Gelati Monastery and Prometheus Cave + Visit to Nikoladze Winery

Day Trip Details

After picking you up from your hotel in Kutaisi, we’ll leave the city and set off on a 20-minute journey to the northeast. What will be our first stop of the day? We’re about to find out!

We’ll reach the Gelati Monastery, a medieval complex founded by King David the Builder, one of the most revered rulers of Georgia. Did you know that his remains lie here beneath a simple stone slab?

We’ll walk among walls covered with Byzantine frescoes and mosaics that tell the story of the greatness of the Georgian Golden Age. Its greenish domes and the serenity of the setting will transport us to a glorious past.

After this visit, we’ll travel 45 minutes to the Prometheus Cave, an underground realm of illuminated stalactites and stalagmites that look like living sculptures. Could it be true that the titan Prometheus was chained in this area?

As we descend through the cave’s tunnels, we’ll be surrounded by the magic of this legend that still seems to breathe among the rocks. You’ll also have the option of taking a boat ride along the cave’s underground river to explore even more of its hidden corners.

Back on the surface, we’ll head to the abandoned sanatoriums of Tskaltubo, a group of relics from the Soviet era where nature has reclaimed its space. The faded mosaics and vegetation-covered corridors create a melancholic and almost cinematic atmosphere.

Finally, we’ll finish the day at the Nikoladze winery, where we’ll learn about the ancient fermentation techniques using qvevri clay vessels. The highlight will be a tasting of 4 wines and 2 varieties of chacha, Georgia’s popular grape spirit. These drinks will be paired with freshly baked bread and typical cheeses.

We’ll then return to Kutaisi, where we’ll drop you off at your hotel after a total of 6 hours of touring.

Changes to the Itinerary

Please note that the Gelati Monastery is temporarily closed for restoration work. Instead, we’ll visit the Motsameta Monastery, also known as the Place of the Martyrs, to discover its dramatic history of torture and executions.

Another alternative will be a visit to the Bagrati Cathedral, a medieval ruin on top of Uk’imerioni Hill. There, we’ll learn about the major reconstruction efforts and its past as a World Heritage Site.