Caucasus Tour 7 day - Caucasus Region Countries

Arrive at Baku international airport and transfer at the hotel in Baku.

Explore Baku City central streets and historical part of City Baku Old City, visiting of "Old Town” or “Inner City”. The territory of ”Inner City” - 22 hectares, which represents a small fraction of the total area of Baku (44,000 hectares). However, the concentration of architectural and historical monuments, dictates the need for this excursion into a separate and make this part of Baku, perhaps the most interesting to explore. Maiden Tower (XII century), Palace of Shirvanshahs (XV century), Minaret Synyk Gala, Caravan Saray, Juma Mosque - this is not a complete list of attractions of the old Baku.

Tour to “Gobustan Excursion on historical-art reserve “Gobustan”, where rock paintings have perfectly remained, barrows and housing objects dated from X-XIII millennial BC to the Middle Ages. There are certificates of inhabitants of region of an epoch of the Stone Age and the subsequent periods in “Gobustan” – Rock drawings, person parking, gravestone monuments, are concentrated there.

Excursion to Ateshgah. The temple of fire worshippers Ateshgah is located at the Apsheron peninsula at the outskirts of Surakhani village in30 kmfrom the centre of Baku and was revered in different times by Zoroastrians, Hindus and Sikhs. Current constructions of the temple are dated by XVII century. As a result of excavations far more ancient artifacts were discovered here. Pentagonal complex has an open courtyard with temple-altar in the center which was the place of pilgrimage for worshippers. By the decree of the President of Azerbaijan Ateshgah was declared a State historical-architectural reserve. This museum under the open sky was recently restored. Different workshops and souvenir galleries are located here now.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Tbilisi.

Meeting at Tbilisi airport and transfer at the hotel. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Tbilisi to Mtskheta tour offers you a fascinating promenade in two capital cities of Georgia – Tbilisi, and Mtskheta. Within one day you will visit two cities that are 20 km distance from each other and see the whole variety and beauty of them. Tbilisi is the largest city in the country and was founded in V c A.D. It is located along the Mtkvari river mouth. It is diverse in culture, styles, and traditions. And Mtskheta is a small city, a spiritual center of the country, “Second Jerusalem” and the place where two rivers – Aragvi and Mtkvari – merge. You will see the ancient historical monuments, have a stroll on the brick streets, and will have the opportunity to watch the lifestyle of the local citizens. 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.

Visit Metekhi Church 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.

Sulfur baths - Chreli Abano located at the eastern bank of the Mtkvari River at the foot of Narikala fort across Metekhisubani, Abanotubani 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. 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 the Capital of Georgia, we will visit old capital city Mtskheta

Archeological evidences trace human settlement in the area of Mtskheta from 2nd millennium BC to early 1st millennium AD. Numerous burials of the Bronze Age (beginning of the 1st millennium BC) prove that Mtskheta already was a significant settlement at that period. Mtskheta was the capital of the early Georgian Kingdom of Iberia from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD.

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral - the main patriarchal cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church, the Mother Cathedral of Georgia, the place of enthronement (enthronement) of the Georgian Catholicos-Patriarchs, the burial of many kings of Georgia, their family members and patriarchs from the great cathedrals. After visit 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!

After we will have a wine degustation. You can find here the oldest item of the Georgian cultural heritage – Thadeoz Guramishvili’s wine cellar, as for Georgian “Marani”. Visitors are also able to get introduced to the Georgian culture and taste some delicious Georgian wines. This sight of Guramishvilis and St. Ilia the Righteous is one of the most essential and magnificent touristic attractions in Georgia. Drive back to Tbilisi

After breakfast 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.

Our last stop and the main attraction of the tour is Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) and its amazing Mount Kazbegi, where the Gergeti Trinity Church is built - 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. Drive back to Tbilisi.

After a breakfast, we go to the border, where you change the transport and guide. After meeting with the Armenian guide, you move forward to Yerevan - the hospitable capital of Armenia.

Driving through wooded mountains of Dilijan National Park and deep gorges of Northern regions you stop in mountainous Haghpat village. You just cannot leave Armenia without seeing a masterpiece of architecture – Haghpat Monastic Complex.

After drive to Lake Sevan, “The Jewel of Armenia” and one of the largest high-mountain freshwater lakes in the world. The coastline of Lake Sevan is rich with thick woods, white bare steep rocks, mountain steppes and Alpine meadows 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.

Check-in, rest. Overnight in Yerevan.

Start discovering Armenia by a visit to the State History Museum where you get familiar with a complete picture of the Armenian culture and history dating back to 1 million years ago up to nowadays. Then go sightseeing in one of the world's oldest cities – 2796-year-old Yerevan. Open-air lunch at one of the restaurants located just in the Hrazdan River gorge.

Then you 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. On the way back to Yerevan you stop at the ruins of outstanding Zvartnots Temple. End of the tour. Free time. Overnight in Yerevan.

After breakfast check out and this beautiful tour finishes.