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Georgia-Armenia 1 day Arrival in Tbilisi Meeting at the Tbilisi International Airport. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight. 2 day Tbilisi city tour Tbilisi (literally "Warm Spring") is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. Founded in the 5th century by Vakhtang Gorgasali, the Georgian King of Iberia, and made into a capital in the 6th century, Tbilisi is a significant industrial, social and cultural centre. Located strategically at the crossroads between Europe and Asia and lying along the historic Silk Road routes, Tbilisi has often been a point of contention between various rival powers and empires. The history of the city can be seen by its architecture. 3 day Wine tour in Kakheti Sighnaghi-Bodbe-Tsinandali-Telavi Drive to eastern part of Georgia- Kakheti region, known almost exclusively for its vineyards and wineries. Visit Sighnaghi – one of the beautiful towns of the kakheti region. Sighnaghi and its environs are home to several historical and cultural monuments. The town is walled with the remnants of 18th century fortifications. At the elevation of about 790 m above sea level, the town overlooks the Alazani valley and faces the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Wine and Chacha tasting at the winery, with a very interesting and impressive stories about wine and wine making traditions. Drive to Bodbe – Georgian Orthodox monastic complex (9th century). Drive to Tsinandali. Visit Alexander Chavchavadze House Museum. Tsinandali is a village in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia, noted for the estate and its historic winery which once belonged to the 19th-century aristocratic poet Alexander Chavchavadze. There is kept a unique collection of wine from many countries. Familiar with European ways, Chavchavadze built Georgia’s oldest and largest winery where he combined European and centuries-long Georgian winemaking traditions. Overnight in Telavi - the main city and administrative center of Georgia’s eastern province of Kakheti. 4 day Telavi State Museum-Alaverdi-Ikalto-Shuamta-Tbilisi Telavi State Museum colmplex includes the memorial place of the Kakhetian King Erekle II, a court church, a philosophy school, a bath and tunnel built by Erekle II. Alaverdi Monastery is a Georgian Orthodox Monastery. Parts of the monastery date back to 6th century. The present day cathedral dates to the 11th century. At a height of over 55 meters, Alaverdi Cathedral is the second tallest religious building in Georgia, after the recently consecrated Tbilisi Sameba (Holy Trinity) Cathedral. Ikalto is a village about 10 km west of the town Telavi in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia. It is mostly known for its monastery complex and the Ikalto Academy (12th century) Shuamta – two of the most important and the most beautiful architectural monuments of kakheti are the Dzveli (“old”) 6th century and Akhali ( “new”)16 th century Shuamta Monasteries. Both of them stand in a forest of deciduous trees which makes them look even more fascinating. Drive back to Tbilisi. 5 day Mtskheta – Ananuri – Kazbegi Drive to Mtskheta - one of the oldest cities of the country of Georgia, was capital of the early Georgian kingdom of Iberia during the 3rd century BC - 5th century AD and it was the site of early Christian activity. Visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century) and Jvari Monastery (6th century) in Mtskheta are among the most significant monuments of Georgia architecture, and are historically significant in the development of medieval architecture throughout the Caucasus. Drive to Ananuri. Visit Ananuri (17th century) is a castle complex on the Aragvi River. Tour along hiostorical Georgian Military Road. Drive to kazbegi – extra, 1700 m., by crossing the “Jvari Pass” (2379 m. above the sea level) . Explore the area – the beautifully situated on the hill. Hire 4X4 vehicles to get to Gergeti Holy Trinity Church is a remarkable monument of Georgian architecture, near the village of Gergeti, situated at an elevation of 2170 meters, under Mount Kazbegi (elevation 5033) Drive back to Tbilisi. 6 day Gori - Uplistsikhe – Borjomi - Bakuriani Drive to Gori. The city was founded by one of the greatest kings of Georgia – David the Buider (1089-1125). Gori is also known as the birthplace of the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Visit Joseph Stalin state museum. Drive to Uplistsikhe (literally, “the lord's fortress”) is an ancient rock-hewn in eastern Georgia. Built on a high rocky left bank of the Mtkvari River, it contains various structures dating from the Early Iron Ages to the Late Middle Ages, and is notable for the unique combination of various styles of rock-cut cultures from Anatolia and Iran as well as the co-existence of pagan and Christian architecture. Drive to Borjomi - is a resort town in south-central Georgia. The town is famous for its mineral water industry (which is presently the number one export of Georgia) Visit Borjomi Park. Mineral water tasting. Drive to Bakuriani. Bakuriani is a popular skiing resort, located on the northern slope of the Trialeti Range, at an elevation of 1,700 meters above sea level. Overnight at Bakuriani’s hotel 7 day Vardzia – Tbilisi Drive to Vardzia. Cave town Vardzia (XII century) is one of the most important and impressive historic monuments in Georgia. Vardzia is located at the altitude of 1300 meters above sea level. Drive back to Tbilisi. Dinner in the traditional Georgian restaurant with folk music and national dances. 8 day Tbilisi - Lake Sevan- Yerevan- Tbilisi 8:00 Departure to Armenia. (visa can be received in Armenia border) Lake Sevan – pearl of Armenia, is the largest lake in Armenia and one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world, situated in the central part of Armenia. Arriving to Yerevan. Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuosly0inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River. Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country. Free time in Yerevan 9 day Etchmiadzin- Zvartnots- Matenadaran Drive to Etchmiadzin. Etchmiadzin Cathedral – is the head quarters and official residence of the Catholics of all Armenians. The Etchmiadzin Cathedral is the oldest state-built church in the world (4th century), the same period when Armenia adopted Christianity as official religion. Visiting the church of St.Hripsime (7th century) which is a short distance away from the cathedral. Drive to Zvartnots. Zvartnots Cathedral - are the ruins of a seventh century centrally-planned aisled tetraconch type Armenian cathedral built by order of the Catholicos Nerses the Builder (7th century) Drive back to Yerevan. Visiting Matenadaran Matenadaran is an ancient manuscript repository located in Yerevan. It holds one of the world's richest depositories of medieval manuscripts and books which span a broad range of subjects, including history, philosophy, medicine, literature, art history and cosmography in Armenian and many other languages. 10 day Garni-Geghard Drive to Garni - is a temple complex located in the Kotyak Province of Armenia. The first traces of human occupation date back to the 3rd millennium BC. In the 8th century BC the area was conquered by the Urartian king Argishti I. The first literary testimony to the existence of a fortress on the spur crowning the site of Garni comes from the Roman historian Tacitus and dates from the middle of the 1st century AD. The particular interest is the bathhouse located in the northern part of the site. Drive to Geghard Monastery is a unique architectural construction in the Kotayk province of Armenia, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. (13th century) It is listed as a Unesco World heritage Site. Drive back to Yerevan (it is possible to visit Armenian Brandy Factory-“Ararat”) 11 day Khorvirap-Noravank Drive to Khor Virap - is an Armenian Apostolic Church monastery (17th century), located in the ararat plains, vine yards and faces to Mount Ararat. The monastery had a theological seminary and was the residence of Armenian Catolicos. On the way to Noravank it is possible to have wine degustation in Areni. Noravank is a 13th century monastery, located 122 km from Yerevan in a narrow gorge made by the Darichay river, nearby Yeghegnadzor city. The gorge is known for its tall, sheer, brick – red cliffs, directly across from the monastery. Noravank was founded in 1205. Drive back to Yerevan.
12 day Departure. Transfer to the Yerevan International Airport.
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