Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia

Day 1 – Arrival in Azerbaijan
On arrival at Baku Heydar Aliyev Airport, you will be met by our representative and then transfer to the hotel to begin your Caucasus tour.
Overnight at City Park Hotel or similar

Day 2 - Baku
After breakfast, we drive to Gobustan rock paintings in the open-air UNESCO Heritage site which is situated in 65km from Baku. The museum is opened on the base of one of the ancient settlements of neolith period. Then we drive to visit an active mud volcano plateau located about 12km from the museum. This does depend on the weather conditions. We will then return to Baku and begin a tour of the city. We visit Martyrs` Alley and enjoy a panoramic view of Baku Bay. We will take the funicular ride (if it is operating – Baku can get very windy!). Our tour continues with a visit to the famous Icheri Shekher (Inner town) with its historical buildings and narrow lanes. Upon entering the town, we visit the Palace of Shirvanshakhs (14-17 CC), the residence of one of the most powerful dynasties in the history of Azerbaijan. Our tour continues as we walk to a medieval caravanserai that was one of the main stops for caravans travelling along the ancient Silk Road. Our day ends with a visit to the charming Maiden Tower (outside view) the symbol of city of Baku.
Overnight at City Park Hotel or similar (B)

Day 3 – Shemakha and Sheki
In the early morning we will depart Baku and drive to Sheki. On the way from Baku, we will stop in Shamakha and you will get to see the historical Juma Mosque. Upon arrival in Sheki, we will visit the Sheki Khan Palace. The unique two-storied palace amazes with its magnificent interior and exterior. The facade of the palace is richly painted with drawings displaying scenes of hunting and war as well as intricate geometrical and vegetative patterns. In the centre is a huge stained-glass window. A remarkable 5,000 glass pieces were used per square metre! Other smaller windows of the palace are also made of pieces of coloured glass and covered with openwork stone lattices. We will also visit the workshop of Shebeke and Kish village to see the ancient 12th century church. Our tour stops for a tea break at a local house and we will also get to see how local bread is prepared. There may be time to visit a local khalva bakery (local sweet) and see how khalva is prepared. Get to taste some delicious fresh khalva with tea.
Overnight at Sheki Palace Hotel or similar (B)

Day 4 – The Georgian Border
In the morning, we will head to the border with Georgia, the second country on this Caucasus tour. At the Lagodekhi border, we will meet our next guide and change transport. We continue into Georgia and head to the Kakheti region, famous as a wine making area and for the peoples welcoming hospitality. On the way you may well see both snow-capped Caucasus mountains and fertile blossoming valleys. Our first stop is with a local family. Here we will have the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Georgian lunch, participate in baking Georgian bread and making Georgian sweets, Churchkhela. Afterwards, we will visit a Georgian traditional wine cellar in the village of Kondoli. The host has a special love for wine, which is reflected in the quality of the wine produced. We will taste the most distinctive, natural wine "Zhghia" which is made from the rarest and highest quality Kakhetian grapes. There are only 6000 bottles of this wine produced in a year.
Dinner and overnight at a family hotel in Telavi. (BLD)

Day 5 – Telavi Farmers Market and Gori
In the morning, we will visit a local farmers market in Telavi. Experience an authentic part of local daily life. Here you will find Georgian spices, fruits, vegetables, cheese and other natural products. We leave the market and drive through the Gombori pass to visit the ancient capital and religious centre of Georgia – Mtskheta. Here we will visit the ancient Jvari church and impressive Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. For lunch, we will stop and visit a local family, located in the suburbs of Tbilisi. We then continue to the refugee village of Tserovani, set up to house refugees fleeing from the 2008 Russia-Georgia war. Here we will visit a family, that experienced the cruelty of war, and this can be an emotional experience. Later in the day we will drive to Gori, the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. We will visit his house and the museum located here.
Overnight at Gori Inn or similar (BL)

