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This journey will take us deep into the most hidden and spectacular sites of a country stretching from the Caucasus Mountains to the Black Sea and Turkey. Georgia is an ancient land of myth and legend, turbulent history, unique culture and stunning architecture.
Its dramatic landscape extends from high mountain ranges with villages and churches perched precariously on top, to deep river gorges and wide plains. There are vineyards dating back to the 1st century BC, healing spas, cave cities, ancient monasteries and a wealth of archaeological sites from Hellenistic times. Prometheus was chained to Mount Caucasus, and Jason with his Argonauts sailed to Colchis in Western Georgia in search of the Golden Fleece. Medea was a Georgian priestess. Homer described Georgia as a great civilisation in the Odyssey, and the Greek historian Strabo wrote about Georgian polyphonic chants in the 1st century BC.
We will be travelling at the best time of year when the meadows abound with flowers and the road to the mountains will be passable. We will taste the hospitality of a nation renowned for its love of food, wine, song and dance. Georgia also has a long tradition of religious tolerance, its own Georgian Orthodox Church remains unique. All faiths have been made welcome here as it has long been a crossroads from east to west.
Day 1: Arrival in Tbilisi at 23.05. Overnight hotel in Tbilisi.
Day 2: We begin our adventure in Tbilisi, the capital city rebuilt 30 times following invasions from Persians, Arabs, Turkmen, Mongol, Turks, and Russians. Here we will enjoy visits to the main city sites, Sioni cathedral and the museums of History and Art. Overnight in Tbilisi hotel.
Day 3: Day excursion to Mtskheta, the 6th century Dzhvari Monastery, and the most holy place in Georgia - Svetiskhoveli. the Church of the Life-giving Pillar (11th century). The sulphur baths in Tbilisi are worth a visit and the unique Georgian dancers and singers are a must.
Day 4: We spend a day in the Kakheti region of eastern Georgia - famous for its ancient vineyards and medieval monuments. We visit the 18th century hill town of Sighnaghi overlooking the Alazani valley where Neolithic and Bronze Age artefacts were found. There are houses here with lacy wooden balconies in the traditional Georgian style, crafts, ceramics, and carpet weaving. Nearby is the birthplace of the famous Georgian painter Pirosmani. Overnight in Tbilisi hotel.
Day 5: We leave the city to begin our journey to the Imereti region and Kutaisi via Uplistikhe, the great cave city dating from the first millennium BC and standing on an important branch of the silk route. Through the picturesque Rikoti Pass and on to Vani, one of the most important archaeological sites in Georgia, a great city of the ancient Colchians, where Jason and his Argonauts came to steal the Golden Fleece. Then to Church of Ateni Sioni (C7th), beautifully situated on a cliff above the Tana river. Great reliefs to see - a mix of Georgian and Iranian motifs and fabulous frescos. These are even more magnificent at Kintsvisi, next stop, including both scenes from the life of Jesus and portraits of the royal family of Georgia, especially Queen Tamara and Giorgi Lasha. Stay overnight in Kutaisi guesthouses.
Day 6: Up early to the monastery complex and Neo-Platonic Academy of Gelati - great spiritual centre and seat of learning founded by King David the Builder in the 12th century in thanksgiving for his victories over the Seljuk Turks. Then we set off for the spectacular but long drive of 5-6 hours up into the mountainous region of Svaneti, stopping to picnic by the side of the furious Inguri river. The Svans have their own language and culture and have evolved a fascinating and fiercely independent way of life, aspects of which are reflected in their architecture, religion, folklore and music. They also inhabit the highest, most remote, most dramatic and beautiful part of Georgia. To Mestia at 6,000 feet. Overnight in Mestia guesthouses.
Day 7: Explore Mestia with its remarkable Svan towers and a visit to its little museum or simply walk beneath the highest peaks in the Caucasus.Overnight in Mestia guesthouses.
Day 8: Expedition to Ushguli, the highest village in Europe (11,000ft). A community of tiny hamlets, all with their distinctive towers, clustering at the end of the highest valley in Free Svaneti with the mighty Mount Shkara. Visit the tiny church of Lamaria (C9th) with its frescos of warrior saints and six-winged seraphim. Walk beneath the slopes of the mountain - a botanist's dream with an extraordinary profusion of alpine flowers. Walk towards Shkhara glacier. The bravest can cross the icy Enguri river. Stay in Ushguli overnight.
