Tour of Ancient Georgia - «In the Footsteps of the Legion»

Step into the past and join us on a captivating journey through ancient Georgia. Travel along the path of the renowned Roman military leader, Gnaeus Pompeius, and his mighty legions.

In 65 BC, Pompeius arrived at the southern borders of Kartli (Iberia) with an impressive army of 40,000 soldiers. His legions were the epitome of military perfection, and he was held in high regard in Rome, earning the title "Magnus" or "the Great" upon his triumphant return.

Appointed as the commander of the Eastern Front by the Roman Senate just a year earlier, Pompeius achieved remarkable victories over the Pontic king, Mithridates VI Eupator, and the ruler of Armenia, Tigranes the Great. Through divide and conquer tactics, Mithridates met a tragic end, and Tigranes lost his conquered territories, marking the decline of "Great Armenia" as a powerful state.

During our tour, we will retrace the steps of the Roman legionnaires who, with their formidable presence, cleared their path to Mtskheta, the capital of Iberia. From there, we will peacefully traverse the entirety of Georgia, encountering breathtaking landscapes including deserts, colorful hills, majestic mountains, narrow canyons, and mysterious caves. Along the way, we will explore fortresses, pre-Christian settlements, the astonishing cave city, the ancient capital of Colchis, and the awe-inspiring Archaeopolis.

Our journey will culminate in Phasis (modern-day Poti) on the shores of the Black Sea, where the Roman fleet was guided by the old lighthouse at the mouth of the Rioni River. Here, we will find the beautiful cathedral and witness the mesmerizing sunset over Lake Paleostomi while indulging in delicious fish paired with chilled wine.

If you're in no rush to return home, seize the opportunity to extend your vacation in Georgia by the sea. Relax on the warm magnetic sands of Ureki and Shekvetili beaches, listening to the soothing sound of the waves and contemplating the reasons behind the Roman legions' presence in ancient Georgia.

Tour Program:

✅ Day 1 - "Ave, Pompeius!"

Airport pickup

Transfer Airport - Hotel

Welcome Dinner

✅ Day 2 - "Through Hills and Deserts"

Our tour begins from the southeastern borders of Georgia. It is in these areas that the legions of Gnaeus Pompeius entered Georgia and, almost without resistance, advanced into the heart of Iberia.

Today, we will visit one of Georgia's sanctuaries, the cave monastery of David Gareji, founded in the 6th century by one of the 13 Assyrian Fathers who brought monasticism to Georgia. The monastery is spread across a vast area of the Gareji Desert, but we will visit only its central part - the Lavra of David Gareji. After the monastery, we will head to the colorful hills of Mravaltskaro. The fantastic sight of hills and elevations, like a layered pie adorned with colorful stripes of red, white, yellow, brown, and green, will leave no one indifferent. While on the hills, we will have a picnic near Lake Mravaltskaro. After a quick snack, we will proceed to another lake - Jandari, making a stop in the middle of the desert to admire the views and take some great photos.

In the evening, after visiting the Rustavi Fortress, we will have dinner at a restaurant and check into our hotel.

📌 Lavra of David Gareji, colorful hills of Mravaltskaro, Lake Jandari, and Rustavi Fortress

✅ Day 3 - "Pompeius Bridge"

Morning. Breakfast. And we're on the road. A beautiful start to the day - the Jvari Monastery, illuminated by the rising sun, overlooking the ancient capital of Mtskheta and the confluence of two rivers, the Kura and the Alazani. After Jvari, we will visit the excavations of the Armasi archaeological site. The Roman legions, approaching the capital of ancient Georgia, first saw Armasi, a fortress towering over Mtskheta, protecting the city from attacks from the south. From the ruins of the ancient settlement, there is a magnificent view of Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta and Jvari, which we just visited.

Today is a packed day, and after exploring the cathedrals in Mtskheta and strolling through its beautiful streets, we will head to lunch.

Next, we will witness another fantastic sight - the cave city of Uplistsikhe, the Fortress of the Lord. Describing its grandeur, history, the beauty and wonder of its chambers, and the breathtaking views from its heights would take too much space. It's something you have to see for yourself!

For dinner, we will be hosted by the winemakers of Kartli, with their strong wines and stunning liqueurs.

📌 Jvari Monastery, Armasi archaeological site, Mtskheta with Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Samtavro Monastery, Uplistsikhe cave city

✅ Day 4 - "Legion through the Mountains"

After capturing the capital of Iberia, Mtskheta, Pompey's legions headed west towards the sea. We will follow in their footsteps. Today, we have the Borjomi Gorge and the Surami Fortress awaiting us (which was the inspiration for a film by director Sergei Parajanov), followed by a tunnel to Western Georgia.

In the Ricoti Gorge, where the tunnel leads us, we will have lunch at a restaurant with views of the river and delicious Imeretian cuisine. We will also visit the small and less touristy Ubisi Monastery, known for its remarkable, unconventional, and highly artistic frescoes.

Continuing behind the legion, we will reach the Shoropani Fortress, the only significant resistance stronghold for the legions in Western Georgia. Today, only the fortress walls and some water reservoirs remain from this once mighty trade city-fortress.

If you're up for it, we'll embark on a hike to another fortress conquered by the Romans - Skande. Otherwise, we'll head to Kutaisi, the ancient capital of the fearsome Kingdom of Colchis. We'll explore the evening city, have dinner, and rest.

📌 Akhaltsikhe Fortress, Borjomi Gorge, Surami Fortress, Ubisi Monastery, Shoropani Fortress, evening Kutaisi.

