Kakheti Round Trip – 3 Days
This is an example of a standard day trip to Kakheti Wine region.
This tour is described here for the convenience of independent travelers who choose to travel by a car without assistance of a travel company or a guide. All times are specified based on our experience of traveling with tourists to these locations. Durations and locations can be changed upon your preferences and desires.
Locations and times are chosen and optimized for a day trip starting and returning to the capital – Tbilisi.
Day 1 – David Gareji & Sighnaghi
09:00 – Departure from Tbilisi
11:00 – David Gareji Monastery Complex
The 6th-century rock-hewn monastery complex, at the border with Azerbaijan, is one of Georgia’s most magical and mysterious places, carved into the rocky hills of the semi-desert near Udabno. Founded by Saint David, one of the thirteen Assyrian monks who came to spread Christianity in Georgia, the monastery complex stretches across caves and cliffs filled with ancient frescoes and hidden chapels.
12:30 – Stop at Udabno Village – small, windswept village in eastern Georgia, sitting on the edge of the semi-desert. Here you can visit one of the highlights of the village – a Polish co-owned restaurant / hostel / hotel called “Oasis Club”. They serve good quality Georgian and European dishes, cold drinks and provide just a very atmospheric environment for enjoying the surroundings.
14:00 – Sightseeing at Chailuri Castle – a striking medieval fortress standing on a hill near the village of the same name. Built of rough stone and brick, it once guarded important roads and settlements in the Alazani Valley.
14:45 – Stop at Badiauri Village – a charming village best known for its traditional bread-making and warm hospitality. Here you can try local “Smoked” “Shoti” bread Bread, different kinds of Georgian cheese and also the local highlight : Caucasian buffalo’s (bubalus) Matsoni – Georgian product that has been produced since the antiquity period.
16:00 – Sightseeing at Bodbe / St Nino’s monastery / Bodbe convent. As the legend says, it is a burial place of St. Nino, who converted Georgia to Christianity in the 4th century. From 1889 Bodbe complex functioned as a nunnery.
17:00 – Sightseeing in Sighnaghi – one of Georgia’s smallest and most beautiful towns, Sighnaghi serves as a popular tourist destination due to its location at the heart of Georgia’s wine-growing regions, as well as its picturesque landscapes, pastel houses and narrow streets. Located on a steep hill, Sighnaghi overlooks the vast Alazani Valley, with the Caucasus Mountains visible at a distance. Here you can visit the local Museum, walk on Sighnagi wall – the longest stone wall in Georgia (over 4 Km long), climb some of the towers to enjoy the amazing views.
Free Time / Overnight in Sighnagi
Day 2 – Gurjaani & Kvareli
10:00 – Departure from Sighnagi
11:00 – Sightseeing at The Gurjaani Kvelatsminda – Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God – Georgian Orthodox church constructed in the 8th or 9th century, during the “transitional period” in medieval Georgian architecture. The Gurjaani church is the only extant example of a two-dome church design in the territory of Georgia.
12:00 – Numisi Wine Museum – located in the picturesque village of Velistsikhe. It is one of Georgia’s most storied wine cellars. Established in 2010 as a private historical museum, it invites visitors to step into the rich legacy of Georgian winemaking, with its roots dating back to the 16th century.
13:30 – Sightseeing in Kvareli
Kvareli Fortress – large, square-shaped, high-walled, stone structure with rounded towers and a unique, modern-day football field inside, making it a significant historical site and landmark.
Ilia Chavchavadze Kvareli State Museum –This complex includes the family castle and house of outstanding Georgian poet and public figure Ilia Chavchavadze (1837-1907) and exposition hall.
Kvareli Lake also known as Ilia Lake – Nestled in the verdant Duruji River valley in Kakheti’s Kvareli region, Ilia Lake stands as a testament to the harmonious blend of nature and human engineering. This man-made water body was crafted merely a few years ago, named in honour of the revered Georgian writer and political figure, Ilia Chavchavadze.
Kvareli Wine Cave – the unique wine cellar and tourist complex “Kvareli Wine Cave” is built on the edge of Alazani Valley. The cave, carved into the Caucasus rock massif, was opened in 1962 specifically for the World Congress of Vine and Wine. Throughout the year, the cave temperature ranges from 12-16 ° C, which creates an ideal environment for wine storage and aging.
Free time in Kvareli / wine tasting options: Supra/ Overnight in Kvareli
Day 3 – Gremi, Alaverdi & Telavi
10:00 – Departure from Kvareli
10:30 – Sightseeing at Gremi Archangel’s Complex
The Georgian Orthodox Cathedral is located in Kakheti, in Kvareli municipality village, in the citadel of the east of Gremi, on a high hill. It was built by the King of Kakheti, Levan in 1565. The paintings were finished in 1577. Here you can visit the local Museum and archeological sites of the old town of Gremi.
12:30 – Sightseeing at Alaverdi Monastery -Standing tall in the Alazani Valley near Telavi,it is one of Georgia’s oldest and grandest monasteries. Founded in the 6th century and rebuilt in the 11th, its soaring cathedral is a masterpiece of medieval Georgian architecture. Surrounded by vineyards, the monastery still lives as a spiritual center, offering visitors a mix of history, faith, and breathtaking valley views.
14:00 – Telavi
Sightseeing at Batonis tsikhe & Telavi Museum
Batonis Tsikhe is especially notable as the only royal palace in Georgia that still survives. The complex includes the 17th–18th century palace of the Kakhetian kings, ancient court churches, the remains of Erekle II’s philosophical and theological schools, the royal bath, and an 18th-century tunnel beneath the grounds.
The museum inside preserves royal treasures and artifacts—coins, armor, weapons, household items, carpets, manuscripts, and artworks by both European masters and Georgian painters like Elene Akhvlediani and Lado Gudiashvili—offering a vivid glimpse into Georgia’s royal past.
Near the Batonis Tsikhe you can also visit local highlight – over 900 years old Plane Tree
16:00 – Sightseeing at Old and New Shuamta
Old and New Shuamta are two monasteries hidden in the green hills above Telavi. Old Shuamta, built between the 5th and 7th centuries, has three small stone churches surrounded by forest—quiet and ancient, with a deep sense of peace.
17:30 – Sightseeing stop at Gombori Pass
18:15 – Sightseeing at Ujarma – a historic fortress-town located on a hill above the Iori River, in the village of Ujarma, near the Gombori Pass. once served as a royal residence and an important military stronghold. This castle is in reconstruction , but it is possible to enter and enjoy the amazing views of the Gombori area
20:00 – Arriving in Tbilisi / Hotel
Overnight in Tbilisi
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