Azerbaijan, Georgia And Armenia Tour 12 Days

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Baku, Azerbaijan

Stop At: Azcot Hotel, 20 Nigar Rəfibəyli, Bakı, Azerbaijan
You just need to reach the hotel. You can check in after 14:00. Meeting with guide and driver at 19:00 in the lobby of the hotel and you will have welcome dinner.
Overnight in Baku.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Baku.

Accommodation in twin rooms: Azcot Hotel or Diplomat Hotel.

Day 2: Baku

Stop At: Gobustan Rock Art, Gobustan Settlement - Garadagh District 60 km South of Baku, Qobustan 1080 Azerbaijan
Tour to “Gobustan Excursion on historical-art reserve “Gobustan”, where rock paintings have perfectly remained, barrows and housing objects dated from X-XIII millennial BC to the middle ages. There are certificates of inhabitants of region of an epoch of the stone age and the subsequent periods in “Gobustan” - Rock drawings, person parking, gravestone monuments, are concentrated there. Nearby is “GavalChalan” - original stone- tambourine, representing flat wise established huge plate. It is possible to hear rhythmic accurate motives by knocking on it. It is considered that these sounds accompanied ritual dances and ceremonies. Visiting of “Gobustan” will transfer you to other world, the world of last mankind and will allow you to feel the atmosphere of thousand – year history of this place.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Baku Old City, Neftchilar Ave, Baku 1000 Azerbaijan
Start exploring Baku. Panorama of the city presented to the height of the mountainous part of a television tower clearly gives an idea of the contrasts and the extent of Baku, the horseshoe bay of Baku. The city is shaped like an amphitheater, descending down to the Caspian Sea. Tour covers the central part of the city showing the most interesting historical and architectural sites.

Visiting of "Old Town” or “Inner City”. The territory of ”Inner City” - 22 hectares, which represents a small fraction of the total area of Baku (44,000 hectares). However, the concentration of architectural and historical monuments, dictates the need for this excursion into a separate and make this part of Baku, perhaps the most interesting to explore. Maiden Tower (XII century), Palace of Shirvanshahs (XV century), Castle Synyk Gala, Caravan Saray, Juma Mosque - this is not a complete list of attractions of the old Baku. Dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight in Baku.

Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Maiden Tower, Downtown Baku Old City, Baku 1000 Azerbaijan
Maiden Tower (XII century)
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Zamkovskaya Side-street, 76 Icherisheher, Baku 1000 Azerbaijan
Palace of Shirvanshahs (XV century)
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Juma Mosque, Asaf Zeynalli 49, Baku 1000 Azerbaijan
Juma Mosque in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: According to the guests' decision we will agree on time/Included
Accommodation included: Overnight in Baku.

Accommodation in twin rooms: Azcot Hotel or Diplomat Hotel.

Day 3: Baku – Shemakha - Sheki

Stop At: Yeddi Gumbaz Mausoleum, DNdN Qorqud St., Shamakhi 5600 Azerbaijan
After breakfast drive to Shamakhy district. Visit the town of Shemakha, Diri Baba Tomb and YeddiGumbez. Shemakha was the capital of Shirvan Kingdom for several centuries.YeddiGumbaz (The Seven Cupolas) Mausoleum is the burial place for members of the royal families of the Shirvan shahs. Then drive to village Kish to visit the Albanian church. Legend says that the church was built in 78 AD, but the researchers place it a few centuries later. Dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight in Sheki.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Diri Baba Mausoleum, Qobustan Azerbaijan
The Diri Baba Mausoleum is a mausoleum of Sheikh Diri Baba
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Yeddi Gumbaz Mausoleum, DNdN Qorqud St., Shamakhi 5600 Azerbaijan
This is the Royal Mausoleum where the Shirvan khans and many other Muslims were buried.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Church of Kish, Sheki Azerbaijan
Legend says that the church was built in 78 AD, but the researchers place it a few centuries later.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Sheki.

Accommodation in twin rooms: MinAli Hotel or Sheki Park

Day 4: Sheki – Lagodekhi - Tbilisi

Stop At: Sheki Khan's Palace, Sheki 0055 Azerbaijan
Sheki is one of the most famous and ancient places of Azerbaijan. Situated 700 m (2297 ft.) above sea level like an amphitheatre surrounded by the mountains and forests of oak trees, this ancient city was long famed as a silk centre and an important stop on the Great Silk Route. There is an assumption that the name of the town goes back to the ethnonym of the Saks, who reached the territory of Azerbaijan in the 7th century BC. We’ll start our Sheki tour from visiting the 18th century Khan's summer palace with magnificent frescos and exquisite stained glass work. Sheki History museum is famous with artifacts from several periods.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Gremi Citadel and Church of the Archangels, Gremi village, Gremi 383330 Georgia
Then continue to drive to Azerbaijan Georgia border in Lagodekhi. Border formalities, transport and guide change.

We continue our Tour by visiting Gremi, a 16th century architectural complex.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Nekresi Monastery Complex, Nekresi Monastery Road, Kvareli 0101 Georgia
Then we go on to Nekresi monastery. We continue our way to winery to taste some of our European style Georgian wines. Then we will visit the unique 300 year old wine cellar where you will learn about Georgian winemaking traditions, which differ quite markedly from European methods.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Tunnel Winery Khareba's, Meurneoba District Kakheti, Kvareli 383320 Georgia
We continue our way to unique Khareba winery (or similar winery) to taste some of best European style Georgian wines.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Tbilisi, Tbilisi
Drive to Tbilisi. End of the tour. Free time. Overnight at the hotel in Tbilisi.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: According to the guests' decision we will agree on time/Included
Accommodation included: Accomodation in twin rooms: Astoria Tbilisi Hotel or Gallery Palace,Old Metekhi Hotel or similar(4*) hotels in Tbilisi

Day 5: Tbilisi sightseeing tour

Stop At: Narikala Fortress, 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 and then on to spectacularly located 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.
Duration: 1 hour

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

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

Stop At: Rustaveli Avenue, Kazbegi ave.24 Freedom Square to Kostava Street, Tbilisi 0177 Georgia
After that we visit the synagogue, and the Sioni and Anchiskhati churches, which mark the end of the Old Town. After we visit the treasury of the National Museum of Georgia (Georgian Archaeology from 8th millennium B.C.), walking along Rustaveli Avenue – the main street in Tbilisi.
Duration: 1 hour

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

Stop At: Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, Tbilisi, Georgia
The third biggest church in the world
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Spend the night in Tbilisi.

