The Wonders of Georgia – Premier

Itinerary

• Day 1
  Fly to Tbilisi - Fly to Georgia's striking capital, Tbilisi, in the afternoon or overnight (depending on your airline), where your Premier Collection tour manager will meet you and take you straight to The Biltmore, your five-star base in the heart of the city. Set within a striking 32-storey glass skyscraper, the hotel has a first-class spa, an indoor swimming pool and several fine-dining restaurants with panoramic views over Tbilisi, the perfect place to unwind after your flight. 
• Day 2
  Included tour of Tbilisi - Spend a leisurely morning at the hotel with breakfast and time to settle in. Later this afternoon, join your tour manager for an introductory tour of the Georgian capital.   Founded in the 4th century, this Silk Road city has been ruled by several empires across its history, and you’ll see its Persian, Ottoman and Russian influences on full display. Your first stop today will be the city’s pastel-coloured old town, where you’ll find a warren of narrow cobbled streets, brightly coloured wooden balconies, and traditional artisanal shopfronts.   As you walk, you can also see the Gabriadze Theatre and its peculiar ‘leaning’ clock tower. This fairytale spire, with its mosaic tiles and daily mechanical puppet shows, is one of the newest additions to the old town and was built by the renowned puppeteer, Rezo Gabriadze. Explore three of Tbilisi’s most significant Georgian Orthodox places of worship, starting with the 8th-century Anchiskhati Church, before walking along the Kura waterfront to the grand Sioni Cathedral. On the way, you can view the innovative Bridge of Peace, famed for its nightly illuminations and unique wave-like design, and after exploring the Cathedral, you’ll cross the river to the 12th-century Metekhi Church, which rises out of one of the Kura’s cliffsides.   Continue to the Abanotubani, Tbilisi’s ancient bath area, where you’ll be introduced to the city’s spa culture and the sulphur springs that fed the many hammams built under the city’s Persian rule. Take in Tbilisi’s famous domed sulphur baths before completing this morning’s tour at towering Narikala Fortress, which watches over Abanotubani and the city’s botanical gardens from its hilltop position. This walled bastion has stood since the 4th century, and you can soak up some spectacular views from its ramparts.   After finding lunch locally (on your account), learn more about Tbilisi’s colourful past with a visit to the National Museum of History (subject to availability) and take in Liberty Square. Your final stop today will be Rustaveli Street, the city’s main thoroughfare, where you can spot the Georgian Fine Art Museum and the Neo-Moorish Opera and Ballet Theatre of Tbilisi.   This evening, experience true Georgian hospitality with a special welcome dinner at a local restaurant. As an introduction to Georgia’s winemaking heritage, you'll be served two complimentary glasses of wine (or a local beer) with your meal.
• Day 3
  Included excursions to Uplistsikhe and Gori and travel to Stepantsminda - Once you’ve had breakfast this morning, drive to Gori, the birthplace of the notorious Soviet leader, Josef Stalin.   On the way, you’ll stop for a tour of Uplistsikhe, one of Georgia’s most unique heritage sites. This ancient town dates back to 700 BC, is built entirely out of a cave system, and features rock-hewn buildings similar to those found in Anatolia and the Middle East. Delve into centuries of Georgian history with a guided tour of the Makvliani Temple and its ceremonial halls, which are believed to have been the heart of the region’s pagan worship. Explore the carved dwellings that surround the ritual sites and climb to the 9th-century Prince’s Church, built directly on top of the town, for expansive views over the surrounding landscapes.  Continue to Gori for lunch (on your account) and spend some time learning more about one of the town’s most infamous sons with a visit to the Stalin Museum. This Soviet-era landmark, built in 1937 in honour of the communist leader, is arranged around the wooden hut that Stalin was born in. Browse the museum’s wide range of memorabilia, archive documents, and relics associated with the former Soviet premier’s life, as well as his personal railway carriage. Another highlight is the towering Gori Fortress, which has stood tall over the city for more than 800 years.  After some time exploring, continue through the sprawling alpine landscapes of the Aragvi River Valley and into the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Cross the Jvari Pass, a key point on the Georgian Military Highway, where you’ll have time to admire the dramatic scenery, ahead of arrival in Stepantsminda, formerly known as Kazbegi.   Here, you can check into your new hotel, enjoy dinner with the rest of the group and settle in at leisure.
