In the 6th century BC, the tribes of western Georgia formed a state, the Kingdom of Colchis, lying along the east coast of the Black Sea. Colchis is the land where the epic legend of the Argonauts was acted out. The legend tells of the courageous Hellenes who, led by Jason, crossed the Straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorous, reached the shores of the Kingdom of Colchis where the powerful King Aeetes reigned, and where the Golden Fleece was kept. Ancient Colchis held the secret of how to obtain gold; the discovery of this secret and the acquisition of the Golden Fleece was the Argonauts quest.

We will explore the lands of this ancient legend in this tour. We will visit the provinces of Georgia connected with the adventure of the Argonauts: Imereti, Samegrelo, Svaneti and Adjara.

Day 1: Arrival in Tbilisi / overnight Tbilisi

Day 2: Tbilisi and Mtskheta sightseeing tour / overnight Tbilisi

Day 3: Tbilisi – Gori – Uplistsikhe – Kutaisi / overnight Kutaisi

Day 4: Sightseeing tour of Kutaisi and surroundings / overnight Kutaisi

Day 5: Kutaisi – Zugdidi – Mestia / overnight Mestia

Day 6: Full day excursion in Mestia / overnight Mestia

Day 7: Mestia – Ushguli – Mestia / overnight Mestia

Day 8: Mestia – Becho/ overnight Becho

Day 9: Mestia – Zugdidi – Batumi / overnight Batumi

Day 10: Full day excursion in Batumi / overnight Batumi

Day 11: Batumi – Tbilisi / overnight Tbilisi

Day 12: Departure

Highlights:

1. Old and New Tbilisi;
2. The town of Mtskheta (UNESCO site);
3. Rock-cut town of Uplistsikhe (6th c BC),
4. Stalins museum;
5. Gelati and Bagrati Monasteries (UNESCO sites);
6. Vani Archaeological Museum;
7. Enguri Gorge where the first inhabitants, mainly gold prospectors, settled in ancient times;
8. Churches and towers of medieval ages of Svaneti;
9. Ushguli village (UNESCO site) one of the highest villages in Europe and an architecturally unique Middle Age fortification, surrounded by the 5,000m giants of the Caucasus mountain range; fascinating nature and highest mountains in Georgia;
10. The Black Sea shore and the town of Batumi;
11. Delicious food and wine.