Discover the highlights of western Georgia on a diverse day trip combining culture, nature, history, and wine. Start at Gelati Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its 12th-century mosaics, frescoes, and spiritual atmosphere overlooking the Rioni Valley. Continue to Prometheus Cave, an impressive underground world of illuminated stalactites, stalagmites, and vast halls shaped over millions of years. Next, explore the haunting beauty of the Tskaltubo Abandoned Sanatoriums—monumental Soviet-era buildings that tell stories of a forgotten past and create a unique, cinematic setting. End the day at Nikoladze Winery, where natural wine is made in traditional qvevri buried in the ground. Taste authentic Imeretian wines, learn about ancient Georgian winemaking traditions, and enjoy warm family hospitality. Gelati Monastery is temporarily closed for conservation works. We visit Mostameta Monastery instead.

Embarquez pour un voyage inoubliable à travers Tskaltubo, la légendaire station thermale de l'ère soviétique. Notre aventure commence à la gare de Tskaltubo, autrefois le principal lien entre cette station balnéaire et le cœur de l'Union soviétique, Moscou. Nous explorerons ensuite le sanatorium Médée, célèbre pour ses imposantes colonnes et son hall central époustouflant. De là, nous nous dirigerons vers les emblématiques bains n° 6, également connus sous le nom de bains de Staline, puis vers les bains n° 8, des bains publics abandonnés remarquables par leur imposante coupole. Nous continuerons vers le sanatorium Metallurg, où nous flânerons dans les élégants appartements et un théâtre abandonné d'une beauté envoûtante, un lieu qui semble avoir accueilli sa dernière représentation il y a bien longtemps. Notre visite se terminera à la Source de Beauté, la seule source minérale potable de Tskaltubo. Nous y goûterons l'eau qui attire les visiteurs depuis des décennies, dans une station plus largement connue pour ses bains thérapeutiques.

This immersive wine tour invites you into the living traditions of Georgian winemaking at Nikoladze Family Winery, where natural wine is crafted in qvevri according to ancient methods passed down through generations. The experience begins with a relaxed walk around the family estate, surrounded by vineyards and fruit trees Then visit the winery and traditional qvevri cellar, where clay vessels buried in the earth quietly shape the character of the wines. During the tasting, you’ll sample 5 different natural wines made in qvevri, along with 2 types of local homemade vodka (chacha). Each tasting is accompanied by engaging stories and legends about Georgian wine culture, the philosophy of natural winemaking, and Georgia’s 8,000-year-old wine history. You’ll also learn about the traditions of Georgian toasting, the role of the tamada (toastmaster), and the cultural differences in winemaking styles across various regions of Georgia.