11-day Georgia and Armenia Tour11 days | Georgia, Armenia

Arrival in Tbilisi. You will be met by our driver and transferred to the hotel. Check-in at the hotel.
You will start your journey in Georgia with Tbilisi city tour at Metekhi church and monument to Vakhtang Gorgasali, the legendary founder of Tbilisi. Take a cable car to Narikala Fortress to enjoy breathtaking panoramic view of the city. Walk down to the district of Sulphur bath houses passing by the only mosque in Tbilisi. Stroll through the Sharden area full of narrow streets with cozy cafés, wine tasting bars, souvenir shops, and breathe in the living past. Visit Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica, and the clock tower of famous Rezo Gabriadze Theatre, and the Bridge of Peace to Rike Park.
In the evening, enjoy traditional dinner at Georgian restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Mtskheta, one of the oldest towns and the cultural and religious center of Georgia. Mtskheta was the capital of the Eastern Georgian Kingdom of Iberia from the third century BC. Visit Jvari Church, a true architectural masterpiece of the early Medieval Period overlooking the confluence of Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers from the top of the hill, and Svetitskhoveli , the main cathedral of Mtskheta and a sacred place where the robe of Christ is being kept. Continue to Ananuri architectural complex, a former residence of Argveti Dukes. Complex featuring churches and towers dating back to the 16-17th centuries is beautifully overlooking Jinvali reservoir. Continue driving on Georgian Military Highway passing through the highest point of it at 2394 m above sea level. Arrive at Kazbegi, a small town with the views of Mount Kazbek (or Mkinvari) 5033 m, the seventh highest peak in the Caucasus Mountains. Drive to Gergeti Holy Trinity Church located on altitude of 2170 m on 4x4 type vehicle to enjoy breathtaking views to the Mount Kazbegi. Return to Tbilisi. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast depart towards the Kakheti region (Eastern Georgia), the cradle of Georgian wine. Beautiful road lies through Gombori pass. Our first stop will be in Telavi, the administrative and historic center of the region. Have a short walk through charming streets of old Telavi and have a photo stop at the monument to Erekli II. Drive to Tsinandali, the residence of dukes of Georgia with beautiful English garden, a museum, and the wine cellar that belonged to prince Chavchavadze, 19th century public figure and poet. Continue to Alaverdi Cathedral, the second tallest cathedral in Georgia and an outstanding example of medieval Georgian architecture of the 11th century. Final stop for today will be in a private winery «Twins Wine Cellar» in Napareuli village. The premises of the winery include vast vineyard, museum of traditional Georgian winemaking in qvevri (large earthenware vessels), and facilities for various workshops. Try yourself at baking Georgian bread puri, cooking national dessert churchkhela (a traditional candle-shaped candy). An excellent round-up of the tour will be five different wines tasting produced at Twins Winery according to Georgian traditional technology of winemaking in qvevri. Return to Telavi for overnight.

Continue exploring Kakheti region and Alazani valley. Check-out from the hotel and drive to Gremi architectural complex, 16th century royal residence and the capital of Kakheti Kingdom. Gloomy and monumental, the Gremi castle is one of the most visited tourist points in Georgia. Next stop will be at unique wine cellar “Khareba” located in the tunnel carved out of the rock. Originally built for military purposes, today the tunnel is used to store Khareba’s finest wines. Wine tour and wine tasting. Drive to Sighnaghi, making en-route stop at Bodbe convent, which according to the legend is a burial place of St. Nino, who converted Georgia to Christianity in the 4th century. According to Tsar Alexader III of Russia decree, since 1889 Bodbe complex functions as a nunnery. Continue to Sighnaghi, the city of love and the Royal Town, one of the crossroads of the Great Silk Road surrounded by defensive walls with 23 towers. Overnight in Sighnaghi.

In the morning depart towards Tbilisi. On the way make a tour to semi desert of Gareja. On the way stop at local market to take some snacks. Arrive in David Gareja monastery and start walking up to explore Lavra cave monastery founded in the 6th century. The Lavra monastery is an inhabited complex of caves with a courtyard, church and other buildings. Continue walking up to Udabno* (takes around 1,5-2 hours) where you can have some rest and enjoy the view to Azerbaijan from Georgian side. Udabno is famous for its wall-paintings dating from the end of the 12th century. Thousand-year-old frescos at Udabno are depicting such scenes from the Bible like “The Last Supper” and “The Exaltation of the Cross”. After some rest, walk down another path. Drive to Tbilisi for overnight.
*As Udabno is located on the territory of Georgia-Azerbaijan border, the access to the monastery is subject to current safety situation at the border.
Take to trip: appropriate footwear, water, raincoat, torch, suntan lotion & hat.
Please note that in May snakes become more active and make their reappearance in the semi desert.

