Prepared by Sakhva Travel Georgia Guide, a tours and travel platform for Georgia. Sakhva Travel office: 14 Merab Kostava St, Tbilisi.
Tour on this topic: Telavi tour from Tbilisi — from ₾185
What kind of town
In the 17th–18th centuries Telavi was the capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti. From that era the Batonis Tsikhe complex survives — a fortress with the palace of Erekle II, a royal church and baths. Today it is a museum.
Nearby, on the square, grows a huge oriental plane tree whose age is estimated at about 900 years. The town centre is small; you can walk round it in a couple of hours.
What to see around it
Alaverdi is an 11th-century cathedral about 50 m high, one of the tallest medieval churches in Georgia; the monks at the monastery make wine. Ikalto is a monastery with an academy where, according to tradition, Shota Rustaveli studied.
Gremi is a 16th-century brick church and tower, a former capital of Kakheti. Tsinandali is the estate of the poet Alexander Chavchavadze, with a park and an old wine cellar.
Wine
Around Telavi there are hundreds of wineries, from family maranis to large factories. They make saperavi, rkatsiteli and qvevri wines. Allow 1–1.5 hours for a tasting and do not drive afterwards.
How to get there
The most scenic road is over the Gombori pass, about 2 hours. Marshrutkas leave from Isani metro station. It is easy to combine Telavi, Alaverdi and a winery in one day, or to stay overnight in town and go on to Sighnaghi the next day.
When to go
The best time is September and October, during rtveli, the grape harvest. In spring the valley is green; in summer it is hot — up to 35 °C.
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