TREKKING IN THE GEORGIAN CAUCASUS

DAY 1. ARRIVAL AT TBILISI
Departure on a regular flight to Tbilisi. Arrival at Tbilisi airport. Meeting with our guide and transfer to the hotel.

Hotel accommodation, Tbilisi.

DAY 2. TBILISI – CITY TOUR
Breakfast dinner.

After breakfast we will have unforgettable hours of familiarization with the capital, which is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious city built in the 5th century along the tortuous valley of the Mtkvari river. Here are located close to each other, Orthodox, Gregorian, Roman Catholic, synagogue and mosque churches. We will start the excursion from the medieval church Metekhi (XIII century); We will walk through the center discovering the streets with the characteristic wooden balconies that give the city personality; We will visit Sioni Cathedral (XIII century), Anchiskhati Basilica (VI century). We will go up to the Narikala fortress (IV century) that dominates the horizon of the old town; We will continue exploring the neighborhood of the Azufre baths in the oriental style. Free time for lunch. Then we will visit the National Museum and its most important hall of gold works dating from the 3rd millennium B.C. Finally, the circuit will take us to the main avenue of Rustaveli where we will see the Parliament and the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater, which will provide a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Dinner and folkloric show in a traditional restaurant.

Hotel accommodation, Tbilisi.

DAY 3. TBILISI –MTSKHETA –ANANURI -STEPANTSMINDA (KAZBEGI) (160 KM)
Breakfast dinner.

Breakfast at the hotel. We will head towards Mtskheta, the former capital of the kingdom of Georgia – UNESCO heritage museum city, which is located at the intersection of the military road and the Silk Road. We will visit the Jvari (cross) monastery from the 6th century. At the same point Santa Nino erected a wooden cross to celebrate the conversion of Iberia to Christianity in the 4th century. The Jvari church had a great impact on the development of Georgian architecture and served as a model for many other churches. We will continue the visit to the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century), magnificent both inside and outside, it plays an important role since it is there where the robe of Christ was buried. We will continue visiting the North Caucasus. Through Gudauri, along the Tergi river we will drive to Stepantsminda.

Accommodation in guesthouse, Stepantsminda.

DAY 4. STEPANTSMINDA (KAZBEGI) – GERGETI –PATH SABERTSE – STEPANTSMINDA (KAZBEGI)
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

After breakfast we will travel by private vehicle for about 20 minutes to the Gergeti monastery. We will visit the Gergeti monastery – the church of the Holy Trinity (14th century) which is located in Kazbegi at 2,170 meters above sea level. Its isolated location on top of a steep mountain surrounded by the vastness of nature has made it a symbol for Georgia. After the visit we will begin to climb towards the Kazbegi mountain and we will enjoy the impressive views, surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Greater Caucasus. We will reach the Sabertse pass (3000m) from where we will perfectly see the Gergeti glacier and the Kazbegi peak. Picnic on the way. Return to Stepantsminda. Until the Sabertse pass

Difference in altitude: ↑ ↓ 830 m, Walking time: 7 hours
Up to Glacier
Vertical drop: ↑ ↓ 1120 m. Walking time: 8-9 hours
Accommodation in guesthouse, Stepantsminda.

DAY 5. STEPANTSMINDA (KAZBEGI)  – JUTA – CHAUKHI – GUDAURI  (50 KM)
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

After breakfast, we will drive through the beautiful Sno Valley of Dshuta village. In Juta we will have an impressive walk through a lonely mountain valley at the foot of the Tchiujebi mountain (2,550 m). After about two hours the hardest part of the road begins to reach the peak of Tetu (Mukhadze) (3,289m). From where we will see the particular landscapes including the Kazbegui summit. We will return with the same route.

Vertical drop: ↑ ↓ 1100 m

Walking time: 7-8 hours

Hotel accommodation, Gudauri.

DAY 6. GUDAURI – ANANURI – GORI – UPLISTSIKHE – TSKALTUBO (350 KM)
Breakfast dinner.

After breakfast we will drive to Gori – the main city of the Shida Kartli region founded by one of the country’s greatest kings, David Agmashenebeli (the builder) in the 12th century. Along the way we will have a brief stop to see the Jinvali reservoir with impressive beauty and then we will visit the Ananuri castle (17th century) which houses defensive towers and Orthodox churches. Free lunch. We will visit the Uplistsikhe complex (fortress of the lord), carved out of rock, dating from the first millennium B.C. Uplistsikhe was considered the pagan center in pre-Christian times and this is where wine had the most important role during pagan rites. We will discover various structures from that time and observe different cultures of the rock cut: the theater, a pharmacy, a pre-Christian winery and several palaces. In the afternoon we will arrive at Tskhaltubo.

