Day Tour: Uplistsikhe - Gori - Jvari Monastery - Mtskheta

Photo 3 Day Tour: Uplistsikhe - Gori - Jvari Monastery - Mtskheta

Photo 4 Day Tour: Uplistsikhe - Gori - Jvari Monastery - Mtskheta

Day Tour: Uplistsikhe - Gori - Jvari Monastery - Mtskheta in Tbilisi, Georgia

4.4(5)

Duration

10 hours

Languages

English, Russian

Guests

1-18

Discover the significant heritage sites of Georgia in one day. Explore ancient cave town Uplistsikhe, Stalin Museum, old town Mtskheta, and Jvari Monastery.

Highlights:

Uplistsikhe City Caves
Gori and Stalin Museum
Mtskheta
UNESCO heritage sites Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
The confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari Rivers

Includes:

A professional guide
Transportation according to the itinerary
A bottle of water

Not included:

Lunch in a local restaurant with a Georgian folk show (45 GEL - about 15 USD per person) (optional)
Entrance fee to Stalin Museum in Gori (15 GEL - about 5 USD per person) (optional)
Entrance fee to Uplistsikhe (15 GEL - about 5 USD per person)

Please note:The tour operates in all weather conditions. Therefore, please dress according to the weather.Dress code for a church - It's not allowed for anyone to enter a church in shorts, and women need to cover their headst. Vegetarian food is also available upon request.

Explore one of the most mysterious regions of Georgia – Kartli and hear a lot about the country's history. First, visit memorable Uplistsikhe cave-town and dive into the antique life of Georgia. Then, find out more interesting facts in Gori, the hometown of the most famous Georgian, Stalin, and see the unique old capital of Georgia – Mtskheta, where you visit two UNESCO heritage sites Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.

Your first stop is Uplistsikhe, an antique rock-hewn town in eastern Georgia. It contains multiple structures dating from the Early Iron Age to the Late Middle Ages. It is notable for the unique mixture of various rock-cut cultures from Anatolia and Iran's pagan and Christian architecture coexistence. After exploring Uplistsikhe, you have a chance to have lunch in the region and try delicious local food.

After lunch, you have two options, have free time and explore Gori, the hometown of Stalin, or visit Stalin Museum, which is a museum dedicated to the life of Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, who was born in Gori. The Museum retains its Soviet-era characteristics, Stalin's Original house, and Stalin's railway carriage.

The next stop is Jvari Monastery. The name of this monastery is translated as the "Monastery of the Cross." Jvari Monastery is the 6th-century Georgian Orthodox monastery near Mtskheta. Along with other historic structures of Mtskheta, it is listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Jvari Monastery stands on the rocky mountain top at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, overlooking the town of Mtskheta, which was formerly the capital of the kingdom of Iberia.

The last site on tour is Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta. UNESCO recognizes Mtskheta as a World Heritage site due to its historical significance and several cultural monuments. It was the capital of the early Georgian Kingdom of Iberia from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD. Svetitskhoveli is known as the burial site of Christ's robe and has been one of the principal Georgian Orthodox churches and is among the region's most venerated places of worship.