Tsalka Canyon Tour from Tbilisi with Poka Nunnery, Gorelovka and Asureti

You will visit Manglisi Sioni Cathedral that was constructed in 6th-7th century. The first church was built in 4th century during the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion. Byzantine Imperor Constantine gifted to King Mirian abundant treasures and parts of the Holy Cross of Christ and sent Bishop John (Ioanne) to build churches in Georgia. Before he arrived in Mtskheta, he stopped in Manglisi and started building a temple.

You will visit Paravani Lake (2 073 m) is the largest lake with 38 sq.km area with depth of 3 meters. From mid-autumn to mid-spring it is covered with ice.

You will vist Phoka Nunnery of St. Nino where St. Nino stayed for two days after she entered Georgia via crossing the mountains of Javakheti. She started preaching the Christian faith, followed river Mtkvari and reached Mtskheta. The monastery has a missionary role, representing for years the only Georgian-speaking island in an alienated environment. The nunnery produces cheese, candles, cloisonne enamel and confectionery products.

You will visit village Gorelovka to visit Ethnographic Museum. The village was founded by Dukhabors, Christian spiritual religious group of Russian origin. They rejected the secular government, priesthood, the use of icons, and all church rituals. They do not follow any customs other than marriage. Women are equal to men in the family. They were relocated from Russia during the reign of Emperor Nicholas I and 5,000 Doukhobors were resettled to Georgia between 1841 and 1845.

You will visit Tsalka Canyon (Dashbashi Canyon) that has astounding cascading waterfalls that take exotic emerald colour and form dozens of small waterfalls. The canyon complex includes a 1800-meter path to the canyon river with stunning views and unique 240-meter long glass bridge over the canyon with a diamond-shaped café in the middle.

You will visit village Asureti where 7,000 German colonists settled in 1817. After living for almost 125 years, in 1941 Stalin deported Germans from Georgia to Central Asia. Only those who were married to Georgians were allowed to stay. The durability of the houses built without cement and nails, oak balconies, sulfur bath and wine cellar still amaze people. In Asureti there is an old Georgian vine variety "Shala" found in the forest by a German farmer Shalma. The village has a Lutheran church built in 1871 and a cemetery.