• Giant Bicycle monument - In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from your accommodation in Tbilisi to begin your journey. You’ll travel in a comfortable car along the road connecting the central and southern parts of Georgia, passing through the countryside. Head towards Javakheti, a region known as the southern part of the Georgian Medieval Kingdom, where castles and monasteries preserve a rich cultural and historical legacy. The drive from Tbilisi to the first landmark takes about 90 minutes.
• Tsalka - The drive to and past the Tsalka (Khrami) Reservoir takes 60 minutes.

From your car, you’ll see mountain peaks ranging from 2700 to 3300 meters in altitude, as well as lakes like the Tsalka (Khrami) Reservoir, which was built to generate electricity. Surrounding the lake are several villages with diverse nationalities, including Georgians (Javakhs and Svans), Azerbaijanis, Armenians, and Greeks. Nearby is the village of Trialeti, founded by German colonists in 1858 and originally named Alexanderhilf (renamed to Rosenberg during Soviet times). By 1914, there were other similar German settlements in Georgia and Azerbaijan, with a population of 12,000.

• Tsalka central park - Tsalka and nearby villages are often referred to as a Greek ghost town in Georgia. The ancestors of today’s Greek community in Tsalka and the surrounding areas came from the Kars region in Turkey, settling here in 1828-29.
• Tikmadash Pass - About the Region: The unique landscape features a woodless cover, fields scattered with volcanic rocks that change color with the seasons, and in winter, they are blanketed in snow. This is the coldest region in Georgia. The drive takes 30 minutes.
• Paravani Lake - Your first stop is Lake Paravani, a volcanic lake and one of the largest in Georgia, located on the Javakheti Plateau between the Abul-Samsari and Javakheti Ranges at an altitude of 2100 meters. It’s a great place to enjoy the scenery and take stunning photos.
• Poka St. Nino Monastery - From Lake Paravani, you can see Mount Didi Abul in good weather.

The Javakheti highland near Paravani is a mountainous area at an altitude of 2000 meters, with the prominent Abul mountain (3301 meters) visible from all sides. It’s one of the highest peaks in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains in Georgia.

• Poka St. Nino Monastery - Foka is the place where Nino came to Georgia. The Georgian Orthodox Church has installed a new monument here, and your guide will share stories about it.
• Poka St. Nino Convent - After a 15-minute drive, you’ll reach the Poka Convent Monastery, an example of 11th-century Georgian architecture. The church, dedicated to St. Nino, is built of neatly cut square stone blocks.

Monastery Life:

The nunnery plays a significant role in educating the local non-Georgian population. Extra lessons are provided for school pupils in Georgian language and literature, geography, and English.

Since its foundation, the nunnery has focused on agricultural activities and animal farming. In the early years, much of the work was dedicated to learning traditional agricultural practices such as grain-growing, crop cultivation, managing gourd fields and greenhouses, and cow farming. The nuns also produce candles, cloisonné enamel, cheese, confectionery, and cooked products, which are available for purchase in a small shop with nicely branded packages.

• Vardzia - Continue your journey to the cultural heritage site of Vardzia, an endowment of King Tamara built between the 12th and 13th centuries. It features monumental paintings from the reign of the Golden Age of the Georgian kingdom. Here, you’ll explore caves and take a short hiking trip. The entire visit, including travel time, takes about 4 hours.
• Khertvisi Fortress - The next stop is a viewpoint overlooking the historic Khertvisi Fortress, located on a rock between the Mtkvari and Paravani rivers. Historically, it was a strategic location for controlling the southern part of Georgia. The drive takes 20 minutes, and you’ll spend about 10 minutes walking around.
• Rabati Castle - Your final stop is Rabati Castle, where you’ll explore unique museum exhibitions and religious temples, including a mosque and the ruins of an Islamic education center. The museum houses old manuscripts, archaeological artifacts, ethnographic objects, a collection of old carpets, and more. The drive to the castle takes 45 minutes, and you’ll spend about 15 minutes there.
• Giant Bicycle monument - Return to Tbilisi through Borjomi and then via the Tbilisi-Senaki-Leselidze Highway in the late evening, concluding your tour with a drop-off at your starting point. The drive takes 2-3 hours.

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Bottled water
• Private tour
• Professional art historian guide
• Live commentary on board
• Transport by air-conditioned minivan
• Transport by private vehicle

• Museums Entrance fees
• Food and drinks

Explore the southern part of Georgia by visiting its four most popular attractions: the medieval Vardzia Cave complex, the volcanic Lake Paravani, Rabati Castle, and Khertvisi Fortress. Embark on a memorable private or small group day trip from Tbilisi to discover these remarkable sites. This region is notable for its unique natural conditions, which create a specific microclimate and landscape, as well as its rich historical and cultural heritage. On the tour, visit the Vardzia cave complex perched high on a cliff, offering breathtaking views, and enjoy a lunch break by the Mtkvari River. You will also have the opportunity to explore the walls of Rabati Castle and take in the vibrant landscape of Akhaltsikhe from its highest tower.

• Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.