Armenia and Georgia 14 Days

Itinerary:

Day 1: 11.06 Arrival 

Arrive in Yerevan. Meet a guide and driver at the Zvartnots airport. Flight EK2206 at 11:15AM.

Transfer from Zvartnots airport to Yerevan, Armenia. Check-in after 14:00.

Walking tour in Yerevan: You will go to sightseeing in one of the world's oldest cities – 2796-year-old Yerevan.

• Cascade Complex
• Opera House
• Northern avenue
• Republic Square

• Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 2: 12.06 Khor Virap – Areni wine region – Noravank monastery.
Meet a guide and driver at the hotel.
Tour to Khor Virap – Areni wine region – Noravank monastery.
First you will travel to Khor Virap - one of the most sacred and visited sites in Armenia primarily due to the legend of Saint Gregory the Illuminator who was imprisoned for 13 years in there. You can visit the underground chamber which he was imprisoned in. And finally enjoy the magnificent view of Biblical Mount Ararat. During the tour you will visit the Areni wine region of Armenia and have a tour in winery with wine tasting. You will visit Areni cave as well. After exploring this historical place, you will go to Noravank. The beautiful Noravank Monastery was built in the 13th century on the ledge of narrow winding gorge above the Amaghu River.

• Lunch in Hin Areni

Overnight in Yerevan.

We can organize the lunch in Hin Areni or go to the Stepanyan’s gastro and wine yard, where you can try the homemade tasty wine and have a rest.

Day 3: 13.06 Etchmiadzin - Zvartnots Temple

Continue discovering first Cristian country.

You will move forward to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin – the spiritual center of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the seat of the Supreme Patriarch and the Catholicos of all Armenians. Numerous kings and Catholicoses have been crowned and consecrated here. You will also visit famous Treasury Museum of Etchmiadzin. On the way back to Yerevan you stop at the ruins of outstanding Zvartnots Temple.

• Masterclass of making Armenian traditional dish “Tolma”.

Next stop is Voskevaz winery tour. Transfer back to the hotel. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 4: 14.06 Geghard – Garni - Symphony in the stone

In the morning the guide takes you to Geghard Monastic Complex located on the mountainside of the almost closed amphitheater of harsh cliffs. It is famous for its rock-cut architecture. Thanks to its hard-to-reach area, the Holy Lance, which pierced the side of Christ, has been kept here for 500 years. St. Thaddeus Apostle brought it to Armenia in 33 AD. In honor of the Holy Lance, Ayrivank Monastery (meaning “Cave Monastery”) was renamed Geghard (the Armenian translation of “the Holy Lance”).

On the way, you stop at Charents Arch to enjoy the majestic view of the Biblical Mount Ararat.

The next highlight is the only standing pagan temple in Armenia – Garni, devoted to Mihr, who, in accordance with the Armenian Mythology, was the God of the Sun. From here you will enjoy the impressive view of breathtaking high cliffs called “Symphony in the stone”. An unforgettable experience is waiting for you in Garni village – you can take part in a real ritual and masterclass of baking national “lavash” bread with local villagers.

• Lunch in Garni

Then you will back to Yerevan and have a tour in Ararat Cognac Museum with cognac degustation. (The tour time can be changed according to the availability in brandy factory).

• Cognac degustation -15$ per person

Transfer back to the hotel. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 5: 15.06 Sevan Lake – Dilijan – Haghartsin – Gyumri

It's time to driving to one of the highest fresh-water lakes in the world – the Sevan (1 900m). From the top of the Sevan Peninsula, you can admire the full view of the lake of volcano-tectonic origin and the adjacent mountain chains. Driving through wooded mountains of Dilijan National Park and deep gorges of Northern regions you stop in mountainous Haghartsin village and see masterpiece of architecture – Haghartsin Monastic Complex.

Ijevan wine factory (tour and degustation)

After you will move to Gyumri and have overnight there.

Day 6: 16.06 Gyumri - Border - Vardzia Cave town - Akhaltsikhe

In the morning you will have city tour in Gyumri and visit Sev Berd fortress or Black fortress is an impressively round fortress built out of a necessity to defend the land from the Turks in the early 19th century. Valued for its historical and cultural significance, the fort is included in the List of National Cultural Heritage Monuments of Armenia.

After you will move to the Georgian border Bavra and say goodbye to Armenia.