Day 9: Back to Mestia and en route walk up the hill to Lagurka (St Kvirike) church with its wall paintings of 12th and 13th centuries, and then, if time, visit the tiny hamlets around Betcho. Wonderful views of Mount Ushba. Walks. The tiny churches of Taringzel and Matsqvari with extraordinary frescos and painted scenes from Georgian legend. Last night in Mestia.
Day 10: Down to Zugdidi and on. Ten miles or so before Senaki we branch off to visit Nokalakevi, where the river Tekhuri exits the foothills of the Caucasus into the Colchian plain, to see the work of an Anglo-Georgian archeological expedition at this ancient site, the Georgian Archeopolis. Then on for a swim in the Black Sea in Kobuleti, where we stay the night.
Day 11: A morning by the sea here after the long days drive, then on to Sarpi and the border crossing into Turkey. Along the Black Sea coast to Hopa then up into the Lesser Caucasus and via Borchka to Artvin over the Turkish border.
We now enter what was part of the medieval Kindom of Georgia and travel through the three provinces of Tao, Shavsheti and Klarjeti. These were of central importance to the development of a unified Georgian nation and culture. Evidence of this is still to be found in the little mountain villages where Georgian is still spoken, and even more surprisingly in the Georgian churches and monasteries which are scattered across this land, perhaps three hundred of them, many in ruins, though still lovely, others perfectly preserved, ironically, because they have been and still are used as mosques.
The landscape all around is dramatic and stunningly beautiful and very little visited with craggy, arid chasms and high, lush 'yayla' pastures where the people from the lowlands drive their cattle to graze in summer and celebrate in riotous festivals. We shall roughly follow the line of the Choruh River, branching off here and there to visit particular churches and places of interest. Overnight Artvin.
Day 12: Explore the canyons of Artvin, then on to Yusufeli. Settle in to simple hotel in Yusufeli, wander about in this friendly little town then off to Ishan, Oshki and Khakhuli, three of the most magnificent creations of Georgian architecture and spirituality - wonderful in their mountain settings, amongst orchards of mulberry and cherry and little villages of wooden houses, still standing after a thousand years or more, extraordinary and vivid against the clear mountain sky. Back to Yusufeli for raki and trout from the Barhal stream on the terrace of the local tavern, the Mahzen Beerhouse, which hangs precipitously over the little, furious river.
Day 13: Yusufeli. Following the river Choruh upstream to the churches of Dort kilise and Parkhali, along dirt tracks through remote villages. Visit lovely villages of Barhal and Kilichkaya and great fortresses of Tekkale and Cevreli. Back to Yusufeli and the Mahzen beerhouse. (Yusufeli is one of the few places that serve alcohol in an otherwise very conservative area). Overnight Yusufeli.
Day 14: A morning walking, painting, resting in the mountains then back up to Artvin, settle in to hotel. There is a huge festival here in the 3rd week in June which centres around bull wrestling (ancient bull cults spring to mind) and by now the town and meadows around will already be filling with revellers, musicians, spectators and bulls. Off along the spectacular road through old Ardanuj village with its impressive fortress (giving more idea of how important this area once was) to the church of Yeni Rabat. We shall have to get out and walk the last 40 minutes (unless a passable road has recently been built), an easy stroll through picturesque mountain landscape. This was once one of the great churches in what was called 'The Georgian Mount Athos', founded by Saint Gregory of Khantze in the 9th century. Artvin for night.
Day 15: A day exploring the Shavshat valley.The road from Shavshat to Ardahan has been described as the most beautiful road in the world: wonderful 'yayla' pastures and mountains all around. We shall stop to picnic here. But first up a little side road to Dolishan with its lovely church perched above the valley, now a mosque. Then to Ortakoy to the Opiza monastery, the most ancient in the region. If there is time we could branch off to Meydancik, with its elaborately carved timber houses or Caglayan with its wooden mosque. Otherwise drop in at hotel in Shavshat then along a track to the great monastery of Tbeti which stood intact till the 1960s when it was somewhat blown apart by a band of Armenian gypsies looking for treasure. Back to Shavshat to look at the local weaving here, especially famous kilims with distinctive rich colours made from tree barks and walnut. Overnight Shavshat.
