Trip to Batumi

Dear WMA Associate Members (including Junior Doctors and Former Presidents and Chairs),
After the meeting of the General Assembly in Tbilisi, Georgia, join us for a very reasonably
priced trip from October 27 through October, 30, 2019. For no more than $700 per person
(actual final price will be determined by the number of participants), we will see the city of
Batumi. Here are the details.
Day 1 – 27 October (SUN): Tbilisi – Batumi
Transfer from the Sheraton Tbilisi Metechi Palace Hotel (General Assembly Hotel) to Tbilisi
railway station. Depart to Batumi at 08:00. Arrival in Batumi at 13:00. Pick up from Batumi
railway station. Transfer to our hotel for check in and luggage drop. After a short rest, we have a
sightseeing city tour to Batumi. We will visit Batumi boulevard with its renovated streets and
unique architecture, Chacha tower, Ali and Nino Statues and Europe square. Then off to Batumi
delphinium and Botanical garden located on Green Cape with amazing views on the Black Sea.
Established in 1880, it is the biggest and the oldest botanical garden in South Caucasus, and
hosts an incredible collection of more than 2000 tree species. We will return to the hotel in time
for dinner. Overnight in Batumi. Our hotel will be one of four depending on the number of
people and room availability (Sheraton Batumi, Divan Suites, Colosseum Hotel, Wyndham
Hotel).
Day 2 – 28 October (MON): Batumi – Makhuntseti Waterfall – Batumi
At 10:00, we will depart Batumi and visit Gonio fortress, the oldest fortress in Georgia.
According to the legend this was the place where Apsyrtus, King Aet’s son, killed by Jason, was
buried in Gonio. We continue to Makhuntseti Waterfalls. In the afternoon we are driven back to
Batumi returning to our hotel in the late afternoon.
Day 3 – 29 October (TUE): Batumi – Petra fortress – Shekvetili – Batumi
At 10:00, we depart Batumi and visit Petra Fortress with green gardens beautifully overlooking
the Black Sea. Then we drive to Shekvetili village to visit the newly created Park of Miniatures.
Here we find miniature models of important Georgian sights, leaving us with a better
understanding of Georgia’s historic context and culture.. Then a drive back to Batumi to our
hotel in the mid-afternoon.
Day 4 – 30 October (WED): Batumi – Tbilisi
At 06:30 transfer to Batumi railway station. We board the Stadler train towards Tbilisi at 07:55.
After our arrival in Tbilisi at 12:50. We will transfer to Tbilisi international airport. We will
reach the airport at about 13:00 and it is probably safest to book flights home no earlier than
15:00.
Some more details about the trip. We will have our own English speaking guide throughout the
trip. Transfers will be by a comfortable touring bus. For those traveling alone and needing their
own room, the price will increase by $235 for a single supplement.
Tour
includes:
1. All transfers by bus;
2. Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
3. Sightseeing tour program with English speaking guide;
4. Entrance tickets to sights as per itinerary;
5. Bottled water during the tour;
6. First class tickets on Tbilisi – Batumi – Tbilisi train.
Tour does
not include: 1. Additional hotel expenses;
2. Personal expenses;
3. Full board (meals during the tour);
To join the trip, 1) complete the attached application form, 2) attached a scanned copy of the ID
page in the passport for each traveler, and 3) send both to agermanashvili@advantour.com.
When Mr. Avtandil Germanashvili receives these documents, he will send you a secure payment
link for your $100 per person deposit. This non-refundable deposit is required no later than June
30, 2019.
Final payment will be due on August 30, 2019.
This will be an opportunity to see a little more of Georgia, enjoy some relaxation, and get to
know each other better. I hope you can join us. The more the merrier!
All the best,
Joe Heyman, Chair