Classical Tour to Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

8 Reviews

13 days/12 nights

Small Group (2-13)

Any date

Breakfast

Age: 0+

Price:

1,581GBP

1,850GBP

Book now

The Highlights of the Tour

Discover all the beauties of the South Caucasus Stroll around cozy and hospitable Yerevan and get acquainted with its architectural masterpieces Enjoy the bustling atmosphere of Tbilisi Taste the well known Georgian wine in Kakheti wine region Explore modern and luxurious Baku Taste appetizing Azerbaijan baklava See well-known Mud Volcanoes in the Gobustan Reserve

Yerevan - Tbilisi - Baku

Itinerary What's included Reviews Accommodation Trip maps Packing checklist Essential information Why book Availability

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ITINERARY

Description of tour

Would you like to discover all the secrets of the South Caucasus and plunge into the world of hospitality, hot sun rays and noisy feasts? If yes, we are glad to offer you our new Classical Tour to Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. We were hardly working to make it as saturated and impressive as possible. The tour includes visits to the most important sights, the most beautiful corners, as well as degustations of wine and national dishes. At the end of the tour you will have a deep understanding of the way of life of the Caucasian peoples, their original traditions and unique temperament. You will experience yourself that the Caucasus is one of the warmest and most friendly places in the world. Just write us to book the tour and welcome to the South Caucasus!

Day 1 - Arrival - Yerevan City Tour

The Sights of Yerevan

After your arrival at the airport, you will be transferred to the hotel in Yerevan and checked in. On your first day you will have a city tour around Yerevan, the ancient capital of Armenia, which was founded in 782 B.C. Armenians are proud that Yerevan is 29 years older than Rome. During the city tour, you will walk around the center of the city and visit Cascade, Opera and Ballet Theater, Mashtots Avenue, and the Republic Square. The tour also includes a visit to Matenadaran Museum, a repository of one of the richest manuscript collections in the world.

Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan

Meals: Breakfast

Day 2 - Etchmiadzin - Zvartnots - Yerevan

Zvartnots - Genocide Memorial - Echmiadzin

In the morning you will have a trip to Etchmiadzin town – the religious center of all Armenians around the world. Here after the adoption of Christianity in 301 AD was built one of the first Christian cathedrals 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. The trip will continue to the Genocide Memorial – a solemn reminder of the first genocide of the 20th century.

Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - Khor Virap - Noravank

Noravank - Khor Virap - wine

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 explore the monastery and enjoy the breathtaking view of 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.

Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 - Geghard - Garni - Yerevan

Garni - Geghard

This day you will 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. Back in Yerevan, you will have an excursion in the History Museum of Armenia – the main historical museum of the country known for its Archaeological, Numismatic, and Ethnographic collections.

Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 - Sevan - Dilijan - Sanahin - Haghpat - Armenian-Georgian border - Tbilisi

Sevan - Sanahin - Haghpat - Dilijan

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.

Overnight: Hotel in Tbilisi

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 - Mtskheta - Svetitskhoveli - Jvari - Tbilisi - Narikala

Mtskheta - Tbilisi

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.

Overnight: Hotel in Tbilisi

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 - Ananuri - Gudauri - Gergeti

Aragvi River - Gudauri - Gergeti

The day will start with a trip to Ananuri Fortress. A beautiful castle complex on the Aragvi River. Once it used to be a seat of the Georgian feudal dynasty. Our next stop is the popular ski resort Gudauri which is actually beautiful in any season. After some rest, the trip continues to Stepantsminda village where a 4 wheel vehicle will take you up the high hill to the Gergeti Trinity Church (14th century). The sanctuary is located at an altitude of 2180 m above sea level. From the top opens an unforgettable view to the famous Mount Kazbek.

Overnight: Hotel in Tbilisi

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 - Kakheti - Sighnaghi - David-Gareja

David-Gareja - Kakheti - Sighnaghi

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.

Overnight: Hotel in Sighnaghi

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 - Georgian-Azerbaijan border - Sheki City Tour

The sights of Sheki

This day you will travel to Georgian-Azerbaijan border and then you will departure for Sheki city. This day will be devoted to Sheki’s sights: 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. After the lunch, you will visit the 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.

