Tour to Caucasus: Georgia, Azerbaijan & Armenia
Day 1 | Baku (//D)
— Arrival to Baku
— English/French/German speaking guide meets the group at the airport
— Transfer to the city centre
— Check in the hotel
Day 2 | Baku (B/L/D)
— Breakfast at the hotel.
— Baku city tour: “Shirvanshahs’ Palace” (XV c. under UNESCO protection), ancient quarter mosques (Mohammad’s mosque – XI c.), bath, fragments of residential buildings, “Market Square”, “Bukhara” caravanserai (XVI c.), “Multani” (XIV c.), “Gyz Galasi” (Maiden Tower) – the oldest construction of Baku under UNESCO protection
— Lunch in national restaurant
— Sightseeing tour “Land of fires”: “Atashgah” Fire- Worshippers’ Temple in Surakhany settlement (XVII c.), survey of the oldest oil fields in Balakhani settlement (XIX- XX c.), visiting “Yanardag”natural reserve (natural gas exit)
— Return to Baku
— Dinner in national restaurant
Day 3 | Baku-Sheki (B/L/D)
— Breakfast at the hotel
— Check out the hotel. Departure to Sheki city
— Lunch on the way in local restaurant
— Continuation of the trip to Sheki via Gebele Nich settlement (Medieval Christian temple of Caucausian Albania -Chotari church after reconstruction VII-XIV c.c.)
— Arrival in Sheki
— Sheki city tour: Panoramic view of Sheki city from the mountain, Survey of fortifications and caravanserais in the Old city (XVII-XIX c.c.), Visiting “Sheki Khan’s palace”-XVIII c. under UNESCO protection, Acquaintance with works of handicraftsmen on manufacture of stained-glass windows -“shebaka” (network) in their workshops
— Dinner in the local restaurant with Azerbaijan traditional cuisine
— Check in the hotel
Day 4 | Sheki-Lagodekhi-Gremi-Telavi (B/L/D)
— Breakfast at the hotel
— Check out the hotel. Departure to Lagodekhi
— Arrive to Lagodekhi – border between Georgia and Azerbaijan. Explore Kakheti province which is known as a birthplace of wine and cradle of viniculture
— Visit Gremi Architectural Complex. The architectural ensemble of Gremi in the look that it has up to present day was built in the 16th century in the times of King Levan of Kakheti, who announced Gremi the capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti. By order of Levan, a castle and churches were constructed on a small mountain and a rich trading town appeared at the foot of the mountain with a population of over 100 000 people. Levan’s rule was peaceful, thus the Kingdom of Kakheti had reached economic growth and became stronger during his time. Some historic sources note that one branch of the legendary Silk Road was going through Gremi that more or less favoured the welfare growth. Alas, Gremi lasted only one and half century. In the beginning of the 17th century it was razed to the ground by the armies of Shah Abbas I of Persia. The city could not fully recover and by the middle of the 17th century Kings of Kakheti moved the capital to Telavi
— Lunch at the restaurant
— Arrive to Telavi – and administrative center of the province. Visit locals’ winery. Guests will participate in Georgian bread “lavashi” baking process, traditional sweets “churchkhela” making and local barbeque “mtsvadi” making
— Dinner at locals’ house
— Check in the hotel
Day 5 | Telavi-Tsinandali-Bodbe-Sighnaghi-Tbilisi (B/L/D)
— Breakfast at the hotel
— Check out the hotel. Departure to Tsinandali
— Visit residence of one of the most beloved and notable Georgian families – princes Chavchavadze – XIX c. residence of legendary figure Alexander Chavchavadze consists of summer home, garden and winery featuring several vintages of white vine
— Visit Monastery of Bodbe which is burial site of St. Nino who brought Christianity to Georgia
— Lunch on the way
— Continue road to royal Sighnaghi – a small town located on a hilltop providing beautiful views of Alazani river valley and the Caucasus Mountain Range. Sighnaghi is surrounded by XVIII c. fortified wall – the longest one of existing fortifications in Georgia
— Dinner at a local restaurant in Tbilisi with traditional show
— Check in the hotel
Day 6 | Tbilisi (B/L/D)
— Breakfast at the hotel
