Caucasus Discovery, Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia

Arrive in Baku. Meet at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Mercure in Baku
• Tourist Class: Central Park in Baku
Meals Included: Dinner

In the morning, we start Baku city tour: we visit the old City: Shemakha gate, Shirvanshakhs’ Palace, Maiden Tower, Caravan Saray, old market square, Carpet Museum. Afterward, we tour the Absheron Peninsula and visit Ateshgah fire temple, Mardakan medieval fortress, Yanardagh Fire Mountain.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Mercure in Baku
• Tourist Class: Central Park in Baku
Meals Included: Breakfast – Dinner

Drive to Gobustan. Visit Gobustan rock paintings museum in the open air (UNESCO) & onsite archaeological museum. En-route photo-stop at the old oil rigs.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Mercure in Baku
• Tourist Class: Central Park in Baku
Meals Included: Breakfast –Dinner

Leaving Baku, depart for the Caucasus Mountains in the northwest of Azerbaijan. The dry landscape gives way to a densely forested mountain area. En-route visit to active mud volcanoes site, Diri Baba shrine in Maraza; Yeddi Gumbez tomb and Juma mosque in Shemakha. Arrive in Sheki, visit local craft workshop where famous “Shebeke” handmade vitrages are produced and well-known Sheki Khans Palace with its magnificent frescoes and stained glass.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Macara in Sheki
• Tourist Class: Macara in Sheki
Meals Included: Breakfast – Dinner

Breakfast at a hotel. We visit traditional bazaar and then drive to the border with Georgia. Change guide and transport. Start exploring Georgia from Kakheti region. We drive to visit fortified town of Sighnaghi (18th century), a town preserved in its original image and offering visitors stunning views of the surrounding Caucasus Mountains. Continue to Tsinandali and visit a local Duke Alexander Chavchavadze`s estate and the garden formed in the 19th century. The park and the house used to be the gathering place of all poets and artists of the 19th century. Arrive in Tbilisi.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Qarvasla in Tbilisi
• Tourist Class: Holiday Inn Express in Tbilisi
Meals Included: Breakfast – Dinner

Today you’ll have Tbilisi sightseeing tour. During the tour we take you to the places that will show you old city. The city offers a great variety of sights, most of them very ancient. All the places of interest in the Old Town are very close to each other, within a few minutes’ walk. We start our visit to Old Tbilisi from Metekhi Church (13th century) and then walk to the Synagogue, Sioni Cathedral (6th-7th centuries) and Anchiskhati Church (6th century). Then we drive up to Mother Georgia statue and walk down to Narikala Fortress (4th century) and Sulphur Baths, enroute enjoying views of the Old Town. Afterwards we visit the stunning treasury of the Georgian National Museum of History (closed on Mondays), before taking a stroll along Rustaveli Avenue – the main street in Tbilisi

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Qarvasla in Tbilisi
• Tourist Class: Holiday Inn Express in Tbilisi
Meals Included: Breakfast – Dinner

We drive to visit the ancient capital and religious centre of Georgia – Mtskheta (3000 years old) and see its historical places: Jvari church (6th century) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century) where the Robe of Christ is buried. Both Jvari and Svetitskhoveli are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Then drive to visit the town of Gori and its historical places: Uplistsikhe Cave Town (1st millennium BC) and Stalin’s Museum. Uplistsikhe is the place where the Great Silk Road used to pass. This is an old and interesting complex with dwelling quarters, wine-cellars, bakeries, a three-nave basilica church hewn out in rock and even an antic theatre. Arrive in Kutaisi (antique town more than 3000 years old).

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Grand Opera in Kutaisi
• Tourist Class: Ponte in Kutaisi
Meals Included: Breakfast – Dinner

In the morning, we visit Bagrati Cathedral (11th century), UNESCO World Heritage site and a Natural grotto (closed on Mondays), amazing with its stalagmites and stalactites. Then we get ready for the most exciting part of your trip – a journey to Svaneti, the region of the highest mountains and glaciers and the most abiding ancient traditions. Arrive in Mestia – the center of Upper Svaneti.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Posta in Mestia
• Tourist Class: Mestia Inn in Mestia
Meals Included: Breakfast – Dinner

A three-hour drive will take us to the highest permanent village in Europe – Ushguli (2200m). Ushguli, and generally the whole Upper Svaneti region, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The village is most famous for its abundance of watchtowers and this is where you get the view of the highest mountain in Georgia – Mt. Shkhara (5068m). Walk around the village and visit Lamaria Church (12th century). Afterwards we drive back to Mestia.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Posta in Mestia
• Tourist Class: Mestia Inn in Mestia
Meals Included: Breakfast – Dinner

In the morning, we drive back to Kutaisi. We visit Gelati Cathedral (12th century) – one of the earliest academies in Europe a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Grand Opera in Kutaisi
• Tourist Class: Ponte in Kutaisi
Meals Included: Breakfast – Dinner

In the morning, we visit local farmers’ market. Then drive towards South-Western part of Georgia. Visit beautiful Sapara Monastery (9th century). Arrive in Akhaltsikhe and visit multicultural complex of Rabat (closed on Mondays).