Overnight: Hotel in Sheki

Meals: Breakfast

Day 10 - Gabala City Tour - Baku

The sights of Baku

This day you will explore Gabala – the ancient city of Azerbaijan. This veritable melting pot of culture and tradition is a joy to explore. First, you will visit the Church of the Udi belonging 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 the interesting ruins. Then you will get acquainted with the Gabala Archeology Center and visit must-see natural beauties of Gabala - Tufandag Mountain and Gabala Lake, where you can ride a non-powered boat. The tour will continue to Samakhih city where is located historical Juma Mosque of Shamakhi. On the way to Baku, you will visit Diri Baba Mausoleum in Maraza village.

Overnight: Hotel in Baku

Meals: Breakfast

Day 11 - Baku Old City Tour - Modern Baku Tour

The sights of old and modern Baku

This day you will have a tour around Baku Old City which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will visit the legendary Zoroastrian Maiden Tower, the oldest Multani Caravanserai, the Haji Banu Hamam, the Juma Mosque, as well as the Shirvanshahs’ Palace (the most striking example of the medieval palaces in Azerbaijan), the old bazaar and the antique carpet shops. After the city tour, you will have lunch (Azerbaijan National Cuisine) in one of the beautifully designed restaurants in the old town. The tour will continue to the Upland Park of Baku to enjoy the panoramic view of the city and the bay. You will also see the famous modern Flame Towers. Later you will stroll along Baku Boulevard, the second longest one in Europe. You can get a boat and make a 30 minute trip along Baku Bay. During Baku Bay Cruise, you will enjoy splendid panoramic views and learn Baku history. After the boat trip, you will visit the Carpet Museum. The last tour will be in Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center.

Overnight: Hotel in Baku

Meals: Breakfast

Day 12 - Baku - Gobustan - Baku

Baku - Gobustan

The day will start with a trip out of Baku to Gobustan National Park. You will travel 64 km southwest of Baku along with the Caspian shore. The tour will start from Gobustan Museum where you will see ancient human bones, work tools used in back to thousand years ago during the Mesolithic Period. Then, you will advance to the mountain in order to see real Rock Paintings in the open-air museum. You will also get a chance to marvel at the Mud Volcanoes in the Gobustan Reserve, which is home to almost half of the world’s mud volcanoes. At the end of the Gobustan tour, you will return to Baku. On the way back to Baku, we will have lunch at a local restaurant on the Caspian Sea Coast. After the lunch around 14:00 we will see the Bibi-Heybat Mosque.

Overnight: Hotel in Baku

Meals: Breakfast

Day 13 - Departure

Transfer to the airport, departure

INCLUSIONS/EXCLUSIONS

The tour price includes

Airport transfers
Accommodation in hotels for 12 nights (3* hotels with free Wi-Fi)
Breakfast
All transfers in air-conditioned vehicles
English speaking guide service for all days
All admission fees
4 wheel drive vehicle for Gergeti Trinity Church
Wine tasting in Sighnaghi
1 bottle (0,5 l) of water per day

The tour price doesn't include

Flights
Medical insurance
Visa fee

REVIEWS

Cathy Reid 01.01.2019

Hello Nune

Just a short note to say that we enjoyed our time in the Caucasus very much and wished we had had a few more days. The hotels you selected in Hagpat and Gori were both very comfortable and the staff helpful. In Hagpat we appreciated that they allowed us to have breakfast at 8AM when it is not normally served until 9 which helped us to see some additional sights.

All 3 of our guides Ruslan, Avet and Vazha were terrific, flexible (as we changed our plans a little on some days) and very thoughtful. We spent the most time with Vazha and we appreciated the many small touches that he brought to that part of the trip.

As you know we had to cancel the night in Kazbegi due to the weather and road conditions but that turned out quite nicely as we still saw the mountains and gained an extra day in Tbilisi.

Finally, I had been concerned that coming over the holiday period things would be a bit quiet but in fact they were very lively and enjoyable in all locations with the lovely Christmas decorations everywhere.

I might mention also the experience on the train, if you are booking for others. The train itself was very comfortable but for us, not used to the hot temperatures that people like to heat their houses in Europe, the train was too hot for sleeping which meant we were more tired than expected when we arrived in Tbilisi.

Please pass on our thanks and good wishes to all 3 of our guides and to the 2 hotels and thanks again to you for making the arrangements in such a professional manner.

