05:30 - Arrive in Tbilisi Airport

Collect baggage and clear customs at Tbilisi airport.

Depart to your hotel, the 5* Artizan Design Hotel where breakfast is served.

Artizan Design is a locally owned boutique hotel. Its focus on art and culture combined with luxury makes this hotel a fresh and thought provoking stay. With two restaurants, a bar and a coffee roastery within its walls, you are well equipped from the minute you arrive. 

Meet your guide and driver in the morning and take a tour of the ancient capital and spiritual centre of Georgia – Mtskheta with its UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Church of Jvari (6th century) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century).

Mtskheta is the town where St. Nino – a 14-year-old Cappadocian maiden preached Christianity as early as the 4th century AD and converted Georgia officially to Christianity in 337 AD making Georgia the third official Christian country in the world.  According to the legend, Svetitskhoveli houses the Robe of Christ.

13:00 - Afternoon at leisure to explore Tbilisi 

Sulphur Baths -
As exotic as the name "Tbilisi" sounds, the capital city of Georgia's name can be roughly translated to "warm place". Legend has it that when the area was first settled, the founder was pleasantly surprised by the amount of sulphur hot springs coursing through the area, particularly since sulfuric baths are said have major health benefits and properties.

There are several bathhouses scattered around Tbilisi, each offering different levels of treatment or interior decorations.

19:30 - Meet at Mtatsminda Park for a cable car/funicular ride to the top. Group dinner at Funicular restaurant 

Included meals: Breakfast / Dinner.

08:00 - 11:00 - Breakfast at the hotel

AM:

Take a walking tour of Tbilisi:

See the highlights of the Old Town with beautiful Orthodox Christian Churches, Mosques and Synagogues. Tbilisi's cobblestoned old town reflects a long, complicated history, with periods under Persian and Russian rule. Its diverse architecture encompasses Eastern Orthodox churches, ornate art nouveau buildings and Soviet Modernist structures.

Also visit:

Narikala Fortress: the ‘Little Fortress’, sits on a rocky outcrop in the Tabori Range, high over Old Tbilisi and the Mtkvari River. Tbilisi Botanical Garden lies behind the fortress, while the heart of the Old Town and the domed roofs of the Abanotubani sulphur baths roll out at the foot of the castle.

Glass Bridge of Peace: Built in 2010, the bridge is a monument to the dialogue between the past and the present. Connecting Rike Park with Old Tbilisi, the bridge serves as an important pedestrian crossing in the city. 

Freedom Square: The location was first named Freedom Square in 1918, during the foundation of the First Georgian Republic following the collapse of the Russian Empire. A symbol of Georgia's independence from the Soviet Union, it has been the site of various mass demonstrations throughout history.

Rustaveli Avenue: Formerly known as Golovin Street, is the central avenue in Tbilisi named after the medieval Georgian poet, Shota Rustaveli. The avenue starts at Freedom Square and extends for about 1.5 km in length

PM:
Travel to watch Georgia play their Rugby Europe Championship rugby match in Tbilisi.

If you enjoy an underdog story about a nation that has planned and strategised growth into success, then take note of this future powerhouse. Think again if you believe the recent set of victories against Tier One nations were a one-off. A meticulous Union set up has enabled a structure that is consistently churning out quality, demonstrated by their extended reign on the European Nations Cup. 

Included meals: Breakfast

08:00 - Breakfast at the hotel

09:00h: Depart for Gori, where Georgia’s infamous son J. Stalin was born.  Visit the original house where he was born.

Leaving this communist-looking town we delve deep into Georgia’s ancient history by visiting the ancient cave city Uplistsikhe.

Uplistsikhe is one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia, which used to host the old caravans transporting goods from Asia to Europe on the Great Silk Road route.

Kakheti is the kingdom of endless vineyards, picturesque mountains and ancient traditions. We will explore the cradle of wine in Georgia.

First stop: The Velino family winery. See their little vineyard, learn more about their wine-making tradition and of course taste some of their wines.
Second stop: We continue to another family winery in the village of Velistsikhe to have lunch and see their ancestral winery.
Third stop: After a delicious lunch we visit a Qvevri maker (wine-keeping jars buried underground for storing wine – on the UNESCO World Intangible Heritage List) who will demonstrate how these huge amphoras are created. Of course, we’ll taste his wines and firewater Chacha before returning to Tbilisi

Included meals: Breakfast / Lunch

06:00 - Board your coach from outside the hotel to airport

06:30 - Arrive at airport and head to the British Airways check-in desks for bag drop.

Luggage weights and allowances:

One check-in bag: Max. 23kg / 51lbs up to 90 x 75 x 43cm
One cabin bag: Max. 23kg / 51lbs up to 56 x 45 x 25cm

One handbag to fit under seat in front up to 40 x 30 x 15cm

08:30 - Depart on British Airways flight from Tbilisi Airport (TBS) to London Heathrow (LHR)

10:00 - Arrive London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

End of tour arrangements with MSG.

*For fans that have purchased the package with the 2 x night extension, breakfast will be included this morning and tomorrow, with two full days to explore more of the magnificent Tbilisi at your own pace. Your flight back to London Heathrow on Wednesday 25th February will be at the same times as above.