Tbilisi – Mestia, #3.7

Tours to Mestia from Tbilisi

Excursions around the peaks of the Caucasus

Mestia is administrative center of Svaneti. It is located in western Georgia, in high mountains 1500 meters above sea level. It was granted the status of a townlet in 1968. Here you can see many unique Svan towers of the middle age and churches with unique paintings.

Domestic flights are operated from Mestia airport.

Chazhashi

Village Chazhashi fully represents museums and “UNESCO” monument.  The village is located 44 kilometers north from Mestia.

Village Chazhashi is special for its svan towers and fortresses.

Ushguli

Village Ushguli is located 45 kilometers from Mestia. In Georgia and in Europe it is the most highest populated area, which is 2050 – 2200 meters above sea level.

There are 8 historical and cultural monuments in Ushguli. Here you can see a museum of archeology, svan towers, which represents unique examples of architecture and art of medieval Georgia. For these reasons Village Ushguli is declared by government as a reserve.

Senaki

Senaki city is located in central area of western Georgia. It was first mentioned in historical sources in the beginning of 17^th century.

Nokalakevi

Fortress town Nokalakevi, Archeopolis in Greek language is located in central part of western Georgia, near Senaki. It was built in 3^rd century bc. Stealing the golden fleece by Argonauts is related to Nokalakevi location.

Including the 8^th century, Nokalakevi represented the kingdom of Egrisi, capital of Lazika. In 8^th century Arabs destroyed Nokalakevi, which revived once again in 16^th, 18^th centuries.

About Tbilisi

History of Tbilisi

City was founded by Vakhtang Gorgasali in the 4^th century. The city is located in Eastern Georgia. The oldest architectural monument in Tbilisi is the 6^th century Christian church Anchiskhati. Christianity was spread in Georgia in 4^th-5^th centuries. Since the foundation of Tbilisi, there are ancient shrines of Hebrew, Islamic and Catholic confessions.

Battles for Tbilisi

Until the 19^th century, city was conquered many times. This is the obvious illustration of conquests chronology: As a result of the conquest of the 4^th and 6^th centuries the city was occupied by the Persians; In the beginning of the 7^th century Byzantines and Khazars with united powers had an attempt to conquer Tbilisi. In the first half of the 8^th century The Arabs occupied Tbilisi, but in the second half of the 8^th century Khazars raided the city. At the beginning of the second half of the 9^th century, The Arabs occupied the city with many battles;

In the middle of the 11^th century, by the first time the Elders Council took over the city authorities.
By the end of the 60s of the 11^th century the Turk-Seljuks took over Tbilisi; At the beginning of the 12^th century Tbilisi was liberated by King David IV Builder and from that time Tbilisi is a capital city of Georgia (before that Mtskheta was a capital of Georgia), as a result in the 12^th and the 13^th centuries the population of Tbilisi exceeded 70 000 inhabitants. In the 20s of the 13^th century, the Kvarezians took over Tbilisi. Within a few years Tbilisi was occupied by the Mongols; In the first quarter of the 14^th century Tbilisi was exempted from the invaders. By the end of the 14^th century Amir Timur took over Tbilisi (who has battled 8 times in Georgia); In the 15^th century the Persians took over and occupied Tbilisi 2 times.

Fight for State Independence

Since 1802, fighting for restoration of state independence of Georgia has begun, which was achieved only in 1918 year. Georgia has restored state independence, but it soon was lost in 1921 year. After a great standoff, Georgia was able to re-establish the statehood in 1991 and the avant-garde of this 2-century battles and struggles was permanently Tbilisi.

This page presents tour, which includes four days and nights with hotel, three- or four-time meals and transport services.

Therefore, it is better to create a tourist package consisting of two or more different routes (5 or 6 days), according to your interests, from the 51 different tours available on this website.