2 days in Kakheti: Telavi, Ikalto, Gremi, Kvareli, Signagi, Bodbe

We start tour from Tbilisi in the morning at 9.00 am. After one hour driving we reach the Gombori mountains range and high pass, where we take a rest for a while and take some nice photos of the Gombori mountains scenic views. After that we continue driving to Telavi.

After half an hour driving from Gombori high pass we arrive first in Shuamta Monasteries. There are old monasteries: one old monastery complex of 6 century and one new monastery of 17th century. We stay around one hour in both monasteries.

After leaving Shuamta monasteries we reach Telavi in just 10 minutes. Telavi was a Kingdom city of Kakheti Kingdom with King Palace and monument of King Erekle, the last famous king of Eastern Georgia in 18 century. We can first check in your hotel, rest, after that we can walk in the city Telavi. We shall visit King Erekle's Palace and Monument, walk around the wall, see the oldest tree in Georgia of 900 years old. We can have lunch in Telavi.

After visiting Telavi, we can go and visit old Ikalto monastery complex and oldest winery. Ikalto church is famous as there was an academy in 11th century, where the famous Poet of Georgia of mediavel era Shota Rustaveli studied there as a monk. Rustaveli wrote his famous poem in 12th century about human rights dedicated to the woman king Tamara. There is also the oldest winery in Ikalto, that is a open air museum, where you can see oldest wine press and pitchets, underground clay pots. We stay around one hour in Iktalo.

After visiting Ikalto, if we have time we can visit Alaverdi Cathedral also this day or visit it next day. Alaverdi is mediavel and renaissance time Cathedral of 11th century. This was a highest Cathedral in Georgia until they built Holy Trinity Church in Tbilisi in the beginning of 21st century. We shall stay around half an hour in Alaverdi.

We start tour from Telavi morning at 9.00-10.00 am. After half an hour driving we arrive in Gremi. Gremi is a castle served a palace for Kakhetian kings in mediavel time. Gremi was also the Kingdom city before Telavi. After Mongolians and Iranians destroyed Gremi, Telavi became Kingdom city of Kakheti Kingdom. There is also 17th century church in Gremi Castle. We stay around 1 hour in Gremi.

After visiting Gremi Castle, we continue our drive to Kvareli city and visit one of the oldest winery in Kakheti and Georgia, Kindzmarauli winery that is built in the Kvareli fortress and used by Kakhetian kings for wine making. Now there is one of the biggest wineries of Georgia. Here you can taste 4 different wine glasses per person. We stay around one hour in Kindzmarauli winery. Wine tasting is 2 GEL per glass, 8 GEL for 4 glasses. Please have this fee for wine tasting if you would like to taste wine.

After visiting winery in Kvareli we continue our travel to Signagi and arrive in Signagi after 1 hour driving. Signagi is also an odelst city of Kakheti, located on the hilltop and surrounded by the longest defensive wall in Georgia of 4 km. This is a small historical town with Georgian architectural builidings, lots of restaurants and hotels. We can have a lunch in family winery and enjoy the scenic views from the city to the Great Caucasian mountains and river Alazani valley. Here you can taste the famous and tasty Kakhetian barbecues and homemade wines. After lunch in Signagi we shall leave for Tbilisi and visit Bodbe monastery on the way if we have a time.

After visiting Signagi and having lunch in Signagi we go back to Tbilisi and visit Bodbe monastery on the way, if we have a time. Bodbe monastery is nunery, where Saint-Nino is burried. Saint-Nino could transform Georgia from pagan to Christian country. She came from Capadoccia, Easter Province of Roman Empire, Byzantine. There are 6th century Basilica, Bell-Dome and new Church in Bodboe moanstery complex you can visit. We stay around half an hour in Bodbe monastery and leave for Tbilisi.