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Abastumani Escape: Sapara, Zarzma & Observatory Tour

From $245 • 14 hours • Select Georgia LLC • Abastumani, Adigeni, Georgia • Pickup available • Free until 1 day before

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Why we love it?

The Abastumani Escape: Sapara, Zarzma & Observatory Tour offers a comprehensive 14-hour exploration of Georgia's rich monastic heritage. Participants will visit the historic Sapara Monastery, known for its stunning frescoes, and the serene Zarzma Monastery, which provides insights into the region's spiritual history. This tour is ideal for history enthusiasts, spiritual seekers, and those looking to immerse themselves in the tranquil landscapes of Abastumani and Adigeni. Distinctive features include private transportation with Wi-Fi, an English-speaking guide, and the opportunity to explore lesser-known sites like the Chulevi Monastery, all while enjoying the picturesque surroundings of Georgia's countryside.

Inclusions

✔ Private transportation with A/C✔ Private English speaking guide✔ All entrance tickets✔ WiFi on board✔ Bottled water

Itinerary

Sapara Monastery

Guests will visit Sapara Monastery from 9th century with beautiful carvings and frescoes, located a green forested canyon.

Zarzma Monastery

Guests will visit Zarzma Monastery of Transfiguration built in the 8th century with unique domed church and a belfry, one of the largest in Georgia. The monastery has an underground burial vault situated beneath the church which contains the remains of monks.

Chulevi monastery

Guests will visit Chulevi monastery of St. George that was home to a monastic community already in the 11th century, but the current edifice was constructed in the 14th century. Guests can enjoy a small waterfall of the monastery (5-minute hike is needed to reach the waterfall).

Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory

Guests will visit Georgian National Astrophysical Observatory that was founded in 1932 by Academician Evgeni Kharadze on Mount Kanobili, near the Abastumani resort at the altitude between 1650 and 1700 m above sea level. Its distance from air pollution and artificial sky illumination, together with excellent natural conditions (a hilly landscape covered with coniferous forest) makes this location one of the best for observatories at the same altitude range. The weather is stable, without harsh and sudden changes. The observatory carries out wide-profile research spanning different fields of astronomy and astrophysics and investigations of the upper layers of Earth's atmosphere.

Abastumani Resort

Guest will visit Abastumani which is a climatic resort located on the southern slopes of the Meskheti Range (Lesser Caucasus). Abastumani possesses a moderately dry mountainous climate, with relative humidity reaching 50% only in summer. Average annual temperature is 6.4 to 6.5 °C (44 to 44 °F) in January and 17.2 °C (63 °F) in July. Abastumani's three hyperthermic springs (39–48.5 °C) are little mineralized, rich in sulfate-sodium chloride waters. They have long been used in the treatment of tuberculosis.