Caucasus Group Tour 2020

Arrival in Baku. Transfer to your hotel. Check-in at 14:00.

At 19:30, meet your guide and the group members downstairs. Enjoy welcome dinner at national restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Driving distance: 30 km

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Breakfast. At 09:00, start a guided sightseeing tour of Baku. Walk along Martyrs Lane, known as Shehidler Khiyabany among locals, and find a beautiful view overlooking Baku coastline. Move to Icheri Sheher, the old part of the city. Visit the Shirvanshahs Palace, Caravanserai, Maiden Tower, and main market square, which has numerous art studios and souvenir stalls. Finish the sightseeing tour by exploring Nizami Street and Fountain Square. After lunch, drive to Gobustan to visit the Petroglyphs Museum and explore petroglyphs dating back to 10000 BC. The Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Weather permitting, switch to a 4x4 vehicle and continue to the mud volcanoes. Gobustan is home to almost half of the worlds mud volcanoes. Return to Baku for overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 10 hours
Driving distance: 150 km B _ _ Hotel

After breakfast, drive to the Absheron Peninsula to visit Ateshgah, located in the village of Surakhany. Zoroastrians from India used to travel thousands of kilometres to Ateshgah to worship the fire coming out of the earth. Return to Baku to visit the iconic Heydar Alyev Cultural Centre, which is located in a quirky building designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Driving distance: 50 km B _ _ Hotel

At 08:30, depart Baku and drive to Sheki. On the way, stop at Diri Baba mausoleum in Maraza village. Continue to Shamakhi and have a sightseeing of historical Juma Mosque. If the weather allows, drive through Girdimanchay River canyon to visit Lahich, the 5th century quaint corner high in Caucasus mountains rich in its historic and architectural values. Lahich is an ancient village with charming cobbled sidewalks. It is famous for medieval water supply and sewage systems, as well as, traditional jewelry, copperware, carpets, pottery, daggers, and iron tools workshops. Continue driving to Sheki. Arrival in Sheki at 18:00-19:00 for overnight at the hotel.

Driving distance: 340 km

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At 08:30, after breakfast and hotel check-out, visit the colourful Sheki Bazaar. Here, you can find virtually everything you may want to eat: local fruits and berries, spices, freshly-baked bread, honey, cheeses, and Sheki sweets. Continue to the Sheki Khans Palace, which is surrounded by medieval fortress walls, and then explore the handicrafts workshops and the famous caravanserai. Depart Sheki and head towards the border with Georgia (115 km, ~2 h). Cross the border and start exploring the eastern part of Georgia, which is famous for its viticulture and winemaking traditions. Our first stop will be the Khareba Winery, near the town of Kvareli. On the way there, enjoy the picturesque landscapes of wineyards and wine-producing villages. Khareba’s unique wine cellar is located in a tunnel carved out of the rock. Originally built for military purposes, today the tunnel is used to store Kakheti’s finest wines. Enjoy a wine tour and a tasting session. Transfer to Akhasheni Wine Resort for the night, arriving at 17:30-18:00. This resort is surrounded by beautiful vineyards and offers stunning views of the Caucasus Mountains – the perfect place to take a break before continuing our journey in Georgia (we’ll stay here for two nights).
Driving distance: 180 km B _ _ Hotel

Breakfast. At 09:30, visit Tsinandali Palace, the former residence of Georgian dukes. Prince Chavchavadze, a 19th century public figure and poet, turned the Estate into what it is today, with a beautiful English-style garden, a museum, and a wine cellar. Tour the palace and take the opportunity to taste several local wines, returning to Akhasheni Wine Resort by 12:00. The rest of the day is free so you can enjoy the nature, vineyards, and outdoor swimming pool. The Resort also offers masterclasses in cooking traditional Georgian dishes, and a wine tasting room. At 18:00, visit a local family to enjoy a traditional feast and hear some wonderful Georgian toasts.
Driving distance: 60 km B _ D Hotel

Breakfast. At 10:00, continue exploring Kakheti by visiting Sighnaghi, the Royal Town and City of Love. This city, surrounded by defensive walls with 23 towers, was an important trading centre on the Great Silk Road. Continue to Bodbe Convent – according to legend, this is the burial place of St. Nino, who converted Georgia to Christianity in the 4th century. Since 1889, following a decree by Tsar Alexander III of Russia, Bodbe Convent functions as a nunnery. Arrive in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, at 16:00–17:00. Overnight at the hotel.
Driving distance: 160 km B _ _ Hotel

Breakfast, followed by a sightseeing tour of Tbilisi. Start at Metekhi Church and the monument to Vakhtang Gorgasali, the legendary founder of Tbilisi. Visit Narikala Fortress to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. Walk past Tbilisi’s only mosque, down to the sulphur bath house district. Enjoy a stroll through the Sharden area, which is full of narrow streets with cozy cafés, wine bars, and souvenir shops, and breathe in the history of Old Tbilisi. Also visit Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica, and the famous Rezo Gabriadze Theatre's clock tower, before crossing the Bridge of Peace to Rile Park. After a couple of hours at your leisure, meet the rest of the group at the hotel to go for a dinner to welcome you to Georgia (departing from the hotel by bus at 19:00). Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Driving distance: 5 km B _ _ Hotel