Accommodation in twin rooms: Astoria Tbilisi Hotel or Gallery Palace.

Day 6: Tbilisi – Mtsketa – Ananuri – Stefantsminda - Tbilisi

Stop At: Jvari Church, 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). Jvari is UNESCO World Heritage site.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Arsukidze, Mtskheta 3300 Georgia
Svetitskhoveli cathedral (11th century) is UNESCO World Heritage site.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ananuri Fortress Complex, Ananuri, Georgia
Then 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 Kazbegidrive 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). We go back to the Tbilisi. Dinner in the local restaurant, tasting Georgian dishes and wine. Spend the night in Tbilisi.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: In Panasauri or in Kazbegi - According to the guests' decision we will agree on time/Included
Accommodation included: Accommodation in twin rooms: Astoria Tbilisi Hotel or Gallery Palace.


Day 7: Tbilisi – Gori – Borjomi - Akhaltsikhe

Stop At: Uplistsiche Cave Town, Kvakhvreli 15 km Eastwards to Town Gori, Gori 1423 Georgia
After a breakfast at hotel, you will drive to Akhaltsikhe (approximately 3 hrs.) It was founded at least 800 years ago, and was a regional administrative center for the Ottomans from the 16th century up to the Russian-Turkish War. On the way to Akhaltsikhe, we may stop at Uplistsikhe Cave Town-Fortress, which history begins in the I-II millennium B.C.

Lunch will be provided in Gori or Borjomi.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Rabati Castle, Akhaltsikhe Georgia
Check-in at Akhaltsikhe’s hotel. Afterwards, a tour to the 13th century Rabat Fortress that is a mix of different religions and architecture. In the evening, a dinner at local restaurant.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Accommodation in twin rooms: Akhaltsikhe’s hotel.

Day 8: Akhaltsikhe – Khertvisi – Vardzia – Akhalkalaki - Yerevan

Stop At: Khertvisi Fortress, Vil. Khertvisi, Aspindza 0500 Georgia
After a breakfast at the hotel, a tour to the 2nd century B.C. Khertvisi Fortress.
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. After lunch you go to the border, where you change the transport and guide.

After meeting with the Armenian guide you move forward to Yerevan - the hospitable capital of Armenia. Check-in. Rest. Dinner at a local restaurant with tasting Armenian dishes and drinks.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Yerevan, Yerevan
After meeting with the Armenian guide, you move forward to Yerevan - the hospitable capital of Armenia. Check-in. Rest. End of the tour. Free time. Overnight in Yerevan.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: According to the guests' decision we will agree on time/Included
Accommodation included: Accommodation in twin rooms: Silk Road Hotel or Bass Boutique Hotel.

Day 9: 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.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Hrazdan Gorge, Yerevan Armenia
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
• Lunch: Open-air lunch at one of restaurants located just in Hrazdan River gorge.
Accommodation included: Accommodation in twin rooms: Silk Road Hotel or Bass Boutique Hotel.

Day 10: 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: 30 minutes

Stop At: Charent's Arch, Garni Armenia
On the way you stop at Charents Arch to enjoy the majestic view of the Biblical Mount Ararat.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery Road H3, Garni Armenia
The next highlight is the only standing pagan temle in Armenia – Garni, devoted to Mihr, who, in accordance with the Armenian Mythology, was the God of the Sun. From here you will enjoy the impressive view of breathtaking high cliffs called “Symphony in the stone”.
Duration: 30 minutes

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.

Return to Yerevan. Spice this day with an excursion and tasting in well-known Yerevan Brandy Factory. Dinner at a colorful Armenian restaurant. Overnight in Yerevan.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Yerevan Brandy Factory, Admirala Isakova ave 2, Yerevan 0004 Armenia
Spice this day with an excursion and tasting in well-known Yerevan Brandy Factory.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: According to the guests' decision we will agree on time/Included
Accommodation included: Accommodation in twin rooms: Silk Road Hotel or Bass Boutique Hotel.

Day 11: Yerevan – Lake Sevan –Haghpat (UNESCO) – Sadakhlo - 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 (1 900m). 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: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Dilijan National Park, Dilijan Armenia
Driving through wooded mountains of Dilijan National Park and deep gorges of Northern regions you stop in mountainous Haghpat village.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Haghpat Monastery, next to Saint Nshan Church, Haghpat 1722 Armenia
You just cannot leave Armenia without seeing a masterpiece of architecture – Haghpat Monastic Complex.

Say goodbye to Armenia and continue your route to travel within Georgia.

After meeting with the Georgian guide you move forward to Tbilisi. Check-in. Rest. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant with tasting Georgian dishes and drinks.

Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: Gala dinner at the local restaurant.
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Accommodation in twin rooms: Astoria Tbilisi Hotel or Gallery Palace.


Day 12: Departure

Stop At: Tbilisi, Tbilisi
After breakfast, free time, check out at 12:00 and this beautiful tour is finished.
Duration: 1 hour

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