• Day 4
  Day at leisure with optional local lunch and Gergeti Sameba Church visit - After breakfast this morning, you’ll be free to spend the rest of the day however you see fit. For a more relaxing time in Stepantsminda, you can make the most of the hotel’s amenities, perhaps with a steam in the sauna or a dip in the swimming pool or stroll around the village.   If you’d prefer a more structured day’s activity, you can also join a free optional excursion to the nearby Gergeti Sameba Church, one of the country’s most arresting sights. Surrounded by unspoilt Caucasus landscapes, this cupola-roofed landmark stands at more than 2,000 metres above sea level and cuts a dramatic figure against the mountain peaks. Drive up to the church, explore under your own steam and take in the remarkable views of nearby Mount Kazbek, Georgia’s third-tallest peak. Afterwards, join a friendly local family for a traditional Georgian lunch, before heading back down to Stepantsminda for an orientation tour. If you’d like, you can also opt to venture further into the Dariali Gorge for more of the region’s rugged alpine vistas.   This evening, reconvene at the hotel for dinner and spend the rest of the night at leisure.  
• Day 5
  Included excursions to Ananuri Fortress and Mtskheta and travel to Tbilisi - Rise early this morning with breakfast at the hotel and head south back to Tbilisi, stopping en route at the ancient Ananuri Fortress, once the seat of the Dukes of Aragvi. Overlooking the point at which the Aragvi River meets the Zhinvali Reservoir, the castle is set against a striking lakeside backdrop and has been the site of several influential battles throughout its history.   Afterwards, continue to UNESCO-listed Mtskheta, Georgia’s ancient former capital and the spiritual heart of the country. Known for its numerous monasteries, convents, and medieval churches, it’s here that Christianity was declared the official faith of this Caucasus nation in 337 AD, and historians date its original settlement back to 2,000 BC.  While here, you’ll delve deeper into the city’s religious heritage with a stop at the 6th-century Jvari Monastery, which has remained remarkably untouched throughout history. The building itself is set on a hilltop and also offers exquisite views over the meeting point between the Kura and Aragvi rivers.   Next, call at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, a masterpiece of early medieval architecture and one of the largest Georgian Orthodox churches in the world. Towering over the city, this imposing building is a sight to behold, and inside its vaults, you’ll find a number of sacred Christian relics and royal burial chambers. The Cathedral is perhaps best known for housing Christ’s Mantle, the robe that many claim was worn by Jesus Christ ahead of his crucifixion, and you can see it for yourself on your visit.   After finding lunch locally (on your account), return to Tbilisi and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.
• Day 6
  Included winery tour and Telavi excursion - Have breakfast this morning and head east into Kakheti, the home of Georgian winemaking. As you drive, enjoy views of the region’s picturesque villages and abundant hillside vineyards, and after a while, stop in the town of Bodbe. Here, you’ll be introduced to St Nino’s Monastery, with its remarkable, frescoed walls and scenic hilltop position.   After admiring the views, continue to the idyllic town of Sighnaghi. Set more than 800 metres above sea level, this lofty hilltop town offers a handful of truly extraordinary views ranging across the Eastern Caucasus Mountains and the vineyard-laden Alazani Valley. It also promises an authentic taste of life in Kakheti with its traditional shopfronts, carved wooden balconies and winding terraced streets.   You’ll have some time to explore under your own steam before reconvening for a tasting session at a local winery. Kakheti is best known for its deep red, traditional qvevri amber and semi-sweet white wines, and you’ll sample some fine local varieties under the guidance of a local expert ahead of lunch looking out over the vineyard.   The final stop on today’s excursion will be Kakheti’s unofficial capital, Telavi, and you’ll have some time to take its charming lanes at your own pace. A particular highlight here is the Batoni Castle, one of the best-preserved examples of a traditional Georgian tsikhe (hill fortress) in the country.  Finish the day with a drive to the nearby village of Tsinandali, where you’ll stay overnight.  
• Day 7
  Day at leisure and optional Tsinandali Estate excursion - It’s your final day in Georgia, and once you’ve had breakfast, can spend it the way you want to at leisure. Those who are interested in exploring Kakheti’s viticulture heritage further can take part in another free optional excursion to the acclaimed Tsinandali Estate.   Developed by the noble Chavchavadze family across the centuries, this elegant country manor experienced a renaissance under the ownership of Prince Alexander Chavchavadze in the 19th century. It’s here that Georgia’s very first bottled wine was produced, and many claim it as the birthplace of classical European winemaking. Spend some time exploring the grounds, marvel at the expansive vineyards and wine cellars, and enjoy lunch at one of the estate’s first-class restaurants before heading back to Telavi.   This afternoon, travel back to Tbilisi, where you’ll be served a special farewell dinner. Comprising traditional Georgian dishes and two complimentary glasses of fine local wine (or a bottle of beer) to accompany your meal, this promises to be the perfect end to your Premier escape.  After dinner, you’ll have a final evening at leisure to spend as you see fit. If you haven’t already, be sure to visit Tbilisi’s Sameba Cathedral later this evening to watch its grand facades illuminated in a truly dramatic way. 
• Day 8
  Return to the UK - Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel this morning, check out and head to the airport for your flight back home.