Private Tour / Guaranteed departures everyday
Accommodation in 3/4 star hotels
Tbilisi - Yerevan - Vardzia - Kutaisi -
Gudauri - Tbilisi
Category:
Private Tour, cultural tour,
roundtrip, scenic land journey, guaranteed departures
Day 1: Airport (Tbilisi)-Tbilisi
Arrive in Tbilisi and transfer to
your hotel. Overnight at a hotel in
Tbilisi.
Day 2: Tbilisi
(B)
Today we will explore the capital of
Georgia, Tbilisi. Wonder in the old
districts of the city which are structured like terraces, as
well as take a walk in the narrow streets to enjoy colourful
houses, patterned balconies and wonderful samples of modern
architecture. We will start the tour form Metekhi
church(13thcentury) facing the magnificent views over old
Tbilisi.A stroll along winding little streets takes us to the
main sights of the city. Afterwards we enjoy the panoramic views
of the whole town and through the ancient Narikala fortress
(4thcentury), find ourselves in the
historical domed sulphur bath area-
connected with the name of our city. Overnight at a hotel in
Tbilisi.
Day 3: Tbilisi- Gremi- Velistsikhe- Kvareli- Sighnaghi-Tbilisi
(B, L)
Today we drive to Kakheti region, famous
for being wine making area. Visit fortified castle
of Gremi
(16thcentury). Then we continue to visit a farmer’s house to see
a unique 300year-old wine-cellar. You get acquainted with the
Georgian way of wine-making, quite different from the European
one and drink typical Georgian wines. Today we’ll have a lunch
as well,with home made delicious food. Later drive to
Sighnaghi,18th century fortified town, famous for being labeled
as the city of love of Georgia, take a walk in the beautiful town and
later drive back to
Tbilisi. Overnight at a hotel in
Tbilisi.
Day 4 : Tbilisi-Mtskheta-Uplistsikhe-Tbilisi (B)
Today we visit the ancient capital and
religious center of Georgia – Mtskheta and see its historical
places: Jvari Monastery (6th century) and Svetitskhoveli
Cathedral (11th century) where the Robe of Christ is buried.
Both Jvari and Svetitskhoveli are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Continue drive to visit the town of Gori
– the heart of Kartli region and its historical places:
Uplistsikhe Cave
Town
(1st millennium BC) and
Stalin
Museum.
Uplistsikhe is the place where the Great Silk Road used to pass.
This is an old and interesting complex with dwelling quarters,
wine-cellars, bakeries, a three-nave basilica church hewn out in
rock and even an antic theatre. Return to
Tbilisi. Overnight at a hotel in Tiblisi.
(B/-/-)
Day 5 : Tbilisi-Sadakhlo (border)-Haghpat-Dilijan-Lake Sevan-Yerevan (B)
Transfer to the Georgian-Armenian border Sadakhlo.
Meeting at Sadakhlo Georgia-Armenia border. After border
formalitites continue tour to Armenia.
Drive to the monastic complex of Haghpat (976 AD) which is among
the outstanding works of medieval Armenian architecture and is
inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list. The complex used to
be an educational center of the middle ages were the majority of
Armenian scholars and scientists got their background education.
Then we will explore a resort town of Dilijan, often referred to as the “Little
Switzerland of Armenia’’. The mountainous areas are all covered
with thick forests occupying 94% of the territory. Visit The
Lake Sevan, sightseeing on the peninsula. Arrive to
Yerevan. Overnight at a hotel in
Yerevan
Day 6: Yerevan
(B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Start sightseeing
tour around the vibrant city Yerevan. Being established in 782 BC, nowadays
Yerevan
is a thriving city with the excitement, hustle and bustle of a
modern capital. We start our exploration from the Republic
Square, the masterpiece of the architect Alexander Tamanian.
Continue to the Opera House, a stunning architectural piece and
the hub of Yerevan.
Freedom Square is just behind, surrounded by parks which have
been taken over by outdoor cafes, and finally
Swan
Lake.
We visit Cascade Complex, an open-air museum of modern art with
massive stairways leading up to the
Victory
Park
providing a fantastic overlook to the entire downtown from
above. Visit famous depositary of ancient manuscripts the
Matenadaran, which contains historical documents from all over
Europe and Asia throughout many centuries. Visit Tsitsernakaberd
Armenian Genocide memorial park. Free time in the city.