Day 16: Bus back into Georgia along the lovely road through Ardahan, then heading north through Posof. To Borzhomi, famous for the curative powers of the area's mineral springs (we will take the waters), the Romanov summer palace in Likani, and the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. Continue driving to Bakuriani in the Trialeti mountain range (5,576 feet), a skiing resort in the Borjomi district of Georgia, an area covered in coniferous forests. Overnight Bakuriani.
Day 17: Spend the day walking and relaxing in the National Park around Bakuriani. Overnight Bakuriani
Day 18: Return to Tbilisi and stay overnight.
Day 19: Return flight to London at 11.35 on 12th June.
MARIKA DIDEBULIDZE is Professor of Art History in Tbilisi with a special interest in Georgian churches and frescos. She has been involved with much restoration work and will be our Georgian expert travelling with us all the way.
TONY ANDERSON is the author of Bread and Ashes: a Walk through the Mountains of Georgia - published by Jonathan Cape, 2003. He has travelled to Georgia many times since 1989 and is on the committee of Farig (Friends of Academic Research in Georgia) and a member of the British Georgian Society.
FRANCES HOWARD-GORDON has been organising tours to Russia, Georgia, and Siberia since 1984. Her tours are small, off the beaten track, and not for the faint-hearted. She runs Gothic Image bookshop, Publishing, and Tours.
Price: Between £2,000.00 and £2,500.00 inclusive of all meals, accommodation, transport, entrance fees, local guides. The price is based on two sharing a room in hotels, guesthouses and homestays. The price does not include a room of your own (single supplement of £325), porters or alcoholic drinks.
Visas and Insurance: no visa is required for Georgia but there will be for Turkey (pending info on that). We will have to take out our own individual fully comprehensive travel insurance in our country of residence.
Deposit: a deposit of £500 will secure your place on the tour. Final payment is due on 25th March. If you are interested in joining us on this fantastic adventure, you will receive more detailed information on what to bring with you, currency, climate etc.
We look forward to welcoming you on this journey.
With best wishes, Frances Howard-Gordon
Gothic Image Tours worldwide
7 High Street
Glastonbury
Somerset BA6 9DP
Tel: 01458 831281
Fax: 01458 833385
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25 May Day 1: Depart London (LHR) at 15.05. Arrive Tbilisi 23.05. Direct flight bmi (British Midland) 955. Duration: 5hr 0min. Overnight Tbilisi
26 May Day 2: Tbilisi - city sites and Cathedral. O/n Tbilisi
27 May Day 3: Tbilisi - day trip to Mtskheta and Dzhvari. O/n Tbilisi
28 May Day 4: Tbilisi - day excursion to Sighnaghi in Kakheti. O/n Tbilisi
29 May Day 5: To Kutaisi via Uplistikhe and Vani. O/n Kutaisi
30 May Day 6: To Gelati + on the road to Mestia. O/n Mestia
31 May Day 7: Mestia and surroundings. O/n Mestia
1 June Day 8: To Ushguli. O/n Ushguli
2 June Day 9: Back to Mestia. O/n Mestia
3 June Day 10: From Mestia via Nokalakevi to Kobuleti. O/n Kobuleti
4 June Day 11: To Sarpi and Turkish border crossing. O/n Artvin, Turkey
5 June Day 12: From Artvin to Yusufeli. O/n Yusufeli
6 June Day 13: Yusufeli surroundings and O/n Yusufeli
7 June Day 14: Explore environs and back to Artvin. O/n Artvin
8 June Day 15: Shavshat valley. O/n Shavshat or Artvin
9 June Day 16: Bus back into Georgia via Borzhomi. O/n Bakuriani
10 June Day 17: Explore Bakuriani and the National Park. O/n Bakuriani
11 June Day 18: Return to Tbilisi. O/n Tbilisi
12 June Day 19: Return flight to London. Depart Tbilisi 11.35. Arrive London 14.05. Direct flight bmi (British Midland) 956. Duration: 5hr 30min
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