Mtskheta-Mtianeti

Private Experiences

Explore Kartli, one of the most mysterious regions of Georgia. Visit the cave town of Uplistsikhe, Stalin's hometown of Gori, and the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Mtskheta. Start at Uplistsikhe, an antique rock-hewn town in eastern Georgia. View its unique mixture of cut-out cultures from Anatolia and Iran's pagan and Christian architecture, then pause for a spot of local lunch (own expense). Next, visit, Gori, the hometown of Stalin. Explore the town or visit the Stalin Museum, which includes the dictator's old house and railway carriage. Follow that with a trip to Jvari Monastery. Admire this 6th-century Orthodox structure which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy the view from the rocky mountain top down onto the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers. Conclude your tour at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, another World Heritage Site. Spend some time at a location known as the burial site of Christ's robe, and which is among the region's most venerated places of worship.

Start the day with pickup from your hotel in Tbilisi and then head to Jinali, the largest reservoir of eastern Georgia. Marvel at the stunning landscape of the scene and then travel to the fortress of Ananuri, which is one of the best monuments of late feudal Georgia. The impressive fortress provides and interesting insight into how the people lived in that long-ago time, and from your guide, learn about how this period of history influenced the country. The Ananurian structures at the fortress are perfectly preserved, unlike other similar historic structures. This feature evokes interest in the fortress of both tourists and historians, and since 2012 the fortress has held the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After the fortress, enjoy a lunch break at a nearby restaurant, or opt for a tasting of the traditional Georgian Khinkali. Following lunch, head to Gudauri, a ski resort situated on a south-facing plateau of the greater Caucasus Mountain. After wandering around the resort, discover the People's Friendship Arch, a creation of the famous sculptor Tsereteli. The Arch was built at an altitude of 2,384 meters in the Kazbegi district, on the cross pass near the Military Georgian Road. Next, visit the Stepantsminda Trinity Church in Gergeti, built on the slopes of the majestic Kazbek Mountain, among the snow-covered ranges. The church is located at an altitude of 2,170 meters near the town of Stepantsminda and the village of Gergeti and provides stunning views across the snow. Towards the end of your tour, enjoy dinner in a Gudauri restaurant before heading back to your accommodation in Tbilisi.

After meeting your driver, take an exciting drive north along the Georgian Military Highway into the high Caucasus Mountains. This spectacular highway winds its way through sheer mountains on a route that runs for 220 km from Tbilisi to Vladikavkaz in Russia and dates back to the 1st century BC. Pass by the Zhinvali Dam hydroelectric dam and reservoir on the Aragvi River which blends in with the surrounding environment perfectly. Enjoy the view of the turquoise waters from Ananuri Fortress, a popular tourist sight with stunning, panoramic views. Descend to the shores of the reservoir until you reach Ananuri fortress, built by the Dukes of Aragvi and eith parts dating back to the 13th century. Admire the two fortifications joined by a crenelated curtain wall and the well-preserved, large square tower, known as the Sheupovari. Continue along the highway towards the Gudauri ski resort situated in the Stepantsminda District at an elevation of 2,200 meters above sea level. Visit the Georgievsk Monument which was built in 1983 to celebrate the ongoing friendship between Georgia and Soviet Russia. Peek inside the monument to see a large tile mural that spans the whole circumference of the structure and depicts scenes of Georgian history. Travel onward to the 14th-century Gergeti Trinity Church, located under Mount Kazbek above the town of Stepantsminda and which has for a long time served as a popular way-point for travelers on the road connecting Russia and Georgia.

Discover Sabaduri Forest with stunning natural scenery. Located near Tbilisi, the area is less than 50km from Tbilisi. During the day, visit various fascinating and hidden places in this city.  En route, pass Tbilisi Water Reservoir and the monument Chronicles of Georgia, known as the Stonehenge of Tbilisi. Sculpted by Zurab Tsereteli, it chronicles Georgian history. The top part of the 30-meter columns features kings, queens, and heroes, and the bottom depicts stories from Christ's life. Sabaduri Forest is impressive year-round. In the summer, the forest is lush and perfect to escape the heat, have a rest in nature, and make a barbeque. During autumn, explore mixed-colored nature. In the winter after fresh snow, admire scenic and untouched landscapes of snow-covered trees and roads.

Let yourself be captivated by a thrilling blend of eastern enigma and western elegance in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. Enjoy a guided tour of the Old Town during which you will learn more about the city's ancient history. Wander through narrow streets and admire the city's religious and secular architecture. See religious buildings such as the 13th-century Metekhi Church, St. Trinity, the Great Synagogue, and the churches of Sioni and Anchiskhati. Wander through the brick-domed sulfur baths, visit an underground winery, and soak up the lively atmosphere of Freedom Square. You will also visit one of the oldest fortresses in Georgia, Narikala Fortress, from which you can admire breathtaking views of the Old Town. After your tour of Tbilisi, head to Georgia's oldest city, Mtskheta. Enjoy panoramic aerial views of the mountains around the 6th-century Jvari Monastery, where you can observe the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers. Journey back in time at the Samtavro Monastery, where you can see the graves of many of Georgia's most important religious figures, including Gabrieli the famous monk. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Svetitskhoveli Cathedral to see the burial place of Christ's robe before finishing your tour with a tasting of some Georgian wines.

