The Caucasus is a region spanning Eastern Europe and Western Asia, its mountain range is considered part of the natural boundary between Europe and Asia. It is situated between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia.

Azerbaijan

The richest state of the Caucasus, its capital awash in oil wealth and international business, wonderful old palaces of the Shirvan Shahs in Baku and Sheki, Zoroastrian fire temples, barren landscapes – oil and salt spreading across the surface, and world-class hikes in the lush, heavily forested, mountainous north and south.

Georgia

The lush green heart of the Caucasus, with fabulous cuisine and culture, incredibly diverse landscapes, and an exceptional wealth of ancient churches, cathedrals, monasteries, and cave cities

Armenia

An ancient, millennia-old civilization amidst stark mountain landscapes and remote canyons. Home to amazing world heritage sites, forgotten monasteries and boasting a wonderfully laid back and friendly culture.

This was a fully guided tour of 14-day duration covering Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia with a travel group of 10 members from 26 May to 8 June 2019.

Day 1 26 May (Sun) Arrive Baku

Day 2 27 May (Mon) Baku

Day 3 28 May (Tue) Baku / Gobustan / Shemakha / Sheki

Day 4 29 May (Wed) Sheki / Sighnaghi

Day 5 30 May (Thu) Sighnaghi / Tbilisi

Day 6 30 May (Thu) Arrive Tbilisi

Day 7 31 May (Fri) Tbilisi / Mtskheta / Uplistsikhe / Tbilisi

Day 8 01 Jun (Sat) Tbilisi / Ananauri / Gudauri / Kazbegi

Day 9 02 Jun (Sun) Kazbegi

Day 10 03 Jun (Mon) Kazbegi / Sahahin / Haghpat / Dzoraget

Day 11 04 Jun (Tue) Dzoraget / Lake Sevan / Yerevan

Day 12 05 Jun (Wed) Yerevan / Khor Virap / Echmiadzin / Yerevan

Day 13 06 Jun (Thu) Yerevan / Geghard / Garni / Yerevan

Day 14 07 Jun (Fri) Depart Yerevan

Day to Day Programme:

DAY 01 - 26 MAY (SUN) - ARRIVE BAKU

Flight:

26 May - Singapore / Doha QR 945 0220/0515 (7h 55m)

26 May - Doha / Baku QR 351 0730/1120 (2h 50m)

DAY 02 - 27 MAY (MON) - BAKU

This morning we set off on a walking tour of the historic Old Town of Baku with its maze of narrow alleys and ancient buildings contrasting sharply with the relentless modernity of thenew city. The walking tour starts with a visit to Icheri Sheher, the fortress of Old Baku dating to the 15th century, and continues to Maiden Tower, the Shirvan Shahs’ Palace Complex, medieval market square and caravanserai. We shall also visit the Synyk Kala Minaret, completed in 1093, which is the city’s oldest building. Visit the State Carpet Museum, and the Martyr’s Lane. After lunch, continue to the Absheron Peninsula, which has the oldest oil fields in Azerbaijan. Visit the Zoroastrian Fire Temple at Ateshgyakh, from the 18th century.

DAY 03 - 28 MAY (TUE) - BAKU | GOBUSTAN | SHEMAKHA | SHEKI

This morning we proceed outside the city to Gobustan with an archaeologist for another UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for its archaeological monuments with more than 4,000 rock drawings from the Neolithic period.

Leaving Baku, it is a long drive of 296 km over the mountain to Sheki. Visit Daribaba Mausoleum.

Visit Shemakha, the former capital of the once powerful Shirvan Khanate, Djuma Mosque and Yeddi Gumbaz, the royal mausoleum. The drive is beautiful, tracing the ancient Silk Road and views of the lovely countryside.

DAY 04 - 29 MAY (WED) - SHEKI | SIGHNAGHI

Morning we have sightseeing tour of Sheki. After lunch continue the drive across the mountain, cross the border into Georgia. We enter Georgia in the region of Kakheti, the biggest and the most important winemaking region in Georgia, which is famous with its hospitality, delicious food and ancient Georgian technique of winemaking which dates to the 8th century BC and is still used to produce unique organic Qvevri wine.

Continue to 18th century Royal town of Signaghi. Surrounded by the longest defensive wall in the region with 23 towers, Signaghi was an important strategic place on Silk Road route.

Visit Bodbe Nunnery (9thc) near Sighnaghi, the place where St. Nino, the 4th century female evangelist of Georgians is buried. Enjoy the evening in beautiful narrow streets of Sighnaghi from where you can explore panoramic sights of Caucasus Mountains and Alazani valley. Visit one of the famous wineries “Pheasants Tears” in Sighnaghi, enjoy wine tasting and delicious dinner with local food.

DAY 05 - 30 MAY (THU) - SIGHNAGHI | TBILISI

Enjoy a leisure morning followed by a drive towards Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. After lunch we start to explore the Georgian capital.

