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 and early check-in available through paid upgrade.

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. 

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. Modest entry fee at own cost.

18:30 - Transfer by bus for a cable car/funicular ride to Mtatsminda Park. Group dinner at Funicular restaurant (drinks on own account). 

Included meals: Breakfast / Dinner.

08:00 - Breakfast at the hotel

09:00 - Drive to Metekhi Church to start our Tbilisi walking tour.

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.

Visit Old Tbilisi: beautiful Orthodox Christian Churches, Mosque, Synagogue, famous and refreshing Sulphur Baths, narrow cobbled streets with hanging wooden carved multi-colored balconies and the 19th century houses following the architectural styles of the 19th century Europe. Enjoy a view of Narikala Fortress, the glass Bridge of Peace, Freedom Square and Rustaveli Avenue.

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

12:00: Travel to watch Georgia play their Rugby Europe Championship rugby match in Tbilisi (arrival by 13:00h)

Georgia v Spain: 15:00h
Avchala Stadium, 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. 

17:15-17:30: Travel back to Tbilisi for Six Nations viewing of this weekend's games at Brown's Bar (Ierusalim Square 1)

Included meals: Breakfast

08:00 - Breakfast at the hotel

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 Karseladze 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

09:00-10:00 - Transfer to Velino family winery

10:00-11:00 - Winery tour and wine tasting

11:00-12:00 - Transfer to Karseladze Winery

12:00-13:30 - Take a look at the ancestrial wine cellar and enjoy local lunch

13:30-14:15 - Transfer to Telavi

14:15-14:45 - Take a short walking tour of Telavi and visit agricultural market

14:45-14:55 - Transfer to Vardisubani

14:55-15:40 - Qvevri making observation and wine tasting

15:40-17:40 - Transfer to hotel - *If there's snow/ice we won't be able to take the Gombori Pass route to Tbilisi and it will take us around 2.5-3 hrs to reach our hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast / Lunch

Mr and Mrs Tuckwell, Mark Gardner travel to the airport - own arrangements (flight at 08:00).

Main group

08:00 - Breakfast at the hotel

09:00-10:30 - Transfer to Uplistsikhe

10:30-12:00 - Visit Uplistsikhe

12:00-12:30 - Transfer to Gori

12:30-13:30 - Free time for lunch break

13:30-14:15 - Visit Stalin Museum

14:15-15:00 - Transfer to Svetitskhiveli

15:00-16:00 - Visit Svetitskhoveli

16:00-16:10 - Transfer to Jvari Monastery

16:10-16:40 - Visit the monastery

16:40-17:30 - Transfer to hotel

Breakfast at hotel

Full day at leisure.

05:30 - Board your coach from outside the hotel to airport

06:00 - 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.