Day 6 – Uplistsikhe, Kaspi and Stepantsminda (Kazbegi)
In the morning, we drive to visit the Uplistsikhe Cave Town. This is an old and interesting complex with dwelling quarters, wine-cellars, bakeries, a basilica church hewn out of the rock and even a theatre. Our journey continues to Kaspi, where we visit a local wine cellar, taste Georgian wine and enjoy a traditional Georgian lunch with locals. This place is a great example of how the younger generation continues the traditions left by their ancestors. Here we will learn about the history of wine making and will taste the natural wines made from unique grape varieties that were on the verge of extinction just a few years ago. Later, we drive up the Georgian military highway, a very scenic drive through the high Caucasus mountains until we reach Stepantsminda (Kazbegi), the main town in the region.
Dinner and overnight at a family hotel in Stepantsminda. (BLD)

Day 7 - Gergeti Church, Dariali Gorge and Sno Valley
On any visit to Stepantsminda, you must visit Gergeti Trinity church. Today, Gergeti is the most popular tourist destination in Georgia. With its special location and centuries-old history, it really represents the face of the country. The green slopes decorated with mountain flowers and the great Caucasus leave an unforgettable impression on the visitor. We take a morning walk up through the picturesque valleys and woodland to Gergeti Trinity Church, which is located at 2170m. Weather permitting you may catch a glimpse of one of the highest glaciers in the Caucasus – Mt Kazbegi (5054m). Kazbegi is the home of Khinkli (Georgian dumplings) and in the afternoon, we visit a local family for lunch and get to taste Khinkali. You also have the chance to learn how to make your own Khinkali! Later, we will visit a felt maker and see how Georgians have been crafting felt for centuries. The process of felt making is fascinating and the master will demonstrate how to transform wool into felt, offering you the chance to participate if you wish. We pass the Dariali gorge and enjoy its dramatic beauty and visit Sno Valley. Located in the mountains, this beautiful valley is especially attractive for wildlife lovers.
Dinner and overnight at a family hotel in Stepantsminda. (BLD)
(walking time 2,5 hours with an elevation increase of 470m)

Day 8 – Stepantsminda to Tbilisi
Today, we leave the Caucasus mountains and drive towards Tbilisi. Will explore the capital of Georgia and wander in the old districts of the city. Take a walk in the narrow streets to enjoy the colourful houses, patterned balconies and wonderful samples of modern architecture. We will start the tour from Metekhi church with magnificent views over old Tbilisi. A stroll along winding streets takes us to the main sights of the city. Afterwards, we enjoy the panoramic views of the whole town and at the ancient Narikala fortress (4th century), find ourselves in the historical domed sulphur bath area- connected with the name of the city.
Overnight at Hotel Brim or similar (B)

Day 9 - Tbilisi
Today is a free day in Tbilisi without a guide or driver service. You are free to explore the city as you wish.
Overnight at Hotel Brim or similar (B)

Day 10 – Cross the border into Armenia, Lake Sevan and Yerevan
Today we transfer to the Georgian-Armenian border at Sadakhlo, where we will change guide and transportation. Our Caucasus tour continues in Armenia as we visit the Haghpat Monastery also known as Haghpatavank. This is a medieval monastery complex built between the 10th and 13th century. Enjoy our lunch at the local restaurant before we set off to Lake Sevan, the emerald of Armenia and the second largest alpine lake in the world. There is time to admire the picturesque views of one of the highest bodies of water in the worlds before we pay a visit to the Noratous ancient cemetery, with its medieval khachkars (cross stones) dating back to 6th century.

