Attractions: Motsameta Monastery

Explore the cultural heart of Kutaisi on a guided tour that visits the city's most significant heritage sites. As you move between landmarks, you'll take in a panoramic view of Kutaisi from Bagrati, giving a broad sense of the city and its surroundings. You will also visit Gelati Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you'll learn about its historical significance. Along the way you'll see Motsameta, an ancient monastery set in the forest, noted for its peaceful setting and historic character. Throughout the tour you'll experience key elements of Kutaisi’s cultural heritage, with time at each site to look around, take photographs and learn about their importance.

You will join a small group for a half-day tour of three important religious sites around Kutaisi. The first stop is the 11th-century Bagrati Cathedral, an enduring symbol of a united Georgia. As you move through the site, you will learn about its history and cultural significance. Next you will visit Gelati Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating to the 12th century. The complex includes three large churches, an academy, the grave of David the Builder, a bell tower and monks' houses. Along the way a guide will explain the monastery’s role in Georgian spiritual and intellectual life. The final stop is Motsameta Monastery, perched on a cliff and surrounded by a river on three sides. There you will hear the story of the tortured brother lords David and Constantine Mkheidze and see the dramatic setting that frames the monastery. Throughout the tour you will explore important religious architecture and hear the historical stories that connect these sites to Georgia’s cultural heritage.

You will explore the Gelati Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and learn about its place in Georgian history. Founded in 1106 by Davit Agmashenebeli, the complex contains buildings mainly from the 12th and 13th centuries. Along the way you will hear about the monastery’s role in religion and culture as you admire its medieval architecture. Next you will visit the Monastery of Motsameta, described as one of the important monuments of ancient Georgian culture. The walled monastery sits on a rocky, forested mountain, and you will see how its setting contributes to its character and significance. Finally you will see the Bagrati Cathedral, the Assumption Cathedral, built in 1003 during the reign of Bagrat III (975–1014). Perched on Uchimerion Hill in Kutaisi, this cathedral is a landmark of Georgian medieval church architecture for both its architectural solution and its historical and symbolic importance. Throughout the visit you will move between these key monuments and learn about their architecture and heritage.

If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience, Racha in Georgia will show you wild, largely untouched mountain scenery. Often called the Switzerland of the Caucasus, the region offers snow-capped peaks, mighty glaciers, hidden valleys and green alpine meadows. Along the way you’ll enjoy panoramic vistas over the Greater Caucasus range and breathe air locals sometimes describe as an oxygen paradise. The trip will also take you into the nearby Imereti region, where you’ll see a couple of places included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. You’ll pass buildings that date as far back as the 11th century and take in both historic architecture and expansive natural views as you move through the area.

This guided tour of Kutaisi’s spiritual heritage takes you to three of the city’s most important religious sites: Bagrati Cathedral, the Church of the Annunciation and Motsameta Monastery. At Bagrati Cathedral you will see a symbol of Kutaisi and a fine example of medieval Georgian architecture. The cathedral sits on a hill, offering wide views of the city, and you will hear about the restorations it has undergone after centuries of change. You will then visit the Church of the Annunciation, a Baroque building from 1823 set on the site of a former royal chapel. This unusual church reflects both Catholic and Orthodox traditions, having once served Kutaisi’s Catholic community before returning to the Orthodox Church in 1989. Finally, Motsameta Monastery sits above the Tskaltsitela River. Along the way your guide will tell the legend of the martyred brothers David and Konstantine and point out the peaceful atmosphere and striking riverside views. Stories shared by the guide will help bring Georgia’s faith, culture and architecture to life before you return to Kutaisi.

This experience takes you to the iconic monasteries Gelati and Motsameta, where you will spend time at two of the region’s most recognised religious sites. As you move through these places, you will have the chance to take in their atmosphere and the surrounding views. Later, you will head to Sairme to explore its lush surroundings and enjoy a touch of adventure in the natural landscape. The visit then moves on to the mineral pools, where you can unwind, soak in the mineral-rich waters and enjoy some relaxed, fun moments. Along the way, you will experience a mix of cultural visits and time for leisure in natural settings.

On this relaxing day trip to Tskaltubo from Kutaisi you will explore several historic and natural highlights. You will descend into the Prometheus karst caves to see illuminated stalagmites and stalactites and to observe underground rivers. Afterwards you will visit Tskaltubo, an early 20th‑century spa resort, where the fascinating architecture of abandoned Soviet‑era buildings is visible. You will go into one of the old bathhouses, and a spa treatment can be arranged during the tour if you wish. Along the way you will visit the picturesque 10th‑century Motsameta Monastery and the Gelati Academy. From the 11th‑century observatory you can see an amazing sunset. In the evening you will return to Kutaisi and end the tour with a visit to Bagrati Cathedral as the final attraction.

This experience centres on Sataplia, a unique natural reserve where you will explore the Sataplia cave and its dramatic viewpoints. Along the way you will walk through the Colchic forest and step onto a glass panoramic platform to enjoy views over Kutaisi. The site also features dinosaur footprints that are millions of years old, and you will be able to take pictures with life‑size models of dinosaurs. You will also visit the Monastery of Gelati, a masterpiece of Georgia’s Golden Age of the 11th–13th centuries, and the Bagrati Cathedral, an important architectural and cultural monument that has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1994. The experience finishes at one of Kutaisi’s largest trading places, where you can buy fresh vegetables, fruit, natural dairy products, meat, a variety of spices and many other items for your kitchen.