Armenia & Georgia Hiking Tour

Armenia part of Armenia & Georgia Hiking Tour.
I am separating the two countries because we had different guides/ drivers
The guide Hasmik was very enthusiastic and accommodating in Yerevan where we had already seen the places included in the day trip. No assistance with lunch though. Not a problem for us.
The ecstatic comments on the culture and nature of Armenia wore a little thin at the end of the five days when the number of monasteries and churches started to overwhelm us.
On day 4 she suggested a substitute walk which we believed was a swap with a visit to yet another monastery . The walk was enjoyable but it turned out it was a swap for day five’s walk which would see us missing out on the Lastiver Caves. In the end we did both day 4 and day 5 program on day 5., Because of the extra driving we were asked to pay 15000 Drahms(31$) . No idea if it was appropriate but we agreed to it.
We did tend to start out a little late in the mornings. 10 a.m. or later, but maybe that is usual in Armenia. It did result in a couple of very late finishes and very little food left at the guesthouse on day 2. The host was very helpful though and did open the nice pool for us early next morning.
The last day was also very late because we packed more in than originally planned However the hostess at the guesthouse was to be commended for the meal she unexpectantly prepared for us.
Day 4 guesthouse was pleasant with a lovely verandah and garden. However the room would have been fine for one person, but really too small for two. We could barely open our suit cases.
All together the accommodations were fine given we were out in the country.
The tour was good but a little too many churches and monasteries. Maybe the tour name should be changed to: Armenia & Georgia, Churches, Monasteries and aHiking Tour.
The guide was very knowledgeable but could be clearer in the explanation of options.
In summary the Armenian part was good and the Georgian part great. Thank you for organising it. I am happy to recommend the tour

Georgian part of Armenia and Georgia Hiking trip.
The second part of this trip was fabulous. Although Sandro from "My Geo" did both the driving and guiding he carried out both jobs very well, anticipating and fulfilling any wish we might have. A very professional and well informed guide, whom I cannot recommend enough.
Breakfast at the Bonjormi Old Hotel was without much choice, but adequate.
Would love to return to Georgia

Dear Tatev
What a trip you had organised for me! It was just amazing!! I haven’t had a chance to write anything for the pages you mentioned but I shall eventually. I would like to share privately that Armenia was one of the best tours I have ever taken!
The sites I saw and experienced were truly fascinating and my guide, while he cursed the roads a lot, was exceptional with his knowledge and keen desire to show me as much as he could - even sites that were not included in the itinerary but he knew of personally. We even explored sites that he had heard about but not yet explored personally. Unfortunately the site was up a very, very steep mountain gorge and his estimate of just a few metres was not quite accurate. For me it was an exhausting 10 kilometre climb (Well I exaggerate, but it felt like it to me :-) ) It was probably only a kilometre climb.

He even helped me to purchase some local tomato seeds at a market which I have now planted in my garden and am hoping they grow well here in Australia.

He wasn’t keen though at hosting me back to Armenia to see the Pagan festival in August conducted by a local Pagan and Arts teacher where people dance naked around a fire near the monolith site. He laughed at the idea. :-)

My time in Armenia has left me with many vivid and wonderful memories. It was the perfect tour for me the only disappointment was not seeing the petroglyphs but I understand the reason this was cancelled. I shall just have to come back during Summer to see them.

Georgia was nice but I found too many sites had been reconstructed and served as a marriage venues and rebuilt more for this purpose than for a historical one. There was nothing in Georgia that fascinated me as much as the sites I explored in Armenia. I even cancelled many of the places we were to visit because they were just too touristy for my liking and interests. The guide was excellent though and I highly recommend her for all that she did for me.

Armenia - Beautiful scenery, and wonderful, mystical and even mysterious sites, with an excellent guide made a tour I shall always remember.

Again, thank you and all involved in making my tour such a memorable one!

Kindest regards

Mark