Traveler’s Feedback

Hello Hasmik,

Now that we’re back home and have had a moment to reflect, we just wanted to reach out and thank you for the beautiful journey through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia.

The itinerary was very planned— covering the most beautiful and important sites. Each country offered something unique, and the pace was just right. We especially enjoyed visiting the villages like Nij and Sheki, walking through the historic monasteries like Sanahin and Noravank, and getting to know local traditions in Kakheti and Dilijan.

All accommodations were comfortable, and the transitions across borders went generally smoothly. Azerbaijan-Georgia border crossing was more challenging but fine as we did not pack much. Please pass our thanks to all the local guides and drivers—they were excellent throughout. They were very helpful in terms of suggesting us the best restaurants for lunch and dinner.

This tour deepened our understanding of the region and left us inspired. Thank you for your professionalism and support during the whole tour and prior.

Warm regards,

Alicia Todd

Dear Florena,

Yes, we are safely back home and already miss the wonderful weather in the Caucasus.

Thank you so much for organizing the best tour we've ever taken! The 17-day Caucasus trip was packed with stunning places, rich history, and warm hospitality. We loved how we moved from the modern vibe of Baku to the charming streets of Tbilisi, and then into the spiritual heart of Armenia.

Some absolute highlights:

1. The fire mountain at Yanardag—what a surreal sight!
2. Wine tasting in Khareba's underground tunnels
3. The unforgettable drive to Gergeti—those mountains!
4. Tatev Monastery with the Wings of Tatev cable car—wow!
5. Relaxing in Jermuk and the peaceful walks in Dilijan

Everything went smoothly thanks to your wonderful coordination. We truly felt cared for every step of the way. The guides were terrific, specifically Ani in Armenia and Sophi in Georgia.

This was my first trip with a local company, and certainly not the last. I am planning my 5 Stans trip with you next year. Will contact shortly when I have a clear number of friends joining me.

Best wishes

Jonathan

Hi Hayku,

We just wanted to say a big thank you for the incredible 17-day journey through the Caucasus! From the moment we landed in Baku to our final day in Yerevan, everything was so well-organized and seamless. The diversity of landscapes, cultures, and cuisines was beyond our expectations.

We especially loved the balance between nature and history—climbing up to Gergeti Trinity Church with that stunning backdrop, exploring the cave city of Vardzia, and wandering through the peaceful monasteries of Armenia like Haghpat and Geghard.

Your attention to detail and prompt assistance made our tour more exciting and relaxed. We also want to thank our guides and drivers throughout the journey—they were knowledgeable, friendly, and really added a local touch.

We’re already recommending Arara to our friends back home!

Thomas and Lilibeth

Dear Hasmik

Just a little note to thank you and your team for a really great holiday in all three countries. It was very enjoyable and I would highly recommend your company and the tour to anyone who asked me. All three guides were excellent and may I suggest you include the Genocide museum in the Armenian tour as although it was tough to visit it gave a great understanding into the country's history.

All three countries are very beautiful and so very different so it was excellent to learn more about them as we travelled through.

Many thanks also for the gifts which you gave us which everyone really appreciated.

All best wishes Amanda

Hi Sati,

Azerbaijan

Rugiya - Very good. Ali (?) the driver - Very good. Baku is a very interesting city and visually stimulating (new skyscrapers, Soviet, ancient, not dirty or crowded). The old city is excellent.I bought a big carpet which is very heavy to carry around and joins the 50 rugs which I have to ship to Australia now! The carpet museum and the Haida Aliyev museums are excellent (we needed more time). The miniature books museum was fun and impressive. The mud volcanoes were interesting and fun. The detour over the hills on the way to Georgia was worth doing to see remote Azerbaijan and the roadside lunch with the two old locals was very enjoyable (thank to Shermineh for huge huge appetite!).

Georgia.

Layla - Very good. Driver (?) - very good. Tbilisi is very scenic in the centre and the old city is excellent. The old fashioned hammam (# 5) is the best (most extreme) and more interesting (they are all different styles) than the old traditional hammams in Istanbul and Bukhara. N.B. Only for blokes who are not easily embarrassed! The Ananuri Fortress was a good trip, very scenic and very interesting as was the old capital. The trip to the Russian border is visibly beautiful.

Armenia

Anna - Very good Driver Sergei - Very good and his drone videos were fun. Fascinating history, sad but uplifting as well. The Genocide museum is emotionally gruelling but essential and the guide there was excellent. The manuscript museum very good. Yerevan is fun and the Cascades are inspiring. Beautiful setting under Ararat. Lavash baking good.

General.

The organisation (you?)was tight and effective and the agenda was good. The guides and drivers were always reliable and punctual and fun!. We all felt that at least half a day by ourselves to wander around in the city centres would have been useful but I understand that some guests might feel they don’t want to pay for having ‘free time’ — we would have willingly done so!

The histories, cultures and foods of all countries are fascinating (and I am not usually interested in what I eat!).

