A Tour of Wild Flowers and Botanical Gardens in Georgia

After a late breakfast, we start Tbilisi sightseeing tour. We will walk to the historical part of the city and enjoy the unique combination of cultures.

Walking through the narrow streets of the city we will find various religious buildings: Churches, Synagogues, Mosques, Wooden houses built in the 19th century with colourful balconies, Sulphur Baths, the Narikala Fortress.

In the afternoon we will visit Tbilisi Botanical Garden. Here we will see a variety of roses, a collection of lilacs and conifers, a Japanese garden, a beautiful waterfall, hidden bridges in the trees, and fountains.

The Botanical Garden presents rich collections of flora from Georgia and different regions of the world. Also, there are unique plant plots of Georgia and the whole Caucasus, a tropical greenhouse, and plants included in the Red Book:

(Department of Plant  Conservation): Paeonia caucasica, P.cartalinica, P. lagodechiana, P. tenuifolia, P. witmaniana, P. mlokosewitschii, L.steveniana. Iris iberica, Juno caucasica, Tulipa eichleri, T. biebersteiniana, Taxus baccata, Scabiosa georgica, Andrachne colchica, Hedera pastuchowii, Staphyllea colchica.

Early in the morning, we drive to the Western part of Georgia. We visit Mtskheta, which is the ancient capital and religious centre of Georgia.

Here we will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Jvari Monastery built in the 6th century and the beautiful Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. There is an amazing panoramic view of the city from Jvari Monastery, the confluence of two rivers: Mtkvari and Aragvi.

Later, we will visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, which is the largest historical building in Georgia and leaves a great impression on the visitor.

In the afternoon we will follow the military road to Stepantsminda, which is one of the most spectacular routes in Georgia.

While traveling in the beautiful mountains of the Caucasus, we will enjoy the beautiful panoramic views of the region.

On the way, we will visit Ananuri complex.

We start walking from Stepantsminda through the beautiful valleys and forest toward Gergeti Trinity Church (walking distance: 1.5 hr.). 

During the Gergeti trekking, we can see the following plants: 

Primula algida, Swertia iberica, Daphne glomerata, Macrotomia echioides,Pulsatilla violacea (in fruit), Gentiana angulosa, G. jimilensis, Gentianella caucasea, Minuartia ssp., Vaccinium vitis-idea, Vaccinium myrtyllus, Betula raddeana, Scabiosa caucasica, Geranium ssp., Campanula bellidifolia.

In the afternoon we will drive to Dariali Gorge. In the vicinity of Gveleti waterfall we can see other types of flowers: 

Saxifraga cartilaginea, Saxifraga juniperifolia, Draba bryoides, Silene pygmaea, S. linariifolia, Linaria meyeri, Heracleum sosnowskyi, Campanula darialica, Campanula paradoxa, Juniperus ssp, Polemonium caucasicum, Lilium gerogicum, Campanula petrophila, Pseudorosularia pilosa caucasicum, Lilium gerogicum, Campanula petrophila, Pseudorosularia pilosa.

Note: Upon request, it is possible to drive up by car.

In the morning we will drive to Juta.

Then, continue to walk to ChaukhebIi and enjoy the panoramic views of the mountains. While trekking we will meet the following type of flowers: 

Iris colchica, Sobolewskia caucasica, Dactylorhiza euxina, Lilium georgicum, Primula algida, P. amoena, Silena lacera, S. saxatilis, S. linearifolia, Geranium ssp., Vicia purpurea, Trifolium ssp., Rosa oxyodon, Sempervivum caucasicum, Linum hypericifolium, Pyrethrum carneum, Centaurea cheiranthifolia, C. salicifolia, Anthemis marshalliana, Saxifraga ssp., Campanula ssp., Rhododdendron caucasicum, Draba bryoides, Inula orientalis, Pulsatilla violacea, Papaver fugax, Pedicularis condesata, Polygala transcaucasica, Echium russicum, Swertia iberica, Scabiosa caucasica, Minuartia ssp.

In the morning we travel to Kutaisi, which is one of the oldest cities in the world. It’s centuries-old past attracts visitors to discover famous or unknown places.

We visit Bagrati Cathedral, which is a symbol of a united Georgia. The Church of the Assumption, occupies a special place in the history of Georgian architecture, with its architectural and artistic dignity.

Then, we visit Gelati Monastery, which has been an educational centre for centuries and has preserved ancient frescoes and manuscripts. Gelati complex is in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

After breakfast, we take the road to western Georgia. We visit the decorative garden of a family near Zugdidi, where an amazing collection of evergreens can be found.

Then, we move to the central part of the city and visit Zugdidi Botanical Garden.

There are around eighty species of trees, shrubs, and plants in the garden, including six species of magnolia, various species of oak, Atlas and Himalayan cedar, Canary poplar, relict, and endemic plants imported from Asia, including India, Japan, the Mediterranean, from America and elsewhere.

After lunch, we start the most interesting part of the tour – the trip to Svaneti. Svaneti is distinguished by a pronounced individualism and leaves an indelible impression on the visitor.

This area is especially impressive for nature lovers with alpine meadows and lakes, cliffs, peaks, waterfalls, and a variety of endemic flowers.

We start our journey from the ancient and beautiful village of Mulakhi with most towers.

Then, we start trekking in the flowery meadows, where the flowers have intense and vibrant colors. 

After lunch, we will drive to Hatsvali. We will use the Zuruldi cable car, enjoy the unique pine trees and high peaks. There are magnificent views of Svaneti from Zuruldi.

Exceptionally impressive are several prominent peaks in the Caucasus, such as Ushba, Tetnuldi, and Laila.

Note: The use of the cable car depends on the weather and technical conditions.

After breakfast, we drive to Ushguli, which is one of the most beautiful places in Svaneti. Ushguli, surrounded by typical Svanetian defense towers, is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The contrast of colorful fields and snowy mountains are especially impressive in the summer.

We start trekking to Queen Tamar Tower. While trekking from the village to the tower, we enjoy the flowery meadows.

This route is heaven for wildlife lovers. Here we will meet different species of flowers full of explosive colours.

After breakfast we start hiking to the Shkhara Glacier, which is the highest peak in Svaneti region and in Georgia.

On the way, we stop at Lamaria Church, from where is an unforgettable view down to Ushguli and on the other side to the Enguri Gorge and to the Shkhara Glacier.

In the evening transfer to Mestia.

In the morning we will drive to Batumi. Graceful white architecture and subtropical plants make Batumi unique among the cities of Georgia.

On the way, we will see Shekvetili Dendrological Park, which opened in 2020. The park is spread over 60 hectares and includes thousands of local and foreign exotic species of flora.

Here we will see more than 200 giant trees of unique species, 58 species of birds from all continents, and bamboo groves.

Transfer to Batumi. In the evening we walk along Batumi boulevard.

In the morning we visit the Batumi Botanical Garden, which was founded in 1912 and stretches over 120 hectares.

The garden is divided into nine geographical zones, where more than 5000 different plant species brought from all over the world thrive. Return to the city centre.

Transfer to the airport and leave from Batumi.