b'CRETE & SANTORINI Scan hereENIGMATIC GEORGIAScan here THE LOST WORLD OF THE MINOANS for the fullfor the full itinerary CAUCASUS CULTURE AND ARCHAEOLOGY itinerary1724 October 2025 Historical Background 19 June02 July 2025 Historical Background8 days The lost world of the Minoans has intrigued people for thousands of years. Expert Historian: Europes first great civilisation, an advanced society of artisans and skilled13 days Georgias history has a length and breadth that many countries cannot hope Dr. Kostas Georgakopoulos civic engineers with a maritime empire so vast it rivalled that of the ancientExpert Historian: to compete with. Initially the two kingdoms of Colchis and Iberia, Georgia was Egyptians, was inexplicably, and at the height of its power, wiped from theravaged by Alexander the Greats armies and became the setting for countless Activity Level: 2 pages of history. Ian Colvinwars between the Persians and the Byzantine Empire. The 10th13th centuries Activity Level: 2 were the Golden Age of culture and learning under the rule of King David the The predominant theory regarding the destruction of the Minoan CivilizationBuilder and his granddaughter, King Tamar. Mongol invasions and Ottoman On this tour we will explore the sites andhas been that it was provoked by something as violent and as suddenoccupation destroyed this Golden Age, making Georgia a divided nation discuss the evidence which give rise to theas the eruption of Santorini Volcano.And ever since Sir Arthur EvansGeorgia is one of the great undiscoveredcharacterised by constant wars between the Ottomans and the Persians.question: what was the Minoan civilizationdiscovered the lost Palace of King Minos in Crete, archaeologists andtourist destinations of this century. See the and what led to its demise? We travelscientists have been trying to connect the two events.In the summerfabulous monasteries and cathedrals thatInitially encouraged in the early 19th Century as a means to gain independence, to Crete, the island at the crossroads ofof 1988, however, archaeologists digging on the island of Mochlos incharacterise the landscape, history andRussian suzerainty developed into the steady annexation of Georgian regions three continents which has held such anCrete uncovered architectural and ceramic remains indicating that thesociety of this mountainous country, fromfrom the Ottomans. After a series of brutally suppressed nationalist uprisings, important role in the Mediterranean at manycivilization continued to flourish for some 150 years after the eruption inGeorgia briefly gained independence, but the refusal of membership to the the recently finished Sameba Cathedral toLeague of Nations in 1921 helped to drive the Georgians into the hands of the times, both ancient and modern. We visitabout 1600 B.C. With the new discovery, archaeologists find themselvesthe ancient Anchiskhati Basilica. Witness the extensive heritage of this fascinatingsearching for an alternative explanation for the sudden fall of the MinoanSoviets. Georgia declared independence in April 1991 after the fall of the USSR, the steadfast forts of Nokalakevi, believedbeginning a long process of protests, including the Rose Revolution of 2003.island, prized by major powers from thecivilization around 1450 B.C. If the Theran volcano was not to blame, whatto be where Jason and the Argonauts stole third millennium BC, through the cultures ofthen did bring about the fall of the Minoans? the Golden Fleece and Khertvisi, destroyed Minoans, Mycenaeans, Romans, Byzantines,by Alexander the Great and rebuilt in the Venetians, and Ottomans. 10th Century. Climb through the cave cities We also cross to the spectacular island ofof Uplistsikhe and Vardzia, once the refuge Thira (Santorini), with its important Bronzeof whole nations now the home of fabulous Age, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine sites,frescoes and wall carvings. Discover the set in truly stunning volcanic scenery, andisolated medieval communities of Svaneti so central to the mystery of the Minoans.and their curious tower houses and wander the vibrant streets of Tbilisi and Kutaisi.Like the delicious Georgian wine this is a country to be savoured.Day 0 . Fly London to Tbilisi overnight. Day 1 Tbilisi. Rest time. Afternoon walking tour of old town, National HistoryMuseum. Hotel in Tbilisi1 night. (B, D)Day 2 Mtskheta. Jvari monastery, Bagineti (Armaztsikhe), Mtskheta,Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Sighnaghi. Hotel in Kakheti1 night. (B, L, D)Day 3 . Kakheti Province. Gremi, Alaverdi Monastery, Telavi, Chavchavadzeestate museum. Hotel in Tbilisi1 night. (B, L, D)Day 4 Kazbegi. Drive Georgian Military Road to Stepantsminda, GerghetiSameba. Hotel in Stepantsminda1 night. (B, L, D)Day 5 Gori and Uplistsikhe. Gori, Stalin Museum, Uplistsikhe. Hotel in Kutaisi 1 night. (B, L, D)Day 1 Fly London to Heraklion or make your own arrangements to join the Day 6 . Svaneti Province. Kutaisi citadel, Bagrati Cathedral, Svaneti, Laghami. tour at the hotel. Transfer to our hotel in Heraklion for five nights.Hotel in Mestia2 nights. (B, L, D)Day 2 Messara Museum, Phaistos and Agia Traida. Return to Heraklion. (B,L,D) Day 7 Svaneti Province. Ushguli, Lamaria Church, Mestia Museum of History Day 3 Day trip to Santorini by catamaran. Akrotiri, Thira Prehistoric Museum. (B,D)and Ethnography. (B, L, D)Day 4 Minoan tombs at Fourni, walking tour of Archanes, Archanes Day 8 . Samegrelo Province. Dadiani Palace museum, Nokalakevi fortress and Archaeological Museum. (B,D)archaeological site. Hotel in Kutaisi1 night. (B, L, D)Day 5 Knossos, Heraklion Archaeological Museum, walking tour of historic Day 9 . Kutaisi. Gelati Monastery, Akhaltsikhe, through Mtkvari River gorge, Heraklion. (B,D)Atskhuri. Hotel in Akhaltsikhe1 night. (B, L, D)ESSENTIALS Day 6 . Malia, boat trip to Spinalonga (weather permitting). Hotel in EloundaESSENTIALS Day 10 Akhaltsiskhe, Khertvisi and Vardzia. Akhaltsikhe. Hotel in Vardzia4-star hotels, meals as indicated,1 night. (B,D) Best available hotels, meals as indicated, 1 night. (B, L, D)drinks with dinner, all entrance fees,Day 7 Gournia and Mochlos, incl. boat trip to Mochlos island (weather permitting).drinks with dinner, all entrance fees,Day 11 . Drive to Tbilisi through Javakheti. Hotel in Tbilisi2 nights. (B, L, D)tour manager and expert historianReturn to Heraklion. Hotel in Heraklion - 1 night. (B,L,D) tour manager and expert historianDay 12 Full day in Tbilisi. Fine Art Museum, National Gallery on Rustaveli and throughout, all internal travel, Day 8 . Tylissos, return flight to London or perhaps extend your stay in Greece. (B) throughout, all internal travel, optional the Sameba Cathedral. Free time. (B, D)optional travel from UK. travel from UK. Day 13 Fly Tbilisi to London. (B)22 www.theculturalexperience.com I info@theculturalexperience.com I UK0345 475 1815 I USA(toll-free) 877 209 5620 www.theculturalexperience.com I info@theculturalexperience.com I UK0345 475 1815 I USA(toll-free) 877 209 5620 23'