Georgia and Armenia Explorer

Arrival in Tbilisi. Transfer to the hotel. Check-in at noon.

Overnight in Tbilisi.

After breakfast at 09:00 meet your guide and depart towards the Kakheti, the Eastern part of Georgia famous for its viticulture and winemaking traditions. Beautiful road to Kakheti lies through Gombori pass.

Our first stop will be in Telavi, the administrative and historic center of the region. Have a short walk in the old Telavi and have a photo stop at the monument to King Erekli II. Visit local bazaar with fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses and dry fruits.

Drive to Gremi, architectural complex of 16th century which used to be the royal residence and the capital of Kakheti Kingdom. Gloomy and monumental, the Gremi castle is one of the most visited tourist points in Georgia.

Our next stop will be in ‘Khareba’ winery. On the way there you will enjoy picturesque landscapes of vineyards and wine-producing villages. This unique wine cellar is located in the tunnel carved out of the rock. Originally built for military purposes, today the tunnel is used to store Kakheti’s finest wines. Wine tour and wine tasting.

We will then reach our overnight point for tonight at 17:00-18:00. Akhasheni Wine Resort is surrounded by beautiful vineyards with stunning views on Caucasus Mountain chain.

You will meet other members of the group travelling from Azerbaijan on this day.
Driving distance: 160 km

Overnight in Akhasheni Wine Resort (B)

At 10:00, continue exploring Kakheti by visiting Sighnaghi Royal Town, which is surrounded by defensive walls with 23 towers and was an important trading center 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.

We will arrive in the capital of Georgia at about 16:00–17:00. After a couple of hours at your leisure, join the group to proceed to welcome dinner (departing from the hotel by bus at 19:00). Driving distance: 160 km

Overnight in Tbilisi (B, D)

After breakfast, we will embark on Tbilisi sightseeing tour. 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 down to the district of sulphur bath houses and pass by the only mosque in Tbilisi. Stroll through the Sharden area, full of narrow streets with cozy cafés, wine tasting 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 Rike Park. Free afternoon. Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours / Driving distance: 5 km

Overnight in Tbilisi (B)

Breakfast. Today you’ll explore the North of Georgia. The first stop will be at Jvari Monastery, a true architectural masterpiece of the Early Middle Ages, which is picturesquely perched above the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari Rivers.

Continue to the Ananuri Complex, a former residence of Argveti Dukes, which features churches and towers dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries and beautifully overlooks Jinvali Reservoir.

Next, drive over the Cross Pass and make a short stop at the Soviet-era “People’s Friendship” mountain view point, which overlooks a deep gorge of the Caucasus Mountains. 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

Overnight in Gudauri (B)

Breakfast. Drive to Stalin’s home town of Gori. Visit the Stalin Museum, which includes more than 60,000 artifacts, the tiny house where Stalin was born, and an impressive bulletproof train that Stalin used to travel to Yalta and Potsdam.

Explore the cave town of Uplistsikhe, which dates back 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 Mtskheta, one of the oldest towns in Georgia and the country’s cultural and religious center. Mtskheta was the capital of the Eastern Georgian Kingdom of Iberia from the 3rd century BC. Visit Svetitskhoveli, the main cathedral of Mtskheta and a sacred place where the robe of Christ is kept. Reach Tbilisi in the evening. Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours / Driving distance: 250 km

Overnight in Tbilisi (B)

Breakfast. Free day in Tbilisi (guide and transportation are not provided).

