8- day In-Depth Cultural Tour in the Western Georgia
8- day In-Depth Cultural Tour in the Western Georgia
8 Days Starting in Tskaltubo, Georgia and ending in Kutaisi, Georgia
Visiting: Tskaltubo, Salkhino, Nokalakevi, Restaurant "Kingdom of Kolkheti", Mestia, Zuruldi Mountain, Ushguli, Ughviri Pass, Kutaisi, Martvili canyon, Ambrolauri, Margvelidze Winery & guesthouse, Barakoni Winery, Royal Khvanchkara, Meskhishvili Theatre, Gelati Monastery, დები - Sisters
Tour operator:
Tour code:
2023
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
20 - 30
Physical rating:
Low
Age range:
17-65
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Picture an intellectual and emotionally fulfilling holiday that delves a bit deeper. One that takes you off the beaten track to see each location through the eyes of the people who know it best. You will taste your way through the abundant tables of Georgia, immerse yourself in the proud and vast cultural heritage, and learn about yourself and the dynamic world around you. This all-encompassing tour promises luxury living, comfortable transportation, and delectable food. Your travel experience will further be enhanced by masterclasses from experts, keynote addresses from academics and historians, and visits to significant landmarks. Western Georgia is laid bare, ready for you to experience like never before possible.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Gathering And Welcome Day At The Legends Tskaltubo Resort
Location: Tskaltubo
Accommodation: Hotel, Resort
Accommodation Name: Legends Tskaltubo Spa Resort
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Arrival
Gathering and Welcome Day at the Legends Tskaltubo SPA Resort - Grand Sanatorium of Soviet Era Elites with “Waters of Immortality”
List of optional activities:
You can enjoy wellness and treatment program or beauty and relaxing procedures with “waters of immortality”;
Visit one of the karst caves nearby with their breathtaking natural beauty and unique climatic environment;
Experience impressive architecture of Tskaltubo’s crumbling, grand sanatoriums leftover from the USSR days;
Or simply relax in the hotel space - in its adjacent 16 hectares of park, by the swimming pool, in the bar or restaurant. Hotel is known for its activities frequented by performances of national or international performers.
You will, of course, be given the full plan of the whole tour and the tour leader of the day will be meeting you next morning to take you to this exciting journey.
Day 2 : Samegrelo
Location: Salkhino, Nokalakevi, Restaurant "Kingdom of Kolkheti"
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Leto Boutique Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
8:00 - 9:20 - Breakfast at Legends Tskaltubo Spa Resort Restaurant
9:20 – 10:00 - Journey to Salkhino Palace
10:00- 15:30 Location 1 - Salkhino Dadiani Summer Residence:
Includes multiple activities:
welcoming and culinary presentation about the story of Georgian cuisine.
Culinary Masterclass at Restaurant Salkhino
Dinner at restaurant Salkhino
Wine and snack degustation near the river and a cellar tour
14:30-15:10 - Departure to Nokalakevi
15:10-16:10 - Location 2- Nokalakevi Tour and Keynote Speaker Presentation:
Civilizational Identity at the Crosspoint of Civilizations
16:10-17:30 Departure to Zugdidi
17:30- 18:30 - Location 3 - Check-in at Hotel Leto Zugdidi and refreshment
19:00-21:00 - Dinner at Restaurant Kolkheti Kingdom
Outdoor Culinary Masterclasses Followed by Full-extent experience of Georgian Supra (table)
Day 3 : Svaneti, Mestia
Location: Mestia, Zuruldi Mountain
Accommodation Name: Hotel Posta Mestia
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
07:00- 09:00 Breakfast at Zugdidi Hotel - Leto
9:00- 12:30 Departure from Zugdidi to Mestia
12:30- 13:00 Hotel Chec-kin and refresh (Hotel Posta, Mestia)
13:00- 13:30 Transport from Mestia Hotel to Zuruldi Restaurant at the top of Hatsvali skiing station
13:30 - 15:30 Lunch, relaxation, enjoying nature, socializing with other guests and a little overview of Svaneti nature and mountains
16:00 - 18:00 Free Time - Tour Mestia, Options to visit Ethnographic Museum, or refresh at the hotel
18:00 - 19:00 Svaneti Theatre - attending an non-act verbal mimodrama play “Betkili” - a captivative story of love, intrigue and power based on the most influential local mythology motif.
