Classic Georgia and Armenia Tour

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival in Tbilisi

  Once landing in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, you will be greeted by your guide and driver and transferred to your hotel. Take some time to relax after the long flight journey.

  • Tbilisi

• Day 2: Tbilisi City Tour

  The first day of your Georgia and Armenia tour begins at the young Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, decorated with an abundance of beautiful murals. Climb to the hill where Metekhi Church perched, to be rewarded with a great view of the Tbilisi Old Town, and in the courtyard of the church admire the Monument of King Vakhtang Gorgasali, the legendary founder of the city. Visit Narikala Fortress to obtain panoramic views of Tbilisi. Pass by the district of Sulphur bathhouses, and then wander around the Sharden area full of cozy cafés, wine tasting bars and souvenir shops. Continue your steps to Tbilisi Sioni Cathedral and Anchiskhati Basilica, both are Georgian Orthodox churches, and the clock tower of the fairytale Rezo Gabriadze Theatre. Cross the famous Bridge of Peace leading to the young recreational area Rike Park and head to the Open Air Museum of Ethnography, displaying diverse folk architecture and craftwork from different regions of Georgia.

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  • Tbilisi

• Day 3: Tbilisi - Mtskheta - Kazbegi

  Drive north about 20 kilometers to Mtskheta, one of the oldest cities in Georgia and its former capital. Commence your exploration at the Jvari Monastery, a sixth-century Georgian church overlooking the confluence of two rivers from a hilltop. A short road transfer leads you to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, admirable both inside and outside. Head forward to be attracted by Ananuri, the amazing fortified castle ensemble that served as the seat of Argveti Dukes.

  Continue driving to Stepantsminda (formerly Kazbegi), a townlet with views of Mount Kazbek, the seventh highest peak in the Caucasus Mountains. Cap off the day by exploring the Gergeti Trinity Church located at an altitude of 2170 m.

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  • Kazbegi

• Day 4: Kazbegi - Gori - Tbilisi

  Leave Stepantsminda and head to Gori, the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. Learn more about the biography of this Soviet leader at the Stalin Museum, which contains many items owned by Stalin, including a bulletproof railway carriage he used to travel to Yalta and Tehran. Some 10 kilometers east of Gori you'll find the historical Uplistsikhe Cave Town, notable for its unique combination of various styles of rock-cut cultures and the co-existence of pagan and Christian architecture. Return to Tbilisi after the tour today.

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  • Tbilisi

• Day 5: Tbilisi - Bodbe - Sighnaghi - Tsinandali - Telavi - Tbilisi

  This morning drive towards the Kakheti region of Georgia, the cradle of Georgian wine. A place as beautiful as postcards awaits you is the Monastery of St. Nino at Bodbe. According to some legends, it is a burial place of St. Nino, who witnessed the conversion of Georgians to the Christian faith in the 4th century. Drive forward to Sighnaghi, a small town with picturesque landscapes, pastel houses, and cobblestone streets. Continue to Tsinandali, a village known for the palace and historic winery estate which once belonged to the 19th-century aristocratic poet Alexander Chavchavadze. Arrive in Telavi, the administrative center of the Kakheti region. Enjoy a walk through the charming streets of Old Telavi and have a photo stop at the Monument to Heraclius II. Take a scenic road transfer back to Tbilisi through Gombori pass.

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  • Tbilisi

• Day 6: Tbilisi - Armenian border - Haghpat - Lake Sevan - Yerevan

  Be met by your driver at an appointed time in the morning and transferred to the "Sadakhlo-Bagratashen" Georgian-Armenian border point.

  After crossing the border, you will be welcomed by your Armenian guide and taken to the Lori Province to visit the UNESCO-listed Haghpat Monastery. This magnificent example of Armenian architecture was built in the 10-13th centuries, though suffered earthquakes and numerous attacks, much of the complex is still intact and stands today without substantial alterations. Drive through the spa town Dilijan to Lake Sevan, "The Jewel of Armenia". Take in the amazing scenery of the lake surrounded by thick woods, white bare steep rocks, mountain steppes and Alpine meadows. Have a stop at Monastery Sevanavank on a peninsula at the northwestern shore of Lake Sevan, to enjoy a stunning view of the "Black Monastery" over the blue waters of the lake.

  Around three-hour drive will bring you to the national capital city Yerevan for the night.

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  • Yerevan

• Day 7: Yerevan City Tour

  Nicknamed "The Pink City", Yerevan calls visitors with its splendid landscapes. The iconic Yerevan Cascade certainly cannot be missed in the city. This mega-scale limestone stairway links the downtown area of Yerevan with the monument neighborhood, affording walkers unobstructed views of the Opera House, Mount Ararat, Republic Square, and other spots. Then change your tempo to the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex. The culture of winemaking in Armenia goes back centuries, today you have the chance to get more information about brandy production and even taste three types of Armenian brandy at the Ararat Brandy Factory. Round off the day by having dinner at the Megerian Carpet Restaurant, where you'll also learn about Armenian cuisine and carpet weaving traditions.

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  • Yerevan

• Day 8: Yerevan - Garni - Geghard - Etchmiadzin - Yerevan

  Depart Yerevan and drive to Garni, one of the major villages in Armenia famous for the Garni Temple. Constructed in the ionic order, the temple is the only standing Greco-Roman colonnaded building in Armenia. Not far from it is the UNESCO World Heritage Site Geghard. Partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, the Monastery of Geghard is framed by towering cliffs. One of the visit carts of Armenia should be the Etchmiadzin Cathedral. Originally built in the early fourth century, it is often considered the oldest cathedral in the world. Transfer back to Yerevan.

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  • Yerevan

• Day 9: Yerevan, Departure

  Pack up your unforgettable memories in Georgia and Armenia and head to the airport for your homebound flight.

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