Take 12-Day scheduled Caucasus tour that will introduce you to the two countries of the Caucasus: Armenia & Georgia. A well-balanced itinerary encapsulates a great number of archaeological, historical & architectural monuments of ancient & medieval times as well as free time to explore capitals at ones convenience. Experience diverse nature and Caucasian cuisine that you cannot resist. You will keep memories of this beautiful countries for a lifetime.
EXPLORE THE HIDDEN GEMS OF CAUCASUS
DAY 1: ARRIVAL
DAY 2: YEREVAN CITY TOUR - ECHMIADZIN - ZVARTNOTS (B/L/-)
DAY 3 :YEREVAN - MATENADARAN - GARNI - GEGHARD - VERNISSAGE - YEREVAN (B/L/-)
DAY 4 : YEREVAN - KHOR VIRAP - TUSHPA WINERY - BIRDS CAVE - NORAVANK - KARAHUNJ - GORIS (B/L/-)
DAY 5: GORIS - KHNDZORESK - TATEV MONASTERY - JERMUK (B/L/-)
DAY 6: JERMUK - SELIM PASS - SEVAN - NORADUZ - DILIJAN (B/L/-)
DAY 7: DILIJAN - HAGHPAT - AKHTALA - TBILISI (B/L/-)
DAY 8: TBILISI CITY TOUR (B/L/-)
DAY 9: TBILISI - TELAVI - ALAVERDI - KVARELI - TBILISI (B/L/-)
DAY 10: TBILISI - ANANURI - KAZBEGUI - TBILISI (B/L/-)
DAY 11: TBILISI - MTSKHETA - UPLISTSIKHE - GORI - TBILISI (B/L/-)
DAY 12: DEPARTURE
DAY 1: ARRIVAL
Arrival to the Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan. Transfer & check into your hotel.
DAY 2: YEREVAN CITY TOUR - ECHMIADZIN - ZVARTNOTS
Starting a city tour with your guide. During the city tour, you will see the most beautiful sights in Yerevan.
Republic square, the heart of Yerevan, the base of the General Plan of Yerevan designed in 1924-1936 by architect Tamanyan.
Cascade Monument, one of the most famous landmarks of Yerevan, the Cafesjian Museum of Modern Arts.
Genocide memorial “Tsitsernakaberd” to get closer to one of the saddest pages of the Armenian history.
Lunch in Armenian local restaurant.
Echmiadzin Cathedral - the religious center for all the Armenian. Armenia was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301 (UNESCO).
The ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral one of the medieval Armenian cathedrals built in the 7th century (UNESCO).
Return to Yerevan.
DAY 3: YEREVAN - MATENADARAN - GARNI - GEGHARD - VERNISSAGE - YEREVAN
In the morning visit Matenadaran, the world's largest repository of ancient manuscripts.
Drive to Kotayk region. Visit Geghard Monastery. According to tradition Geghard was founded by Saint Gregory in the 4th century on the site of a sacred spring. The current constructions of the monastery, which are partially excavated in the rock, date from the 13th century (UNESCO).
Next stop is Garni Temple. It’s the only preserved pagan temple in the entire territory of the Caucasus. The construction dates back to the second half of the 1st century and was dedicated to the Sun God.
Enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant in the Garni village & participate in the procedure of baking Armenian national bread lavash (UNESCO).
Return to Yerevan & visit Vernissage, a large open-air exhibition-market in Yerevan, where you will find anything and everything.
DAY 4: YEREVAN - KHOR VIRAP - TUSHPA WINERY - BIRDS CAVE - NORAVANK - KARAHUNJ - GORIS
Depart from Yerevan. Drive to the Khor Virap Monastery, located at the foot of the biblical Mount Ararat, the greatest symbol of Armenia.
Tushpa Winery, one of Armenia’s main attractions for connoisseurs of vintage wines.
Noravank Monastery, considered one of the jewels of Armenian architecture, located in an impressive canyon.
Lunch in Armenian local restaurant.
Birds’ Cave which was inhabited in different epochs by ancient civilizations. One of the valuable findings was the oldest shoe in the world (5500 years).
Karahunj, one of the oldest observatories in the world.
Arrive in Goris & check into your hotel. The most peculiar feature of Goris is the uniquely styled one-two storey houses, with stone fences & arched gates.
DAY 5: GORIS - TATEV MONASTERY - KHNDZORESK - JERMUK
In the morning we will visit Tatev Monastery, the gem of Armenian architecture. It was founded in the 9th century. We are going to take cable car Wings of Tatev which is the longest reversible cableway in the world (5752 m), recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.
