Best of Georgia & Armenia

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  • thumbnail map_bestofgeorgiaarmenia

Duration: 8 days

Begins: Yerevan

Ends: Tbilisi

Trip Code: EXGA

From

£1,274 per person

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    Georgia and Armenia may sound like unconventional destinations, but trust us, they ought to top your list of places to visit. Our eight-day trip is a wonderful showcase of the cultural and natural highlights the Caucasus Region has to offer, with a huge helping of beautiful architecture and delicious cuisine to boot. Stroll the narrow streets of Tbilisi, tour ancient monasteries, stare down massive mountain ranges, visit with friendly locals, and soak up all the exotic culture of this underexplored region.
    Is this tour for me?
    Travel Style
    Classic
    All of the highlights, culture, access, and I-can’t-believe-we-did-that moments, all at a great price.
    Service Level
    Standard
    Comfortable tourist-class accommodations with character; mix of public and private transport.
    Physical Rating
    2 - Light
    Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.
    Trip Type
    Small Group
    Age requirement
    12+
    All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
    What's Included
    • Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
    • Your Foodie Moment: Local Lunch and Traditional Cooking Demonstration, Geghard
    • Your Foodie Moment: Georgian Wine Tasting, Telavi
    • Your Foodie Moment: Lunch With A Local Family, Kakheti
    • Echmiadzin visit
    • Khor Virap visit
    • Garni Roman temple and gorge visit
    • Lake Sevan stop with visit to monasteries
    • Sanahin Monastery Complex visit
    • City tour of Tbilisi
    • Georgian Military Road drive
    • Mtskheta's UNESCO-listed churches visit
    • Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral visit
    • Hike to Uplistsikhe Cave
    • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

    Allow USD310-405 for meals not included.

    Day 1 : Yerevan

    Arrive at any time.

    There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting.

    Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group

    1h

    Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

    Acommodation

    Ibis Yerevan Center

    Acommodation

    Ibis Yerevan Center

    Day 2 : Yerevan/Echmiadzin

    Drive to Echmiadzin to visit its famous cathedral. Later, enjoy a city tour of Yerevan, followed by a visit to the Genocide Memorial. Take some free time to explore the city of Yerevan.

    Private Vehicle

    Yerevan - Echmiadzin 0h30m

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Echmiadzin Visit

    Echmiadzin 1h - 2h

    Visit Armenia's ancient capital city. Stop at the famous cathedral, one of the world's first Christian churches (built in 301 AD). Learn about the cathedral’s history and change in architectural style after it was damaged in the late 400s.

    Private Vehicle

    Echmiadzin - Yerevan 0h18m - 0h45m Afternoon

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Yerevan City Tour

    Yerevan

    Take a guided wander around the lively and colourful city of Yerevan. Visit sites including the City Park, Abovyan street and Republic Square. Pay a visit to the Genocide Memorial and Museum dedicated to the Great Genocide of 1915 for a sobering look at a pivotal stretch of Armenian history. Enjoy a contemporary art-walk through the Gafeschian Centre of Art, before taking in ancient Armenian treasures and manuscripts at The Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran).

    Free time:

    Yerevan Evening

    Enjoy exploring this capital city.

    Acommodation

    Ibis Yerevan Center

    Optional Activities - Day 2

    Yerevan Brandy Factory

    Yerevan 2h

    Visit the Yerevan Brandy Factory for an intimate look at the legendary ARARAT brandy-making process. Learn more about the spirit that has been an attribute of Armenian social and culinary life since 1887. Take a guided tour and sample various types of Armenian brandy. Genatzt!

    Megerian Carpet Factory Visit

    Yerevan

    Take a guided visit of the Megerian Carpet factory to learn about the ancient tradition of Armenian carpet making. Observe traditional carpet weavers at their craft, and marvel at the colourful and diverse rugs on a wander through the gallery of Armenian carpets.