Regards

Cathy

Gail Wilson 27.10.2018

A fantastic tour with great insight. The extension to Azerbaijan is totally worth it once you're already in the region. My personal highlights were the breathtaking scenery in Armenia and Georgia.

Emily Wright

Had a wonderful time traveling through the Caucasus. Personally I was surprised by the vast cultural differences in the three small countries. My personal highlight was the view from Mt. Kasbegi

ACCOMMODATION

Cascade Hotel

Astoria Hotel

Silachi Hotel

Ararat Hotel

Sheki Saray Hotel

Nemi Hotel

TRIP MAP

PACKING CHECKLIST

Documents:

Passport, flight ticket (printed or electronic), insurance, visa (if required)

First aid kit:

bandaids / plasters, special medicine or drugs in permanent use, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, lip balm

Essentials:

Credit/debit cards, cash (cards can be used in city, cash in regions), moneybelt, laptop/tablet/phone, chargers, camera with extra memory cards and batteries, outlet adapter

Dressing:

There are no restrictions regarding clothes; scarf or shawl is advisable for churches (obligatory in Georgia for women)

Spring / Autumn:

long pants/jeans, long sleeve blouses, light raincoat, jacket, comfortable waterproof shoes, umbrella

Summer:

T-shirts, shorts, long sleeve blouses for evening, sandals, umbrella, sun protection, sun glasses, sunhat

Winter:

Warm coat, warm wool sweater, long warm trousers, long boots (waterproof), scarf, gloves

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

WHY BOOK WITH ARARA

OWN AGENCY IN ARMENIA AND GEORGIA

With an agency operating in Georgia, we are able to provide clients with the best price and quality services.

CENTRAL LOCATED HOTELS

We choose only the best hotels located in the city center close to the main sights

GUIDES WITH 5+ YEAR EXPERIENCE

We work only with professional guides and guides who have experience in tourism for more than 5 years

LICENSED AIR CONDITIONED TRANSPORT

We provide our tourists with comfortable air-conditioned transport

3000+ SATISFIED CLIENTS PER YEAR

Every year we get a great number of positive feedback from our clients

Reviews More about Arara

GUARANTEED TOUR DATES

Start		End	Price	Space left
Any Day Any date from Yerevan/Tbillisi	13 days	Individual Aug 19, 2019 to Tbilisi/Baku	1,850 GBP	2+ Spaces left	Book now
Saturday May 11, 2019 from Yerevan/Tbillisi	13 days	Thursday May 23, 2019 to Tbilisi/Baku	1,502 GBP	2 Spaces left	Book now
Thursday Jun 13, 2019 from Yerevan/Tbillisi	13 days	Tuesday Jun 25, 2019 to Tbilisi/Baku	1,502 GBP	11 Spaces left	Book now
Friday Jul 5, 2019 from Yerevan/Tbillisi	13 days	Wednesday Jul 17, 2019 to Tbilisi/Baku	1,581 GBP	13 Spaces left	Book now
Thursday Aug 1, 2019 from Yerevan/Tbillisi	13 days	Tuesday Aug 13, 2019 to Tbilisi/Baku	1,502 GBP	8 Spaces left	Book now
Wednesday Aug 7, 2019 from Yerevan/Tbillisi	13 days	Monday Aug 19, 2019 to Tbilisi/Baku	1,581 GBP	12 Spaces left	Book now
Thursday Sep 12, 2019 from Yerevan/Tbillisi	13 days	Tuesday Sep 24, 2019 to Tbilisi/Baku	1,581 GBP	13 Spaces left	Book now
Saturday Sep 21, 2019 from Yerevan/Tbillisi	13 days	Thursday Oct 3, 2019 to Tbilisi/Baku	1,581 GBP	13 Spaces left	Book now
Thursday Oct 3, 2019 from Yerevan/Tbillisi	13 days	Tuesday Oct 15, 2019 to Tbilisi/Baku	1,581 GBP	13 Spaces left	Book now
Friday Nov 1, 2019 from Yerevan/Tbillisi	13 days	Wednesday Nov 13, 2019 to Tbilisi/Baku	1,581 GBP	13 Spaces left	Book now

Any Day

Any date

from Yerevan/Tbillisi

13
days

Individual

Aug 19, 2019

to Tbilisi/Baku

to Tbilisi/Baku

Space left

13 1,581 GBP

Book now

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