19:00 - 19:15 Transport from theatre to Ratiani Koshki and Machubi
19:30 Machubi and Koshki Tour
Presenting and Playing out local beliefs, traditions and rituals
20:00 - 21:00 Culinary Masterclass followed by evening dinner
21:00 - 21:15 Transport from Ratiani Koshki to Hotel (guests can opt to stroll back to hotel since it will be relatively closer)
21.15 Hang out and rest in the hotel
Day 4 : Svaneti, Ushguli
Location: Ushguli, Ughviri Pass
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Posta Mestia
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
07:00-09:00 Breakfast at Mestia Hotel
9:00- 9:30 Journey from Mestia to Ughviri Pass
9:30- 10:00 Ughviri Pass Stop-break - story-telling of Svan Myths and stories of villages and locals
10:00- 11:15 Journey from Ughviri Pass to Ushguli
11:20 -13:00 Central Ushguli Walk Tour from Chazhashi Chvibiani and Zhibiani Villages of Ushguli
13:00 - 13:40 Lunch at Restaurant Koshki
13:40 -15:20 Lamaria Church Tour and Free time
17:00 -17:30 Transport from Nakipari St George Church to Hotel in Mestia
17:30 -18:30 Refresh at the hotel
18:30 -21:00 Evening Program at the hotel:
Keynote Speaker Presentation followed by Evening Dinner at the Hotel’s Veranda Restaurant entertained by CreaTours won folk-band Lidbashi.
Day 5 : Kutaisi - Reflection Day
Location: Kutaisi, Martvili canyon
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Best Western Kutaisi Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
This is a day for transportation, rest, relaxation as well as reflection and sharing of previous few days experience. This day is also not planned and structured by program activities and is left flexible for guest to freely enjoy and relax
07:00-09:00 Breakfast in Mestia Hotel
09:00- 13:00 Journey from Mestia to Martvili Canyon
13:00-13:40 Lunch at cafe in Martvili Canyon
13:40-14:40 Relaxing at Martvili canyon and surrounding nature
14:40- 15:40 Journey from Martvili Canyon to Kutaisi Hotel (Best Western Kutaisi)
15:40- 16:40 Refresh at the hotel
16:40- 19:00 Relaxing, touring the town and enjoying activities of their own
19:00- 21:00 Evening dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Day 6 : Ambrolauri, Racha
Location: Ambrolauri, Margvelidze Winery & guesthouse, Barakoni Winery, Royal Khvanchkara
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Shaori
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Wine Tasting Party
07:00- 08:30 Breakfast in Kutaisi (Hotel )
08:30- 10:00 Departure to Ambrolauri, opening with Introductive part - presentation about Georgian wine , it’s uniqueness and the niche on the market
10:00- 11:00 Checkin and snacking at Hotel Shaori
11:45- 13:30 Main Theme - Visiting Royal Khvantchkara -first wine -vineyard- wine as a main element of the civilisation, presentation + tour around the factory + wine degustation
13:40- 14:00 Visiting Barakoni Winery - Presentation: Unique Qvevri and tasting wine directly from qvevri.
14:00- 14:40 Lunch at Barakoni
14:00- 15:00 Preparation and having Lunch
15:00 - 15:10 Visiting Margvelidze wine cellar, presentation about Wine cult at the crossroads of religions, Marani (traditional house of wine) and Rachan torori explained
15:10 - 16:30 Household Tour + Presentation + wine degustation ( pelamushi and churchkhela masterclass )
17:00- 18:00 Dinner + folk performance+ wine degustation of the award winning Georgian wines.
Day 7 : Kutaisi
Location: Kutaisi, Meskhishvili Theatre, Gelati Monastery, დები - Sisters
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Best Western Kutaisi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Gala evening with folk-fusion band and Georgian traditional dance performance
08:00-09:00 Breakfast at Hotel Shaori, Racha
09:00- 10:30 Departure to Gelati Monastery
10:30-12:30 Gelati Tour, tour-leader presentation on Georgian Folk singing tradition and performance in Gelati monastery and academy building performed by state ensemble of Kutaisi
12:30-13:30 Lunch at the restaurant Gelati
13:30-14:00 Travel from restaurant Gelati to Kutaisi Hotel Best Western
14:00-15:00 Checkin and Refresh at the hotel
15:00-15:20 Transport from the Hotel to Meskhishvili Theatre
15:30- 17:30 Presentation and Concert of Georgian national choreography by state ensemble of Kutaisi
17:30-20:00 Free time
20:00 Gala evening at the restaurant "Sisters" with special guests, tamada, music and dance performance.