Overnight at the hotel in
Yerevan.
Day 7: Yerevan-Khor Virap-Noravank-Yerevan (B, L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to
Khor-Virap monastery 4- 17th cc. 45 km. from Yerevan the monastery of Khor-Virap has a very
rich history, both religious and secular. Khor Virap was built
in Artashat during the reign of the Arshakids dynasty. At that
time it was used as a pit- dungeon for convicts. In the 60s of
the 4th century Artashat was ruined by Persian invaders. It is
situated in the Ararat valley against the biblical Ararat
Mountain,
were Noah s arch cast anchor. The importance of it is connected
with Gregory the Illuminator, who introduced Christianity to Armenia and is considered to be the
first Armenian catholicos. Continue tour to Noravank monastery -
a great religious and cultural center of 12th c. Noravank (“New
Monasterey”) is 122 km away from
Yerevan
and is located in an inaccessible location throughout the
stunning nature. Return to
Yerevan. Overnight at a hotel in
Yerevan.
22 Apr Day 8: Yerevan-Garni-Geghard-Matenadaran-Yerevan (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to The
Garni Temple dating back to the 1st century. The citadel and
pagan
temple
of Garni
is a picturesque monument of the Hellenistic period and an
impressive piece of ancient Armenian architecture. Then we visit
Geghard Monastery. The spectacular towering cliffs surrounding
the monastery are part of the
Azat
River
gorge, and are included together with the monastery in the
UNESCO World Heritage Site listing. Some of the chambers within
the complex are entirely dug out of the cliff rocks, others are
little more than caves, while others are elaborate structures,
with both architecturally complex walled sections and rooms deep
inside the cliff. Back to
Yerevan. Visit Vernisage flea market,
where you can find handmade jewelry, carpets and paintings.
Overnight at a hotel in
Yerevan.
Day 9: Yerevan-Gyumri-Bavra(border)-Vardzia (B, D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Echmiadzin, the spiritual
center of all Armenians and the seat of the Armenian Catholicos.
Echmiadzin Cathedral is the oldest standing churches in
Christendom built in 303 AD over a pagan fire altar. This
landmark is also protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Proceed to Gyumri. Short sightseeing in the old city. Continue
to Bavra Armenia-Georgia border. Change guide and driver. Arrive
in Vardzia. Dinner and overnight at a guesthouse in Vardzia.
Day 10: Vardzia-Akhaltsikhe-Kutaisi (B)
In the morning you will visit
Vardzia
Cave
Town
(12th century). Vardzia is one of the highlights of the trip and
stretches over half a kilometre along the river Mtkvari, with 19
tiers. There used to be about 3000 caves here, but now there are
just over 500. It has a church hewn out of rock with amazing
12th century frescos. The complex also includes living quarters,
small hall-type churches, refectories, wine cellars, etc. After,
drive to the Rabat in Akhaltsikhe
(closed on Mondays), a completely restored Ottoman fort with an
informative museum. Continue on to
Kutaisi. Dinner and overnight at a family
hotel in Kutaisi.
Day 11: Kutaisi-Tskaltubo-Gudauri (B, D)
In the morning visit Bagrati cathedral
(11th century)one of the controversial construction of Georgia.
Today we visit Prometheus. Here we can enjoy the fascinating
formations: stalactites and stalagmites. Through the Military Highway of Georgia arrive
in Gudauri. On the way visit Ananuri fortres with the beautiful
lake, right next to it. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in
Gudauri ski resort, 2200m.
Day 12: Gudauri-Stepantsminda-Tbilisi (B)
A stunning drive from Gudauri along the
Tergi
River
will bring us to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) – the main town in the
region. In Stepantsminda we change our transpot into 4WD and
drive towards Juta
Village via charming
Sno
Valley.
Arrive in Juta and walk around the village. Then return to
Stepantsminda and drive up through beautiful valleys and
woodland till
Gergeti
Trinity
Church
located at 2170m. Weather permitting you may catch a glimpse of
one of the highest glaciers in the Caucasus
– Mt Kazbegi (5047m). Drive back to Stepantsminda, change
transport and return to Tbilisi.
Overnight at a hotel in
Tbilisi.
Day 13: Departure (B)
Transfer
to airport for flight back home. Thank you for visiting
Georgia
& Armenia!
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