Cox & Kings Europe 2013 Brochure - Travel Club Elite

georgia TOUR
DISCOVERY TOUR
WONDERS
OF GEORGIa
Escorted Group Tour or Private Journey • 8 Days / 7 Nights from £1,275
BLACK
SEA
RUSSIA
✈
Mtskheta Davit Gareja
GEORGIA Tbilisi
ARMENIA
✈
Zvartnots Yerevan
AZERBAiJAN
TURKEY
EXTENSION
Tour + Yerevan
10 Days / 9 Nights from £1,735
This extension travels to the Armenian capital
of Yerevan and visits the highlights of the
country, including Zvartnots and the Roman
temple of Garni.
THE COX & KINGS DIFFERENCE
Washing of feet at Last Supper, Gelati,
4-star centrally located accommodation in Tbilisi on Freedom Square
Comprehensive programme of tours
Optional extension to stay in Yerevan in Armenia
Day 8 – To Yerevan: Drive to Yerevan, visiting
the Armenian monasteries of Sanahin and
Haghpat en route, two Unesco world
heritage listed buildings dramatically located
on opposing mountainous spurs. Continue to
Yerevan and stay at the Hotel Metropole for 2
nights. (B)
Day 9 – Zvartnots & Yerevan: Morning visit
to the ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral and the
seventh-century Temple of Heaven Angels.
Return to Yerevan for a tour of the city
Georgia is a country of outstanding
landscapes, medieval churches and rock cave
monasteries. This tour explores the main
attractions, including the Unesco world
heritage sites of Mtskheta, Bagrati and Gelati.
There is also an opportunity to visit Armenia
on a post-tour extension.
THE JOURNEY
Day 1 – To Tbilisi: Afternoon flight from
London Heathrow to Tbilisi, via Warsaw, with
LOT Polish Airlines. (N)
Day 2 – Tbilisi: Arrive into Tbilisi and transfer
to the Marriott Courtyard Hotel or similar for
3 nights. City tour of the capital of Georgia,
including the fourth-century Narikala Fortress,
the State and Art Museums and the fifthcentury
Metechi Church, considered to be the
first church built in Tbilisi. (B)
Day 3 – Mtskheta: Morning visit to Mtskheta,
the spiritual heart of Georgia. Visit the Jvari
and the Samtavro Church, and the Cathedral
of Svetitskhoveli, built on the grave of Sidonia,
who died clutching Christ’s robe. Continue
north to the Georgian Military Highway for a
visit to the Ananuri Fortress. (B)
Day 4 – To Kutaisi: Drive west from Tbilisi
to Kutaisi visiting Gori, the birthplace of Josef
Stalin, en route. View the house where he was
born and the museum dedicated to his life.
Continue to Kutaisi and stay overnight at the
Bagrat Hotel. (B, L, D)
Day 5 – To Tbilisi: Morning excursion of the
Kutaisi area visiting the ruins of the 11thcentury
Bagrati Cathedral, Motsameta Church
and the Gelati Monastery complex. Afternoon
drive to Tbilisi and stay 3 nights at the Marriott
Courtyard Hotel or similar. (B)
Day 6 – Kakheti: Full day tour to Georgia’s
principal wine-making region. Visit the majestic
11th-century Alaverdi Cathedral, the elegant
church of Gremi and the monasteries of
Shuamta and Ikalto. (B)
Day 7 – Davit Gareja: Full-day visit to Davit
Gareja, a complex of 22 monasteries carved
into the rock. Visit Lavra Monastery and
Udabno, located on a ridge overlooking
Azerbaijan and housing exquisite frescoes. (B)
Day 8 – To London: Early morning transfer to
the airport and fly to London Heathrow, via
Warsaw, with LOT Polish Airlines. (N)
Josef Stalin
Josef Stalin
The second world war leader of the Soviet
Union was born in 1878 in the Georgian
town of Gori and rose to prominence
in the Communist party to become its
general secretary in 1922. During his early
years, Stalin was involved in various criminal
enterprises, including bank robbery in
Tbilisi, and was exiled to Siberia on several
occasions. During his lifetime, millions
perished in the labour camps, or Gulags,
that were set up between the Pacific
Ocean and the shores of the Baltic Sea as
part of his infamous five year plan to bring
the Soviet Union into the modern era.