Day 8 : Departure Day
Location: David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport
Meals Included: Breakfast
After having breakfast, it's time to end our tour. We will organise transfer to Kutaisi Airport.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Best available standard of hotels in visited areas
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Airport Transfers at Destination
Transfers from Kutaisi airport (assistance with transfers from other airports and cities if required for added fees)
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Fully Guided
Carefully selected tour leaders and keynote speakers deeply connected with themes of exploration
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Meals
Breakfasts in hotels; lunches and evening dinners (including selected drinks) in handpicked restaurants and venues
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Transport
all the ground transport covering the whole tour
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Additional Activities
Variety of programs including some outstanding venues, food masterclasses, wine-tasting, in-depth presentations, concert, theatre play, song and dance performances of chosen ensembles
What's Not Included
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Flight Tickets
Flight tickets to and from Georgia are not included in the price
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International Travel
Accommodation
Highest quality existing hotels in visited locations
Check out our Q&As
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What does our tour include?
We are an English tour company that has put together the most comprehensive and unique travel experience you can imagine. The tour has been designed with optimal comfort in mind, catering to your every need from the moment you land until we bid you farewell. Transportation: If you land in Kutaisi we will arrange transportation from the airport to the first hotel. If you want to travel from Tbilisi or Batumi we can help you arrange transportation at your own expense. We will take care of all the transportation for the duration of the tour and you are guaranteed to ride in style all the way. Accommodation: We have handpicked hotels that only offer the warmest Georgian hospitality. These hotels have strong reputations as some of the best in the region, offering more than just a bed to sleep on. You will also enjoy breakfast each morning at the hotel to get your day going. Food: Every day there will be lunch and dinner served at a unique location. Whether you are peering out over impressive mountain peaks or learning how to create your own Georgian bread, food is always accompanied by a remarkable activity. You will also enjoy some drinks at some of the venues, wine is after all an essential part of the Georgian experience. Experiences: A CreaTour tour is about more than just sightseeing. You will be immersed in all aspects of Georgian culture with a variety of activities including masterclasses in cooking, dance performances, musical recitals, plays, wine tastings, and more. One of the many unique aspects of this tour is that guests will attend a few keynote addresses from experts in the fields of music, ethnography, and anthropology. There is no better way to fully immerse yourself in this ancient world than with this curated combination of activities.
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Can you help with airport pickup?
Yes, of course! Please send your flight itinerary to customerhelp@creatour.com and our coordinator will be happy to arrange an airport pickup from Kutaisi airport at no extra charge. We can also help to arrange pick up from Tbilisi, or Batumi airport at additional cost.
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I’m traveling alone – is that OK?
This is the beauty of our style of travel. Many of our travelers join because they are traveling solo and want to meet and share experiences with like-minded people.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory on the tour. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend all travelers have a policy that also covers COVID-19, personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects.
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I have special dietary requirements – will they be catered for?
We will try our very hardest to accommodate all dietary requirements but in some out-of-the-way places it can be very difficult to guarantee. We will let you know if there are places on your itinerary where this is the case. Please let us know at the time of booking of any food requirements or allergies and we’ll pass the information onto your leaders. In the detailed itinerary we will provide information about food menus that are offered and included in the tour program.
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What will the food be like on my trip?
Food is one of the most exciting parts of the tour. There may be some familiar fare but often you’ll be confronted with the new, interesting and downright weird of the Georgian culinary but we like to think of it as an adventure for all the senses.
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What happens if my tour is canceled?
We never want to cancel a trip, but sometimes things happen. Find our more information about cancellations, credits and refunds on our terms and conditions page.
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Do you help with Visas?
Creatour can’t assist in the actual application of visas, but we can provide the necessary information and redirect you to the relevant embassy. Please contact customerhelp@creatour.com if you need a visa.
Reviews from Travellers on this Tour
Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
CreaTour requires a minimum deposit of 100% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of creatour charges.
At 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
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