Georgia-Armenia (Classic)

Arrival in Tbilisi. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation & overnight.

After breakfast at the hotel tour to Kakheti region(110 km to the first destination, Bodbe).

Kakheti is synonymous with wine. There are hundreds of different grapes grown here, and every village has its own particular variety. Kakhetians are usually characterized as less effusive than West Georgians, but very hospitable.

Visit to The Monastery of St. Nino at Bodbe (9th century), nested among tall Cypress trees on a steep hillside overlooking the Alazani Valley, where it commands breathtaking views of the Greater Caucasus mountains.

Proceed to Sighnaghi (2 km from Bodbe), Kakhetian town surrounded by ancient wall, settled since the Paleolithic period.

Sighnaghi offers picturesque landscapes, pastel houses and narrow, cobblestone streets. Located on a steep hill, Sighnaghi overlooks the vast Alazani Valley, with the Caucasus Mountains visible at a distance. (Walking tour of Sighnaghi, Photography, enjoying landscapes).

Proceed to Gurjaani (23 km from Sighnaghi) and visiting Local Wine House, a family business run by locals, who do not like to call it a “business”, but rather “Sharing Georgian hospitality and traditions”.

Taking masterclasses in baking Georgian bread – “Shoti”, Georgian cheese-filled bread – “Khachapuri” and traditional Georgian sweet – “Churchkhela”. You will have an opportunity to attend the brewing of Georgian Vodka (“Zavodoba”), which is very interesting process; you will also see how traditional Georgian bread is baked and how Churchkhela is made. Brief lecture will be provided about masterpieces of Georgian cuisine, such as Khachapuri, Khinkali, Mtsvadi and many other Georgian dishes. You will have an opportunity to participate in this process and master old Georgian culinary technologies and finally taste the dishes made by your own hands. All this will be provided in a pleasant ethnographic environment decorated with old Georgian exhibits and other interesting things.

Wine tasting: Kakheti region is famous for its ancient wine growing traditions and hospitality. As a guest of the wine house you have an opportunity to taste several kinds of wine produced by family methods as well as by factory methods. There is 2 centuries old press (equipment used for wine squeezing), which is until now used for the purpose of making wine and which presents the pride of the cellar. Here you can also see old earthen crocks (“kvevri”), where different types of wine are stored. Guests can bottle wine which they take out of “kvevri” with their own hands and purchase it in a sealed condition.

And now it’s time for Georgian “SUPRA” – which means “feast“, but is something more than that, much more unique and unforgettable. While enjoying various assortment of delicious Georgian dishes, your host family dressed in national clothing – Chokha, will make sure to provide you with loads of moments to remember.

Return to Tbilisi (115 km from Gurjaani). Free evening, overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) town, 157 km from Tbilisi, 1740 m above sea level, on the south slops of Caucasus main range, along the Georgian military highway.

This ancient route through the Caucasus has been much celebrated by everyone from poets to guidebook writers. The road is remarkable for its landscapes, flora and fauna, people and history, and many travelers to Georgia will regard this as a highlight of their visit.

Stop at Gudauri (121 km from Tbilisi), a famous Georgian ski resort, located on the south-facing plateau of Greater Caucasus Mountain range. Stop at the panoramic view site for photography and enjoying landscapes.

Drive to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) town (35 km from Gudauri), lunch in Georgian Restaurant.

Visit to Gergeti Trinity Church(14th century), which is situated on the right bank of the river Chkheri, at an elevation of 2170 meters (7120 feet), under mount Kazbegi. Its isolated location on top of a steep mountain surrounded by the vastness of nature has made it a symbol for Georgia. The church is a popular waypoint for trekkers in the area, but we will reach it by jeep up a rough mountain trail (~30 minutes).

Drive to Ananuri fortified monastery (89 km from Stepantsminda). Ananuri is a castle complex set on the Aragvi river. The fortifications consist of two castles joined by a crenellated curtain wall. The upper fortification with a large square tower, known as Sheupovari, is well preserved and is the location of the last defense of the Aragvi against the Shamshe. The lower fortification, with a round tower, is mostly in ruins.

Return to the hotel in Tbilisi (65 km from Ananuri) & overnight.

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Jvari monastery near Mtskheta (26 km from Tbilisi). The name of this monastery is translated as the “Monastery of the Cross“.