    Acommodation

    Ibis Yerevan Center

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast

    Day 3 : Yerevan/Khor Virap/Garni

    Explore Khor Virap and visit its monastery with fantastic views of Mt Ararat. Continue to the Roman temple of Garni. Enjoy lunch in a local home and watch how traditional lavash bread is made. Return to Yerevan with time to visit the main market or stroll the cafe-lined streets of the city.

    During your free time in Yerevan opt to visit the Yerevan Brandy Factory or Megerian Carpet factory for some insight into staples of Armenian culture.

    Khor Virap Visit

    Khor Virap 2h - 3h 1km

    Continue on to Khor Virap through villages and vineyards. Visit the pilgrimage site and monastery built in 1662 that’s still used for services today. The structure is built around a pit, used to imprison Saint Gregory the Illuminator who was confined for 14 years by his pagan King for preaching Christianity. Explore the grounds and enjoy the fantastic views of Mt Ararat.

    Garni Temple and Gorge Visit

    Geghard 2h - 3h 2km

    Enjoy an excursion to the Roman temple of Garni, dedicated to the God of the sun, Mithra. The temple is one of the last standing pagan structures left in Armenia. The Temple grounds have other standing ruins such as a bathhouse, a church, and a cemetery. An earthquake destroyed the temple in 1679, but under the guidance of the architectural historian Alexander Sahinian, the temple was rebuilt by 1974. Visit Garni Gorge to admire the formations of basalt columns known as the ‘Symphony of the Stones.’

    Local Lunch and Traditional Cooking Demonstration

    Geghard

    Sit down to a traditional Armenian lunch with the company of a local family. Watch as your hosts demonstrate "Lavash" bread baking and traditional barbecuing using an underground oven. Get your hands messy during a lesson on how to prepare an Armenian sweet before sitting down to a delicious lunch. End the experience with a sip of local apricot vodka or grappa in the cozy garden of this rural home.

    Free time:

    Yerevan Afternoon

    Continue exploring this charming city.

    Acommodation

    Ibis Yerevan Center

    Optional Activities - Day 3

    Yerevan Brandy Factory

    Yerevan 2h

    Visit the Yerevan Brandy Factory for an intimate look at the legendary ARARAT brandy-making process. Learn more about the spirit that has been an attribute of Armenian social and culinary life since 1887. Take a guided tour and sample various types of Armenian brandy. Genatzt!

    Megerian Carpet Factory Visit

    Yerevan

    Take a guided visit of the Megerian Carpet factory to learn about the ancient tradition of Armenian carpet making. Observe traditional carpet weavers at their craft, and marvel at the colourful and diverse rugs on a wander through the gallery of Armenian carpets.

    Acommodation

    Ibis Yerevan Center

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch

    Day 4 : Yerevan/Haghpat

    Drive to the largest lake in the Caucasus region, Lake Sevan, and stop into charming monasteries along the way. Continue to Haghpat via Molokan-minority villages, stopping to enjoy traditional afternoon tea in a Molokan village. Overnight in Haghpat surrounded by breathtaking views of the Debet canyon.

    The Molokan are a minority population in Armenia derived from settlers exiled from Russia for their religious beliefs. Their name derives from "Milk" due to the great amount of milk they would consume, especially during the fasting period determined by the Orthodox Clergy. Stop in a Molokan village en route to Haghpat to get a glimpse into daily life, and enjoy afternoon tea.

    Private Vehicle

    Yerevan - Lake Sevan 1h - 1h30m Morning 66km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Stop at sparkling Lake Sevan en route to Haghpat.

    Lake Sevan Visit

    Lake Sevan 2h 1km

    Visit the shores of beautiful Lake Sevan, the largest lake in the Caucasus Region. Stop into beautiful monasteries along the way to learn more about the region's history.

    Sevanavank and Haghartsin Monastery Visits

    Sevan - Dilijan State Reserve

    Visit two iconic monasteries en route to Haghpat. The first is Sevanavank Monestary founded in 874 by King Ashot I, picturesquely standing on a peninsula, this site was used both for the purposes of pilgrimage, and as a place of exile for disgraced Armenian noblemen. Continue your drive and stop in forested town of Dilijan where you can take in the fresh air on a short walk around this quaint town. Last, travel to the heart of the forest to discover the impressive, fairytale-like Haghartsin Monastery, or "Monastery of the Playing Eagle".