One of the lesser known aspects of Armenian cuisine is cheese. We will visit a family run cheese farm and get acquainted with traditional techniques and methods of cheese making. You can try a special type of cheese made with wine and brandy. Located in the picturesque province of Gegharkunik, here nature meets centuries old traditions of hospitality and culinary arts. The process of making the cheese involves natural aging in old cellars. The company here is specialised in the production of wine cheese, cognac cheese, `horats` and parmesan type cheeses. We then drive to the capital city of Armenia, Yerevan, where we will have a welcome dinner at the local restaurant.
Overnight at the Ani Plaza Hotel or similar in Yerevan. (BLD)

Day 11 - Yerevan
Our tour starts from the Republic Square, the magnum opus of architect Alexander Tamanian and we continue to the Cascade Complex, an open air museum of modern art. The complex links downtown with the residential area via a massive stairways leading up to the Victory Park. This provides a fantastic overlook to the entire downtown of Yerevan. You will also see the monument to Mother Armenia standing tall in the park carefully guarding the city from above. Next, we are in the Opera House ,a remarkable example of urban architecture and a lively hub of the city. Freedom Square is just behind it, surrounded by parks and outdoor cafes which are a favourite spot to spend breezy summer evenings. We take our lunch at local restaurant.
Next up is Matenadaran, the library/depositary that is home to books, manuscripts and other relics from long bygone eras of Europe and Asia. Here you can feast your eyes upon the first copy of the Armenian Bible and the Gospels that are furnished with stunningly beautiful illustrations. We stop by the famous Yerevan Brandy Factory founded in 1887. During the International Exhibition in Paris in 1900, the brandy received the Grand Prix and the factory museum and part of the factory floor are open to visitors year round. The factory is also outfitted with a dedicated bar and a tasting room where visitors can try out some of the most exquisite cognacs in the world.
If you are looking to taste Armenian delights and delis such as dried fruits, sujukh, basturma, aromatic herbs and fresh produce Yerevan’s fruit market is the place to be. While enjoying Yerevan, you will have an opportunity to visit Aram Street, where you can watch how `Khachqars` or cross-stones are made. We end this busy but fascinating day with dinner at the local restaurant.
Overnight at the Ani Plaza Hotel or similar in Yerevan. (BLD)

Day 12 - Echmiadzin Cathedral and Alluria Wines
Today our tour will visit Echmiadzin Cathedral, one of the oldest standing churches in Christendom and considered the Mother Church of all Armenia. It was built in 303 AD over a pagan temple, symbolizing the conversion from paganism to Christianity. According to most scholars it was the first cathedral built in ancient Armenia, and is often considered the oldest cathedral in the world. Then we head to the UNESCO Heritage listed remains of Zvartnots Cathedral, the perfect example of 7th century Armenian architecture.
We will have a delicious lunch and `Dolma` making presentation before learning about the family winemaking traditions that started from a small village named Alyur (flour) situated near Van. Inspired by their family winemaking traditions over several centuries, they created Alluria wines from Armenian indigenous grape varieties grown in their own vineyards. Alluria is a small winery where the family make wines using unique techniques. We then travel to Sasunik village and a museum of the history of wine. Passing through the massive doors, referring to the Armenian epic `David of Sasun`, you go down to the rocky cellar, dug at a depth of 6.5 m in the basalt rock. It was in such cellars that wine was aged in ancient times. After returning upstairs, we will have a tasting before we drive back to Yerevan.
Overnight at the Ani Plaza Hotel or similar in Yerevan. (BLD)

Day 13 - Khor-Virap, Garni and Geghard monastery
We take a trip to Khor Virap monastery and explore its charming architecture and rich history, both religious and cultural. It is situated in the Ararat valley against the backdrop of the biblical Ararat Mountain, where Noah`s Ark is said to have cast it`s anchor. The importance of this monastery stems from its connection with Saint Gregory who introduced Christianity to Armenia, thus making Armenia the first Christian nation in the world. We proceed to the village of Garni where we will visit the citadel and pagan temple of Garni.
Lunch in a local house in Garni where you will have the opportunity to watch the Armenian national bread `lavash` being made in an underground stove called `tonir`. We then travel to Geghard monastery part of the UNESCO World Heritage list. Geghard is another incredible ancient Armenian monastery, partly carved out of a mountain. In Geghard, we will be view a `Duduk` performance before we drive back to Yerevan. There will be a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at the Ani Plaza Hotel or similar in Yerevan. (BLD)

Day 14 – Departure from Armenia
At a suitable time you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight from Yerevan at the end of a truly authentic Caucasus tour.