Georgia & Armenia Cultural Discovery (Fortresses, Mountains & Vineyards) 14D13N, Fully Guided

Making your own way from the airport, your adventure begins at your hotel in Yerevan. A city seated on the Hrazdan River and decorated by extinct volcanic summits.

You’ll stay at cozy hotel nestled in the prime location in the centre of Yerevan. Unwind with a refreshing dip in the pool or relax in the sauna for your wellness delight. Those in pursue for some adventure can have easy access to Yerevan Opera House and National Gallery of Armenia just a few minutes away.

Today is a slow start as you enjoy a relaxing breakfast and spend the rest of the morning leisurely.

This afternoon, begin your adventure into the bustling city of Yerevan, taking in the beautiful scenery while taking coffee breaks filled with quaint cafes. Afterwards, we are presented with the chance to understand how the Armenian diaspora community has developed across the globe by visiting the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial and Museum. The museum is dedicated to the massacre of 1.5 million Armenian genocide victims in 1915.

If you find a visit to the memorial heart-wrenching, you can visit the Megerian Carpet Factory instead. Carpets are an essential piece of Armenian history, and if you have interest in their tradition of carpet weaving, you will enjoy every bit of this visit. Here, the Megerian family restores old carpets and produces new ones.

This morning, journey on a short drive through the scenic city. Stop at the spectacular 7th-century ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral, the churches of Hripsime and Gayane and Echmiadzin, the former capital of Armenia from 180 to 340 AD.

We can only see the Cathedral from the outside due to the reconstruction work happening inside the building. Regardless, we take in views of the main cathedral surrounded by hedges and lawns, where bearded clergy sit to engage in theological debate. The garden is adorned with many fine khachkars (carved cross-stones) and bell towers.

Later in the day, we head to the UNESCO site of Geghard Monastery, and positioning ourselves on the hillside, we can catch views of caves that house monastic cells. Then, embark on a short drive to Garni village, where we traverse the last standing pagan temple in Armenia. Once we are outside, we are likely to engage friendly locals selling homemade honey and sweets, which you can buy as souvenirs.

Following that, we enjoy a delectable lunch and head back to the city, where we visit the Vernissage handicraft market. We then use the remaining time on our hands to enjoy the thriving Yerevan cafe culture.

We wake up to a hearty breakfast this morning, a necessary fuel for the adventure that is to come. Prepare for a long but thrilling day which we kick off by leaving the capital for the monastery of Khor Virap. This monastery, categorized as one of the gems of Armenia, is one of the holiest sites in the country, and it offers gorgeous views of Mount Ararat.

We make our second stop in Areni village, where they produce the finest Armenian wine. We spend some time in a vineyard and indulge in wine tasting. Following that, we head to our next stop, Novarank where we devour a delicious lunch before visiting the monastery. The monastery is a masterpiece of the 13th-century architect, Momik, and is spectacularly located in the canyon.

Afterwards, we board one of the world’s longest cable cars to Tatev Monastery, seated on the Vorotan Canyon. Then, we travel for about three hours to the small town of Goris where we stay the night at the Diana Hotel located in the northeastern part of town. An elegant 4-star hotel located close to the centre of Goris. Settle into your rooms featuring a seamless blend of modern and classic interiors that offer breathtaking views of Goris.

Later in the night, you can choose to venture to the hotel restaurant on your own to pick your heart desires from their premium selection of meals ranging from National dishes to European, Caucasian, and Russian cuisine.

Begin your day’s adventure with a drive along part of the prehistoric Silk Road to stop at the well-kept 14th-century Selim caravanserai. Continue the drive to the top of the pass, where we encounter a different terrain, before descending to the blue water of Lake Sevan.

Next, we stop at the place with the largest cluster of khachkars (cross-stones which incorporate both Pagan and Christian symbols) in Armenia, the Noraduz Cemetery. Then, we carry on to our hotel on the lake's shorelines, the largest in the Caucasus referred to as Armenia’s ‘seaside’. The lake is volcanic and reaches an altitude of 1,950m, mirrors the sky and changes colour throughout the day.

You’ll stay at the charming 4-star Harsnaqar Hotel. Whisk away in your cosy ensuite room or unwind with a refreshing dip in the pool to soothe your body and mind.

Savour a delightful breakfast before a journey to Sevanavank, a famed monastery with captivating panoramas of Lake Sevan. Then, we go north and arrive at the flourishing alpine region of northern Armenia. We stop briefly in the town of Dilijan to behold its arts and crafts before visiting the 12th-century Haghartsin Monastery, situated in a forested valley. This stunning site named ‘Dance of the Eagles’, was built by two brothers, princes of the Bagratuni kingdom.

We leave for our final destination for the day, Haghpat, but make a stop in the Molokan village of Fioletovo to savour lunch. Molokans (milk drinkers) are a faction of Russian Old Believers who broke away from the Russian Orthodox Church in the 16th century.

You have the evening to yourself once we arrive at Haghpat. You'll stay at the charming Hotel Qefo, situated on the side of a deep gorge surrounded by gorgeous views of nature. Choose to go on short exploration to nearby sites at your pace or simply unwind in the tranquility of the hotel.

We spend our final morning in Armenia visiting the exceptional UNESCO sites of Haghpat and Sanahin. Following that, indulge in a delightful lunch before crossing the border where we bid farewell to our Armenian leader and driver.

