# Gelati, Motsameta and Tskaltubo — Kings, Saints and Soviet Spas

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- Canonical: https://gtour.ge/tour/gelati-motsameta-tskaltubo-from-kutaisi/
- Author: 
- Published: 2026-10-27
- Updated: 2026-10-27
- Language: en
- Russian edition: https://gtour.ge/ru/tour/gelati-motsameta-tskaltubo-from-kutaisi/

€165 per person7 hoursPrivate · car & English-speaking guideBased on two travellers

Gelati's golden mosaics, Motsameta's cliffside saints and [Tskaltubo](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tskaltubo/)'s crumbling Soviet spas, three faces of Imereti in one day from [Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/).

The route

[Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/)[Tskaltubo](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tskaltubo/)

Why this tour

- —Gelati monastery (1106), UNESCO-listed, still an active teaching centre with its original mosaics in the main church

- —Motsameta sits on a river gorge outcrop, a short walk from the car park with views over the Tskaltsitela canyon

- —[Tskaltubo](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tskaltubo/)'s abandoned sanatoria show Soviet spa architecture up close, with working bathhouses still open nearby

- —Bagrati cathedral in [Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/), rebuilt after 2012 restoration, overlooks the Rioni river and old town

- —[Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/)'s covered market for Imeretian cheese, churchkhela and spices before or after lunch

- —Small-group private car and driver-guide, no fixed departure times to match

Itinerary

08:30Pickup in [Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/), drive about 20 minutes to Gelati monastery to see the 12th-century cathedral and its mosaics (restoration scaffolding may cover sections, checked at booking).

10:00Short drive to Motsameta monastery, perched on a cliff above the Tskaltsitela river gorge, a 10-minute walk from parking.

11:00Return toward [Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/), stop at Bagrati cathedral for views over the old town and the Rioni river.

12:30Lunch in [Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/), Imeretian specialities such as khachapuri and lobio (lunch cost not included, checked at booking).

14:00Drive 25 minutes to [Tskaltubo](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tskaltubo/), walk through several abandoned Soviet-era sanatoria and see the still-functioning mineral bathhouses.

15:30Optional stop at [Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/)'s covered market for local produce and souvenirs.

16:30Return to your [Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/) hotel, end of tour.

Included

- ✓ Private car with English-speaking driver

- ✓ Licensed guide for the full day

- ✓ All transport between sites

- ✓ Hotel pickup and drop-off in Kutaisi

- ✓ Bottled water in the car

Not included

- — Lunch and personal expenses

- — Entrance fees where applicable (Tskaltubo bathhouse entry, checked at booking)

- — Tips

- — Travel insurance

Good to know

- · Comfortable walking shoes recommended, Motsameta involves uneven stone paths and some steps

- · Modest dress required at Gelati and Motsameta, shoulders and knees covered, scarves available on request

- · Gelati's main church may have partial scaffolding due to ongoing conservation work

- · [Tskaltubo](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tskaltubo/)'s abandoned buildings have uneven floors and no lighting, entry is at your own risk and some sections may be closed

- · Roads are paved and in good condition, drive times given are approximate and can lengthen in poor weather

- · Bring cash in GEL for market purchases and optional entrance fees

Questions

**Is Gelati monastery still an active religious site?**
Yes, it functions as a working monastery and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so modest dress is expected.

**Can we go inside the Tskaltubo sanatoriums?**
Several buildings allow walk-in access and others are fenced off or unsafe; your guide will indicate which are open on the day, checked at booking.

**Is this tour suitable for travellers with limited mobility?**
Motsameta and parts of [Tskaltubo](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tskaltubo/) involve uneven ground and some steps, so it is better suited to travellers comfortable walking for short stretches.

**Do we need to book entrance tickets in advance?**
No advance booking required for Gelati, Motsameta or Bagrati; [Tskaltubo](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tskaltubo/) bathhouse entry fees, if any, are paid on site.

Prices are per person for two travelling together, in euros; solo travellers and larger groups are quoted on request. Every departure is private and adjusted to you. Hotels, wineries and restaurants on our routes are [verified by GTour](/verified/).

*Image: Motsameta Monastery perches on a cliff above the Tskaltsitela gorge near Kutaisi. Photo: Alexkom000 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0*

*Image: A grand Soviet-era sanatorium stands abandoned amid overgrown gardens in the spa town of Tskaltubo. Photo: Yarkolp / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0*

The UNESCO-listed Gelati Monastery, founded by King David the Builder, crowns its green hillside. · Photo: Ihor Burliai / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0