Best of Georgia & Armenia
8 days
From
$ 1929
Duration8 days
Georgia and Armenia may sound like unconventional destinations, but trust us, they ought to top your list of places to visit. Our eight-day trip is a wonderful showcase of the cultural and natural highlights the Caucasus Region has to offer, with a huge helping of beautiful architecture and delicious cuisine to boot. Stroll the narrow streets of Tbilisi, tour ancient monasteries, stare down massive mountain ranges, visit with friendly locals, and soak up all the exotic culture of this underexplored region.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 8 daysService level: Standard
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Starts in: YerevanPhysical Grading: Light
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Ages: 12+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Yerevan
Start place: Yerevan
There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting.
Arrive at any time.
End place: Yerevan
Day 2: Yerevan/Echmiadzin
Start place: Yerevan
Drive to Echmiadzin to visit its famous cathedral. Later, enjoy a city tour of Yerevan, followed by a visit to the Genocide Memorial. Take some free time to explore the city of Yerevan.
End place: Yerevan
Meals: B
Day 3: Yerevan/Khor Virap/Garni
Start place: Yerevan
During your free time in Yerevan opt to visit the Yerevan Brandy Factory or Megerian Carpet factory for some insight into staples of Armenian culture.
Explore Khor Virap and visit its monastery with fantastic views of Mt Ararat. Continue to the Roman temple of Garni. Enjoy lunch in a local home and watch how traditional lavash bread is made. Return to Yerevan with time to visit the main market or stroll the cafe-lined streets of the city.
Enjoy lunch in a local home and enjoy a traditional cooking demonstration.
End place: Yerevan
Meals: B, L
Day 4: Yerevan/Haghpat
Start place: Yerevan
The Molokan are a minority population in Armenia derived from settlers exiled from Russia for not obeying the rules of the Church. Their name derives from "Milk" due to the great amount of milk they would consume, especially during the fasting period determined by the Orthodox Clergy. Stop in a Molokan village en route to Haghpat to get a glimpse into daily life, and enjoy a traditional meal.
Drive to the largest lake in the Caucasus region, Lake Sevan, and stop into charming monasteries along the way. Continue to Haghpat via Molokan-minority villages stopping to enjoy a local lunch in a Molokan village. Overnight in Haghpat surrounded by breathtaking views of the Debet canyon.
Enjoy a traditional lunch in a Molokan village.
End place: Haghpat
Meals: B, L
Day 5: Haghpat/Telavi
Start place: Haghpat
Visit Haghpat Monestary and UNESCO-listed monastic complex of Sanahin. Cross into Georgia to be welcomed and greeted by your Georgian CEO before transferring to Telavi, located on the foothills of the Tsiv-Gombori Range.
Meals: B
Day 6: Telavi/Kakheti Province/Tblisi
Experience a full day in the Kakheti Province, dotted with churches and vineyards. Enjoy breathaking views of the Kizikhi area and Sighnaghi. Stop for lunch at a local village house to taste the delicious lunch and wine and local drinks tasting. Head to Tbilisi and enjoy a guided tour of the city.
Meals: B, L
Day 7: Tblisi/Uplistsikhe
Drive the famous Georgian Military Road to Mtskheta, ancient capital of Georgia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Continue to Uplistsikhe cave town and on through the dramatic Aragvi River Valley. Return to Tbilisi in the evening.
Meals: B
Day 8: Tbilisi
Depart at any time.
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Foodie Moment: Local Lunch and Traditional Cooking Demonstration, Geghard Your Foodie Moment: Local Lunch and Wine Tasting, Kakheti
- Echmiadzin visit
- Khor Virap visit
- Garni Roman temple and gorge visit
- Lake Sevan stop with visit to monasteries
- Sanahin Monastery Complex visit
- City tour of Tbilisi
- Georgian Military Road drive
- Mtskheta's UNESCO-listed churches visit
- Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral visit
- Hike to Uplistsikhe Cave
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
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Transport
Private van, Walking -
Accommodation
Standard hotels (7 nts)