Then, we walk about ten minutes across the border into Georgia, where we meet our new guide and travel on to the capital Tbilisi. Our hotel, the Tbilisi Inn is a short walk from the excellently restored ancient centre with its relaxing pavement cafes and bars. Experience comfort in this 4-star hotel as you settle into one of the rooms elegantly designed to showcase the brilliance of modernity and luxury.

Relax by the pool for a relaxing swim before heading to the restaurant on your own for some indulgence in prime Georgian delights.

Fortunately, we can traverse most parts of Tbilisi on foot, so we set out this morning to explore the old town. Here, we are greeted with ancient sulphur baths, Sioni Cathedral and the beautifully adorned synagogue, built at the beginning of the 20th century. We also pay a visit to Rustaveli Avenue, the main expressway of the city and the Treasury of the State Museum, with its fantastic collection of pre-Christian gold artefacts and jewellery.

The rest of the afternoon is free, giving you more than enough time to explore the art galleries, handicraft and painting markets and the new huge Holy Trinity Cathedral, all within a reasonable distance from our hotel. However, if you have had enough exploring for the day, you can unwind with a cup of coffee in one of the many cafes that decorate the streets of the old town.

Later tonight, we enjoy a delectable dinner at a local restaurant and a Georgian folk show.

After breakfast, embark on a long drive up the Georgian Military Highway through the gigantic Caucasus Mountains via Ananuri Church. Today’s goal is the town of Stepantsminda (previously Kazbegi) where we enjoy lunch before walking up through the Gergeti village to the landmark Holy Trinity church. The walk will take about 2-3 hours, but there is the option of renting local jeeps at a reasonable price for those who would rather not.

If the weather is favourable, we will behold breathtaking vistas of Mount Kazbek, the third highest of the Georgian Caucasus Mountains, soaring to 5,047m. Then we take a ride back to the ski resort of Gudauri, where we enjoy a delicious dinner.

You’ll stay at Hotel Alpina, a cosy, alpine-hut-style oasis located about 503m from the ski elevators in Gudauri. Soak in the tranquility on the picturesque terrace boasting sweeping mountain views or indulge in a refreshing drink by the bar.

Prepare your mind for a long day of adventuring. First, we embark on a three-hour ride to Uplistsikhe, a once expansive rock-hewn town dating from the pre-Christian era. Uplistsikhe is situated on the left bank of the Mtvari River and is famed for its peculiar rock-cut style and the blend of pagan and Christian architecture. We behold ancient temples and theatres, and we walk up sandstone steps for a sweeping view across the river and plains.

Ventutre on a short drive to the town of Gori, the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. Visit Stalin Square where an enormous statue of him was erected, and take a guided tour of the enchanting museum, revealing his life and the role he played in the Soviet Union.

Stalin’s bulletproof train carriage that he used to travel to the Potsdam Conference in 1945, lies on the grounds of the museum. Its simple but chic interior makes it a worthy visit. The tiny wooden house where he was born is also here in a temple-like structure (there are still people in Georgia who greatly admire Stalin).

Afterwards, we continue to Kutaisi, where we spend the night in the family-run Kutaisi Guesthouse.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast before a drive to Sataplia Nature Reserve (about 12 km - 20 -25 minutes to the west), which is decorated with footprints of herbivorous and raptor dinosaurs of different eras. Easy paths lead us to the conservation building of dinosaur footprints, an exhibition hall, unique karst caves, Colchic Forest and a wild bee habitat area. We also get to soak in breathtaking vistas of the Imereti region. After that, we hit the road to Kutaisi and continue to Gelati Academy and Monastery.

Gelati was founded by King David IV in the 12th century and inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1994. It is no surprise that the King chose another excellent location for this monastery with monks who were members of the royal court. Then, we drive to the picturesque mineral town of Borjomi.

Our home for the night is a 4-star hotel, Old Borjomi Hotel, set in Borjomi, featuring opulent air-conditioned rooms with WiFi and private bathrooms. Spend time to unwind before a delectable dinner showcasing the unique flavours of Borjomi.

Enjoy breakfast and venture to the gorgeous Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park where we go on a guided walk (1-2 hours) to explore some of the beauty of this massive 105,000 hectares of pure nature. Afterwards, we journey back to Tbilisi, stopping at Mtskheta, the former capital of Georgia, where we behold the 11th-century Sveti-Tskhoveli Cathedral, the biggest functioning Cathedral in Georgia.

Many people visit Mtskheta to see Jvari Church, seated on a cliff overlooking the valley and built in the 6th century on the spot where St. Nino erected her cross in the 4th century, which converted the town from paganism to Christianity. We journey back to Tbilisi, where we have enough time to enjoy this historic capital.

Savour a delicious breakfast before leaving Tbilisi for the wine region of Kakheti where we visit the recently renovated royal town of Sighnaghi. Savour a delicious lunch with a local family who prepares specialties paired with wine. We then carry on the day’s adventure by visiting the Tsinandali Family Estate and its wine cellar, which used to belong to the 19th-century aristocratic poet Alexander Chavchavadze.

The residence encompasses a summer home, a garden and a winery featuring several vintages of white wine. We head back to Tbilisi for our last night in Georgia.

Savour one last breakfast, a perfect time to reflect on your incredible journey before you bid farewell and make your own arrangements for your onward travel. Alternatively, airport transfers can be arranged at an additional cost, please contact us.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.