2 Days Tour Around Georgia

2 Days Tour Around Georgia

In this tour the travelers will visit old Town Of Tbilisi, Old Capital of Iberia, which is the holly land in Georgia like Jerusalem in Israel. the traveler will drive along Georgian Military Road to the high landed townlet Stepantsminda by the Greater Caucasus Mountains with magnificent views around the Aragvi gorge.

Itinerary

Day 1: Tbilisi & Mtskheta tour.

Stop At: Old Town (Altstadt) Tbilisi, Tbilisi Georgia
After breakfast start Tbilisi city tour. Visit multinational old town; Metekhi church (XIII c), Narikala fortress (V c), mosque, Bath district with sulpha bathes (XVII-XVIII c), old synagogue (XIX c), old Karvasla (Caravanserai XVI c), Sioni cathedral (XII c), modern glass made Peace Bridge, Anchiskhati church (the oldest orthodox church in Tbilisi VI c), Catholic Church (XIX c).
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: The City-Museum Reserve of Mtskheta, Mtskheta Georgia
After drive to old capital of Georgia (Iberia) Mtskheta (historical monuments of Mtskheta belongs to UNESCO's World Heritage). Visit Svetitskhoveli cathedral (XI c) and Jvari monastery (VI c). Return to Tbilisi. Stay overnight in Tbilisi.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: Drive along Georgian Military Road.

Stop At: Ananuri Fortified Castle Ensemble, Georgian Military Highway, Ananuri Georgia
Ananuri was a castle and seat of the Eristavis (Dukes) of Aragvi, a feudal dynasty which ruled the area from the 13th century. The castle was the scene of numerous battles.

In 1739, Ananuri was attacked by forces from a rival duchy, commanded by Shanshe of Ksani and was set on fire. The Aragvi clan was massacred. However, four years later, the local peasants revolted against rule by the Shamshe, killing the usurpers and inviting King Teimuraz II to rule directly over them. However, in 1746, King Teimuraz was forced to suppress another peasant uprising, with the help of King Erekle II of Kakheti. The fortress remained in use until the beginning of the 19th century. In 2007, the complex has been on the tentative list for inclusion into the UNESCO World Heritage Site program.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Gudauri Ski Resort, Gudauri, Georgia
Gudauri is a ski resort located on the south-facing plateau of The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range in Georgia. The resort is situated in the Stepantsminda District, along the Georgian Military Highway near the Jvari Pass, at an elevation of 2,200 meters (7,200 ft.) above sea level with ski able area enjoying maximum exposure to the sun. Gudauri lies 120 km (75 mi) to the north of the capital Tbilisi and two hours drive from the Tbilisi International Airport or even a short helicopter flight from the capital. The resort offers paragliding, 4x4 motor riding and high quality skiing opportunities. The slopes of Gudauri are completely above the tree line and are best for free-riders and are generally considered to be avalanche-safe. The ski season lasts from December to April. Heliskiing is also available throughout the season.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Russian Georgian Friendship Monument, Georgian Military Highway, Gudauri 383085 Georgia
The Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument or Treaty of Georgievsk Monument is a monument built in 1983 to celebrate the bicentennial of the Treaty of Georgievsk and the ongoing friendship between Soviet Georgia and Soviet Russia. Located on the Georgian Military Highway between the ski resort town of Gudauri and the Jvari pass, the monument is a large round stone and concrete structure overlooking the Devil's Valley in the Caucasus mountains. Inside the monument is a large tile mural that spans the whole circumference of the structure and depicts scenes of Georgian and Russian history.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Jvari, E117, Georgia
The Georgian Military Road (ca. 212 kilometers long) runs between Tbilisi (Georgia) and Vladikavkaz (Russia) and follows the traditional route used by invaders and traders throughout the ages. From Vladikavkaz, the road stretches southwards up the valley of the Tergi before passing through the Dariali Gorge (which marks the border between Russia and Georgia). It then passes Mount Kazbegi and Gergeti Trinity Church before heading south-west through the Georgian region of Khevi to the Jvari Pass, where it reaches its maximum altitude of 2,379 meters (7,815 feet) (42.5042°N 44.4538°E). Not long after the pass the road passes the Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument, a large concrete monument built in 1983 to commemorate relations between the two countries and the bicentennial of the Treaty of Georgievsk. The road then turns south-eastwards, following the Tetri Aragvi River through Mtiuleti down to the town of Pasanauri, before heading due south. It then passes below the walls of the medieval fortress of Ananuri before cutting across the wide floodplain of the Tetri Aragvi down to a point just north of Georgia's historic capital, Mtskheta, where it merges into Georgia's main East-West highway (the E60). In this guise, the Georgian Military Road technically continues along the right bank of the Mtkvari (Kura) River before reaching nearby Tbilisi.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Gergeti Trinity Church, Stepantsminda Georgia
Gergeti Trinity Church (Georgian: Tsminda Sameba) is a popular name for Holy Trinity Church near the village of Gergeti in Georgia. The church is situated on the right bank of the river Chkheri (the left tributary of the river Tergi), at an elevation of 2170 meters (7120 feet), under Mount Kazbegi.

The Gergeti Trinity Church was built in the 14th century, and is the only cross-cupola church in Khevi province. The separate bell tower dates from the same period as the church itself. Its isolated location on top of a steep mountain surrounded by the vastness of nature has made it a symbol for Georgia. The 18th century Georgian author Vakhushti Batonishvili wrote that in times of danger, precious relics from Mtskheta, including Saint Nino's Cross were brought here for safekeeping. During the Soviet era, all religious services were prohibited, but the church remained a popular tourist destination. The church is now an active establishment of the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church.

The church is a popular way point for trekkers in the area, and can be reached by a steep 1 1/2 hour climb up the mountain, or around 30 minutes by jeep up a rough mountain trail.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Kazbegi National Park, Georgia
According to tradition, Stepantsminda, literally "Saint Stephan", was named so after a Georgian Orthodox monk Stephan, who constructed a hermitage at this location on what later became the Georgian Military Highway. It came under the control of a local feudal magnate, the Chopikashvili clan, who were in charge of collecting tolls on travelers in the area in the late 18th century. After the expansion of the Russian Empire into the Kingdom of Georgia in the early 19th century, the people of the region revolted against Russian rule. However, the local lord Gabriel Chopikashvili, son of Kazi-Beg, remained steadfast in his loyalty to Russia and helped to suppress the revolt. In return, he was promoted to officer in the Russian Army. He adopted the surname Kazbegi, and the village under his control was also frequently referred to as "Kazbegi". The name was officially changed to Kazbegi under Soviet rule in 1925. Gabriel Chopikashvili-Kazbegi's grandson was the famed Georgian writer Alexander Kazbegi, who was born in this town. In 2006, the town reverted to its original name of Stepantsminda.
Duration: 20 minutes

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.