After breakfast we will start our morning tour by visiting the local open-air peasants’ market where we will enjoy the multi-scented ambiance of different herbs, spices, sugar dusted dried fruits, seeds and a variety of chili powders.
Leaving Kutaisi, we continue to drive to the land of mysterious fabled land of Svaneti-the northwestern part of Georgia where hundreds of tall defensive stone towers are dotted throughout the Medieval villages, erected to protect locals in times of invasion between the 9th-12th centuries. It is due to their towers, the surrounding mountains and extreme topography that local people retained their unwritten language, unique culture and ancient traditions. The Upper Svaneti region was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991.
We make our way up to the snow-capped glaciers of the Great Caucasus passing by roaring mountain rivers, medieval archways and winding roads till we arrive in the administration centre of the region-Mestia. Here, we visit the local History museum which displays a fascinating collection of old books as well as ancient gold and silver icons, triptychs and enamel.
Dinner and overnight in a hotel in Mestia.
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