Meet with Georgia guide and driver and start exploring beautiful Georgia with its famous hospitality

First you will visit Khertvisi fortress for 15minutes photo stop

After we will explore Vardzia Cave town, very impressive historical-cultural monument, founded in 12th century, 13 floors and hundreds of rooms, halls and churches, huge complex made in rocks. There once were about 3,000 caves and 50,000 people lived there. You visit the church carved into the rock with amazing frescoes of the 12th century. The monastery has never been restored since then, but in the second half of XIX c every now and then several monks lived there. Some traces of revival of the monastery live are noticeable even nowadays. Overnight in Akhaltsikhe

Day 7: 17.06 Rabati castle - Borjomi – Kutaisi

After breakfast visit Rabathi Fortress. Rabathi fortress is from 9th century, but there are buildings dated from 17th – 18th centuries. Rabathi is unique because of a contrast of Georgian and Turkish cultures. In that fortress you will explore Georgian towers and churches, Turkish mosque and houses.

After drive to Borjomi balneological resort. Borjom is internationally renowned for crystal fresh air saturated with the aroma of pines and for curative mineral springs of volcanic origin, which by archaeological excavations are over 1,500 years old.

Today Borjomi is an internationally acclaimed brand, National pride of Georgia, and visiting card of the country. We will visit Borjomi Central Park-the park has an ecological theme and it features: mineral water bottling plant, a green pavilion with a transparent dome and mineral water fountain where you can fill up your own bottle, a peculiar statue of Prometheus which stands at the base of a small waterfall, a cable car leading up to a scenic overlook, children’s amusement rides, a swimming pool, a cinema. Drive to Kutaisi. Visit Bagrati Cathedral (XI c.), built by King David the Builder. Overnight in Kutaisi

Day 8: 18.06 Kutaisi - Racha

After breakfast, we drive to visit one of the most beautiful mountainous regions of Georgia - Racha.

On the way in Terjola, visit unique family NANUA winery, where you will taste Bio wines. This vine library now includes more than 100 species, including rare and endangered varietals. The organic garden is lush and healthy with scatterings of lavender and fresh compost. Nitrogen-rich beans grow randomly between rows. You will be able to see mini ethnographic museum in the making with a recycled kvevri upside down in the corner that is fashioned into a wood-burning stove.

Now continue driving to Racha we will visit the region is famous for its semisweet unique appellation wines. First, we visit Nikortsminda church (11th century). The Cathedral is on the Tentative List for status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Continue our wine trip in Racha and visit family winery, where you will taste various kind of wines.

Here you will have a masterclass and dinner. Only here you can taste real ``rachvelian LORI``- pork ham. Overnight in Racha.

Day 9: 19.06 Racha- Sachkere – Gori 

After breakfast visit winery factory ‘’Barakoni’’ in Racha. Here you will be able to taste famous wine of Racha – Khvanchkara. Only in Racha is grown the grape, from which unmatched wine Khvanchkara is made. Now say goodbye to Racha and drive to Gori throught the beautiful Cheratkhevi Pass.

Visit Joseph Stalin’s Museum. Established in 1951 as a memorial to Stalin, who died in 1953. The main building of the complex is a large palace in the Stalinist Gothic style. Enshrined within a Greco-Italianate pavilion is a small wooden hut, in which Stalin was born in 1878 and spent his first four years.
To one side of the museum is Stalin's personal railway carriage. The green Pullman carriage, which is armor plated and weighs 83 tons, was used by Stalin from 1941 onwards, including his attendances at the Yalta Conference and the Tehran Conference. It was sent to the museum on being recovered from the railway yards at Rostov on Donau in 1985. Overnight in Gori

Day 10: 20.06 Gori - Jvari Monastery- Ananuri – Gudauri – Kazbegi 

On this day you will have the opportunity to experience the highlights of Kazbegi – a district in northeastern Georgia known for its mountains, rivers and cultural monuments. You will see the snow-capped peak of Mount Kazbek which will open up an enchanting Georgia.

Jvari Monastery- VI century church and monastery, located in the east of Mtskheta, at the mouth of the river Mtkvari and Aragvi, on the rocky mountain peak. Jvari Monastery is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Here there is kept the Robe of Jesus Christ which had been brought from Jerusalem in I c. A true architectural masterpiece of the Early Middle Ages. Built on a hilltop, the views it affords of Mtskheta and the Aragvi and Mtkvari Rivers are breathtaking and great for selfies!

You will drive north towards the Northern Caucasus along the well-known Georgian Military Road

The first stop will be at the Ananuri complex, a former residence of Argveti Dukes. The complex features churches and towers dating back to the 16-17th centuries, beautifully overlooking the Jinvali reservoir. The buildings included in the complex are: upper and lower fortress, fence, towers, Church of the mother of God, Church of the Deity, “Mkurnali” Church, bell tower, octagonal cell, and reservoirs;

Continue our drive to see the conjunction of two small mountain rivers famous for the fact that being different in color they still keep their own colors even after merging.