    Private Vehicle

    Lake Sevan - Haghpat 3h Evening 131km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Acommodation

    Hotel Qefo Haghpat

    Acommodation

    Hotel Qefo Haghpat

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch

    Day 5 : Haghpat/Telavi

    Visit Haghpat Monestary and UNESCO-listed monastic complex of Sanahin. Cross into Georgia to be welcomed and greeted by your Georgian CEO before transferring to Telavi, located on the foothills of the Tsiv-Gombori Range. This afternoon, sample traditional Georgian wines.

    Private Vehicle

    Haghpat - Bagratashen 0h45m 36km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Sanahin Monastery Visit

    Alaverdi 1h - 2h 1km

    Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sanahin Monastery that dates back to the Byzantine era. The monastery is made up of several buildings including the main church the Cathedral of the Redeemer. Admire this beautiful example of medieval Armenian architecture and the view of the surrounding hills.

    Border Crossing (Armenia - Georgia)

    Bagratashen - Sadakhlo 1h - 2h

    Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.

    Private Vehicle

    Sadakhlo - Telavi 2h 165km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Georgian Wine Tasting

    Telavi

    Visit a winery in the city of Telavi, part of Georgia's Kakheti wine region. With an incredibly rich history of viticulture (going back thousands of years), enjoy a sampling of the region's famous wines, produced within Telavi's micro-climate.

    Acommodation

    Hotel Zuzumbo Telavi

    Acommodation

    Hotel Zuzumbo Telavi

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast

    Day 6 : Telavi/Kakheti Province/Tbilisi

    Travel through Kakheti Province, dotted with churches and vineyards. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Kizikhi area and Sighnaghi. Stop for lunch at a local village house. Head to Tbilisi and enjoy a guided tour of the city.

    Lunch With A Local Family

    Kakheti

    Join a local family for a cooking demonstration, just in time for lunch. Look on as your hosts demonstrate how to prepare famous dishes from the area including Georgian bread, "mtsvadi" or pork barbecue and "churchkhela", a traditional Georgian sweet.

    Private Vehicle

    Telavi - Tbilisi 100km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    City Tour Tbilisi

    Tbilisi 2h - 3h 3km

    Enjoy a city tour with included visits to the Old Town, Metekhi Temple, the Abanotubani 'bath district' and the Narikala, the main fortress in Tbilisi.

    Acommodation

    Address Boutique Hotel Tbilisi

    Acommodation

    Address Boutique Hotel Tbilisi

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch

    Day 7 : Tbilisi/Uplistsikhe

    Drive the famous Georgian Military Road to Mtskheta, ancient capital of Georgia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Continue to Uplistsikhe cave town and on through the dramatic Aragvi River Valley. Return to Tbilisi in the evening.

    Private Vehicle

    Tbilisi - Mtskheta 0h27m 25km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Mtskheta Visit

    Mtskheta 2h 2km

    Stop at this group of historical churches in an ancient city of Georgia, together these churches are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and showcase examples of medieval architecture on ancient trade routes. Visit the Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.

    Uplistsikhe Visit

    Uplistsikhe 1h - 2h 1km

    Visit this ancient cave town dating back to the 7th century BC. The name translates into ‘the lord’s fortress’ and the town continued to be a religious and political stronghold until the 14th century before being attacked by the Mongols. While many travellers have never heard of this ancient city before visiting, after a few hours climbing around the rocks and caves Uplistsikhe quickly becomes a highlight of any trip to Georgia.

    Private Vehicle

    Mtskheta - Tbilisi 0h45m Evening 25km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Acommodation

    Address Boutique Hotel Tbilisi

    Acommodation

    Address Boutique Hotel Tbilisi

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast

    Day 8 : Tbilisi

    Depart at any time.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast

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