Despite being an ex-international banker, I am interested in the language, nature, geology and economy of everywhere I visit, as well as history and culture. If the guides don’t know much about these areas would it be a good idea to have brief written A4 summaries to hand out for each country? My Lonely Planet book was not very informative.

I felt it may have been fun for us occasionally to have an evening meal all together at a ‘local’ restaurant (especially if there is folk-dancing or music). I appreciate that it would be difficult with people in different hotels and the guides had their own families to look after!

We are very busy trying to sell our house in England and shipping our mountain of possessions to Oz. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best wishes from Kevin and Sue and thanks to all for a splendid trip!

This tour was more than just ticking off sights — it felt like a deep dive into two very different yet connected cultures. Our local guide Sophie in Georgia was excellent, Raffi in Armenia very friendly and knowledgeable. Our hotel in Yerevan was especially great as we had a lovely view of Mt Ararat from our hotel room.

We recommend this tour for those who are looking to cover the highlights and UNESCO sites in the 2 countries in 9 days.  

Thank you for arranging this amazing trip for us, Hayku. Very well-organized from start to finish. I met awesome people in the group, tried so much new food, and learned a lot. Georgia was vibrant and energetic, while Armenia felt calm and deep. The guides were great and made our experience more enjoying. The vans were comfortable and the drivers careful. Would absolutely travel with Arara again.

Great tour! Everything ran on time, and the guides were professional and informative. We especially enjoyed the contrast between modern Tbilisi and the ancient monasteries in Armenia. It’s a lot to see in 9 days, but it never felt rushed. We would love to visit this region again, maybe adding Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan next time.

Thank you Hasmik and Arara Team.

Daniel Hosford

Dear Arara Team,

I just wanted to say thank you again. I truly enjoyed the 9-day tour of Georgia and Armenia. This wasn’t my first group trip, but it was my first time in the Caucasus, and I loved how different it felt from other places I’ve visited.

Both countries were amazing, each in its own way. Similar and at the same time different, we equally enjoyed both. Our guides Temo in Georgia and Anna in Armenia were wonderful.

I also liked that the group was small — we were only seven people, and by the end, it really felt like traveling with friends. I’m already eyeing your 5 Stans of Central Asia tours next year.

Will be in touch once I choose the best suitable date.
Susan Walker

Hi Inga,

We just got back from the 9-day tour and wanted to share some honest thoughts — overall, it was a great trip, and we’re really happy we chose Arara.

We didn’t know much about Georgia or Armenia before going, so we weren’t sure what to expect. But from Day 1, everything felt smooth. We were picked up on time in Tbilisi, and our Georgian guide Sopo was super friendly, relaxed, and knowledgeable — she had a great sense of humor too, which made the long drives fun.

The mountains around Kazbegi were amazing — we were lucky to get clear weather, and the 4*4 drive to Gergeti was fun.

Crossing into Armenia was interesting — it felt noticeably different, both culturally and visually. Our Armenian guide Mary was the best guide we ever met.

We had one minor issue in Yerevan — a short power cut at the hotel one morning — but it was fixed quickly, and the staff were helpful. Overall, we felt safe, well-organized, and like we got a genuine glimpse into both countries.

Thanks again,
Marta Fisher

Hi Sati

Overall, we have thoroughly enjoyed the whole tour, and can only offer a few suggestions which you may like to consider. Probably overall, too many monasteries!

Azerbaijan. Guide Rugiya was fantastic . Liked the itinerary there very much. Hotel in Gabala very basic, empty pool but understand there is probably not a lot of options there.

Georgia. 

We found the crossing of the border in to Georgia was fine because we only had smaller carry on suitcases. The ramps on each of the steps are not wide enough to easily roll a larger suitcase.

Telavi - Holiday Inn there had insufficient towels for the number of guests staying. On both nights, we had no towels for a shower before bed . They were delivered to the room at 11pm after we were asleep. -Enjoyed the times that we stopped unplanned on the roadside to see e.g. bread making. 

Armenia. 

Vardan was exceptional. Took us to a number of places that were not on the itinerary, which we enjoyed very much and maybe could be included and leave off a monastery or two.

Cave houses outside of Goris - Khndzoresk Caves

Line of Stones - Carahunge monument

Columnar basalt gorge below Garni Temple- very impressive.

Thanks again Sati, for arranging our great holiday. You we very easy to deal with in the planning and kept in touch while we were enroute.

Regards, 

Ian and Barbara

I took a 21-day tour with Arara through the Caucasus, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia. It was one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had. Everything was very well organized from the start to the end. The guides were friendly, helpful, and knew a lot about the history and culture of each country. Our drivers were very professional and always made us feel safe on the road.

We stayed in comfortable and clean hotels, often in great locations near city centers or beautiful views. I felt safe, relaxed, and happy the whole time. Every day brought new adventures from exploring old monasteries and colorful markets to enjoying traditional food and meeting local people.

I learned so much about the region and made many wonderful memories. I really enjoyed the tour and would recommend it to anyone who wants to discover this beautiful part of the world.