Cycling Tour to Armenia and Georgia

After your arrival in Yerevan, you will be transferred to the hotel. Depending on your arrival time you will have a short city tour by bicycle around the ancient capital of Armenia. According to the cuneiform inscription of Urartian King Argishti Yerevan was built in 782 BC. Some decades ago Alexander Tamanyan, the general architect of Yerevan draw the contemporary masterplanplan of the city which we can see today. The warm smiles of its inhabitants give the unique charm to this eternal city, ancient and so young at the same time.

After the breakfast, you will be transferred to Ashtarak highway by cars from where you will start your cycling journey to Gyumri – a cultural center and the second largest city in Armenia. The city is the regional center and has the history dating back at least five thousand years. Geographically it is situated in the Shirak Valley, on the left bank of the Akhuryan River. En route you will visit Hovhanavank and Saghmosavank monasteries, both dramatically located on the edge of a beautiful canyon. You will continue your journey to Aparan by car, where will have a rest. From Aragats mountain you will start a cycling up to Artik town. In the evening, you will reach Gyumri for a rest and overnight.

This day you will start your journey to Georgia. After breakfast, you will be transferred to Armenian-Georgian border (Bavra) by car. After passing the customs you will start your cycling journey to Akhaltsikhe – the center and biggest town of Samtskhe-Javakheti region. The landscape of the town and its surroundings are a combination of fields and hills, and the town itself is divided into two parts: an old part on the hill and a new region on the plain. In Akhaltsikhe you will have a rest, walk around the town and taste some delicious Georgian dishes and wines.

After breakfast, you will ride to Borjomi by endlessly turning and twisting mountain serpentine surrounded by green wooded hills. Borjomi is famous for its healing mineral waters. Archaeological excavations have revealed the existence of stone baths in the area, proving that these mineral waters have been utilized by people for thousands of years. Here you will have a great chance to swim in the mineral water pool.

This day the journey will continue to Mtskheta, the first capital of Georgia. Nowadays Mtskheta is the religious center of Georgia. First, you will ride your bikes from Borjomi town to the highway, then you will be transferred to Gori, the birthplace of Soviet revolutionary Josef Stalin. From Gori, you will ride your bikes to Mtskheta through fields, meadows and some small roadside villages. After that, a car will take you to the Jvari Church located on the hilltop overlooking Mtskheta. From the top opens an amazing view of the junction of Kura and Aragvi rivers.

This day you will have a city tour around Mtshketa. After the excursion, you will have a trip to Telavi town– the center of Kakheti winemaking region located in the beautiful Alazani Valley. A pleasant time awaits you in Sighnaghi – a royal town founded by the king Erekle II in the 18th century. Strolling around the pebbled 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.

In the morning, you will continue your journey from Sighnaghi to Tbilisi which is the capital and the largest city of Georgia. It’s located on the banks of the Kura River with a population of approximately 1.5 million people. Tbilisi was founded in the 5th century AD by the king Vakhtang I Gorgasali, the monarch of the Kingdom of Iberia. In the evening you will drive to the hotel in Tbilisi for a rest and overnight.

This day you will have a city tour around Tbilisi. You will visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi – the main Georgian Orthodox Church. Next place to visit is the historic district of Metekhi, where the Assumption Church is located. During the day you will also have a chance to enjoy the beautiful architecture of the Bridge of Peace, designed by a well-known Italian architect. In the evening you will walk on the charming pebbled narrow streets, enjoy the view of national wooden carved balconies, as well as visit open-air cafes, pubs.

After discovering the wonderful culture, nature and architecture of Georgia, you will continue your fascinating journey to Armenia. You will be transferred to Armenia-Georgia border and after passing “Sadakhlo” customs you will ride to Ijevan town by bicycles. Ijevan is situated in the valley of Aghstev river at an average height of 755 meters above sea level. The surrounding mountains are covered with thick forests, turning into alpine meadows in some areas.

After breakfast, you will ride to Dilijan, a lush town known as a spa resort. A stroll in the historical district will let you experience the atmosphere of the old town as it was in the 19th century. The imaginatively carved balconies so typical for the 19th century Dilijan display the region’s historical love for fine woodwork. Here you will also visit Haghartsin Monastery. In the evening you will ride to Lake Sevan, the “blue pearl of Armenia” and one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world located at about 2000 meters above sea level. Here you will visit Sevanavank monastery which was found in 874 by Princess Mariam.

After breakfast you will start riding alongside Lake Sevan. The vehicle will take you up to the Vartenyats pass to a very scenic place along the section of Great Silk Road. Here you will have an opportunity to see one of the well-preserved caravanserais on the Silk Road. In the evening you will reach Hermon village.

The day will start with a journey through a narrow canyon to the valley of red rocks to Noravank Monastery. Then you will ride to one of the largest winemaking areas of Armenia, Arpa River Valley. This region of Armenia is considered the center of winemaking and it has become famous for its unique grape sort Areni. The winemaking in Armenia is already 6000 years old. This fact was proved by the founding in Areni Caves. In the town, you will visit a small winery to taste local wines. From Zangakatun village you will turn from the main road to Urtsadzor village, which is the entrance to Khosrov state resort. Your next stop will be Khor Virap Monastery – a historic site located on a hill amidst the Ararat Valley. The monastery was built on the place of the royal prison in Artashat. Here in the royal prison, Gregory the Illuminator suffered for 13 years for preaching Christianity in Armenia in the 3rd century. Nowhere else in Armenia you will see such an amazing view of the Biblical Ararat. In the evening you will drive to Yerevan.

Transfer to the airport, departure