Georgia And Armenia Tour 8 Days

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive to Tbilisi

Stop At: Hotel Astoria Tbilisi, 12 Shio Chitadze St, T'bilisi, Georgia
Arrive in Tbilisi after your flight, you need to reach the hotel, you can check in any time after 14:00 Tbilisi time.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Dinner: Meeting in the lobby at 19:00 Tbilisi time and drive to Restaurant Funicular, where you will have welcome dinner.
Accommodation included: Accommodation in twin rooms:

Astoria Tbilisi Hotel or Gallery Palace.

Day 2: Tbilisi sightseeing tour

Stop At: Metekhi Cathedral, Metekhi St, Tbilisi Georgia
Tbilisi sightseeing tour – the Old Town and the New City. The city offers a wide variety of sights, most of them very ancient. We begin our visit just a few minute walk from the hotel in the compact area of Old Tbilisi. Starting at the church of Metekhi, we walk to the brick domes of sulfur baths.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Narikala Fortress, Tbilisi Georgia
Narikala’s fortress – one of the oldest fortresses in Georgia, overlooking Mtkvari river gorge.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Tbilisi Great Synagogue, Leselidze St., 45/47, Tbilisi 0105 Georgia
Tbilisi Great Synagogue, Tbilisi
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Sioni Cathedral Church, 3, Sioni Street Old Town, Tbilisi Georgia
Sioni Cathedral Church, Tbilisi
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Anchiskhati Basilica, Loane Shavteli, Tbilisi Georgia
Anchiskhati church, Tbilisi.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Georgian National Museum, 3, Rustaveli Ave, Tbilisi 0105 Georgia
After we visit the treasury of the National Museum of Georgia (Georgian Archaeology from 8th millennium B.C.)
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Rustaveli Avenue, Kazbegi ave.24 Freedom Square to Kostava Street, Tbilisi 0177 Georgia
Rustaveli Avenue – the main street in Tbilisi
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: Dinner in the local restaurant, tasting Georgian dishes and wine.
Accommodation included: Accommodation in twin rooms:

Astoria Tbilisi Hotel or Gallery Palace.

Day 3: Tbilisi – Mtsketa – Ananuri – Stefantsminda - Tbilisi

Stop At: Jvari Monastery of Mtskheta, Georgia
After a breakfast in the hotel, we visit the ancient capital and the religious centre of Georgia – Mtskheta (3000 years old) and see its historical site: Jvari monastery (6th century).
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Arsukidze, Mtskheta 3300 Georgia
Svetitskhoveli - which may be translated as "The Life-giving pillar", is the main church of Mtskheta and a sacred place where the robe of Christ is being kept. An enormous cedar tree grew on a place where Christ's robe was buried. The place was chosen as a site for the future church. The branches of This magic tree served for constructed pillars. This bright example of Georgian renaissance architecture was erected by architect Arsukidze in 11th c, in the place where the first church in Georgia once stood in the 4th c.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ananuri, Ananuri, Mtskheta-Mtianeti Region
We visit the ancient ruins of the city and drive north towards the Northern Caucasus along the well-known Georgian Military Road. On the way we visit Ananuri – a 17th century architectural complex.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Gergeti Trinity Church, Near the Village of Gergeti, Stepantsminda Georgia
An exciting drive from Gudauri along the Terek River will take us to Kazbegi – the main town in the region. From Kazbegi drive with 4 WD vehicles through beautiful valleys and woods brings us to Gergeti Trinity church located at 2170m. in good weather you can see for a moment one of the highest glaciers in the Caucasus – the mountain Kazbegi (5047m).
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: Dinner in the local restaurant, tasting Georgian dishes and wine.
Accommodation included: Accommodation in twin rooms:

Astoria Tbilisi Hotel or Gallery Palace.

Day 4: Tbilisi – Gori – Borjomi – Akhaltsikhe

Stop At: Uplistsiche Cave Town, Kvakhvreli 15 km Eastwards to Town Gori, Gori 1423 Georgia
Uplistsikhe - meaning "The Fortress of God" is an ancient cave town from the 1st half of the 1st millennium BC. situated on the crossroads of important trade routes. It was the main centre of paganism and represents a complex of halls, caves, theatres, altars, pagan temples, secret tunnels, prisons, pharmacy, passages-streets all carved out of stone over an area of 4 hectares. The city was surrounded by the protective moat surrounding it from the east and the north. Uplistsikhe had four gates from all parts of the world. The cave city still has the two-column reception hall of Queen Tamara with arch niches and huge pylons. It is magnificent in its sizes, perfect workmanship and graceful architectural forms. Some premises, wine storages, fragments of temples and fortifications, the secret underground tunnel used for water supply are still intact.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Rabati Castle, Akhaltsikhe Georgia
The old stone Rabati fortress, the main sight of the Akhaltsikhe town, is standing on the small hill on the very shores of the Potskhovi River. Its name comes from Arabic meaning "fortified place". It is located on the western suburbs and can be seen practically from anywhere in the city. This military building erected in the 13th century had witnessed a lot over the centuries. The fortress had been destroyed several times, was often in a siege, as a result of which had absorbed tracks of different cultures and religions. In 2012 there was held a large reconstruction after which Rabati fortress in Akhaltsikhe turned into a town within the town.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Accomodation in twin rooms: Gino Wellness Rabathi or Vardzia Resort.

