Georgia: Tbilisi to the Black Sea

Welcome to Tbilisi! You’ll be transferred to your hotel in Old Town for the evening, so find a cozy spot for dinner or feel free to roam about this 5th-century city. You’ll have the day to yourself.

Tbilisi was a vital crossroads for the Silk Road back in the day, and it has long since been a city where different cultures come together. Explore this mix of architecture, cuisine, and energy truly unlike any other as you take a guided walking tour of the city today. Stroll the cobblestoned streets, see the Metekhi Church, and wander through several important districts. Dare a dip in the soothing sulphur baths, then take some photos from the panoramic Mt. Mtatsminda viewpoint.

You’ll have free time in the afternoon to wander as you please, lingering to admire the pastel-washed buildings or the river dividing the city.

Yesterday was all about the city, and today will be all about Georgia’s wonderful natural landscapes. Heading out to the Lower Caucasus Range, you’ll hike to a collection of waterfalls in Dashbashi Canyon. Let the mist cool your face as you take in the sounds of nature here- it’s a blissful spot!

Next, you’ll be driven to Paravani Lake, the perfect spot for a picnic lunch. Then, you’ll explore Vardzia, a region known for its 12th-century Cave Town. This old fortress and dwelling structure was built under the direction of Queen Tamara right into the rock of the hill, and you can still find ancient paintings on the walls.

After breakfast, you’ll be driven to a trailhead for your hike to the Tmogvi Fortress. This fortress ruin atop a hill used to be an important defensive area on an ancient trade route. Walk in the footsteps of traders, smugglers, and troops as you explore here.

After your hike, you’ll be driven to Khertvisi Fortress and Rabati Castle, both ideal locations for a photo stop. Finally, you’ll settle into your accommodations for the evening.

Your Tbilisi to Batumi roundtrip reaches the halfway point today! Enjoy a Jeep tour over the Goderdzi Pass to the coast of the Black Sea. On the way, make a pit stop to stretch your legs around Green Lake.

Arrive in Batumi, a city with splendid architecture and great beaches. You’ll enjoy either a picnic lunch or lunch with a local family depending on the time of year. Explore the old stone bridges and gold-topped towers, or post up on the beach to enjoy the sea at your leisure.

You’ll spend today making your way back to Tbilisi, but not without plenty of exciting stops along the way. First, you’ll stroll the botanical gardens near Batumi, where the coastal climate encourages an unbelievable range of flowers and plants to flourish.

Next, you’ll stop in the old Georgian capital of Mtskheta, one of the oldest cities in the country and the centre of the action for a millennium leading up to the 5th century AD. You’ll explore the Jvari Monastery and the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, known as the spiritual centre of Georgia.

If you’d prefer to spend more time in Tbilisi, you can skip the tours today and take the train directly back into the city.

All too soon, your tour comes to an end! Having traversed from Tbilisi to Batumi and back, head to the airport with memories to last.