Photos: Arian Zwegers from Brussels, Belgium, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 Jami430, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: Arian Zwegers from Brussels, Belgium, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 Jami430, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Bagrati Cathedral and the view from Ukimerioni Hill
Your local guide
Sopo Chkheidze
View profile
Highlights
- Bagrati Cathedral's restored dome
- A church rebuilt after a 1692 explosion
- Kutaisi and the Rioni valley below
- Ukimerioni Hill's old citadel site
- Nearly a thousand years of history
About this tour
This session climbs Ukimerioni Hill to Bagrati Cathedral, the eleventh-century church that has watched over Kutaisi for nearly a thousand years. You see the restored dome and walls up close, then the whole Rioni valley from the hilltop beside it. It traces the cathedral from its foundations to the rebuilding that brought it back after centuries as a ruin.
We take the climb steadily, pausing partway for the first valley views, then spend most of the call around the cathedral itself. I explain what was rebuilt and what survives from the original structure, and questions work well throughout the climb.
It suits anyone who wants Kutaisi's skyline explained from above, and a good first stop before the museums and monasteries further out.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
-
Welcome and sound check 6 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Kutaisi before heading out.
-
Climbing Ukimerioni Hill 17 min
The camera climbs the path up Ukimerioni Hill, and I point out where the old royal citadel once stood around the cathedral.
-
Bagrati Cathedral exterior 17 min
You see the eleventh-century cathedral's restored dome and walls, and I explain how much of what stands today was rebuilt after a 1692 explosion.
-
The Rioni valley from the hilltop 17 min
From beside the cathedral the whole town and the Rioni valley spread out below, and I name the landmarks visible from up here.
-
Your questions 11 min
Time to ask anything about Kutaisi: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
-
A short list to keep 5 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Khachapuri Imeruli and Old Kutaisi, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Tbilisi time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 8 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Kutaisi, showing you Climbing Ukimerioni Hill and Bagrati Cathedral exterior live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need to know the history already?
No background needed. The guide explains everything as it comes up.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I climb Ukimerioni Hill live with my phone.
Times shown in Tbilisi time (GMT+4)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Reviews appear here after travellers have completed this tour.
How reviews work
Only travellers who booked and paid through Locals Guide and whose tour took place can leave a review, within 60 days of the tour. Every review is marked "Verified booking". We check reviews before they appear and publish positive and negative ones alike; we remove only reviews that break our rules (insults, personal data, unrelated content). Guides cannot pay for, edit or hide reviews, and ratings are the plain average of all published reviews.
Next: Sun 8 Nov · 8 seats left From 26,00 €
Book