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Imereti, Georgia

LAA

Imereti, Georgia

LAA

Imereti, Georgia

LAA

Imereti, Georgia

LAA

Imereti, Georgia

LAA

Gelati

UNESCO monastery of mosaics and learning

REGION

Imereti, Georgia

ALTITUDE

~300 m

TOP SIGHTS

Cathedral of the Virgin · Medieval mosaics · Tomb of David the Builder · The Academy building

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Year-round; best April–October

HOW TO GET

11 km / 20 min from Kutaisi

TIME NEEDED

1–2 hours

Set on a wooded hillside above Kutaisi, Gelati Monastery is one of the great monuments of medieval Georgia — a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in 1106 by King David the Builder, the country’s most celebrated ruler.


Gelati was far more than a church. Its Academy gathered philosophers, theologians and scientists, earning it the name “a new Athens.” For centuries it stood at the centre of Georgian intellectual and spiritual life, and David the Builder himself is buried at its gate.


The interior holds some of the finest medieval mosaics and frescoes in the Caucasus, including a luminous golden mosaic of the Virgin above the altar. The portraits of Georgian kings and queens along the walls form a remarkable gallery of the country’s history.


Nearby stands the small clifftop monastery of Motsameta, dramatically perched above a river gorge, an easy and rewarding addition to any visit.


Join us at Gelati to stand inside a thousand years of Georgian faith, art and learning.


NEARBY LOCATIONS

Explore this destination with ORIENTO

Kutaisi – Canyons of West Georgia

A canyon-and-heritage tour from Kutaisi: the great monasteries, Prometheus Cave and the famous canyons of Martvili and Okatse.

Departure from

Kutaisi

From

112

3 Days

4 Days (Kutaisi) – West Georgia Loop

A four-day loop from Kutaisi into the green mountains of Racha and the canyons of Samegrelo.

Departure from

Kutaisi

From

153

4 Days

6 Days (Kutaisi) – West, Adjara and the South

A six-day loop from Kutaisi taking in the western monasteries, the Black Sea resort of Batumi, the mountains of Adjara and the southern cave city of Vardzia.

Departure from

Kutaisi

From

185

6 Days

Kutaisi – Caves, Monasteries and Racha

A three-day discovery from Kutaisi combining the region’s golden-age monasteries, the spectacular Prometheus Cave, and a journey into the remote green mountains of Racha.

Departure from

Kutaisi

From

129

3 Days

Kutaisi and Adjara – Heritage and Black Sea

Pair the heritage of Kutaisi with the Black Sea resort of Batumi and the green coast of Adjara, a varied three days of monasteries, sea and mountains.

Departure from

Kutaisi

From

88

3 Days

5 Days (Kutaisi) – Full West Georgia

A five-day grand tour of western Georgia from Kutaisi, taking in monasteries, the mountains of Racha, the canyons of Samegrelo and the Black Sea resort of Batumi.

Departure from

Kutaisi

From

212

5 Days

Gelati, Motsameta and Prometheus Cave

The essential day out from Kutaisi: a UNESCO World Heritage monastery famous for its medieval mosaics, a dramatic clifftop church, and one of Georgia’s most spectacular show caves with an underground boat ride.

Departure from

Kutaisi

From

42

1 Day

Kutaisi and Samegrelo

A western Georgia tour exploring the heritage of Kutaisi and the lush Samegrelo region, ending in the princely town of Zugdidi.

Departure from

Kutaisi

From

90

3 Days

5 Days (Kutaisi to Tbilisi) – West, South and Centre

A five-day one-way tour from Kutaisi to Tbilisi, linking western heritage, the southern cave city of Vardzia and the ancient capital.

Departure from

Kutaisi

From

182

5 Days

Kutaisi, Monasteries and Canyons

A compact two-day discovery of western Georgia from Kutaisi: golden-age monasteries, a show cave, and the region’s famous canyons.

Departure from

Kutaisi

From

92

2 Days

4 Days (Kutaisi to Tbilisi) – West, South and Capital

A one-way tour from Kutaisi to Tbilisi, linking western heritage, the southern cave city of Vardzia and the ancient capital of Mtskheta.

Departure from

Kutaisi

From

159

4 Days

6 Days – North, South and West

A six-day tour combining the mountains, the southern cave cities and a westward extension toward Kutaisi and the Samegrelo canyons.

Departure from

Tbilisi

From

240

6 Days

Kutaisi and Batumi – Heritage and Black Sea

Pair Kutaisi’s heritage with Georgia’s vibrant Black Sea capital. A relaxed two days mixing monasteries, modern architecture and a seafront promenade.

Departure from

Kutaisi

From

67

2 Days

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