At 09:00, our driver will meet you at your hotel in Tbilisi and transfer to “Sadakhlo-Bagratashen” Georgian-Armenian border point. Cross the border, meet your Armenian guide and driver and start the journey to the land of ancient traditions and oldest temples.
Drive to Lori region and visit UNESCO World Heritage Site Haghpat monastery. Stunning example of Armenian traditional architecture was erected in 10-13th centuries. Standing on a hillside, Haghpat beautifully overlooks Debed River. Location of monastery was chosen to protect peace and seclusion of its monks. Drive through Dilijan and to Lake Sevan, “The Jewel of Armenia” and one of the largest high-mountainous fresh water lakes in the world. The coastline of Lake Sevan is rich with thick woods, white bare steep rocks, mountain steppes and Alpine meadows. Stop at Sevanavank to visit the remnants of the monastery that include two temples – Surb Arakelots and Surb Karapet , standing among numerous khachkars. The buildings were constructed from black tuff which probably gave the monastery its name Sevanavank – “the Black Monastery”. The view from there is simply magnificent: the mountains surround lake from all sides and snow tops are seen almost on the entire perimeter and disappear behind horizon. Continue to Yerevan for overnight.

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. Start city tour visiting the Cascade Monument, one of the main symbols of the city. The mega scale staircase is 118 meters high and has 572 steps. A panoramic view from the monument opens up breathtaking city view with Opera House, Mount Ararat, Swan Lake, Republic Square, and Abovyan Avenue, which you will also walk by during the tour. If it is a weekend, visit Vernissage, the biggest souvenir market in Yerevan. We will also visit Tsitsernakaberd, the Genocide Memorial complex.
In the evening, enjoy dinner and traditional folklore show. Overnight at hotel.

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 1st century that survived aggressive introduction of Christianity in the 4th century. Descend Garni Gorge to explore a monumental rock formation called Symphony of Stones. 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 throughout the region. The complex was introduced to the history in the 4th century as a sacred spring inside a cave. 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 hotel.
*The site is currently under conservation works. Observation of the Cathedral is possible from the outside

After breakfast at 09:00, head to Khor Virap monastery (“deep pit”). According to the legend, St. Gregory the Illuminator, the Baptist of Armenia, had been kept here in the basement during 13 years for the disseminating of Christianity until tsar Tradt decided to adopt new religion. Monastery location allows you to enjoy the best views of the Mt. Ararat.
Continue to Areni, a city known for producing famous Armenian wine from pomegranate and apricot. Have a wine degustation in a local winery. Drive to Tatev Monastery (9-13 cent.). Approaching the jewel of medieval Armenian architecture on the longest aerial tramway in the world you will see the monastery, the powerful impregnable stronghold towering on a rock. Such a remote position of it was strategically favorable as the monastery was simultaneously religious and political centre of the region. Standing on the edge of the rock, the monastery takes your breath away: somewhere down below the river flows in the valley and crowded velvet green hills stand in silence… Arrival in Goris at 18:00, accommodation at hotel.

After breakfast at 09:00 check out from the hotel. On the way to Yerevan visiting famous Complex of Noravank, situated on a ledge of a deep winding gorge of a tributary of the Arpa River near the village of Amaghu, Yeghegnadzor District. Noravank ensemble stands amidst the bizarre-shaped precipitous red cliffs. Built in place of an ancient cloister, it grew in the reign of Princes Orbelian of Syunik. In the 13th-14th centuries it became a residence of Syunik's bishops and, consequently, a major religious and later cultural center of Armenia, closely connected with many of the local seats of learning, primarily with Gladzor’s famed university and library.
Arrive in Yerevan, check-in to hotel. Free time. Overnight at hotel.

Check-out from hotel till noon. Free time till transfer to Yerevan International Airport. Departure.

Economy:
Seventeen Rooms / Chateau White Flags / Hotel & Wine Cellar ARGE
Comfort:
Holiday Inn Telavi / Chateau Mere / Kviria / Château Mosmieri Hotel & Winery
Lux:
Schuchmann Wines Chateau / Esquisse Design Hotel / Panorama Kakheti Resort / Qvevrebi

Economy:
Brigitte Sighnaghi / LOST RIDGE INN / History Hotel Sighnaghi
Comfort:
Kabadoni / Ampelo / Ambassadori Kachreti
Lux:
Kabadoni / Ampelo / Ambassadori Kachreti

Economy:
Hayasa / Ani Central Inn / Silk Road Boutique / Cascade / President by Hrazdan Hotel CJSC
Comfort:
Opera Suite / Yerevan Place
Lux:
Tufenkian Historic / DoubleTree by Hilton Yerevan / Republica Hotel / Courtyard by Marriott

Economy:
Mirhav / Goris / Mina / Redroof Gueshouse / Khoreayi Dzor
Comfort:
Mirhav / Goris / Mina / Redroof Gueshouse / Khoreayi Dzor
Lux:
Mirhav / Goris / Mina / Redroof Gueshouse / Khoreayi Dzor