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Gino Wellness in Akhaltsikhe
• Tourist Class: Akhaltsikhe Inn in Akhaltsikhe
Meals Included: Breakfast – Dinner

In the morning, we travel to Vardzia. On the way visit Khertvisi fortress (10th century). The magnificent cave town – Vardzia (12th century) is one of the highlights of the trip. It stretches over half a kilometer along the river Mtkvari and has 19 tiers. There used to be about 3000 caves. Its church is hewn out in rock with amazing 12th century frescos. The complex also includes dwellings quarters, small hall-type churches, refectories, wine cellars, pharmacy, etc. Afterwards drive to Georgia-Armenia border (Bavra). Change guide and transportation. Start your acquaintance with Armenia. Drive to Gyumri.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Victoria Plaza in Gyumri
• Tourist Class: Alexandropol in Gyumri
Meals Included: Breakfast – Dinner

After breakfast start tour in Gyumri – the second largest city of Armenia. Drive back to Yerevan. The road leads toward an excellent early church called Talin village in which there are the impressive remains of an important cathedral church of the 7th century. The village of Aruch is one of the oldest settlements of Armenia. Aruch and its environs are rich with historical- architectural monuments; burial-vaults from Bronze Age, temples, palaces, fortresses, khachkars, etc. The temple of Aruch (7th century A.D) is one of the most important medieval Armenian architectural constructions. Drive to Yerevan. Welcome dinner in a local restaurant.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Historic or Republica in Yerevan
• Tourist Class: Ani Central Inn in Yerevan
Meals Included: Breakfast – Dinner

In the morning after breakfast start city tour around Yerevan visiting Mother Armenia Monument. Visit Tsitsernakaberd Memorial and the Museum of Victims of Genocide. Proceed to Echmiadzin which is mere 20 km from Yerevan. Etchmiadzin Cathedral is known as the center of the Armenian Church and appears to be one of the worlds`s first Christian State churches. Legend has it that it was here that Jesus Christ descended from heaven to show where he wanted a church built. So Echmiadzin means “The only-begotten descended”. The Church was built between the years 301 – 303 AD under the Armenian king Tiridates III and the first Armenian Catholics, St. Gregory the Illuminator. **Opportunity to have lunch in a local community tasting homemade dishes and a visit to the local Art School. Drive to the capital of Armenia – Yerevan with a stop at the ruins of Zvartnots Temple (7th c.). Optional visit to Brandy Factory* (12USD p/p).

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Historic or Republica in Yerevan
• Tourist Class: Ani Central Inn in Yerevan
Meals Included: Breakfast – Dinner

Sightseeing tour to Khor-Virap monastery (4-17th century). 45 km from Yerevan, the monastery of Khor-Virap has a very rich history, both religious and secular. It is situated in the Ararat valley against the biblical Ararat Mountain, were Noah`s Ark cast anchor. Continue tour to Noravank monastery – a great religious and cultural centre of 12th c. On the way visit Areni wine factory to taste local wine made from special sorts of vines. Noravank (“New Monastery”) is 122 km away from Yerevan and is located in a remote location surrounded by stunning nature. The oldest structure of the monastery is the church of St. Karapet (9-10th century) has not survived. The principal church is known as St. Karapet as well, which was built in the 13th c. The church has an atrium, which was rebuilt by the famous architect and sculptor Momik and is decorated with bas-reliefs of religious themes. **Opportunity to have lunch in a local cave cafe. Drive back to Yerevan.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Historic or Republica in Yerevan
• Tourist Class: Ani Central Inn in Yerevan
Meals Included: Breakfast – Dinner

As the first Christian nation, Armenia is home to countless ancient churches and monasteries, all in locations of of positive and mysterious energy. The smallest pan-Armenian church of Karmravour (7th c) in Ashtarak, one of Aremenia’s most ancient cities, will be the first stop of the day. Drive to the Fortress of Amberd* (9th century) located halfway up Mt. Aragats, at the height of 2300m. The fortress stands on a rocky cape. There are also vestiges of a fortified three storied palace, a church built in 1026, a palace bathhouse with two domes, a central heating system, water tanks, a water-supply system, and a secret passage to a nearby cleft, and other buildings. Drive to the village of Saghmossavank. Visit
Saghmosavank medieval monastery, situated in the breathtaking site, at the deep canyon of Ashtarak. Drive back to Yerevan.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Historic or Republica in Yerevan
• Tourist Class: Ani Central Inn in Yerevan
Meals Included: Breakfast – Dinner

After breakfast, depart for Garni Temple. The citadel and pagan temple of Garni is a picturesque monument of the Hellenistic period and an impressive piece of ancient Armenian architecture. It was built in the first century A.D. **Opportunity to have lunch at a local house in Garni where you will have opportunity to watch Armenian national bread “lavash” baking and barbeque making process in the underground stove called “tonir”. Northeast of Garni, higher up the gorge of the Azat River, there is a magnificent monument of medieval Armenian architecture – Geghard monastery inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list. Drive to Lake Sevan. Lake Sevan is the largest lake in Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is one of the largest fresh-water high-altitude lakes in the world. Here we will visit Sevanavank. Sevanavank is a monastic complex located on a peninsula at the north western shore of Lake Sevan. Sevanavank is an amazing monastic complex of 9th century. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant with live Armenian Folk music.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Historic or Republica in Yerevan
• Tourist Class: Ani Central Inn in Yerevan
Meals Included: Breakfast – Dinner

Our service will end with airport transfer.

Meals Included: Breakfast