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Day 1 Batumi
I flew from Baku and landed at Batumi in the afternoon . It was easy to get Uber all over Georgia, I got a Uber and reached to Orbi Aprtments , these were huge apartment blocks built in new boulevard. Though I had a booking through booking.com , my booking was not honoured and I ended up paying double price for a similar apartment with someone else. Nevertheless Batumi is very popular resort city and it is quite popular with locals. Batumi often known as “Pearl of the Black Sea” and “Paris of the Caucasus” due to its scenic coastal location, beaches, and beautiful views, as well as its cultural appeal. After wasting few hours to sort out the hotel issue and finally settling down in apartmemnt , I went for a walk along the sea front. Weather was pretty bad , it was raining non-stop and windy and due to the bad weather most of stall along the boulevard was closed. I had some typical Georgian dishes for dinner and then a good night sleep before 2 day adventure to Mestia region begins.
Day 2: Svaneti Region
In the morning I took up a Uber to the pick up point. We started around 6 AM from the “Budget Tour Georgia” office . It was a very long journey . We had few stops on the way . We stopped at Enguri dam . The dam was beauiful . We also stopped some places to snap waterfall and then we reached Mestica. After reaching Mesticca we visited one of the several defensive stone towers, known locally as Svanuri Koshki or Svan towers. These unique structures, many dating from the 9th to 12th centuries, are integral to the local landscape and culture, and the region is designated as UNESCO World Heritage site.
I did not have time to lunch , after dropping my luggage at hotel , we left for Chalaadi Glacier trek in the afternoon. We were driven by a 4Xw to the tope bridge and from there hike was 2 hours only. It was mostly through jungle and has very impressive views of the ice and surrounding mountain. After coming back from Glacier treak it was time to relax and had some great Georgian food
Overnight at Mestica.
Day 3: Svaneti Region
Today, we were off on an exciting off-road adventure to Ushguli, the highest settlement in Europe! We’ll started off at 10:00 AM from Credo Bank,from Mesica center. Our first stop will be the enchanting Tower of Love, which tells a captivating story of forbidden romance, “Romeo and Juliet” of Svaneti.
“A beautiful young woman named Mirangula (or Miaguli) from the village of Iprar fell deeply in love with a brave hunter named Beshken (or Otia) during a local festival. The feeling was mutual, and Mirangula declared she would marry no one else. The main problem was that Beshken was already a married man and had children. Mirangula’s father was enraged when he found out, but his daughter, consumed by love, could not be dissuaded. Torn between his family and his love for Mirangula, Beshken went hunting and, acting recklessly out of sorrow, fell into the fast-flowing Enguri River and died. Mirangula refused to believe her beloved was dead. She asked her father to build a solitary tower on a large rock by the river bank where she could spend her life waiting for his return. Mirangula lived in the tower alone for the rest of her days. In a poignant twist of the legend, it is said that after Beshken and his wife died (his wife also reportedly jumped into the river in despair), they turned into trout. Mirangula would sit by the river every day, her tears falling into the water, and feed the fish.”
The tower stands today as a monument to her enduring love and sorrow. Visitors can see the three-story stone tower on the way to the village of Ushguli, and local lore suggests that a pure spring that appears at the base of the boulder during low water levels is Mirangula’s tears. Then, we continued our off-roading journey to Ushguli. We had three hours to explore this historic settlement, filled with ancient towers and churches.
Ushguli is a remote and stunning community of four medieval villages located in the Svaneti region of Georgia, widely known as one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe. Nestled in the heart of the Caucasus Mountains at the foot of Mount Shkhara (Georgia’s highest peak), it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its unique architecture and preserved medieval character. The most iconic feature of Ushguli is its more than 200 medieval defensive tower houses (dating from the 9th-12th centuries). These stone towers were used for defense against invaders and during blood feuds, offering a glimpse into the isolated and self-sufficient lifestyle of the Svan people. The villages are set against a backdrop of alpine valleys and snow-capped peaks, offering breathtaking views, particularly of the Shkhara glacier. Perched on a hilltop above the village of Zhibiani, this 12th-century chapel features ancient frescoes and offers panoramic views of the entire area.
After exploring the village and taking endless pictures , we had out lunch and then wandered around for sometime. Around 15:00 we started our journey back to Mestia . On the way , our driver got a phone call that his sister’s husband died in car crash . This sad news made him inconsolable , he was not in a position to drive. Luckily one from our group pffered to frive us back to Mestica.