Continue our incredible tour and now visit the Gudauri Friendship monument, also known as Gudauri Panorama- located 120 KM from Tbilisi, on the Georgian Military Highway connecting to Russia. The monument is very vivid and colorful, however, most of its beauty is thanks to the location. Georgia-Russia Friendship monument is a circular balcony hanging off of a 600-meter cliff with amazing views of the Caucasus Mountains. Visit Gergeti trinity - located at an altitude of 2170 m. From Kazbegi ride in 4 WD vehicles through beautiful valleys and woods reaching the Gergeti Trinity church. In good weather, you can see one of the highest glaciers in the Caucasus – the mountain Kazbegi at 5047m. Enjoy breathtaking views, take pictures breathe fresh air, and collect lots of emotions.

Overnight in Gudauri.

Day 11: 21.06 Kazbegi – Vardisubani – wine degustation-masterclass – Telavi 

After breakfast drive to Kakheti region through the beautiful pass. Visit Village Vardisubani where you will have opportunity to see how the Qvevri (Clay pitch) is made.

• Taste Kakhetian wine and chacha and have masterclass of Georgian dishes and Lunch 

Visit Telavi city the capital of Kakheti where you will see the residence of King Erekle II and his monument. One of the interesting points of the program is the Tree – Platan, which is more than 900 years old. This tree, in addition to its venerable age and huge size, was famous for shooting in the famous and beloved movie “Mimino”. Overnight in Telavi

Day 12: 22.06 Telavi - Alaverdi - Khareba wine tunnel–Tbilisi

In the morning, you will visit Alaverdi monastery - founded in the VI century by Joseph Alaverdeli, one of the 12 Assyrian fathers. Afterwards, you will visit Matsoni House. Matsoni is a pure Georgian traditional type of yogurt. You will taste different kinds of yogurt, which will surprice you with its different and marvelous taste.

Now drive to visit a unique winery of Khareba – the wine tunnel in the rock, where you will have wine degustation. On the way to Tbilisi visit Bodbe Monastery, holy place for Orthodox Georgian, this is a place where you will enjoy beautiful garden made by local nuns and breathtaking view around the landscape. Close to the monastery we will visit Sighnaghi city.

The city of Sighnaghi is beautiful with its architectural form and excellent views of the Alazani Valley and the Caucasus Mountains. It is also called the city-museum. Walk in the main streets and on the famous wall of Sighnaghi, enjoy magnificent views around. Finish tour and back to Tbilisi.

Day 13: 23.06 Tbilisi sightseeing tour 

Tbilisi tour features all ‘’must-see’’ sights from centuries-old churches and fortresses to contemporary symbols of the city. The tour schedule is designed in a way that guests of the capital can get a wholesome impression not only about the capital of Georgia and its history but also get an insight into nature, traditions, and lifestyles across the country.

Our guide and driver will meet you at your hotel for a sightseeing tour in Tbilisi.

The city offers a wide variety of sights, most of them very ancient. Starting at the church of Metekhi, we walk to the brick domes of sulfur baths and then on to spectacularly located Narikala’s fortress – one of the oldest fortresses in Georgia, overlooking the Mtkvari river gorge.

Metekhi Church is located in the ancient historical district of Metekhi, on the left bank of the Mtkvari River, in old Tbilisi. Metekhi Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is one of the oldest churches built in Tbilisi. Researchers confirm that the temple was built in the 6th century. King Vakhtang I Gorgasali erected a church, a castle, and a palace here, which also served as the king's residence

Sulfur baths - Chreli Abano located at the eastern bank of the Mtkvari River at the foot of Narikala fortress is an important historic part of the city — the place, where according to a legend the King of Iberia, Vakhtang Gorgasali’s falcon fell, leading to a discovery of the hot springs and, subsequently, to the founding of new capital.

Narikala’s fortress - is nowadays the leading sighting among the most visited places in Tbilisi by tourists. Narikala Fortress draws your attention from all sides of Tbilisi, you can notice it from almost every part of Tbilisi. It overlooks the Mtkvari River, which makes Narikala even more incredible. Narikala consists of two walled sections between the sulfur baths and the Tbilisi Botanical Garden. The fortress walls date from various periods, the earliest from the 4th century when it was a Persian citadel. In Georgian sources, it is called “Mother Fortress”. Narikala offers you some of the best panoramas of the city. This is an ancient symbol of Tbilisi’s defensive brilliance. You will get there by cable car.

After that, we visit the synagogue, and the Sioni and Anchiskhati churches, which mark the end of the Old Town. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 14: 24.06 Departure

After breakfast check out from the hotel at standard time 12:00 pm.