Travel to Caucasus: Georgia and Armenia Tour

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Georgia and Armenia Tour

Day 1 Arrival at the Tbilisi airport, transfer and accommodation at the Hotel Georgian House, at the evening visit to sulphur baths – where “water is hot without the fire” – as Ibn Haukal wrote in the X c.

Day 2 Sightseeing in Tbilisi and Mtskheta tour: a walk in the old-city, multinational Abanotubani, Narikala Fortress (IV c.), Metekhi church, Karvasla Museum (Caravan-sarai), Saint Trinity Church, Sioni Cathedral, basilica Anchiskhati (IV c.), Treasury of Art Museum. Cultural excursion to the old capital of Georgia – Mtskheta: a view from historic and architectural complex of Jvari (VII - XI c.), Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (XI c.), Samtavro Convent (IV - XI cc.), back to Tbilisi for dinner at Restaurant Tamada with national cuisine, wine and Georgian live music. Stay overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 3 Departure to west Georgia: on the way – visit to Uplistsikhe and Stalin’s birth place and Museum in Gori. Arrival in Kutaisi: visit Bagrati Temple, historic and architectural complex of Gelati (XI c.). Stay overnight in Kutaisi.

Day 4 Departure to the resort Borjomi, walk in the park and tasting Borjomi mineral spring water, drive to Armenia. On the way visit cave-city and monastery ensemble Vardzia – 13-storey city cut out of solid rock (XII c.). Cross the Georgian - Armenian border and meeting with the local guide for Armenia tour. Stay overnight in Alaverdi.

Day 5 Start Armenian program in Alaverdi and drive to Yerevan, excursion to Matenadaran Institute of ancient manuscripts, fortress of Garni (I c. BC), Geghard monastery cut in the rock (XII - XIII cc.), Gehatavank monastery, leisure afternoon in Yerevan: a walk in the city, shopping, stay overnight in Yerevan.

Day 6 Monastery of Echmiadzin (II c.), basilica of St. Gayane, church of St. Ripsime (XII c.), ruins of Zvartnots temple (VII c.), Khor-Virap, Noravanq Monastery Complex. Drive to the Lake Sevan and stay overnight there.

Day 7 Drive to Georgia via Bolnisi Sioni and Dmanisi - centre of sensational excavations of the “birthplace of the first European human species”. Visit East Georgia, wine Region – Kakheti: fortified city of Sighnaghi, medieval citadel of Gremi, Alaverdi monastery (XI c.) and stay overnight in Telavi.

Day 8 Visit Shuamta Monastery Complex (IV - VII c.), ancient Akademy of Ikalto, Tsinandali wine-cellar, shashlik picnic with Georgian wine and drive to Tbilisi, leisure afternoon in the capital: shopping in the city and a walk along the Rustaveli Avenue. Transfer to the airport for departure.



Tour operator EXOTOUR; booking e-mail: info@exotour.ge