in Sighnaghi;
Mineral water (0.5 l per person a day).