Its construction is dated back to the sixth century and stands on the rocky mountaintop at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers overlooking the town of Mtskheta, which was formerly the capital of the Kingdom of Iberia.

Drive to Uplistsikhe cave town (60 km from Jvari), which is one of the oldest places of settlement in the Caucasus. It was founded in the late Bronze Age, (around 900 BC), but developed mainly from the 5th century to the 1st centuries BC. Before Georgia became a Christian country, this was a special site for pagan rituals. The main caravan road from Asia to Europe used to run just 2 km northern of the city, which became a very important trade center.

Lunch in a Georgian restaurant. Proceed to Svetitskhoveli cathedral(4th century) located in the historic town of Mtskheta. A masterpiece of the Early Middle Ages, Svetitskhoveli is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is currently the second largest church building in Georgia, after the Holy Trinity Cathedral. A walking tour around Mtskheta town.

Return to Tbilisi; Free evening for leisure; Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed for Tbilisi city tour.

Visit to the old part of the city: Metekhi church (12th century) & Abanotubani – natural sulfur springs, bath–houses built in XVI-XVII cc.

Walking through some narrow streets (typical for old Tbilisi) where taverns, cafes, carpet and souvenir shops are situated.

Visit to the Peace Bridge, a bow-shaped pedestrian bridge, a steel and glass construction illuminated with numerous LEDs, over the Mtkvari river.

Walk to Rike park (Europe Square) and reaching Narikala on cable car. Narikala is the main fortress of Tbilisi, offering panoramic views over old and new city. A great place for photography and enjoying city views.

Walk from Rike park to Freedom Square and continue walking tour through Rustaveli avenue.

Return to the hotel, free time for leisure & overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Drive to Armenia – Georgia border (73 km from Tbilisi). After passport and customs formalities, bus change – proceed to Armenia.

Proceeding to the Dilijan SPA town in the Dilijan National Park, a protected area renowned for its serene lakes, picturesque hill trails and peaceful villages.

Many poets used to say, “If there are woods, mountains, streams and mineral waters in paradise, it must be like Dilijan”. Due to its forested mountains and mild climate, Dilijan is named “Armenia’s Little Switzerland”.

On the most beautiful and oldest streets of the Old Dilijan – Sharambeyan you will find small art schools and souvenir shops. Continue to Haghartsin Monatsrey (10.-14. cc.), a fairy-tale monastery set amidst flower-filled.

Tour to Lake Sevan – the 2nd largest fresh-water high-altitude lake in the world after Titicaca (Los Andes, Bolivia) and the largest lake in Armenia and the Caucasus Region. Lake Sevan, this wonder of nature, is the pearl of incomparable beauty with stunning turquoise waters which is also home for unique bird species.

On the picturesque peninsula you visit the Sevanavank monastery (9 c), which once used to serve as a place of exile of the Armenian nobility. Here you find unique cross stones (khachqar). The Cross-Stone is a typical manifestation of the Armenian culture, as other nations do not have this type of culture, and is already a UNESCO World Heritage.

Drive to Yerevan, Overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast at hotel. Just outside of Armenia’s capital, a quiet mountain road leads high above the city, offering a glimpse into Earth’s ancient history.

Firstly we stop first at Charent’s Arch – the breathtaking lookout point of the biblical Mount Ararat (known from the Bible as the landing place of Noah’s Ark).

Drive to the Geghard Monastery carved out of a huge monolithic rock. Geghard is an incredible ancient Armenian monastery, partly carved out of a mountain. It is said that the Holy Lance that pierced the body of Christ was kept here.

The architectural forms and the decoration of Geghard’s rock premises show that Armenian builders could not only create superb works of architecture out of stone, but also hew them in solid rock. It is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Continue to the Garni Pagan Temple, the only Hellenistic temple in the Caucasus. Gracing the hillside the temple was dedicated to the God of Sun, Mithra and comprises also royal palace ruins, Roman Baths with a well preserved mosaic.

Master class of traditional Armenian bread “lavash” being baked in tonir (ground oven). The preparation, meaning and appearance of traditional bread as an expression of culture in Armenia has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Drive back to Yerevan. Evening free. Overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast at hotel. This tour includes UNESCO World heritages. Heritage Sites which are “must see” places. Today you visit the religious center of Armenia – Echmiadzin.