— Tbilisi city tour. A blend of cultures, a smell of spices, different ethnic groups meeting on street corners, different faiths sharing the same courtyards…this is Tbilisi, the city that has been dominated by traders, warriors, tyrants and dictators in turn. Take a walk around the Old Town and breathe in the living past. Visit its bustling markets, the ancient Sulphur baths, and its magnificent churches. Gain a feel for the crossroads of the Caucasus. Tbilisi – a town which conquers you with increasing fascination and lodges in your heart forever. Sightseeing tour of Tbilisi including: Metekhi church (12th-13th cc) – cross cupola church, part of the Royal residential complex; Sulphur baths (“Abanotubani”) – favourite place of Tbilisi citizens and foreign guests; Narikala Fortress – the 4th c main citadel of the city, which overlooks the oldest part of Tbilisi, Meidan Square, Sharden Street, Rustaveli Avenue and Freedom Square
— Lunch at the restaurant
— Free time at the city centre
— Dinner at the restaurant
Day 7 | Tbilisi-Mtskheta-Ananuri-Stepantsminda-Gudauri (B/L/D)
— Breakfast at the hotel
— Check out the hotel and transfer to Mtskheta
— Visit Mtskheta – an ancient capital of Georgia (UNESCO Heritage Site). Explore Jvari Monastery situated on the top of the hill overlooking the old Capital, Jvari Church is a unique example of early Christian Architecture. It was built on the site where one of the first Christian crosses in Georgia was erected. Explore Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
— Lunch at the restaurant
— Transfer to Ananuri. Ananuri is found in the same-name village on the Georgian Military Road, 64 km from Tbilisi, and 12 km from Zhinvali. The fortress was built in the valley between the two rivers of Aragvi and Vedzatkhevi, so that no enemy army could pass by unnoticed, but found themselves caught in a natural “gate“, formed by nature itself, at gunpoint of the defenders. In the XVI – early XIX centuries, Ananuri was the main stronghold on the way from Daryal Valley to Dusheti and from Russia to Georgia. It played a critical role in numerous wars between local feudal princes – eristavis, and in the course of its history was never carried by storm
— Arrive Stepantsminda and visit Gergety Holy Trinity Church located located under the Mount Kazbek, 2170m above the town of Stepantsminda (former Kazbegi) and village of Gergeti whose name she had adopted. The church is widely known as Gergeti trinity Church thought Georgians call it Gergeti Tsminda Sameba. It was built in the 14th century, but not much is known to us of its history, though it was mentioned in one of the guide books from 1906, that the church was built on the place that used to be pagan idols worshiping. And in 18th century, the church turned into storage for main Georgian relics that were transported here in the time of Persian invasion to Tbilisi
— Transfer to Gudauri and dinner at the restaurant
— Check in the hotel
Day 8 | Gudauri-Gori-Uplistsikhe-Kutaisi (B/L/D)
— Breakfast at the hotel
— Check out the hotel
— Explore house-museum of J. Stalin featuring house where he was born and his private train
— Lunch at the restaurant
— Visit Uplistsikhe – a rock-hewn town dating back to Hellensitic period. Uplistsikhe is located on the left bank of Mtkvari river and is notable for unique combination of various styles of rock-cut cultures and the co-existence of pagan and Christian architecture
— Transfer to Kutaisi and dinner at the restaurant
— Check in the hotel
Day 9 | Kutaisi-Tbilisi (B/L/D)
— Breakfast at the hotel
— Check out the hotel
— Kutaisi city tour. In Kutaisi the sense of humour and tasty food is as important as the life itself! The sweet sounds of traditional melodies seem to come from every yard. The locals call their home town Kutaisi a “town of roses and love”. Explore Bagrati Cathedral and Academy of Gelati. Academy of Gelati was built in a period of political strength and economic growth of the country and the was one of the biggest religious, educational, scientific and philosophical centers. The complex includes the Cathedral of the Virgin, the Churches of St George and St Nicholas, belfry, gates and the building of the Academy
— Lunch at the restaurant
— Transfer back to Tbilisi
