Cultural Crossroads of Georgia and Armenia Tour

Craggy peaks and ancient trails set the stage for an unforgettable journey. From cave dwellings and lofty temples to market stalls and songs echoing off stone walls, every step draws you deeper into the traditions of the Caucasus. Discover the bridges, fortresses and cathedrals of Tbilisi, sip wine in Kakheti, and visit the stunning temple at Garni. From a 4WD to a folk performance and warm lavash fresh from the oven, experience two cultures, rich in history, flavour and spirit.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Fly to Tbilisi
Fly from London Luton to Tbilisi Airport, via Paris. On arrival transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: Tbilisi
A full day guided tour on foot and by coach to show you some of this ancient city’s vast and historic array of sights. First to Metekhi Plateau with the Virgin Mary Assumption Church located on the left bank of the river Mtkvari opposite the Old Town, along with the Statue of the City Founder King Wachtang I. Gorgasali. The cable car takes us up to the Narikala Fortress, dating from the 4th century, with splendid views over the city. From here to the sulphurous bath district and the Old Town, including 6th century Georgian Orthodox Sioni Cathedral. Finally, to Liberty Square and the National Museum with its stunning treasury of Golden artifacts from the famous ancient Colchis Kingdom, after which we will walk along central Rustaveli Avenue via the Parliament and the Opera to view externally the residence of the Georgian President. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 3: Uplistsikhe - Mtskheta
Our next day takes us out of the city to the extraordinary ancient cave city of Uplistsikhe ("Fortress of the Lord") above a branch of the ancient Silk Road. It contains various structures from the early Iron Age to the late Middle Ages and is also renowned for the coexistence of its Pagan and Christian architecture. It has been identified by archaeologists as one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia, dating back to 2BC. From here, we head to the former Georgian capital Mtskheta (an UNESCO World Heritage Site), famed as the spiritual centre of the country with its Svetitskhoveli Cathedral said to house part of the Robe of Jesus Christ and the Jvari Church above the river valley. Enjoy lunch in the garden of a local family before returning to the capital. 

Day 4: Ananuri - Gergeti
Today we head towards the Greater Caucasus Mountains and its jaw-dropping scenery. We visit the Ananuri Fortified Church at Jinvali Lake, named after martyr Ana, who kept the secret of how to enter the Church. We continue along the Old Georgian Military Road to Kazbegi at the foot of Mt. Kazbek, where according to the ancient Greek Legend, Prometheus was tied up. From here we’ll take 4WD Jeeps up to Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,200m. Return to Tbilisi with dinner enroute. 

Day 5: Armenia: Lake Sevan and Dilijan
Today we transfer to the Sadakhlo border and meet your Armenian guide. Visit Haghpat Monastery, then travel to the shores of Lake Sevan – this high-altitude lake, situated at 1900 meters above sea level, occupies around 5% of Armenia's surface area. Here, visit the monastery of Sevanavank, situated atop the Lake Sevan peninsula. Founded in the 9th century, the complex offers breath-taking panoramic view of the lake and the surrounding mountains (which requires a climb of about 200 stairs). Drive on to Yerevan.

Day 6: Yerevan city
A packed day as we start our introduction to Armenia’s capital with a short tour of Republic Square, then visit the “Mother of Armenia” statue, located in the Victory Park overlooking the city. The panoramic tour will also include the beautiful Opera and Ballet building, Parliament and the National Assembly building. We’ll visit the Matenadaran Museum of Ancient manuscripts showcasing the unique literary heritage of the Armenians, with the earliest manuscripts here dating to the 9th century and continue with a walking tour at the Cascade Architectural Complex and open-air Museum of Modern Art. At the base of the Cascade is a garden courtyard with statues by contemporary sculptures such as Fernando Botero.   After lunch (own expense), we will visit the heart-breaking Armenian Genocide Memorial & Museum to learn about the most tragic event in the history of the Armenian nation in the early 20th century, after which we will see the Genocide Memorial. Both the museum and the memorial are located on the Tsitsernakaberd hill overlooking Yerevan and the Ararat Valley.  In the evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant with a traditional musical performance.

