In Kakheti - the land of grapevine!

What to expect

The burial place of St. Nino
Bodbe Monastery is included in any tour of Kakheti - after all, the tomb of the legendary preacher Nino is located in the cathedral of St. George. I will tell you about the early spread of Christianity in our land, ancient legends related to the missionary work of the Orthodox saint, and the role of adopting the new religion in the history of Georgia.

Picturesque Sighnaghi
In the charming town with terraced streets intertwined with winding alleys, you will learn about the history of its main attraction - the ancient fortress built by King Heracle II. You will discover the peculiarities of the fortification structure, enjoy impressive views of the Caucasus Mountains and the Alazani Valley. We will also touch upon the theme of the so-called 'city of love' and the famous local registry office. I will tell you about the traditional Georgian feast, the 'Tamada Institute'. In the national museum, you can explore the art of Pirosmani. Additionally, I will recommend a pleasant establishment with excellent cuisine and budget-friendly prices, where you can have lunch with national dishes and try wonderful wines.

In vino veritas!
Kakheti abounds with vineyards, cellars, and private wineries. Winemaking traditions have been passed down from father to son for thousands of years. In one of the cellars, carved into the rock at the foothills of the Caucasus, you will immerse yourself in the world of Georgian wine and the nuances of its production. Local guides will lead you on a tour and tasting of various varieties, where you can also bake bread and make Churchkhela, buy factory wines, brandy, chacha, and grape seed oil. Alternatively, we can visit the 'Kindzmarauli Corporation' winery, where you will hear about the production of the famous wine and taste the drink. Before the cellar, you will be rewarded with another fantastic view of the vineyards.

Ancient Nekresi and the two capitals of Kakheti
You will visit a city founded before our era, where a high-mountain temple was built in the 4th century, and later one of the thirteen Assyrian Fathers founded a male monastery here. Enjoying the panorama of the valley and the fabulous nature, you will hear a story about the life of the Orthodox monastery. Then you will head to the old capital of Kakheti, Gremi, where you will stroll through the trading quarter, inspect the royal residence, defensive structures, as well as several churches and other buildings. In the current Kakhetian capital, Telavi, you will find yourself among lush greenery of plane and mulberry trees. In the central part, I will introduce you to the 'Batonisihe' fortress and show you the famous 900-year-old plane tree, near which several scenes from 'Mimino' were filmed.

Additional to the program: Kvareli Lake and the monasteries of Shuamta
If we have enough time or instead of visiting any specific site, we can visit the beautiful Kvareli Lake and two ancient abbeys. In 'Old Shuamta,' a male monastery in the Gombori Mountains, you will explore the ruins of an ancient 5th-century basilica, a domed church, and a 7th-century church. Here, I will tell you an interesting story about the local holy spring. In 'New Shuamta,' a 16th-century female abbey, you will hear the legend of Queen Tamar and visit the burial place of poet Alexander Chavchavadze.