Day 1 Arrival at Tbilisi

Arrival at Tbilisi International Airport.
Transfer to hotel and check in.

Overnight stay in Tbilisi

Day 2   Tbilisi – Ambrolauri

After breakfast guided city walk (2.5 hours). On the way you learn more about the history and the architecture of Tbilisi.
After lunch in the old town drive (3.5 hours) towards city Ambrolauri.
Check in our hotel.
In the evening visit to the family winery Sadmeli. Degustation of the Qvevry wines made with the same method such as in Medieval time. The tasting include half dry white wine Tsolikauri, the dry red wine Saperavi and the delicious sweet red wine Khvanchkara.

Meal plan: breakfast and picnic
Overnight stay in Ambrolauri

Day 3   Ambrolauri (Tlughi and Nikortdminda)

In the morning departure to village of Tlughi, the best known Christmas tree seed forest location in all Caucasus.
Meeting with Mr. Shota, he is a cone picker and our guide for this day. Short presentation about the seed forest management of Nordmann fir seed forest, licensing, the rules, the safety of pickers, the relationship between pickers and locals and the challenges facing the seed industry.
Off-road driving with an old Russian truck and walking in the seed forest of Tlugi provenance.
Visit to the compartment where different license holders collect cones for Christmas tree growing.
After picnic next to the small waterfall, the local cone pickers will climb up to the trees and show us the cone collection methods and safety measures, then we see cones transportation equipment and explore drying lager.
In the late afternoon visit to the beautiful Shaori Lake, a bath lake for swimming.

Meal plan: breakfast and picnic
Overnight stay in Ambrolauri

Day 4   Ambrolauri - Mestia

Driving towards the Upper Svaneti in the Greater Caucasus Mountains. After four hours of drive we turn to the mixed forests and take picnic next to an beautiful waterfall.
At noon we reach the settlement Mestia and take the cable car up to Mt. Hatsvali (2347m).  The cable car runs over the beautiful fir forest with magnificent glaciers of the Caucasus Mountains.
In the restaurant on the top of the Mountain we enjoy coffee with an unforgettable panoramic view on the Mt. Ushba and Mt. Tetnuldi.
In the late afternoon, we immerse in the history of the Upper Svaneti. We visit the new Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography presenting unique icons and engravings, a rich collection of manuscripts, medieval weaponry and ethnographic artefacts of the ancient life in Svaneti.
We end the day in Mestia where a delicious dinner with traditional dishes await us. One of the regional food specialties is “Kubdari”, a Svanetian bread filled with beef or lumb seasoned with cumin, dill, coriander, blue fenugreek, red pepper, onions, garlic, and salt.

Meal plan: breakfast and picnic
Overnight stay in Mestia

Day 5   Mestia – Ushguli - Mestia

In the morning departure to the ancient village Ushguli, located at the foot of the Schkhara Glaciers. It is one of the highest continuously inhabited village of Europe (2100m). We stroll through the streets of this UNESCO World Heritage site with medieval houses and watch towers. Later we explore the interior of the buildings. Usually the houses consist of 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.
At noon, we take lunch in an family-run restaurant. After, we visit the Lamaria Monastery built in 10th century. The monastery presents unique decorated architecture and medieval frescoes
In the afternoon driving back to Mestia.

Meal plan: breakfast and lunch
Overnight stay in Mestia

Day 6   Mestia – Chalaadi Glaciers - Ureki

In the morning we hike to the Chaladi Glaciers. The trail starts at the iron/wooden footbridge. We cross beautiful Nordmann fir forests mixed by oriental spruce and Caucasian birchs along the riverbanks, small cracks, a subnivale vegetation with hundreds of unique flowering plant species and colorful butterflies. After two hours of hiking we reach magnificent Chalaadi Glacier.

Hiking trail info

Distance: 8 km
Duration: 3-4 hours
Altitude: 1400 – 1920 m
Level of difficulty: easy

At noon we return to Mestia and take lunch in an Restaurant.
Driving to Ureki, a magnetic sand beach on the Black Sea.
In the evening we take bath and enjoy colorful sunset in the Black sea.

Meal plan: breakfast and lunch
Overnight stay in Ureki

Day 7   Ureki - Colkheti National Park – Kutaisi

We spend the first half of the day on the Ureki beach.
In the afternoon departure to the Kolkheti National Park, a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site since 2021. The lowland area is covered by dark forests, bushes, lakes, deltas, rivers, cracks, marshes and swamp. We start boating by pontoon on the Paliastomi Lake, than we turn to the gorges of the Pichori river, called the Georgian Amazon. The riverbanks are fully covered by relict forests that resemble a jungle landscape.
In the late afternoon driving to Kutaisi and check in our hotel.
In the evening await us farewell dinner with traditional Imeretian dishes, Qvevri wine, folk music and dance.

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

Day 8   Departure

After breakfast strolling in the Kutaisi old city.
Transfer to Kutaisi international Airport.

Meal plan: breakfast