LEGENDARY PLACES OF GEORGIA: VARDZIA, BORJOMI, RABAT. Small group

Picturesque Borjomi A road through a fantastically beautiful gorge will lead you to Borjomi: you will walk around the city center, visit a park where Emperor Nicholas II and his family rest every year, see a monument to Prometheus and a pretty waterfall, and also climb the cable car to the plateau from which they open stunning views of the surroundings. Of course, we’ll talk about the famous “mineral water”, which is mined in the valley of the same name located in the territory of the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. I will tell you about the results of archaeological excavations that shed light on the history of local mineral water, and right from the source you can taste the world famous water.

You will get acquainted with one of the most expressive and colorful monuments of Georgia, literally absorbing the energy of both cultures: the fortress was the most important transit point between the Christian and Muslim worlds. You will examine the halls of the palace, decorated in the old Georgian style, and the impressive size of the fortress itself and the richness of decoration should not leave you indifferent. I will tell you about the foundation of Rabat, its name and explain the significance of Akhaltsikhe in the history of Georgia.

Cave Vardzia The ancient complex of Vardzia is not just carved into the rock premises. This cave fortress is a monastery built not far from Tbilisi in the 12th century. The extraordinary city has 13 levels and more than 500 rooms: churches, chapels, residential cells, pantries, baths, refectories, treasuries, libraries. The rooms go 50 meters in depth and rise to a height of eight floors, in addition, secret passages that connected the premises, the remains of the water supply and irrigation system are preserved. During the tour you will explore every corner of Vardzia and find out what purpose the rock city was built and what functions it performed throughout the history of its existence. And on the way to the ancient complex you will see a wonderful panorama of the perfectly preserved Khertvisi fortress.