Armenia, Georgia & Azerbaijan Short Break Tour

A short morning drive will take you to Etchmiadzin town – the religious center of all Armenians around the world. Here – after the adoption of Christianity in 301 AD – was built the first Christian temple in the world – Etchmiadzin Cathedral. It is the seat of the Supreme Patriarch of the Catholicos of all Armenians. The cathedral keeps an important religious relic – the Holy Lance spear. In 2000 Etchmiadzin Cathedral was listed as a UNESCO site. You’ll see the ruins of Zvartnots temple (7th century, UNESCO World Heritage Site), that was a miracle of its time. This day you will also have a 1-hour drive to the Canyon of Azat River. Our destination is Geghard Monastery. This unique monastery is carved into nearby rocks and the surrounding cliffs compose a great part of it. In 2000 it became a UNESCO heritage site. The trip leads us to Garni village, well known for its Garni temple – the only surviving example of Hellenistic architecture in the region.

The day will start with a trip to Ararat Province where proudly stands one of the holiest sites in Armenia – Khor Virap Monastery. You will hike up a small hill to discover the monastery and enjoy the breathtaking view on Biblical Mount Ararat. The tour will continue through a narrow canyon to the valley of red rocks, right where Noravank Monastery is located – built in the 13th century it is a masterpiece of Armenian architect Momik. On the territory of the monastery, amazing khachkars are scattered all around – crosstones designed by Momik.

After breakfast, you will start your day to the North. Gegharkunik Province is best known for amazing Lake Sevan. It is one is highest freshwater lakes in the world located at an altitude of 1900 meters above the sea level. We continue our trip further north to Lori Province. Here we have a stop at the cozy resort town of Dilijan known for its arts and crafts as well as picturesque lush nature and healing air. After an excursion to the medieval monasteries of Sanahin and Haghpat both listed as UNESCO objects the tour will continue to the Armenian-Georgian border. Having passed the customs another 3-hour drive to Tbilisi takes us to the capital of Georgia.

After breakfast head to Mtskheta which was the first capital of Georgia from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD. The town is considered the religious center of Georgia. Our excursion will start with the visit to the Cathedral of the 11th century – Svetitskhoveli. The next stop – Jvari Temple located at the top of the hill which offers a fascinating view of the confluence of two rivers Kura and Aragvi. After your return to Tbilisi, we’ll continue with a city tour including an in-depth exploration of the old town, cable car trip to Narikala Fortress, a visit to the Bridge of Peace and Armenian Church, Jewish Synagogue and Turkish Mosque.

In the morning you will drive to the east of the country, to Kakheti – the main winemaking region of Georgia. A pleasant time is waiting for you in Sighnaghi – a royal town founded by the king Erekle II in the 18th century. Strolling around the tiny streets you will enjoy the local architecture and atmosphere. In the local winery “Pheasant’s Tears” you will have a tour and degustation of Georgian traditional local wine. The day ends with a trip to David-Gareja semi-deserted area and monastery complex founded in 6th century by father David.

Transfer to Georgia-Azerbaijan border. We will meet and greet you at the border, and then you will departure for Sheki city. Firstly, you will check in your hotel in Sheki, and then you will have a sightseeing tour around Sheki. You will visit the Upper Town, the magnificent Palace of Sheki Khans and the Craft Museum. Built in 1797 as a summer residence for Muhammad Hasan Khan, the Palace of Sheki Khans is a masterpiece of lavish decoration. Both the exterior and interior decorations of the palace embody the architectural glamor of the ancient Sheki Khanate. Continue to Museum of carpets (there are various big rooms with pottery, silk embroidery, and national costumes, jewelry) Shebeke craft workshop, Sheki Bazaar, and the local sweet bakery. We advise you to try famous Sheki sweet baklava – the pride of Sheki population. After a long day delving into the many treasures of Sheki you will return back to the hotel to have a rest. Then you will have dinner in one of the best local restaurants.

After breakfast at your hotel in Sheki, you will explore Gabala – the ancient capital of Azerbaijan. This veritable melting pot of culture and tradition is a joy to explore. Whilst traveling through Gabala in the north of Azerbaijan you will take the time to experience a small but significant part of the religious tolerance within the country. First, you will visit the Church of the Udi, near Gabala, in the village of Nij. This small church is special. It belongs to the native people of the Caucasus – the Udi people. There are only a few thousand Udi people in the world today and the majority, approx. 4.000, live in this area in Azerbaijan. Today they practice Orthodox Christianity and you will be welcomed with their kindness to see their church, renovated and used. You will then head to the village of Chukhur Gabala home to interesting ruins from its time as the former capital of Caucasian Albania. During the tour, the guide will explain interesting facts about the history, cultural heritage of Gabala. Then you will get acquainted with the Gabala Archeology Center. The three-storey building of the Gabala Archeology Center has a showroom, an archeological collection, a restoration lab, a conference hall and study rooms for archeologists. So here, you can see the exhibition features about 1,500 items discovered during excavation. Now it is time to visit the must-see natural beauties of Gabala. First, you will head to Tufandag Mountain, riding the Cable car, then the Gabala Lake, where you can ride a non-powered boat. Gabala Lake is a gem, half-natural, half man-made. The tour will continue to Shamakhi city and have a sightseeing of historical Juma Mosque of Shamakhi. On the way to Baku, visit Diri Baba Mausoleum in Maraza village.

This day you will have a tour around Baku Old City. You will visit the legendary Zoroastrian Maiden Tower of the 5th c. Then you will walk to the old bazaar. The entire old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and during the city tour you will visit the oldest Multani Caravanserai, the Haji Banu Hamam of the 15th c., the Juma Mosque (Friday Mosque), as well as the Shirvanshahs’ Palace (the most striking example of the medieval palace structures in Azerbaijan, dating to the middle of 15th century), antique carpet shops and museum. You will continue the remaining program of sightseeing excursion. You will visit the Upland Park of Baku where you can enjoy the panoramic view of the city and bay of Baku. Then you will head to Martyr’s Line or Alley of Martyrs formerly the Kirov Park, where is a cemetery and memorial dedicated to those killed by the Soviet Army during Black January. You will be also impressed by the modern district with the three Flame Towers near the Upland Park, overlooking the city. They look as if they have been thrown from heavens into the city by some fabulous giants. The next place to visit is Baku Boulevard. You will have a walk along Baku Boulevard, the second longest one in Europe. You can get a boat and make 30 minutes trip along Baku Bay. During Baku Bay Cruise, you will enjoy splendid panoramic views of Baku from the sea while learning about Baku and its history. After the boat trip, you will visit the Carpet Museum. It demonstrates carpets in close connection with other kinds of traditional handicrafts of Azerbaijan. Once you finish Baku Boulevard tour, you will head to Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center. An internationally recognized architectural marvel, Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center displays a curved modern style.