• Samtavisi Cathedral - Samtavisi is an 11th-century Georgian Orthodox cross-in-square cathedral constructed in 1030 by the local bishop and architect Hilarion, son of Vache Kanchaeli, who also established a wine cellar in 1050. The original temple was built by Vakhtang Gorgasali in 472 and was later reconstructed in the 10th century, but neither structure has survived. Assyrian missionary Isidore arrived at the monastery in the 6th century. Earthquakes led to the collapse of the dome, western wall, and pillars. An inscription on the western façade above the window reads, “The secondary builder of the temple was the daughter of the king and the wife of Amilakhvari Gaiane.” The cathedral underwent partial reconstruction in the 15th-16th centuries.
• Stalin Museum - The Joseph Stalin Museum, established in 1957, is dedicated to the life of Joseph Stalin, the Soviet leader born in Gori. The museum features a small wooden hut where Stalin was born in 1878 and spent his first four years. Stalin’s father, Bessarion Jughashvili, a local shoemaker, rented a room here and operated a workshop in the basement. The main building opened in 1951 as a museum of socialism but later became a memorial to Stalin, who passed away in 1953. The exhibit concludes with a death mask of Stalin made shortly after his death. The museum also houses Stalin’s personal armored railway carriage, weighing 83 tons, which he used from 1941 when attending the Yalta and Tehran Conferences. It was sent to the museum in 1985.
• Ateni Sioni Church - Ateni Sioni (Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary) is a 7th-century Georgian Orthodox “Jvari-type” cross-domed tetra conch church built on a 5th-century classical basilica. The name “Sioni” is derived from Mount Zion in Jerusalem. Ateni Sioni has an entrance from the north, and its dome base rests on three tromps, transitioning to the four apses of the tetra conch. The lower tromp is eight-faceted, the middle sixteen, and the upper thirty-two-faceted. Original reliefs on the western façade depict a deer hunting scene. The artist placed an empty ashlar to indicate the distance of an arrow’s flight. Another relief of two deer drinking from a rounded pool is located at the northern entrance, symbolizing believers drinking from the same source of faith.
• Uplistsiche Cave Town - Uplistsikhe (“the lord’s fortress”) is an ancient rock-hewn town in eastern Georgia’s Shida Kartli region. Situated on a high rocky left bank of the Mtkvari River, Uplistsikhe is one of Georgia’s oldest urban settlements, with habitation dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. It was founded by the mythical Uplos, son of Mtskhetos and grandson of Kartlos, the ancestor of the Georgians. The complex is divided into three parts: south (lower), middle (central), and north (upper), covering 8 hectares. The rock-cut structures include houses, a large hall called Tamaris Darbazi, pagan places of sacrifice, a bakery, prison, cellars, and even an amphitheater, all interconnected by footways and tunnels.

• Private English speaking guide
• Private transportation with A/C
• All entrance tickets
• Bottled water

Our private full-day excursion to Uplistsikhe from Tbilisi features visits to the 11th-century Georgian Orthodox cross-in-square Samtavisi Cathedral, replete with unique embellishments, the museum and residence of former Soviet chief Joseph Stalin, Ateni Sioni, a 7th-century Georgian Orthodox ‘Jvari-type’ cross-domed tetra conch church, and Uplistsikhe, a prehistoric city hewn from stone and among the oldest urban settlements (third millennium BC). There are two tour options. Those opting for the Tour with Lunch will have the opportunity to sample the finest dishes from the local cuisine and taste unforgettable local wines. This private tour to Uplistsikhe is perfect for those intrigued by ancient monasteries, the birthplace of a Soviet politician, and pagan and Christian architecture in an ancient cave city of Georgia. The total journey covers 215 km (135 miles).

• Ladies need to wear head scarves and dresses in Georgian orthodox churches. Short trousers for men are also forbidden. Scarves and dresses can also be found near church entrances for men and women to enter churches.
• Comfortable shoes are recommended.
• Please let us know if you or anyone in your group have any dietary restrictions. We will use the information to offer a lunch to you if you booked Tour with Lunch option.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.