Day 7: UNESCO listed Armenia in the Ararat Valley
In the morning, we’ll drive through the Ararat Valley, to visit the Khor Virap monastery complex at the foot of the Biblical Mount Ararat. For 13 years, Gregory the Illuminator, the patron saint of the nation was imprisoned here, thus the name of the monastery – “khor virap”, which translates to “deep dungeon” in Armenian.  Afterwards, we travel to the spiritual centre of Armenia, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Etchmiadzin Cathedral, often referred to as the Vatican of Armenia. Built in 301-303 AD, Etchmiadzin is considered to be the oldest cathedral in the world. Highlights include the Treasury Museum of Etchmiadzin, which showcases important Christian relics, such as the pieces of the True Cross, a fragment of Noah’s Ark, and the Holy Spear which pierced the side of Christ. After lunch, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Zvartnots Cathedral, built in the 7th-century, which features a unique circular shape which was a new word in ecclesiastic architecture of the time. Back in Yerevan, visit a local house of a family of musicians, where we will enjoy a private mini-concert in the garden of the family and learn about traditional Armenian woodwind musical instruments, such as duduk, shvi, and blul. Duduk and its music are recognized as a Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Day 8: Hovhannavank Monastery and Armenian Wine
Another fascinating day in store as we first visit the 13th-century monastery of Hovhannavank situated atop the Kasagh gorge. On a clear day, three mountains can be seen from here: Ararat, Aragats and Ara. A short drive from here will take you to one of the largest wine factories in Armenia – Armenia Wine. Founded in 2008, Armenia Wine Factory today is the icon of modern winemaking of Armenia. During the tour, visit the unique Wine History Museum of Armenia, located on the premises of the factory, which explains the millennia-old winemaking traditions of the country. Return to Yerevan for a stroll through the food market. 

Day 9: Geghard and Garni
In the morning, travel to the Kotayk region of Armenia to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site cave monastery of Geghard, carved into the adjacent cliffside of Azat gorge. Here, enjoy a live performance of medieval Armenian spiritual chants by a local choir in one of the cave chambers of the monastery. A short drive from here is the nearby village of Garni, where we will visit the 1st-century Temple of Garni, the only remaining Greco-Roman colonnaded building in the region. Built in the Ionic order in 77 AD, the temple is the best-known monument and symbol of pre-Christian Armenia. Continue to a local rustic house restaurant to witness the process of baking the traditional Armenian bread, “lavash”, a soft, unleavened flatbread baked in an oven known as a “tonir”. We tour a cognac factory on our return to Yerevan.

Day 10: Georgia: Kakheti - Kisiskhevi
Fly back to Tbilisi today and drive to the major Georgian Wine Region of Kakheti. Here you will learn about the 8,000 years of winemaking in the area, starting with a visit to a family-owned business, now run by the sixth generation of the family, that produce the gigantic Qvevri clay vessels, necessary for the traditional Georgian way of natural winemaking. After a photo stop at the Fortress of King Erekle II, we will arrive at our hotel and check-in for an overnight stay. Enjoy some free time, before a tour of the winery followed by a tasting. 

Day 11: Kisiskhevi - Tbilisi, then home
After breakfast we drive back to Tbilisi where we visit the monolithic Chronicles of Georgia, and enjoy the view of the city from the Sameda Cathedral. We conclude with a farewell dinner the transfer to the airport for return flight to Luton.

NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion.

Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 20 passengers.

Tour Grading: This tour is graded as demanding. The itinerary is busy, with lots of activities and sites included.  Some sites will have uneven ground and steps with no handrails. Some floors and steps may be slippery with lots of steps. Some of the walking tours will have limited places to sit enroute, and you will need to stand for extended periods at attractions. Please visit the mobility page on our website for further information, or call our team prior to booking.

INCLUDED

• Return flights from London Luton to Tbilisi
• 4 nights' bed and breakfast at the Marjan Plaza Hotel, Tbilisi based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• 5 nights' bed and breakfast at the Holiday Inn Republic Square, Yerevan based on a shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• 1 night bed and breakfast at the Chateau Mosmieri, Kisiskhevi Village based on a shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• Six dinner 
• Five lunches at local restaurants
• Wine tasting
• Transfers and full touring itinerary
• Tour manager throughout

NOT INCLUDED

• Double for sole use room supplement - £540
• Holiday insurance 
• Meals other than those stated 
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls etc 
• Porterage and gratuities

HOTEL

Marjan Plaza Hotel, Tbilisi (4 nights)
Modern four-star hotel, centrally located close to Liberty Square and other major attractions. Facilities include bar, restaurant, indoor pool, and comfortable bedrooms with all modern amenities including en-suite bathroom, TV, telephone, wifi, air-conditioning, safe, hairdryer and a kettle.

Hotel Website

Holiday Inn Republic Square, Yerevan (5 nights)
This three-star hotel is located in central Yerevan, near to Republic Square. The hotel boasts 3 restaurants, a fitness centre, and spa with swimming pool and sauna. The comfortable bedrooms with modern amenities offer flat-screen TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi, Hair dryer, and air-conditioning. 

Hotel Website

Chateau Mosmieri, Kisiskhevi Village (1 night)

Winery and hotel combined, this four-star Chateau is a great place to stay in the wine region. As well as wine tours and tastings, it has a bar, restaurant, terrace, and swimming pool. The comfortable bedrooms include en-suite bathrooms plus TV, telephone, wifi, air-conditioning, minibar and hairdryer. Enjoy dinner on the terrace with views of the Caucasus Mountains and Alazani Valley.