We suggest the following activities and places to visit in Tbilisi:

• Georgian National Museum on Rustaveli Avenue – to visit the “Archaeological Treasury” exhibition;
• National Gallery on Rustaveli Avenue – to see the works of the famous Georgian artists Niko Pirosmani, David Kakabadze, and Lado Gudiashvili;
• Tbilisi flea market at Dry Bridge – where you can find antiquities (many of which are from the Soviet era), paintings by local artists, and handmade Georgian souvenirs;
• David Agmashenebeli Avenue – a recently-renovated pedestrian street full of historical buildings that have beautiful facades in the art nouveau, pseudo gothic, and classicist styles with a mix of typical Georgian ornamentation and balconies. All along the street there are plenty of cozy art cafés, galleries, shops, and wine bars;
• Dezertirebi Bazaar – which sells local, natural products including Georgian sweets (such as churchkhela); various types of dried fruits, nuts, and spices; and Georgian cheeses;
• Funicular railway to Mtatsminda Mountain – which offers a beautiful view of Tbilisi;
• Wander in Sololaki – a neighborhood full of art nouveau houses;
• For nature lovers, we offer a day hike to Birtvisi Canyon and Fortress. Contact us to find out more.

In the evening, you can visit the famous Tbilisi sulphur bath houses to relax in the hot, naturally sulphur-enriched water after a long day of exploring (both public and private rooms are available, but private ones should be booked in advance).

For those who are interested in culture, we suggest visiting the State Opera House of Georgia to enjoy a ballet or opera performance. 

Overnight in Tbilisi (B)

Breakfast. Meet your driver at the hotel after breakfast to 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 Monastery. This stunning example of traditional Armenian architecture was 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.

Drive through Dilijan to Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-mountain freshwater lakes in the world. The lake’s coastline is rich with dense woods, white cliff faces, mountain steppes, and Alpine meadows. Visit Sevanavank Monastery, which is situated at the lake and is surrounded by mountains. Reach Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, in the evening. Overnight at DoubleTree by Hilton hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours / Driving distance: 370 km

Overnight in Yerevan (B)

Breakfast. In the morning, drive out of the city to Etchmiadzin, the Holy See of Armenia and the residence of the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church – the Catholicos of All Armenians.

Return to explore Yerevan, the oldest capital city in the South Caucasus. Yerevan is known as the Pink City and attracts visitors with its humble yet splendid landscapes. Our first stop in Yerevan will be at the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex on Tsitsernakaberd Hill.

Next, visit the Cascade Monument, which was the main symbol of the city’s 2,780th anniversary and has the equivalent number of stairs – this enormous staircase is 500 meters high and 50 meters wide. From the top of the monument, enjoy a breathtaking city view that includes the Opera House, Mount Ararat, Swan Lake, Republic Square, and Abovyan Avenue, all of which we’ll see as we walk the streets of Yerevan. The sightseeing tour will finish in the afternoon, after which you’ll have some free time. Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours / Driving distance: 50 km

Overnight in Yerevan (B)

At 08:00, we check out from the hotel and head to Khor Virap Monastery. According to the legend, St. Gregory the Illuminator, the Baptist of Armenia, 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 the best views of Mount Ararat.

Drive to Noravank Complex situated on a ledge of a deep winding gorge. Noravank stands amidst the bizarrely shaped, precipitous red cliffs.

Continue to Areni Cave complex, where in 2010, the earliest shoe in the world was found. Depart back to Yerevan. Arrive in Yerevan at around 18:00. Driving distance: 240 km

Overnight in Yerevan (B)

Depart Yerevan and drive to Garni, the only pagan temple in Armenia that survived the introduction of Christianity in the 4th century.

Next stop is the monastery complex called Geghard (“spear”). The beautiful landscape of Geghard is framed by towering cliffs. Decorative art cut into the rocks reflect and explain Medieval development in this part of the world. The complex appeared in the 4th century around the sacred spring inside of the cave.

You will have a free afternoon to explore more of Yerevan. Here are our suggestions:

• Ararat Brandy Factory
• Matenadaran Manuscripts Museum
• History Museum
• Souvenirs market “Vernisage”

We meet in the evening for a farewell dinner at one of local traditional restaurants. Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours/Driving distance: 80 km

Overnight in Yerevan (B, D)

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Free time till transfer to Yerevan International Airport (B) Driving distance: 10 km