Echmiadzin is the “Vatican” city of Armenia with the Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church where the Supreme Patriarch (Catholicos) of All Armenians resides.

Armenia is the first Christian country in the world since 301 A.D. and the world’s oldest official Christian church is to be found in Echmiadzin – the Mother Cathedral of Echmiadzin. In the cathedral you can attend live the liturgy.

Continue to St. Hripsime church (7th century), a true masterpiece of early medieval Armenian architecture.

On the way back to Yerevan visit the Ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral – the place of “celestial angels”. The remnants of Zvartnots, even in ruins, are a majestic sight. his marvelous temple is a result of skillfulness and brave creativity of Armenian architects of the 7th century. Having been built on several columns it could survive only till the 10th century.

When in the beginning of the 20th century this site was being excavated many specialists could hardly accept its reconstruction model designed by famous Armenian architect Toros Toramanyan as it was difficult to believe that such a huge and complicated construction could have been built those days, and amazingly at that time one of the bas-relieves of St. Chapelle church in Paris came to prove Toramanyan’s version; the bas-relief depicts Zvartnots temple with Noah’s Ark and it looks like the model represented by the architect.

Return to Yerevan. Evening free. Overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast at hotel. A fantastic tour dedicated to exploration of Southern Armenia combining the magic of Armenia’s finest medieval architecture with stunning landscapes by driving through the agricultural heart of Armenia.

Our first stop will be at the Khor Virap Monastery – the most important place of pilgrimage of Armenia. St. Gregory the Illuminator – the first Catholic of all Armenians, had been imprisoned in “Khor Virap” (deep dungeon) for 13 years. From here you get a unique view of the holy Armenian mountain Ararat (5165 m.), on which (according to the Bible) Noah’s ark landed after the World flood.

As soon as we pass the Ararat Plain we can experience the untamed beauty of Southern Armenia – surreal red rocks providing an eerie echo, honey-colored villages sandwiched between them.

Continue to the previous residence of Syunik’s bishops – Noravank monastery, nestled at the edge of the narrow gorge in the impressive mountainous landscape with peculiar red hanging rocks. The structure distinguishes by a unique harmony of architectural forms and decorations.

On the way back to Yerevan visit to the winery in the village Areni, wine tasting made from the endemic grapes.

Return to Yerevan. Evening free. Overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for City Tour.

Yerevan is one of the most ancient cities in the world founded in 782 B.C. Now Yerevan is a vibrant and modern European city with much to offer.

In the morning you visit the Matenadaran (UNESCO World’s Documentary Heritage) – Depository of Ancient Manuscripts and a serious Institute of Scientific Research on Ancient Manuscripts. The collection of approximately 17,000 manuscripts includes almost every sphere of Armenian ancient and medieval science and culture – history, geography, philosophy, law, medicine, mathematics, miniature and others, as well as manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, Greek, Syrian, Latin, Ethiopian, Indian, Japanese, etc.

Afterwards you can see the most beautiful panorama of Yerevan City and the biblical Mount Ararat from the top of huge Cascade Monument. Cascade is just a masterpiece in terms of architecture and is decorated in a very stunning way. Inside this monument you find the Cafesdjian Art Center. There are a lot of original statues of modern art.

Not far from Cascade you see the Mother Armenia Statue, which symbolizes “peace through strength”. Having its location on a hill overlooking Yerevan City, makes her “The Guardian “of the Armenian Capital.

During your City tour you pass through the Northern Avenue which connects the two Yerevan Famous Squares – The Republic Square and the France Square (where Opera House with the original statue of Rodin is located). The Republic Square in Armenia with the governmental buildings is considered to be one of the most beautiful squares of the world. In the night, the square is especially beautiful because of the “Dancing Fountains” accompanied with classic music of world known Armenian components.

Street tour including: Yerevan State University and the Island of universities, Victory Bridge, Tsitsernakaberd Hill (The Swallow Castle) with Genocide Museum, Sports & Concerts complex, Kiev Bridge, Parliament, Residence of President, Academy of Sciences.

Lunch in Armenian restaurant; Overnight in Yerevan.

Check out from the hotel, transfer to Yerevan international airport, Departure.