Journey through picturesque Imereti
About this experience
You will visit all the most impressive places in Imereti: the region's capital, the Gelati and Motsameta Monasteries, and the Sataplia Reserve. You will float on a boat in an ancient cave, be amazed by fantastic stalactites and stalagmites, hear legends of Colchis, and taste local cheeses, kebabs, and sweet bread.
What to Expect
Historic center of Kutaisi and Bagrati Cathedral
Kutaisi is the main city of Imereti, the ancient center of Georgian statehood and the capital of ancient Colchis with a history of over 4000 years. You will stroll through the streets of the Old Town, toss a coin in the Colchis Fountain, and visit the Bagrati Cathedral, visible from every point in Kutaisi. Built on the Ukimerioni Hill in the late 10th - early 11th centuries, it will impress you with its grandeur, exquisite carvings, and mosaics. I will tell you about the ruler who commissioned the construction of the cathedral, who was crowned here, and why it played an exceptional role in the medieval history of Georgia.
Gelati and Motsameta Monasteries
We will visit the Gelati Monastery complex located atop a hill. Founded by King David IV the Builder in 1006, it became the burial place of Georgian kings and a place of pilgrimage. Next, you will visit the 9th-century Motsameta Monastery, where the remains of the defenders of Imereti against the Arab invasion of the Mkhedrioni princes are buried. You will be impressed by its picturesque location on a high promontory in the gorge of the Tskhaltsitela River. The monastery includes the domed Church of the Annunciation, a bell tower, two towers, and monks' cells.
Prometheus Cave and Sataplia Reserve
Our next destination is the Prometheus Cave northwest of Kutaisi. You will explore picturesque grottoes, boat along a real underground river, and see breathtaking stalactites, stalagmites, waterfalls, and even a whole lake. Your encounter with amazing nature continues in the Sataplia Reserve, which translates as "place of honey". In ancient times, it was indeed a refuge for wild bees – today you will find relic Colchis forests, dinosaur footprints, and a glass balcony with a viewing platform offering a magnificent panorama of Kutaisi and its surrounding nature.
Imeretian Cuisine
The road through Imereti is very picturesque. You will visit a wine museum, taste 2 varieties of wine, and learn about the 8000-year history of winemaking. The tour will end with dinner at a restaurant with a national atmosphere, where you will experience the full splendor of local cuisine.
Organizational Details
- Transportation costs and drinking water are included in the price
- Travel by Dodge Durango car
- Prometheus Cave - 25 lari/adults, 5.50 lari/children 6-18 years
- Boat ride - 20 lari/person
- Sataplia Reserve - 20 lari/adults, 5.50 lari/children 6-18 years
- Tasting - 30 lari/person
- Food, drinks
Additional Expenses
Kirill
November 12, 2023
The guide has a specific way of presenting the material. You will learn more about the guide himself than about Imereti. The route is very ordinary, nothing special except for the tasting room. There is no excursion about Kutaisi itself.
Dmytro
October 18, 2023
I would like to share my opinion about the quality of David's work. David himself is very pleasant to communicate with and clearly knowledgeable about the history of his country, Sakartvelo. He possesses a number of qualities that make the tour interesting and high-quality, namely charisma and the a...
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Sergey
July 30, 2023
David is a very pleasant person and an interesting conversationalist.
