Discover Georgia

Discover Georgia

One of the ancient towns in Georgia, Batumi dates from around the 3rd century BC when it was the site of a settlement known to the ancient Greeks as Batus. Ottoman Turks held the area from the 16th century to 1878 when it was passed to Russia following the Russo-Turkish war. Today Batumi is capital of the region of Adjara in the Republic of Georgia and the country’s premier port on the Black Sea.

Batumi with its subtropical vegetation and surrounded by a backdrop of forested hills is considered one of the most charming cities in Georgia. The beauty of the ‘Jewel of the Georgian Riviera’ is matched only by the captivating history of a region that had close relations with ancient Greece and Rome, spent three centuries under Turkish rule and yet has maintained its Georgian language and culture throughout.
Your first stop is Prymorsky Boulevard, which is seafront promenade popular among the locals for walking and spending time with family and friends. Among the lush, green vegetation of the area there are a number of new, modern buildings that have become an integral part of the new shape of Batumi.

Your tour then takes you to the area referred to as ‘Old Batumi’. The City-walk via Neptun Square to European Square, home of a monumental sculpture of Medea. Continue city-walk along Old Batumi to Piazza. Here you will see St Nicola’s Church. Built at the beginning of the 19th century, it was the only church where religious services were conducted during Soviet times. In front of the church charming Piazza Square is the most popular place in the city for concerts and festivals.

Proceed to Adjara State Museum that is housed in a former Treasury building. This classical, late-19th century structure features over 100,000 exhibits depicting the history, culture and life of Adjara. Visit the ground floor of the Museum before proceeding to the next sight.

This tour then continues to the Gonio Fortress. Dating from the 1st century this former Roman-Byzantine military settlement was one of the main forts along the Black Sea coast. It boasts a fascinating history that is closely connected to the myth of the Argonauts. According to the legend this is the site where King Ayet buried his son Asparas whose body was thrown into the sea by Jason. Your next stop is at the Virgin Mary Cathedral. The elegant 19th 20th century gothic-style church was converted to a Georgian Orthodox Church in 1989 and blessed as the Virgin Mary Cathedral.

Lunch served during the day will be a time-honored Georgian feast or ‘supra’. Dine on typical Georgian specialties and enjoy an unforgettable performance of Georgian folk music, songs and dances. The heart-stirring music, grace of the dancers and national costumes impress something of the true Georgian character.

Notes: A minimum participation is required to operate all Yachting Land Adventures and some have limited capacity. Order of sights visited may vary. Photo and video are not allowed inside Church and Cathedral. In order to visit St. Nickola’s Church and Virgin Mary Cathedral ladies need to cover their heads, no shorts and heeled shoes are allowed. The skirt is obligatory for ladies to enter St. Nickola’s Church. All adventures and prices in the SeaDream Yachting Land Adventures program are subject to change. Not all of the land adventures shown will be offered on all voyages and departure times are subject to change. Final pricing and departures times will be published onboard.

Port: Batumi

Duration: 6 hours

Current Price: 159 USD