100% customisable travel idea
Tbilisi, Black Sea and Caucasus The Great Georgian Loop
Georgia - Tbilisi - Black Sea - Svaneti - North Caucasus
100% customisable travel idea
Georgia - Tbilisi - Black Sea - Svaneti - North Caucasus
100% customisable for you
Transfer. Stay for three nights at the foot of Narikala Fortress. The hotel's designers have left the very rock it’s built on exposed in several places. In the lobby it creates the effect of a being in a cave, half natural, half man-made but all very beautifully done. The designers have also used metalwork to good effect. The rooms have a pleasant modern look and are well equipped and comfortable. The natural colour palette of raspberry, straw, anise and forget-me-not all add to the charm of the place. The rooftop terrace boasts panoramic views over the historic city and also serves as an open air lounge. Breakfast is served in the dining room, with plenty of fresh fruit, cheese and tempting treats. A few hundred metres away, the Bridge of Peace winds gracefully above the Kura River.
Scheduled - Tbilisi like a local. For half a day, in the company of a Georgian, explore the city and the rhythms of everyday life. Nothing is planned in advance, you just share your wish list and interests when you meet. Together, you sketch out the walk, which is also a great way to pick up plenty of useful tips for later. The city, meanwhile, is the perfect place to wander. Wooden balconies in weathered colours jut out over the streets. Synagogues, churches, mosques and trendy cafes jostle for space in the old, flower-filled neighbourhoods. It goes without saying it's all very cosmopolitan. Step inside the Orthodox Sioni Cathedral, dating from the 12th century, which houses the Cross of St. Nino, Georgia's holiest relic. Climb up to the fortress, which has overlooked the Kura River since the 4th century, even though its current ramparts date from the 16th and 17th centuries. Wander through the Armenian quarter or stroll along the iconic Rustaveli Avenue.
The city’s monuments, neighbourhoods, and vibrant street life all entice travellers to get more involved. And if that’s what you want to do, we can arrange a private Georgian cookery class for you with a chef. You’ll go back home with the skills to impress your friends and relive your memories. Or what about the sulphur baths and a traditional massage at Abanotubani, in old Tbilisi. They are both guaranteed to leave you feeling softer and smoother. Or perhaps a visit to the upper part of the city and the Mtatsminda Pantheon, on the funicular. Or what about trying all three. You can also continue exploring on your own. The Open Air Museum of Ethnography showcases traditional buildings from all corners of the country. "The Matchmaker", 1548, by Lucas Cranach the Elder, and the miraculous 12th century Ancha Icon are on display at the Georgian Art Museum. As for khinkali, the Georgian dumplings, they are eaten a bit like Shanghai’s xiaolongbao. You sip the broth inside, trying not to burn yourself, then bite into them.
Optional extra - Day trip to Kakheti.
Transfer to the station and first-class train to Batumi. Stay for two nights a short distance from the beach area. This eclectic hotel playfully defies the notion of style. The surprising design of the common areas features large spaces, pastel colours and gleaming floors. The rooms are more understated, with more than adequate amenities. You can have your meals on the rooftop terrace or simply enjoy the evening air there. The flower beds add a vibrant touch to the garden and fill the air with their sweet scents.
The capital of Adjara enjoys a prime location on the Black Sea. From the ancient Greeks to Soviet citizens, people have been coming here for a long time to take iodine-rich baths and eat fish. And people are still flocking here today. Russian tourists make the most of the beach resort and the mild climate. The buildings that welcome them, already imaginative before, have become even bolder and quirky architecture is everywhere. You’ll be quite enchanted to discover the most original sights if you go for a walk.
Scheduled - Botanical garden tour with a chauffeur driven car. This garden, established in 1912, is a Russian version of the great European acclimatisation movement (when European colonialists or explorers sought to improve nature and agriculture by introducing non-native species). Its founder, Andrei Krasnov, was typical of the scientific travellers of the time. While the garden is still used for scientific research, the focus now is more on ornamental flower beds and recreation, and the setting by the sea is totally alluring.