It was a very long journey to our Tbilissi . I reached my hotel pretty late . I cancelled my earlier booking with Orbi apartment and booked a new hotel which was nice.
Day 4: Around Batumi and then to Tbilisi
Today morning I had a walking tour in Batumi. We saw Batumi’s key squares, the boulevard, and the moving Ali & Nino statue. Afterwards took a cab to Botanical garden . The Batumi Botanical Garden is located about 9 km north of Batumi at the area known as Mtsvane Kontskhi, or “The Green Cape”. The 108.7-hectare garden was founded in 1912 by botanist Andrey Krasnov and offers visitors panoramic views of the Black Sea and a diverse collection of subtropical flora. While coming back , I had problem of finding a Uber . Finally I decided to walk upto the mail road and take a taxi from there . On the was had a bad fall and bruside my knee badly. I then collected my luggage and on to a Train to Tbilisi .
Day 5: Tbilisi: Mtskheta, Jvari, Gori and Uplistsikhe
Today we explored one of the most mysterious regions of Georgia – Kartli and heard a lot about the country’s history. First, we visit memorable Uplistsikhe cave-town and dive into the antique life of Georgia. Uplistsikhe is situated on the left bank of the Mtkvari River, approximately 10-15 kilometers east of Gori. The settlement is one of the oldest in Georgia, with its origins dating back to the 1st or 2nd millennium BC. It was an important center for pre-Christian pagan worship, later becoming a Christian resistance center and a royal residence during the 8th-11th centuries when the population grew to 20,000. It is notable for the unique mixture of various rock-cut cultures from Anatolia and Iran’s pagan and Christian architecture coexistence.It contains multiple structures dating from the Early Iron Age to the Late Middle Ages.
Then we went to Gori, the hometown of the most famous Georgian, Stalin, we went for lunch and tried delicious local food. Next we visited Stalin Museum, which is a museum dedicated to the life of Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, who was born in Gori. The Museum retains its Soviet-era characteristics, Stalin’s Original house, and Stalin’s railway carriage.
The next stop is Jvari Monastery. The name of this monastery is translated as the “Monastery of the Cross.” Jvari Monastery is the 6th-century Georgian Orthodox monastery near Mtskheta. Along with other historic structures of Mtskheta, it is listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Jvari Monastery stands on the rocky mountain top at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, overlooking the town of Mtskheta, which was formerly the capital of the kingdom of Iberia.The last site on tour is Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta. UNESCO recognizes Mtskheta as a World Heritage site due to its historical significance and several cultural monuments. It was the capital of the early Georgian Kingdom of Iberia from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD. Svetitskhoveli is known as the burial site of Christ’s robe and has been one of the principal Georgian Orthodox churches and is among the region’s most venerated places of worship.
Day 6: Gareja & Rainbow Desert 4×4 + Hike
Today was to visit Georgia’s wild beauty. It was complete off-road adventure with no other tourist deep into Eastern Georgia’s arid landscapes — Georgia’s only semi-desert region . Out first stop is the real Rainbow Mountains. The rain night before made the off-raod travel really challenging and some places road is completely gone. A short hike around the shimmering lake of Mravaltskaro revealed vibrant, multicolored hills sculpted by nature and untouched by mass tourism — a true photographer’s dream. This region is also one of Georgia’s top birdwatching sites, attracting nature lovers from across the globe. After walking around for some time out next stop was the remote 6th-century cave monastery of St. John the Baptist, carved directly into a cliff. Inside, there are ancient frescoes, original monastic cells, and panoramic views that stretch to the border of Azerbaijan. This place is raw, sacred, and unforgettable. There is a single monk living and maintaining the monestry for last 20 years.
Next we went to the legendary David Gareji Lavra, Georgia’s oldest desert monastery. This is not just sightseeing — it’s time travel through centuries of devotion, solitude, and survival in the wilderness.
Afterwards, we had lunch in the remote village of Udabno (meaning “desert” in Georgian). Set in a panoramic semi-desert landscape dotted with otherworldly salt lakes and almond orchards, this family-run spot serves up real Georgian cuisine — no tourist menus, just warm hospitality and bold flavors.
After that we ended our day with an optional wine tasting, discovering traditional Kakhetian wines in one of the world’s oldest wine regions.
Day 7: Tbilisi
I arraived for Yereven around early afternoon . Spent the afternoon and evening walking around old town center, visiting holy Trinity cathedral and then walking up to the Mother of Georgia . Next morning , my flight was very early so had to leave around 4 AM
