Our family visit to Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was nothing short of magical. Nestled at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi Rivers, Mtskheta is not just a city but a portal to the rich history, spirituality, and culture of Georgia. Here's a glimpse into our unforgettable experience. The Serenity of Svetitskhoveli Cathedral Our first stop was the iconic Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, one of the most sacred sites in Georgia. The grandeur of its stone walls, combined with the intricate carvings and frescoes inside, left us awe-struck. Walking through the cathedral, we learned about its legend as the burial site of Christ’s robe. The spiritual atmosphere was profound, and we spent a moment of quiet reflection as a family. The courtyard offered stunning views of the surrounding landscape, and we enjoyed taking photos with the cathedral as a backdrop. The local guides were knowledgeable, sharing stories that brought the history of Svetitskhoveli to life. Climbing to Jvari Monastery Next, we headed to the Jvari Monastery, perched high on a hill overlooking Mtskheta. The drive up was scenic, and the view from the top was breathtaking. Seeing the rivers merge below and the town of Mtskheta spread out in the valley was a moment of pure wonder. The monastery itself, a masterpiece of early medieval architecture, was simple yet profound in its beauty. We took our time exploring the grounds and capturing family photos with the panoramic views. The cool breeze and serene surroundings made it a perfect spot for a quiet moment together. Strolling Through the Old Town The cobblestone streets of Mtskheta’s Old Town were delightful to wander through. We explored small shops selling traditional Georgian crafts, souvenirs, and textiles. The kids enjoyed browsing through colorful trinkets, while we admired the artistry of local handicrafts. We also sampled some local snacks, including churchkhela (a Georgian sweet made of nuts and grape juice) and freshly baked bread from roadside vendors. The warmth of the locals added a special charm to the experience. A Taste of Georgian Cuisine Our family meal in a traditional Georgian restaurant was a highlight of the trip. We indulged in dishes like khinkali (dumplings), khachapuri (cheese-filled bread), and lobio (bean stew). The flavors were rich and comforting, and the kids particularly enjoyed trying the unique dishes. Paired with a glass of local Georgian wine for the adults, it was a perfect way to end our day in Mtskheta. Reflections on the Visit Mtskheta is not just a destination but a journey through Georgia's soul. From its sacred sites to its picturesque streets and warm hospitality, every moment in this ancient city felt special. Visiting with my family made it even more meaningful, as we shared moments of awe, learning, and connection. Tips for Families Visiting Mtskheta * Wear Comfortable Shoes: The cobblestone streets and monastery hikes require good footwear. * Bring a Camera: The views from Jvari Monastery and the charm of Old Town are picture-perfect. * Plan for a Meal: Georgian cuisine is a must-try, and Mtskheta has some excellent restaurants. * Hire a Guide: A local guide can enrich your experience with fascinating stories and historical context. Our family’s visit to Mtskheta was a journey we’ll cherish forever. It’s a place where history, spirituality, and natural beauty come together, creating an experience that lingers in your heart long after you leave.

What a tour. The itinerary was perfect; started with a coffee/breakfast stop, before off-roading, a short hike and then the visits. Lunch and the wine tasting were a great end to this trip. It was rather gloomy during our trip but the colours were still striking. Alex was a great guide who ensured all our questions were answered and our needs met. Also, definitely recommend this as I believe it is the only, or one of the few, that lets you get up close and personal with the mountains.

From the start of the trip the tour guide was very accommodating towards myself and my friends, respectful, friendly and bringing in good vybezzz. It was a fun trip, well-organised and ran smoothly; saving the best bit for last - WINE TASTING 🍷🍾. Would highly recommend their services to people visiting this beautiful country to experience the rich culture and history is Sarkartvelo ✨🇬🇪

We really enjoyed our tour! Khatuna is a natural tour guide- she gave us so much additional info in that she answered all of our questions that came up randomly and were not even always related to the exact subject of the tour [brutalism architecture]. She was friendly, helpful and took us to so many cool places that we never would have made it to on our own! I would 100% recommend this tour to anyone visiting Tbilisi and it really was such a unique highlight of my time there. So fun to get off the beaten path and explore things you wouldn't get on the tourist track.

