Price: From £799
Duration: 8 days
In a Nutshell...
Join ATO Tours for a journey through Europe’s hottest emerging destination from 13-20 October, 2019. Whether you read the Evening Standard or The Telegraph, The New York Times or Vice, you couldn’t’ have missed that everyone is talking about Georgia right now. This extraordinary destination on the edge of Europe has a wealth of history (it’s the birthplace of both wine making and of Stalin), stunning UNESCO architecture, unspoilt natural landscapes, and a buzzing capital city, Tbilisi.
Itinerary
Join ATO Tours’ guided trip this October to soak up local culture and discover what all the
excitement is about.
BRIEF ITINERARY & TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- 6 nights’ accommodation in personally vetted 3* + 4* star hotels
- City tours in Kutaisi and Tbilisi
- Ancient cave city of Uplistsikhe
- Lunch and wine tasting at a traditional winery
- UNESCO sites in Mtskheta and Kutaisi
- Georgian cookery class
- Hike in the Borjomi Kharagauli National Park
- Expert local guides and entrance fees
The Details
Day 1 - Flight to Kutaisi
Book your own flight from your home airport to Kutaisi, Georgia. ATO’s recommended flight from the UK is direct with Wizz Air, which departs from London Luton at 17.15 and takes 4h40.
Day 2 - Kutaisi
When you arrive in Kutaisi, ATO Tours will meet you at the airport and bring you to the hotel. The morning will be at leisure and you will then meet your guide at midday for a light lunch. The afternoon city tour will include Kutaisi’s vibrant bazaar and the historic Bagrati Cathedral.
Day 3 - Tbilisi
It’s a scenic drive through the country roads, but in addition to the views, ATO Tours has arranged several fascinating stops along the way. Learn about the life of one of Georgia’s most infamous sons at the Stalin Museum in Gori, then explore the Uplistsikhe cave city. You’ll tour the ancient, UNESCO-listed Mtskheta Cathedral and Jvari Monastery and then arrive in Tbilisi by late afternoon.
Day 4 - Tbilisi
Your guide will introduce you to the highlights of Tbilisi. These include the Narikala Fortress and statue of Mother Georgia, the bustling Old Town with its sulphur bath district and urban waterfall and the Bridge of Peace. ATO Tours will host lunch in the Old Town, and the rest of the day will be at leisure for you to explore and soak up the eclectic, laid back atmosphere of Tbilisi.
Day 5 - Kakheti
Kakheti is the most important wine region in Georgia. Our full day programme includes a tour of Telavi and Gremi, a wine tasting at Winery Khareba, and lunch and a cookery class at Wine Yard N1. In the afternoon you’ll visit scenic Signagi -- a hilltop village with views across vineyards and mountains and then return to Tbilisi.
Day 6 - Borjomi
Borjomi is to Georgia as Evian is to France. The area is known for its natural springs and spas, and you’ll be able to taste the water. Today will also be a chance to stretch your legs with a half day hike in the Borjomi Kharagauli National Park, which has wonderful forested trails and diverse flora and fauna.
Day 7 - To Kutaisi
On Saturday we’ll gently venture back towards Kutaisi, stopping along the way for lunch and a visit to the Kinchkha Waterfall, the highest waterfall in Georgia. There will also be time to head inside the incredible Prometheus Cave Natural Monument.
Day 8 - To London
After a lazy breakfast, we’ll drive out to the final stop on our tour: the remarkable UNESCO-listed Gelati Monastery. The fresco and mosaics in this medieval church are sublime. Lunch will be at a restaurant in Kutaisi, and you will then transfer to the airport in the afternoon for your flight. The
Wizz Air flight direct to London Luton departs at 14.20 and arrives at 16.45.
Please contact ATO tours to discuss tour extensions, including to the seaside resort of Batumi (“The Las Vegas of the Black Sea”), the UNESCO mountain villages of Svaneti, or Kazbegi.
Price: £899, but Women4Adventures readers can take advantage of an early-bird price of £799 for bookings made by the end of June. When making your booking, reference Women4Adventure.
Contact: info@ato-tours.com / www.ato-tours.com
