Tbilisi Trip Overview
Private full day tour to Tsalka Canyon&Poka Nunnery includes visiting cathedral of Manglisi constructed in 6th-7th century, hiking to Dashbashi Canyon, well-known with its cascade of small waterfalls, visiting Poka Nunnery, connected to St. Nino who started preaching the Christian faith from village Poka and exploring Ethnographic Museum of Gorelovka, village near Georgia – Armenia border, founded by Dukhabors, Christian spiritual religious group of Russian origin. Tour includes visiting lakes: Tsalka, Paravani, Saghamo, Bugdasheni and Madatapa. In Poka Nunnery, guests can buy organic cheese with European technology, sweets, alpine products (honey, unrefined oil, vinegar), bread, handmade candles, cloisonne enamel and confectionery products. Guests will also visit former German colony of Asureti (Elizabettal). Private tour to Tsalka Canyon&Poka Nunnery is appropriate for people who like hiking, eating organic food and enjoying stunning lake views. Total drive 385 km (240 miles).
Additional Info
Duration: 12 hours
Starts: Tbilisi, Georgia
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
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What to Expect When Visiting Tbilisi, Georgia, Georgia
Private full day tour to Tsalka Canyon&Poka Nunnery includes visiting cathedral of Manglisi constructed in 6th-7th century, hiking to Dashbashi Canyon, well-known with its cascade of small waterfalls, visiting Poka Nunnery, connected to St. Nino who started preaching the Christian faith from village Poka and exploring Ethnographic Museum of Gorelovka, village near Georgia – Armenia border, founded by Dukhabors, Christian spiritual religious group of Russian origin. Tour includes visiting lakes: Tsalka, Paravani, Saghamo, Bugdasheni and Madatapa. In Poka Nunnery, guests can buy organic cheese with European technology, sweets, alpine products (honey, unrefined oil, vinegar), bread, handmade candles, cloisonne enamel and confectionery products. Guests will also visit former German colony of Asureti (Elizabettal). Private tour to Tsalka Canyon&Poka Nunnery is appropriate for people who like hiking, eating organic food and enjoying stunning lake views. Total drive 385 km (240 miles).
Stop At: Manglisi, Manglisi, Kvemo Kartli Region
Manglisi Sioni Cathedral was constructed in 6th-7th century and restored in 11th century. The first church was built in 4th century during the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion. The temple is a tetraconch but unusually inserted into an octagon. Byzantine Imperor Constantine gifted to King Mirian abundant treasures and parts of the Holy Cross of Christ and sent Bishop John (Ioanne) to build churches in Georgia. Before he arrived in Mtskheta, he stopped in Manglisi and started building a temple.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Dashbashi Canyon, Dashbashi Georgia
Algeti National Park was founded as a state reserve in 1965. The highest point is Mount Kldekari (2,000 m). Dashbashi Canyon is in Algeti National Park on Khrami River (1,110-1,448 m). The canyon has astounding cascading waterfalls that take exotic emerald colour and form dozens of frozen waterfalls in the winter. The plants of the canyon create micro-climate and specific fauna. You will need to hike 30 minutes to reach the canyon (difficulty level: easy). Dashbashi St. George Church near the canyon was built in 10th-11th Centuries.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Poka Nunnery of St. Nino, Poka Georgia
Phoka Nunnery of St. Nino – In 1988 the Catholicos-Patriarch visited Foka, where St. Nino stayed for two days after she entered Georgia via crossing the mountains of Javakheti. She started preaching the Christian faith, followed river Mtkvari and reached Mtskheta. Next to the 11th century basilica of St. Nino, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II bought a house where in 1992, the Mother’s Monastery was opened. In 1989, Patriarchate of Georgia received 22 hectares of land in Foka where an openchurch and fathers monastery were built. The tradition of 40-day pilgrimage of St. Nino started in 1989. The monastery has a missionary role, representing for years the only Georgian-speaking island in an alienated environment. The nunnery produces cheese, candles, cloisonne enamel and confectionery products.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Paravani Lake, Ninotsminda Georgia
Paravani Lake (2 073 m) is the largest lake with 38 sq.km area with depth of 3 meters. From mid-autumn to mid-spring it is covered with ice.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Sagamo Lake, Saghamo Georgia
Saghamo Lake (1996 m) with depth of 2.3 m receives water from rain, snow and underground springs.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Gorelovka, Georgia
Gorelovka to visit Ethnographic Museum. The village was founded by Dukhabors, Christian spiritual religious group of Russian origin. They rejected the secular government, priesthood, the use of icons, and all church rituals. They do not follow any customs other than marriage. Women are equal to men in the family. They were relocated from Russia during the reign of Emperor Nicholas I and 5,000 Doukhobors were resettled to Georgia between 1841 and 1845.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Bughdasheni Lake, Georgia
Guests will visit Bugdasheni Lake (2042 m) and Madatapa Lake (2108 m), ideal for fishing and bird-watching.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Asureti, Asureti, Kvemo Kartli Region
Asureti (760-800 m) – With the initiative of King Alexander I of Russia, about 1,400 families, up to 7,000 German colonists were settled here in 1817. In honor of his wife Asureti was renamed Elizabettal- Elizabeth Settlement. After living for almost 125 years, in 1941 Stalin deported Germans from Georgia to Central Asia. Only those who were married to Georgians were allowed to stay. After German deportation, Rachvelians settled in Elizabettali. The durability of the houses built without cement and nails, oak balconies, sulfur bath and wine cellar still amaze people. In Asureti there is an old Georgian vine variety “Shala” found in the forest by a German farmer Shalma. The village has a Lutheran church built in 1871 and a cemetery. The church, restored in 2020, was destroyed by communists and by the fire.
Duration: 30 minutes
