Day 1 Arrival

Arrival at Tbilisi International Airport.
Transfer to your hotel regardless of your arrival time.
Check-in.

Overnight stay in Tbilisi

Day 2   Tbilisi

After breakfast guided city walk (3 hours). On the way you learn more about the history and the architecture of Tbilisi.
At noon, lunch in the old city.
In the afternoon visiting to National Botanical Garden of Georgia.  The over 300 year old garden presents more than 4000 of endemic, rare, ornamental and medical plant species of Georgia and Caucasus Floristic Region.
In the afternoon welcome dinner with traditional dishes and beverages.

Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight stay in Tbilisi

Day 3   Tbilisi  – Uplistsikhe – Borjomi - Bakuriani

After breakfast departure to Bakuriani located in the Lesser Caucasus. On the way we make a stop at the cave town Uplistsikhe built in the 6th century BC. The site is characterized by its unique mix of various styles of rock-cut architecture from Anatolia and Iran, as well as of Pagan and Christian elements. Uplistsikhe is  inscribed on the Tentative List of Unesco World Heritage Sites.
The surroundings of the cave town are in a semi-arid climate zone. Nearby habitats we observe endemic xerophilous vegetation whit following plants: Astracantha uricula, Amygdalus georgica, Endemic species of wild pears, Pyrus fedorovii, P. oxyprion, P. demetrii, P. caucasica and other endemic species like: Chamaecytisus ruthenicus, Rhamnus palasii, Heracleum leskovii and more.
Continue to Borjomi. Meeting at the Visitor Center of the Borjomi - Kharagauli National Park (BKNP).
Presentation on the biodiversity in the park.
Short field excursion and exploration of the local vegetation.

Meal plan: breakfast and lunch
Overnight stay in Bakuriani

Day 4   Bakuriani - Tetrobi Managed Reserve

Departure to Azavteri. From here we start hiking towards the Tetrobi Managed Reserve in the Javakheti Protected Areas. On the lower side of the Thetrobi mountain we explore the tragacanthic community formed by Astracantha microcephala. This community is inhabited by narrow-endemic species of Javakheti Medicago, dzhawakhetica and Caucasus endemic Scutellaria sosnowskyi.
Then we walk in the pine forest and observe the floristic diversity of specific habits distributed on the limestone rocks. The most common habitats consist of tragacanthic (astragalus) community, natural stands of pine forest and the subalpine meadow.

Hiking Trail
Distance: 12 km
Duration: 4 - 5 hours
Altitude: 1800 – 2400m
Level of difficulty: medium

Meal plan: breakfast and picnic
Overnight stay in Bakuriani

Day 5  Bakuriani - Ktsia-Tabatskuri Managed Reserve

Departure to Tabatskuri Lake in the Ktsia-Tabatskuri Managed Reserve. The reserve protects the unique flora and fauna of the Lesser Caucasus. We explore plants in coniferous deciduous and mixed forests dominated by Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis), Caucasian fir (Abies nordmanniana) and Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis).
After the walk in the subalpine belth drive towards the Tabatskuri Lake. The route runs over the Tskratskaro Pass (2454m). Stops along the way to observe the most interesting habitats and plants around the Tabatskuri Lake.

Meal plan: breakfast and picnic
Overnight stay in Bakuriani

Day 6   Bakuriani - Zugdidi Botanical Garden – Ethno Village Sisatura - Mestia

Departure to Mestia in the Greater Caucasus Mountains. On the way making first stop at the new Zugdidi Botanical Garden. This garden was closed for 30 years, now it is fresh reconstructed and serves to protect the unique flora of Colchis. Guided Walk in the garden.
Our next stop is the Ethno Village Sisatura. It is a living museum presenting the history and the traditions of the ancient Cholkhis.
Short walk in the village and visit to the medieval granarys for storage food and wine for hibernation, to an ancient watermill standing in the shore of small sea and to Mengrelian Oda, a woody house, where the Kolkhis have lived. The house hosts an ancient pottery, antique furniture, clothes diverse working and household objects. Here we take dinner. Our host Marika welcomes you with delicious vegetables, local cheese, homemade bread and homegrown black tea.
Continue through the Enguri Gorge, fir forests and alpine villages up to Mestia.

Meal plan: breakfast and picnic
Overnight stay in Mestia

Day 7   Mestia – Ushguli - Mestia

Departure to the ancient village Ushguli, located at the foot of the Mount Schkhara. It is one of the highest continuously inhabited village of Europe. We stroll through the streets of the Unesco World Heritage Site and make a coffee break with beautiful views on the village and the mountains.
Drive to the Ughviri Pass (1922 m) and the Zagaro Pass (2623 m). The Ughviri Pass is to note for its smalel volcanic lake, surrounded by unique Colchic mixed and coniferous forests. The area hosts various types of subalpine habitats such as Oriental spruce forests (tree line and timberline), Rhododendron caucasicum communities, humid and moderately humid meadows (pasturelands) and riverbank habitats of mountain rivers are distributed. These habitats are rich in rare and endemic species of plants.
Back to Mestia we visit a “Machubi”. a traditional house, where the ancient Svanetian families have lived. Usually the building consists of a watchtower protecting against invasions, a living room with a fireplace, a sleeping space, a storage for food and wine and a stable for cows and other domestic animals.

Meal plan: breakfast and picnic
Overnight stay in Mestia

Day 8   Mestia – Mount Tetnuldi/Hatsvali – Adishi - Mestia

Departure to the cable car station of Mount Tetnuldi. Taking the cable car up to 3200 m. We walk in the alpine and subnival belt and explore habitats of alpine carpet-like vegetation communities and patches of subnival plant communities.
In the afternoon drivie the historical village Adishi. From here we start hiking up to the Adishi Glaciers (3,958). The route crosses habitats of alpine meadows, river banks, small cracks, birch forests and ends on the foot of the glaciers.
On the way back we make a break in the village and enjoy local beer in a small family-run Café.

Hiking Trail
Distance: 14 km
Duration: 4 - 5 hours
Altitude: 2040 – 2800m
Level of difficulty: medium

Meal plan: breakfast and picnic
Overnight stay in Mestia

Day 9   Mestia  – Kutaisi

After Breakfast visit of the new Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography presenting unique icons and engravings, a rich collection of manuscripts, medieval weaponry and ethnographic artefacts depicting ancient life in Svaneti. 
Drive to Kutaisi. On the way short stop to visit the Enguri Dam, the world's second highest concrete arch dam (271.5 m).
After checking in your hotel in Kutaisi visit to Baia’s winery. You can learn more about the traditional winemaking and  the taste of Georgian wines. The winery produces natural wines made from regional varitiess. We stroll in the vineyards, explore grape varieties, visit the wine cellar, look closer at the traditional Qvevri winemaking, and taste Baia's  delicious wines: the white wines Tistska and Tsolikouri and the red wine Otskhanuri Sapere.
Finally we have a farewell dinner with traditional dishes, accompanied by polyphonic chants.

Meal plan: breakfast, picnic and dinner
Overnight stay in Kutaisi

Day 10  Departure

After the breakfast check-out and transfer to Kutaisi International Airport depending on your departure time.

On request we can organize a transfer back to the Tbilisi International Airport.

Meal plan: breakfast