Day 5: Akhaltsikhe – Khertvisi – Vardzia – Akhalkalaki - Yerevan

Stop At: Khertvisi Fortress, Vil. Khertvisi, Aspindza 0500 Georgia
Name Khertvisi comes from the verb designating the confluence of two rivers.
Khertvisi fortress is one of the oldest fortresses in Georgia and was functional throughout the Georgian feudal period. It is situated in Southern Georgia, in Meskheti region. The fortress was first build in the 2nd century BC. The church was built in 985, and the present walls build in 1354.
Khertvisi fortress is a well-preserved complex construction. The buildings that is preserved to this day belong to the X-XIX centuries. From the eastern wall two tunnels lead down to the river, one served as a water supply route, the other for communication. A legend has it that Alexander the Great visited the site during his Eastern Campaign in the 4th century BC.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Vardzia, Erusheti Mountain, Aspindza 383770 Georgia
Once destroyed by Alexander the Great and a cave monastery Vardzia - the caves of which stretch along the cliff for some five hundred meters and in up to nineteen tiers and which area is believed to be first inhabited during the Bronze Age.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Yerevan, Armenia
After meeting with the Armenian guide you move forward to Yerevan - the hospitable capital of Armenia. Check-in. Rest.

Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: Welcome dinner at a local restaurant with tasting Armenian dishes and drinks.
Accommodation included: Accommodation in twin rooms: Silk Road Hotel or Bass Boutique Hotel.

Day 6: Yerevan city tour – Etchmiadzin (UNESCO) – Zvartnots (UNESCO) – Yerevan

Stop At: History Museum of Armenia, Republic Square 4, Yerevan 375010 Armenia
Start discovering Armenia by a visit to the State History Museum where you get familiar with a complete picture of the Armenian culture and history dating back to 1 million years ago up to nowadays. Then go sightseeing in one of the world's oldest cities – 2796-year-old Yerevan. Open-air lunch at one of restaurants located just in Hrazdan River gorge.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Holy Mother of God Church, Marshal Babajanyan Street, Yerevan 0013 Armenia
Then you move forward to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin – the spiritual centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the seat of the Supreme Patriarch and the Catholicos of All Armenians. Numerous kings and Catholicoses have been crowned and consecrated here.
When Noah emerged from the Ark in the Ararat Valley, he built an altar of sacrifice in the place where the Mother Cathedral is now standing and offered a sacrifice. St. Gregory the Illuminator chose the location of the 4th C Mother Cathedral in accordance with the vision he had. In his dream, he saw the Miatsin (meaning “the Only Begotten Son of God”) with glittering light on his face descending from the Heaven and with a golden hammer striking the ground where the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin was to be located. Hence, Etchmiadzin means "the place, where the Only Begotten Son of God descended".

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Zvartnots Temple, Yerevan-Vagharshapat Highway Near the Echmiadzin Monastery Complex, Vagharshapat 1101 Armenia
On the way back to Yerevan you stop at the ruins of outstanding Zvartnots Temple.
You're in Yerevan again.To deeply feel the spirit of the city you dine and spend the evening at one of open-air cafes.

Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Accommodation in twin rooms: Silk Road Hotel or Bass Boutique Hotel.

Day 7: Yerevan – Geghard (UNESCO) – Garni – Yerevan

Stop At: The Monastery of Geghard, Near Goght Village, Geghard Armenia
In the morning, the coach takes you to Geghard Monastic Complex located on the mountainside of the almost closed amphitheater of harsh cliffs. It is famous for its rock-cut architecture. Thanks to its hard-to-reach area, the Holy Lance which pierced the side of Christ has been kept here for 500 years. St. Thaddeus Apostle brought it to Armenia in 33 AD. In honor of the Holy Lance, Ayrivank Monastery (meaning “Cave Monastery”) was renamed Geghart (the Armenian translation of “the Holy Lance”).
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery Road H3, Garni Armenia
Second destination is the temple of Garni. It is dated from 1st century and the architecture is ancient Roman style. This temple was used by sun worshipers. Near the temple you will explore ancient baths with 5 rooms and mosaic floor with paintings of ancient Greek Mythology. Near that place you will also explore natural monuments – Symphony of Stones, which was created by the flows of Lava.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: The Monastery of Geghard, Near Goght Village, Geghard Armenia
First location is Geghard Monastery Complex which is unique with its meaning and value, it is carved in the mountain dated from 4th to 13th centuries. This Monastery Complex is very well preserved and it is amazing example of middle ages Armenian architecture and decorative art. This place is in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Garni Gorge, Route Below the Garni Temple, Garni 2215 Armenia
An unforgettable experience is waiting for you in Garni village – you can take part in a real ritual of baking national “lavash” bread with local villagers. Enjoy the open-air lunch.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Accommodation in twin rooms: Silk Road Hotel or Bass Boutique Hotel.

Day 8: Yerevan – Lake Sevan – Tbilisi

Stop At: Lake Sevan, Lake Sevan, Gegharkunik Province
It's time to driving to one of the highest fresh-water lakes in the world – the Sevan (1900m). From the top of Sevan Peninsula you can admire the full view of the lake of volcano-tectonic origin and the adjacent mountain chains.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Liberty Square, Rustaveli Avenue, T'bilisi, Georgia
After meeting with the Georgian guide you move forward to Tbilisi.
This tour will finish in Tbilisi (International Airport or Freedom Square) at 15:00 Tbilisi time (UTC 04:00)
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.