We originally booked Rainbow Mountains tour with another group but were then advised THIS Off-Road adventure tour is far better - and it definitely was. Our 5-group tour traveled far into the Painted Mountains in the ‘Friendly.ge Tours’ 4x4 off-road vehicle that other tours do NOT use. The day was brilliant. We also hiked around the Painted Mountains for an hour+ and it was exhilarating. The monasteries were amazing, we met the monk who alone lives in one of them, lunch was superb. Our guide, Koba, and driver Vepho were the best. Vepho handled that off-road rugged driving all day with ease and was very friendly. Koba was a particularly special guide, informative, fun, patient, and he’s an artist. He actually made skilled, colorful drawings of Old Town for us while driving to the sights in a very bumpy off-road vehicle and while sharing information about Georgia and the sights. This was a unique way to visit the Painted Mountains and we’re so glad we changed the tour group that made for this fantastic day. Recommend - highly recommend - that you choose Friendly.ge and take this trip!

Walking slowly around Tbilisi on this small group tour is the best way to introduce yourself to this amazing city. So glad we took it. And having JONAH as our guide on this tour was the best. Jonah is highly intelligent-impressive, humorous, likable, fun. What a worthwhile and enjoyable 3 hours. He’s a history enthusiast, not only about Georgia and the region, but on international affairs. His knowledge is outstanding and we learned a lot. The way he shares information is very clear, and his English is perfect. He answered all our questions, and we had many. We appreciate our experiences in Georgia even more now. Jonah even recommended a restaurant as our trip ended that turned out to be a wise choice (other than the touristy one we had originally selected). We hope you take this tour and that Jonah is your guide as well. Thank you, Jonah!

Jonah had me enthralled from the beginning of our tour around Tbilisi. He knew his stuff and told stories with great enthusiasm. We shared many laughs and jokes throughout the tour and that all just makes for a better experience.

This is an excellent tour out of Tbilisi. The rainbow mountains are colourful and photogenic. The two monasteries are both interesting and located in very scenic places. Lunch in Udabno was very good. The wine tasting on the way back to Tbilisi was interesting, samples being drawn directly from the chilled tanks, including red wines. Our guide Sophia was excellent, and the vehicle and driver both good.

This was an excellent trip combine nature and history of Georgia. The guide Khatuna was very kind & knowledgeable and made the entire excursion very informative and fun. Highly recommend!

It was absolutely amazing, we were able to take our time, have genuine conversations and experience the place. Jonah was also incredibly accommodating when it came to language, and was proactive in helping me with my Russian (which I am currently learning!). He did a good job in getting to know us individually and what we were each interested in. The wine tasting at the end was a personal highlight because Jonah has got to know us during the day and we were toasting/gathering as friends by the end. That was special. Best toastmaster, guide, historian and language exchange guy = Jonah. Unforgettable experience and so glad we did it. I would always book with friendly.ge as a first port of call.

My wife and I had great time visiting Armenia especially for our first time. Our tour guide and driver Aleksi was very friendly, well knowledgeable about places that we visited and flexible in timing and places we wanted to go. I highly recommend him for tours in Armenia and greatly appreciate his help!

An excellent overview of some of Georgia's lesser known but historically important sites, including walking up and through typical Soviet built blocks of flats, the disused Architecture Museum which integrated former city water tanks, high on a hill with great views of the city, the horizontal skyscraper now housing the Bank of Georgia, and ending with the Chronicles of Georgia Monument, again high on another hill and overlooking the big lake/reservoir. All of these were enthusiastically shown and explained in relation to Georgian history and current politics by Alex, our guide who was very knowledgeable and patiently answered all our questions. Highly recommended to everyone who wants an insight into Georgian heritage.

Perfect! Beautiful weather, good hike, off-road experience, fantastic ancient sites, delicious authentic food & local wine- every part of our day was flawless! Koba & George make a great team, highly recommend 👌

This was an excellent trip. The guide was very knowledgeable and made the entire excursion very informative. Highly recommend!

Very interesting tour. Kati was a wonderful guide. Lots of history and cultural insight yet not overwhelming in content. Great tips for tourists during the drive to sites.