4 day tour Tbilisi-Mtskheta, Yazbegi Day 1 Walk to the Anchiskhati Church. See the Puppet theater. Walk down Erecle Street, King Erecle Square, Sioni Street. Stop and visit Sioni Cathedral, also Chardin and other pedestrian streets around. See the synagogue from outside. Continue by car and visit Tbilisi sulfur baths. The next spot will be the Metekhi church and the statue of King Vakhtang Gorgasali – the founder of Tbilisi. Use a cable car to go up to “Mother Georgia” monument and Narikala Fortress. Finish the tour and have lunch. The National Museum. Mtatsminda Park. To go to the highest mountain in Tbilisi – Mtatsminda – use a funicular way. On the halfway visit the church of St Father David and the Pantheon where outstanding people of Georgia are buried. Continue and go to the top on the funicular.Mtatsminda Go around Mtatsminda Park, see Tbilisi from the viewing platform. Free time in the park. Dinner in the fancy restaurant located in the park with a splendid view. Day 2 Visit the main cathedral of Georgia – the Holy Trinity. The church is located on Mount Elijah and provides a nice view. Visit the small Museum of the Printing-press in Avlabari district. This was an underground printing-press founded by Stalin and other revolutionaries. They made a well-hidden place that had a secret passage from the well. The revolutionaries distributed newspapers and proclamations to different areas. It was converted into the museum in 1937. Visit the Fine Arts Museum in the center. Lunch Visit the Ethnographical Museum in the Open Air. There are original houses and farmsteads from different regions of the country. Go to Turtle lake (not far from the museum). See and relax at Turtle Lake. Go back to Tbilisi center, take a stroll on Rustaveli – the central avenue of Tbilisi. Free time. dinner in the traditional Georgian restaurant Day 3 Mtsketa – the Old Capital of Georgia Head for Mtskheta Mtskheta – the ancient capital of East Georgia was founded in the 7-6 BC.Mtskheta It became a capital in the 4c BC. This is the most holy spot in Georgia and it is like the Holy Land for Georgians. Visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. According to the historical tradition Jesus’s robe has been buried underneath Svetitskhoveli. It was a royal church, many kings of Georgia were crowned and married here. The sacred place served a burial vault of the Bagrationi dynasty. Svetitskhoveli is a wonderful peace of architecture and dates from the 5th to the 11th c. Svetitskoveli, Jvari church and the entire Old Mtskheta are UNESCO world Heritage Sites. Jvari Church Located on the hill and surrounded by higher mountains Jvari is one of the best examples of Early Mediavel ecclesiastic architecture in Georgia. This was a pagan site once and after Christianity was proclaimed the state religion St Nino put the very first official cross here. In the 6th c. King Stepanoz ordered to build a domed church so that the cross was incorporated. Continue driving along the Georgian Military Highway. This road is famous for its wonderful landscapes. Up to Gudauri the road goes along the Aragvi River. Stop at Ananuri – the well-preserved castle. It is a good example of Georgian military architecture. This is a vast complex consisting of towers, walls, churches and a bell-tower. The castle towers over Jinvali Lake – a spectacular place. Ananuri dates to the 15-17cc. and was set up by Aragvi Eristavs – dukes who ruled in this region. Lunch in the local restaurant Reach Gudauri – the well-known ski resort in Georgia. It is situated along the Georgian Military highway at the altitude of 2000 m. and higher up. It provides with different types of skiing, helliski among them. This small village turned into the ski resort because of the quality of the snow and high ski slopes. Mountains and alpine meadows around attract visitors. Stop at a viewing platform. Continue driving to Kazbegi. Stops at the Cross Pass, at mineral springs. Arrive in Kazbegi. Check in the hotel. Free time in Kazbegi. Dinner and overnight in the hotel. Day 4 Start sightseeing in Kazbegi. The highlight of the area is the Holy Trinity church that stands on the mountain overlooking the village of Kazbegi. Ascend the church. (hike there or a jeep drive).Sno_Kazbegi Hike takes appr. 3.5 hours. The church dates to the 14th c. and is the holiest place in the region. This is a well-built edifice – the only central-cupola church in the highlands of Georgia. Lunch in the local family at Kazbegi. This will be a good experience – the group will be meeting local people and try delicious dishes from the Khevi Region. Khinkali is a well-known dish from the area. Visit the History Museum and the Museum of Alexander Kazbegi – the great Georgian writer who was born in the village. Head for Tbilisi.
Posted on: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 06:22:56 +0000