Benefit from pick-up at your hotel in Tbilisi, and then drive by air-conditioned minivan to the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Iberia in Mtskheta. Visit the beautiful 6th-century Jvari Monastery to experience one of the most important monuments in Georgia. Next, head to Zhinvali to see the largest reservoir in eastern Georgia. Continue to the castle complex of Ananuri on the Aragvi River and learn about the feudal dynasty that ruled the area from the 13th century. Get back to nature in the Caucasus Mountains and visit the ski resort of Gudauri. See an impressive example of public art at the Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument on the Georgian Military Highway. Head to the Gergeti Trinity Church perched 2,170 meters above sea level. Get 2.5 hours of free time in the town of Kazbegi (also known as Stepantsminda) before the return trip to Tbilisi in the late evening.

Take off from Tbilisi to the Zhinvali reservoir, Kazbegi National Park, Gudauri, and more on this multi-stop guided trip. Take in unbeatable views of local spots, village landscapes, and Mount Kazbegi. The trip starts with a 40-minute drive from Tbilisi to the Zhinvali reservoir. The huge lake around the forest-rich hills offers beautiful landscapes at any time of the year. From here you can already smell the mountains. Not far from the lake, visit the historical sights of Ananuri Fortress. Built in the Middle Ages, this fortress complex served the most important defensive function in the region. This is the only complex in Georgia that has survived to this day and is almost in its original form. Stop near the friendship monument in Gudauri next and get some free time to explore. You can join paragliding with local instructors (costs not included) or just relax and take photos. Enjoy panoramic views of beautiful mountain systems in several directions around. The road continues in the direction of Kazbegi through a pass with a maximum altitude of 2,379 meters above sea level. There, you'll see only high mountains and small villages around. Finally, visit Stepantsminda, the administrative center of the municipality. Choose to visit Gergeti Church, which is not only an important religious place but also a place with scenic views of Kazbegi. Before returning to Tbilisi, you can have a relaxing time on the veranda of a hotel, drink coffee or tea, and see the Mkinvartsveri (Mount Kazbegi).

After being collected from your hotel in the morning, you will venture to Jinvali, which is the largest reservoir of eastern Georgia. Following this, you will head toward the fortress of Ananuri, which is one of the best monuments of late feudal Georgia, and although there are not so few of these monuments in Georgia, it is Ananuri that helps people understand exactly how people lived at that distant time. Ananurian structures, unlike other similar cultures, are perfectly preserved. This particular feature evokes interest in the fortress of both tourists and historians, and since 2012, the fortress has the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the early afternoon, you will experience Gudauri, a ski resort situated on a south-facing plateau of the greater Caucasus Mountain, 2,200 meters above sea level (in the winter season you can even enjoy skiing). Later on, you will see the People's Friendship Arch, which was the inspiration of the famous sculptor Tsereteli. It was built at an altitude of 2,384 meters in the Kazbegi district, on a cross pass near the Military Georgian Road. Later in the afternoon, you will tour Stepantsminda (Kazbegi), a Trinity Church in Gergeti. Among the snow-covered ranges and on the slope of the majestic mountain of Kazbegi, you will find the ancient Georgian Trinity Church. It is located at an altitude of 2,170 meters near the town of Stepantsminda and the village of Gergeti, in honor of which it was named. It is widely known as the Trinity Church in Gergeti, but the Georgians refer to it as "Gergetis Tsminda Sameba". Following this church trip, you will have free time in Kazbegi, before you are dropped off at your accommodation.

Explore the former capital of Georgia on this half-day tour. After getting picked up from your hotel, head to your first stop of the day, Jvari Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located just outside Mtskheta. Learn all about the monastery's historical architectural structures and admire the beauty of the surrounding area from the mountaintop where the building is located.  Next, continue to one of Georgia's oldest cities, Mtskheta, another World Heritage Site. Stroll through the narrow streets of the city and admire its unique architecture. Pay a visit to the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and discover the fascinating story behind its construction. You will also visit a 6th-century church where you can admire panoramic views of the city and the point where two rivers converge. At the end of your tour, get dropped off back at your hotel in Tbilisi.

Your tour will begin in the morning as you are picked up from your hotel, after which you will begin with a drive through the fertile lands of the Kartli region. Your first stop is the 6th-century Jvari Monastery, which is located 19 kilometers away from Tbilisi. Here you will receive an introductory story of the area, whilst enjoying the wonderful panorama of the conjunction of the two rivers Aragvi and Mtkvari, the Armazi Mountains, and the city of Mtskheta. You will then drive 88 kilometers west of Tbilisi to Gori, a city in the Kartli province. Gori was an important military stronghold in the Middle Ages, and at the foot of a sand-stone hill stands the Medieval Gori Fortress Tskhra-kara. You will do a short walk around the area, before then continuing to the Stalin Museum. Excursions in Joseph Stalin's museum will take about 30 minutes, with the museum consisting of 3 sites. Following your museum tour, you will drive to the ancient temple town of Uplistsikhe. Translated as the “Fortress of the Lord“ and dating back to the 6th century B.C., this town is mentioned in the "Chronicles of the 1st Century A.D". Here the echoing halls, long meandering corridor-streets, chambers of pagan worship, and even the remains of the oldest theater in Georgia are all carved into the rocky plateau and waiting to be explored. You will then drive back to Tbilisi passing through the ancient capital Mtskheta, which presents a living museum including the UNESCO Heritage Listed Site of the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, as well as other architectural landmarks. You can take a walk through the historical part of town, and enjoy a relaxing evening tasting local sweets at the souvenir shopping rows.