Destroyed and rebuilt nearly 30 times, it is today one of the most lively and cosmopolitan cities in the Caucasus. Walk through the narrow streets and inner courtyards, and stroll down Rustaveli Avenue, the main thoroughfare. Visit Metekhi Church of the Virgin, which was rebuilt in the 12th and 13th centuries; Sioni Cathedral in the town centre, the main cathedral of Tbilisi and seat of the Catholics of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Visit Janashia State Museum with its treasury collection

DAY 06 - 31 MAY (FRI) - TBILISI | MTSKHETA | UPLISTSIKHE | TBILISI

This morning drive 45 min to Mtskheta, ancient capital of eastern Georgia. Georgia’s conversion to Christianity occurred in Mtskheta in 337AD. Visit its historical, fully-functioning churches including the beautiful 7th century Jvari Church perched on a cliff overlooking the city, the Sveti-Tskhoveli Cathedral, the first Christian church to be built in Georgia and its largest functioning cathedral, and the Samtavro monastery complex, with its shrine to St Nino, converter ofGeorgia. In the afternoon, Gori, infamous as the birthplace of Josef Stalin, and have lunch before visiting the Stalin Museum.

Then proceed just outside the town to visit Uplistsikhe cave town, developed to service the trade route from India to the west in the 1st millennium BC. The town is a complex of rock-cut streets, residences, churches, secret tunnels, water passages, markets and the oldest theatre in Georgia, all hewn out of the mountain side..

DAY 07 - 01 JUN (SAT) - TBILISI | ANANAURI | GUDAURI | KAZBEGI

Today we drive north along the Georgian Military Highway. Completed in 1817 to link Georgia with Russia this has long been an important military and economic route through the mountainous region. About 45 minutes out of Tbilisi, we stop to visit Ananuri, the beautifully sited 16th century fortress complex with its exquisitely carved churches; then continue into the Caucasus Mountains for another 1 hour to Gudauri, Georgia’s top ski resort.

After a brief rest to take in the mountain scenery, we continue for a 1.5hr drive through alpine meadows and mountain passes littered with medieval watch towers to Kazbegi. By 4 WD vehicles, drive to visit Tsminda Sameba Church, perched in a beautiful, solitary spot high above the village of Kazbegi, one of Georgia’s iconic sights.

DAY 08 -02 JUN (SUN) - KAZBEGI

This morning we travel by 4x4 cars drive to Juta village from where we start hiking tour towards Chaukhi massive and enjoy picturesque landscapes. (Hiking takes one way 2 hours). After a picnic lunch, hike back to Juta village and then continue drive back to Kazbegi. After arrival have a walk in the village and visit a local felt master to learn about the history, techniques and process of sheep wool treatment and dyeing with natural paints as well as enjoy several species of herbal teas.

DAY 09 - 03 JUN (MON) - KAZBEGI | SAHAHIN | HAGHPAT | DZORAGET

Drive about 3 hours back to Tbilisi. From here it is an hour to the border crossing to Armenia at Sadakhlo; after the immigration formalities. Drive another 30 minutes to visit the 10th century monastic complexes of Sanahin and Haghpat, outstanding examples of medieval Armenian architecture and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Then we drive towards Dzoraget, along the Debed River nestled among the forest-covered hills. Check-in to the Avan Dzoraget hotel, built in 2004 but designed to evoke the historical atmosphere of a medieval Armenian castle.

DAY 10 - 04 JUN (TUE) - DZORAGET | KHOR VIRAP | ECHMIADZIN | YEREVAN

This morning we head towards Yerevan, en route we will stop by the lake Sevan - The emerald of Armenia, the pearl of Caucasus and the second highest fresh water lake in the world. to visit 9th century Sevan Monastery. Visit Noratuz - cemetery of thousands of Khachkars (cross-stones).

DAY 11 - 05 JUN (WED) - YEREVAN | KHOR VIRAP | ECHMIADZIN | YEREVAN

After breakfast, excursion to Khor Virap, in the Ararat Valley about 40 minutes’ drive from Yerevan. Set against the stunning view of Biblical Mt Ararat, this large 17th century monastery is built over the 4th century site of St Gregory’s imprisonment in a pit for 12 years. Then drive about 30 minutes to Echmiadzin, the seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Visit the ancient cathedral, on the site where St Gregory the Illuminator first built in 301-303 AD; also visit the Zvartnots ruins from the 7th century. Both Echmiadzin and Zvarnots are UNESCO World Heritages

DAY 12 - 06 JUN (THU) - YEREVAN | GEGHARD | GARNI | YEREVAN

Drive about 1 hour to Garni, a pagan Hellenistic temple in a picturesque setting and have 1 hour hiking tour in picturesque Garni canyon to see natural monument called stone symphony.

Have lunch at a local house, where we participate in an Armenian Lavash-making ceremony. Visit UNESCO World Heritage Geghard monastery, rock-cut from caves, producing some beautiful acoustics. Return to Yerevan for dinner followed by a city tour.