Meet your driver and drive Mestia. Stay for two nights on the main square, in a hotel with a very traditional appearance. Inside, however, the design is more minimalist. There’s no sense of coldness though, on the contrary, the wood used throughout adds a warm touch. The rooms are spacious and bright, and very well equipped and the bathrooms are simple, clean and stylish. The design features come into their own in the dining room and the bar, which are both beautiful places to linger. The restaurant serves expertly cooked international cuisine and modern cocktails are served in the bar. Concerts are sometimes held here in the evenings.
The stone tower houses of the Svans, the name of the people from the Svaneti region, are a characteristic feature of the landscape. The Upper Svaneti is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of these medieval towers. There are several in Mestia itself too. With your driver, travel through a spectacular mountain landscape with its eternal snow on the peaks over 3,000 metres (9,800 feet). Drive through forests of spruce, fir, beech, oak and hornbeam, until you reach the Ouchgouli villages. This is one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe, 2,100 metres (6,900 feet) above sea level, in the shadow of the Bezengui Wall. Isolation has preserved the local heritage, and the towers stand there with no concessions to modern life. In 1929, Mikhaïl Kalatozov (born Mikheil Kalatozishvili in Georgia), who would later direct The Cranes Are Flying, made a pioneering and breathtakingly beautiful documentary here called Salt for Svanetia.
Drive to Kutaisi. Stay for two nights in the city centre. The hotel brings new energy to a traditional townhouse. Inside, the contemporary furnishings feature pistachio, mauve and purple tones set against shades of grey. Your room provides everything you need, in a seamless international style. At the terrace restaurant, the food takes inspiration from North American cuisine, which makes a change. And why not you think, looking out over the city at your feet. Georgia is not closed off in its traditions, it embraces all that globalisation has to offer. And you experience this on your journey.
The ruins of Bagrati Cathedral have been completely restored. Built in the 11th century, it is a striking example of the country’s medieval architecture. About 10 km (6 miles) from Kutaisi, the famous Gelati Monastery, dating from the 12th to 16th centuries, is decorated with remarkable mural paintings and, set in lush green landscape. It goes without saying this rich intellectual and spiritual history has made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not far away, Motsameta Monastery, built on a clifftop promontory above the Tskhaltsitela River, leaves you speechless. The site captures the spirit of Georgian romanticism like few others. Nothing is missing, it even has its own legend. The story goes that two martyred brothers, whose remains were thrown into the river below, were captured by lions and taken to the hill where the monastery was built. Founded in the 7th century, the monastery remains as it was in the 18th century.
Drive to Stepantsminda, passing through Mtskheta, the former capital of the ancient Kingdom of Iberia, which was declared a Georgian holy city in 2014, and draws travellers for many reasons. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, dating from the 11th century is famous for its frescoes. Jvari Monastery was built in the 6th-7th centuries on the site where Saint Nino is said to have erected the cross that is now a relic in Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi. Both monuments are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Stay for two nights in a contemporary property, furnished and decorated in a classic hotel style. There are a few local touches, but not too much in the way of folklore. The rooms are spacious and have all the right amenities. They are spotless and comfortable. In the common areas, large picture windows overlook the great outdoors. At the restaurant, Georgian and international cuisine are served to a high standard. The sauna is perfect for some revitalising steam sessions. The hotel also has a wine shop well stocked with local wines.
From Stepantsminda, you can hike to the small 14th century Gergeti Trinity Church, which is nearby and overlooked by the imposing, majestic form of Mount Kazbek. The walk is about 7 km (4 miles) there and back. With an elevation gain of 430 metres it’s a bit of a climb, but well worth it. If you don't feel up to hiking you can go there by car. And while you’re here, why not venture further into these magnificent landscapes. With its towering peaks, deep valleys, and dramatic landscapes the Caucasus is a unique mountain range, one of the most beautiful in the world. Kazbegi National Park is home to a wide variety of plants and a diverse array of wildlife. At certain times of the year, flowers bloom everywhere. The Caucasian rhododendron, giant bellflowers and Herb Robert geranium are just three of the species that flourish here. Visitors often use binoculars to spot griffon vultures, golden eagles, chamois or Caucasian goats.
Drive to Tbilisi airport. Return flight.
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