After breakfast, start exploring the north of Georgia. The first stop will be at Jvari Monastery, which is built on a hilltop and is a true architectural masterpiece of the early Medieval Period. From here you can enjoy the views of the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers. Continue to Mtskheta, one of the oldest towns in Georgia and the country’s cultural and religious centre. Mtskheta was the capital of the eastern Georgian Kingdom of Kartli from the 3rd century BC. Visit Svetitskhoveli, which is the main cathedral of Mtskheta and a sacred place where the robe of Christ is kept. Next, drive over the Cross Pass and make a short stop at the Soviet-era People’s Friendship viewpoint, which overlooks a deep gorge of the Caucasus mountain range. In Kazbegi, switch to a four-wheel drive vehicle to reach Gergeti Holy Trinity Church (located at an altitude of 2,170 m) and enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Kazbegi. Reach Gudauri at about 19:00 for overnight at the hotel.
Driving distance: 210 km B _ _ Hotel

Breakfast. Drive to the Ananuri architectural complex, a former residence of Argveti dukes, which features churches and towers dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries and beautifully overlooks the Jinvali Reservoir. Then explore the cave town of Uplistsikhe, which dates to the Hellenistic Period and is notable for its unique combination of various styles of rock-cut architecture, including both pagan and Christian. Continue to Stalin’s hometown of Gori. Visit the Stalin Museum, which includes more than 60,000 artifacts, the tiny house where Stalin was born, and the impressive bulletproof train that Stalin used to travel to Yalta and Potsdam. Reach Tbilisi in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours
Driving distance: 250 km B _ _ Hotel

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Breakfast. At 09:00, meet your driver at the hotel and transfer to the Georgian-Armenian border point, Sadakhlo-Bagratashen. Cross the border and meet your Armenian guide and driver to start the journey to the land of ancient traditions and the ancient churches. Drive to the Lori region and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Haghpat Monastetry. This is a stunning example of traditional Armenian architecture, erected between the 10th and 13th centuries. Standing on a hillside, Haghpat beautifully overlooks the Debed River Canyon. The monastery’s location was chosen to protect the peace and seclusion of the monks. Then drive through Dilijan to Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-mountain freshwater lakes in the world (and considered to be the “Jewel of Armenia”). The lake’s coastline is rich with dense woods, white cliff faces, mountain steppes, and Alpine meadows. Visit Sevanavank Monastery, which includes two churches – Surb Arakelots and Surb Karapet – standing among numerous khachkars. The buildings were constructed from black tuff, which probably gave the monastery its name of Sevanavank, “the Black Monastery”. Enjoy the magnificent views: the monastery is situated at the lake and is surrounded by snowcapped mountains. Continue to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, for overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours
Driving distance: 370 km B _ _ Hotel

At 10:00, start city tour in Yerevan.

One of the oldest cities of the world, Yerevan is famous as a pink city and calls visitors with its humble and at the same time splendid landscapes. Visit Cascade Monument which was the main symbol of the city’s 2780^th anniversary with the equivalent number of stairs. Mega scale staircase is 500 meters high and 50 meters wide. On the top of the monument you will enjoy breathtaking city view with Opera House, Mount Ararat, Swan Lake, Republic Square, and Abovyan Avenue, which you will also walk by during the tour. Visit the Armenian Genocide memorial complex on the hill of Tsitsernakaberd. Continue to the Holy See of Armenia, Etchmiadzin. Visit Etchmiadzin Cathedral which is the residence of the head of Armenian Apostolic Church the Catholicos of All Armenians. Return to Yerevan for overnight at hotel.

Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Driving distance: 50 km

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Breakfast. At 08:00, head to Khor Virap Monastery. According to legend, St. Gregory the Illuminator (who is credited with converting Armenia to Christianity) had been kept in the basement here for 13 years for disseminating of Christianity, until King Tradt decided to adopt the new religion. The monastery’s location allows you to enjoy superb views of Mount Ararat. Drive to the Noravank complex, which is situated on a ledge of a deep, winding gorge. Noravank stands among bizarrely shaped, precipitous red cliffs. Visit the Areni Cave complex where, in 2008, the world’s oldest leather shoe was found. On the way back to Yerevan, stop at Hin Areni winery to taste wines made from local grape varieties. Arrive in Yerevan at around 18:00. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours
Driving distance: 240 km B _ _ Hotel

At 09:00, depart Yerevan and drive to Garni, one of the major villages in Armenia famous for its fortress. The fortress is the only pagan sacred place from the 1^st century that survived aggressive introduction of Christianity in the 4^th century. Next stop is at the monastery complex Geghard (“spear”). A beautiful landscape of Geghard is framed with towering cliffs. Decorative art cut into rocks reflect and explain Medieval Ages development in this part of the world. The complex appeared in the 4^th century as a sacred spring inside the cave. Return to Yerevan. Free time.

At 19:00, enjoy farewell dinner at the traditional restaurant with folklore show program. Overnight at the hotel.

Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours

Driving distance: 80 km

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Check-out from the hotel till noon. Free time till transfer to Yerevan International Airport. End of the tour.

Driving distance: 15 km

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