✅ Day 5 - "Greeks Were Here First"

We'll start the morning with a cup of coffee in hand, gazing at the illuminated sunrise over the Bagrati Temple. It's a magical sight. However, we'll visit the temple later in the day. For now, we have something exciting in store - dinosaurs! Yes, dinosaurs once roamed in Georgia too, and we'll discover their traces in the breathtaking nature of Sataplia National Park. After exploring, we'll have lunch with a winemaker. Imeretian wines have a unique production process different from the ones in Kakheti.

In the second half of the day, we'll visit the Bagrati Temple, the tower-fortress, the MtsvaneKvavila Complex, and stroll through Kutaisi's Royal District. We'll have dinner at a restaurant and return to the hotel to conclude the day.

📌 Sataplia Park, Bagrati Temple, Mtsvane Kvavila Complex, White Bridge, Royal District

✅ Day 6 - "We Await the Fleet"

An early wake-up call awaits us. After breakfast, we'll head to Samegrelo, the ancient capital of Colchis - Nokalakevi (Archeopolis in Greek). The scale and engineering marvels of this city built by architects are truly astonishing. They had a sophisticated sewage system, bathhouse heating, water supply, and fortifications. Not to mention its sheer size! The city served as a major trading center for Greeks, Persians, Chinese, Romans, and Egyptians. Welcoming Pompey's legions with open arms, the city remained unspoiled. Unfortunately, in the 8th century, the Arab commander Marwan II commonly known as Marwan Deaf, captured and completely destroyed it.

After exploring the ancient city, we'll have lunch by the river, enjoying the views of the fortress walls. Our next stop will be the ancient Phasis (today's city of Poti). It was here that Pompey wintered while awaiting reinforcements and supplies from Rome. We'll visit the Poti Lighthouse and the Poti Cathedral (an accurate replica of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople) and admire the landscapes of Lake Paleostomi before heading to the Black Sands, a beach located in a seaside village.

📌 Nokalakevi, Betlemi Hot Springs, Poti Lighthouse, Poti Cathedral

✅ Day 7 - "Return to the Capital"

Morning. Sea. Beach. Sand. We won't disturb you until lunchtime, so enjoy the sea. We'll have lunch at a picturesque restaurant in the mountains by the river with crystal-clear water (you can even take a dip if it's too hot - the water is icy) and indulge in their exquisite cuisine, particularly their signature baked sturgeons.

Afterward, we'll resume our journey back to the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. Though we won't follow the exact path of the Roman legions, who marched from Fazis to engage in battles in Caucasian Albania, we'll take a route further south.

However, there's more ancient history awaiting us along the way. We'll visit the Vanis Kvabebi archaeological site. It was during its excavations that the famous figurine "Boy with a Wine Horn" was discovered, earning it the nickname "Tamada of Vani." It dates back to the 7th-8th century BCE and serves as further evidence that Georgia is the homeland of wine.

At twilight, we'll soak in the sulfur springs of Vani and then head to Tbilisi, where we'll have dinner in the picturesque Ricoti Gorge, already familiar to us.

📌 Sea, Kinkishi Gorge, Vanis Kvabebi, Vani Sulfur Baths

✅ Day 8 - "Farewell, Centurions"

Well, the time has come to say goodbye. You're leaving Georgia, just like the Roman legions did. However, Pompey, after defeating all the powerful neighboring states of Georgia at that time, namely the Great Armenia and the Kingdom of Pontus, incorporated them into the Roman Empire. In contrast, the small Georgia, with its proud and hospitable people, received the status of a Roman ally and remained an independent state.

Now, you're leaving Georgia, leaving a piece of your heart here, but gaining an ally and a friend that you'll always want to visit.

Have a safe journey and come back soon!

📌 Departure preparations, depending on the flight time, you may have a city walk, buy souvenirs, or go shopping. Transfer to the airport.
📌 The program of the last day may differ for participants departing from Kutaisi or Tbilisi airports.

As a bonus - photo and video sessions, drone footage, smiles, warmth, and our love.

❗️Don't forget to bring:
    •    Passport
    •    Backpack
    •    Non-slip footwear (preferably hiking boots)
    •    Windbreaker jacket
    •    Warm sweater
    •    Raincoat
    •    Buff/hat
    •    Sunglasses
    •    Sunscreen
    •    Personal hygiene items
    •    Individual first aid kit

❗️Tour rules:
    1.    The tour is led by a guide (or guides).
    2.    During the tour, all participants follow the leader's instructions to ensure a safe, organized, and equally comfortable experience for everyone.
    3.    Arriving at the meeting point under the influence of alcohol is prohibited. Participants in such a state may be excluded from the tour at the guide's discretion.
    4.    Consuming alcoholic beverages in the vehicle during the journey is prohibited.
    5.    Using headphones while walking is not allowed.
    6.    Let's keep the environment clean and refrain from picking flowers.
    7.    Pets are not allowed on the tour.
    8.    To avoid potential conflicts, we refrain from discussing topics such as a) politics, b) religion, and c) football during the hike.
    9.    In case of unforeseen circumstances, the guide reserves the right to modify the tour itinerary.

❗️The indicated tour cost is an average for two people. The final price will be determined based on your preferences for the level of hotels, restaurants, and the number of people in the group. A detailed tour itinerary and list of services will be sent to you via email after registration on the website or placing an order. 

❗️If you have allergies to specific plants, animals, food products, or dietary restrictions, please inform us in advance.