Hotel accommodation, Tskaltubo.

DAY 7. TSKALTUBO – PROMETEO CAVES – ZUGDIDI – MESTIA (270 KM)
Breakfast dinner.

In the morning we will visit Prometheus caves – one of the richest dimensions with stalactites, stalagmites, petrified waterfalls, pearls from underground caverns that end in a large lake. The cave consists of 6 large rooms, full of spectacular formations. After the visit we will head north to Svaneti, the inaccessible mountainous region in the Greater Caucasus. Free time for lunch in Zugdidi city, center of the Samegrelo region. Then we will move through the varied mountain landscape of the Great Caucasus and we will have a brief stop to enjoy the panoramic views from the Enguri dam, currently the second highest arch dam in the world with a height of 271.5 meters. In the afternoon we will arrive in Mestia.

Accommodation in guesthouse, Mestia.

DAY 8. MESTIA – LAKHIRI – MULAKHI – MESTIA
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

After breakfast we will walk towards Mulakhi, we will have a walk on flowering meadows, along the rhododendrons, the views of Tetnuldi Mountain (4,858m), Banguriani Mountain and the famous Mount Ushba (4,710m). Along the way we will have a picnic. From the Zhabeshi village of the Mulakhi community we return to Mestia.

Vertical drop: ↑ 775 m ↓ 415 m
Walking time: 4 hours
Guesthouse accommodation, Mestia.

DAY 9. MESTIA – ADISHI – IPRALI
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

After breakfast we will go by private vehicle to the Tetnuldi ski slopes. We will descend towards Adishi and enjoy the views of the Banguriani (3838m) and Ushba (4, .710m) mountains. From there, we will have a walk on flowering meadows, along the rhododendrons. We will reach a point where we have to cross the river and we will need help with horses to cross it. We will go up to the Chkhutnieri pass, at an altitude of 2,722 meters, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view over the entire summits between Tetnudi and Shkhara. Along the way we will have a picnic. We will begin the descent towards the Iprali town.

Difference in altitude: ↑ 650 m ↓ 920 m
Walking time: 10 hours
Accommodation in guesthouse, Iprali.

DAY 10. IPRALI – USHGULI
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

After breakfast we will walk along the road for about two kilometers. Leaving the road we will follow a path that goes up towards Ushguli. We will arrive at Ushguli (2,200m), which is the highest inhabited town in Europe, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. The town is most famous for the abundance of watchtowers and from here you can see the highest mountain in Georgia – Mount Shkhara (5,068m). Along the way we will have a picnic. In Ushguli we will visit the Church of Lamaria (12th century). Vertical drop: ↓ 400m ↑ 650m

Walking time: 4 hours
Accommodation in guesthouse, Ushguli.

DAY 11. USHGULI (UNESCO) – SHKHARA GLACIER – MESTIA
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

After breakfast, we will stroll through the beautiful and wide valley of the Enguri river. We will arrive at the foot of Shkhara Mountain (5,068m) – the highest mountain in Georgia. Along the way we will have a picnic. At the end of the walk we will return to Mestia in a private vehicle.

Vertical drop: ↑ ↓ 300 m
Walking time: 6 hours
Accommodation in gueshouse, Mestia.

DAY 12. MESTIA – MARTVILI – TSKALTUBO (280 KM)
Breakfast dinner.

After breakfast we will leave the Svaneti mountains and head towards the Samegrelo region. The first stop we will have in Martvili-Flowing for millions of years, it formed a gorge up to 40 meters deep and a length of 2,400 meters where a boatman with the boat will take us on an unforgettable journey among high Canyon rocks. In the afternoon we will arrive at Tskaltubo.

Hotel accommodation, Tskaltubo.

DAY 13. TSKALTUBO – KUTAISI – GELATI – MTSKHETA – TBILISI (270 KM)
Breakfast food.

After breakfast, a short walk in the center of Kutaisi and visit of the local market. Then we will visit the medieval monastery Gelati and its Academy (sig.XII) – UNESCO heritage. Next, we will head towards Mtskheta, the former capital of the Kingdom of Georgia – a UNESCO heritage site, located at the intersection of the military road and the Silk Road. We will see the church of Dshvari (cross) from the 6th century. Right here Santa Nino had erected a wooden cross to celebrate the conversion of Iberia to Christianity in the 4th century. We will continue our trip visiting the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century) which is one of the most important cultural, artistic and architectural monuments of Georgia where the robe of Christ was buried and for centuries has been a place of coronation of Georgian kings and patriarchs , weddings and royal baptisms. In the afternoon return to Tbilisi.

Hotel accommodation, Tbilisi.

DAY 14. DEPATURE
Transfer to the airport and departure on a regular flight.