— Dinner at the restaurant
— Check in the hotel
Day 10 | Tbilisi-Sadakhlo-Haghpat–Haghartsin-Yerevan (B/L/D)
– Breakfast at the hotel
— Check out the hotel
— Meet at Georgian-Armenian Sadakhlo border and drive to visit Haghpat which is included in UNESCO World Heritage List
— Lunch at the local restaurant
— Drive to Haghartsin monastery. Drive to Dilijan and visit Sharambeyan street
— Dinner at the restaurant in Dilijan
— Check in the hotel
Day 11 | Sevan-Garni-Geghard-Yerevan (B/L/D)
– Breakfast at the hotel
— Check out the hotel
— Drive to Sevan lake and visit Sevanavank monastery
— Transfer to Garni
— Lunch at rustic house in Garni Armenian bread-Lavash making and tasting with chicken Tanduri
— Garni city tour. Visit Garni Temple – The pagan temple of Garni was built in 1st. c. AC and was devoted to one of the Armenian Pagan Gods – Mitra. After Armenia converted to Christianity in the 4th c., the rulers of the country used the temple as their summer residence. Garni was destroyed when the Arabs conquered Armenia but was rebuilt in the beginning of the 10th c. Its final destruction came in 1638 during the Turkish invasion. A violent earthquake buried what remained from it in 1679. The complete restoration of the temple began in 1970 and was over in 1978. The temple consists of dwellings and bath quarters built in the 3rd century in the Roman style
— Transfer to Geghard
— Geghard city tour. Geghard Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage): Geghard was initially known simply as Ayrivank (Cave Monastery). The present buildings comprising it date back to 10-13th cc., at which time it was renamed as Geghard meaning “lance” (spear) in Armenian. The name refers to the biblical lance used by a Roman soldier to pierce Christ’s body to find out if he was alive or not. The lance was kept in Geghard for a long time before being moved to the museum of Echmiadzin Cathedral. The main church, constructed in 1215, is the oldest building in the monastery complex. Avazan church, 1283, is carved right into the solid rock and is an incomparable work of art
— Transfer to Yerevan. Dinner at the restaurant
— Check in the hotel
Day 12 | Yerevan (B/L/D)
– Breakfast at the hotel
— Yerevan city tour: city center Republic Square, Mother Armenia, Opera house, Cascade complex, which is considered the modern art center of Yerevan, with art pieces displayed throughout the whole area: the boulevard and up the stairs, from top of which you can enjoy the panoramic view on the city and Mountain Ararat. Cascade is home to Cafesjan modern art museum, open air museum. This place becomes even more charming in the evenings, when it is full of people, both locals and tourists from all over the world, enjoying the magic and the warmth of the capital
— Lunch in local restaurant
— Visit History Museum of Armenia
— Free time in the city centre
— Dinner at the restaurant
Day 13 | Yerevan-Khor Virap-Etchmiadzin-Zvartnots (B/L/D)
– Breakfast at the hotel
— Depart from the hotel for a full day tour. Morning tour to Khor Virap, see the best view of Spiritaul Mt Ararat, where Noak’s Ark landed, continue to Echmiatsin main Cathedral. Lunch at Armenian Cross Unity where you can also see master classes of different Art works by kids
— Lunch in local restaurant
— Return to Yerevan and visit of Zvartnots Temple
— Dinner at the restaurant
Day 14 | Yerevan (B// )
– Breakfast at the hotel
– Check out and transfer to the airport
– Departure to home
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IncludedFull business program;13 night’s hotel accommodationTransportation on luxury busMeals according to reservation requestProfessional English/French/German translation during all the visits;Cultural program: sigtseeings indicated in the program;Set of information materials;Prompt responses to any questions!Throughout the Management tour you are accompanied by representatives of InConventus company, which guarantee a high level of service and compliance the actual program of the visit, stated in the itinerary.
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Not IncludedInternational and domestic flightsInsurance