Khndzoresk, historical cave village, located on the steep slope of a gorge. It consists of natural and manmade caves.
Lunch in Armenian local restaurant.
Arrive in Jermuk & check into your hotel. Spend the evening exploring spa town Jermuk.
DAY 6: JERMUK - SELIM PASS - SEVAN - NORADUZ - DILIJAN
Drive to Selim Pass. Visit Caravanserai of Selim, built in 14th Century, located at an altitude of 2410 meters above sea level. It was one of the major points of Armenian Silk Road.
Noraduz Cementery, famous for its intricately carved khachkars-Armenian cross-stone (UNESCO)
Lunch in Armenian local restaurant.
Visiting Sevanavank. The monastery is made up of two churches dating back to the 9th century, located on the peninsula of Lake Sevan which was an island. From the peninsula, there is a beautiful view of Lake Sevan, which is the jewel of Armenia and the second highest freshwater lake in the world.
Arrive in Dilijan & check into your hotel. Spend the evening exploring spa town Dilijan.
DAY 7: DILIJAN - HAGHPAT - AKHTALA - TBILISI
Drive to Haghpat Monastery, built in the 10th through 13th centuries (UNESCO)
Lunch in Armenian local restaurant.
Akhtala Monastery, one of the unique monuments of Christian history in the Caucasus (10th century).
Transfer to the Armenian-Georgian border point, Bagratashen-Sadakhlo. Cross the border & meet your Georgian guide and driver.
Arrive in Tbilisi & check into your hotel.
DAY 8: TBILISI CITY TOUR
Starting a city tour with your guide. During the city tour, you will see the most beautiful sights in Tbilisi.
Metekhi Church, situated on the cliff plateau above the Mtkvari River. Legend has it that the first royal palace of Tbilisi was built here.
Kartlis Deda or the statue of Mother of Georgia, was erected on the top of Sololaki hill next to the Narikala Fortress in 1958, the year Tbilisi celebrated its 1500th anniversary.
Lunch in Georgian local restaurant.
Narikala Fortress is the most known and ancient monument of Tbilisi 's antiquity. The townspeople call it “the heart and soul of the city”. The date of construction of the fortress is the 4 th century AD.
Sulfur baths district became an integral part of Tbilisi's urban landscape, with bathhouses built around the springs in the Abanotubani district.
DAY 9: TBILISI - TELAVI - ALAVERDI - KVARELI - TBILISI
Telavi, located in the heart of Kakheti, the historical area of eastern Georgia.
Alaverdi, one of the first monasteries established in Georgia in VI century.
Lunch in Georgian local restaurant.
Visit the ancient tunnel in Kvareli & enjoy tastes and aromas of Georgian wine.
DAY 10: TBILISI - ANANURI - KAZBEGUI - TBILISI
Ananuri, one of the hundreds of Georgian medieval castles.
Lunch in Georgian local restaurant.
Drive to Mount Kazbegui & visit Gergeti Trinity Church. It was built in the 14th century, in Kazbegi, near village Gergeti, situated at 2200 meters above sea level
DAY 11: TBILISI - MTSKHETA - UPLISTSIKHE - GORI - TBILISI
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, one of the major Orthodox Georgian temples (XI c).
The ancient fortified city Uplistsikhe, cut inside the volcanic rocks of the Kvernaki ridge.
Lunch in Georgian local restaurant.
Continue to Stalin’s hometown of Gori. Visit the Stalin Museum.
DAY 12: DEPARTURE
According to the flight time, transfer to the airport.
Have a nice flight!
Transfers: airport-hotel-airport
3 x overnights in 4* hotel (Double/Twin rooms) in Yerevan
1 x overnight at the hotel (Double/Twin rooms) in Goris
1 x overnight at the hotel (Double/Twin rooms) in Jermuk
1 x overnight at the hotel (Double/Twin rooms) in Dilijan
5 x overnight at the hotel (Double/Twin rooms) in Tbilisi
Comfortable transportation according to the program
Professional Foreign language-speaking guide during the program
Entrance fees
Wings of Tatev ropeway ticket
All breakfasts and lunches
Lavash baking master class
Wine degustation in Armenia and Georgia
One bottle of water per person per day
Our assistance 24/7
Flight tickets and visa fee
Dinners
Alcoholic beverages
Insurance
Services, not mentioned in the inclusions