Day 1: Treasures of Yerevan

This colorful Yerevan day trip starts with a visit to History Museum housed by Yerevan City Hall. Providing an excellent introduction to the history of the city, the museum is an ideal place to start the exploration of Yerevan, new and old. A walking tour of Yerevan exploring layers of its history – medieval shrines hidden behind imposing Soviet-style façades, narrow streets of the old center with sunlight playing on pink walls, Blue Mosque on Mashtots Avenue, Republic Square and Cascade, Mother Armenia and Opera House, Northern Avenue and Gum market to wonder among the stalls piled with fresh, dried and marinated fruits and vegetables. A cultural showcase not to be missed is Matenadaran, one of the world’s oldest repositories of ancient manuscripts, later visit to Genocide Memorial, a solemn reminder of the first genocide of the 20th century. (B)

Day 2: Timeless Tatev Monastery

Driving to the South, we have a chance to experience the untamed beauty of Southern Armenia – surreal red rocks providing an eerie echo, honey-coloured villages sandwiched between them. The first stop of our trip is Khor Virap, the site of royal prison where St. Gregory the Illuminator was held for thirteen years before converting Armenia into the first Christian nation in 301. Guided by the remote majesty of biblical Mount Ararat, we explore the site, its underground chambers, and elegant chapels and are captivated by the ascetic atmosphere of the site. On to Noravank, the masterpiece of medieval architect Momik situated above an awesome gorge. Our next visit is to Tatev Monastery, an architectural masterpiece dating from the 10th century. Drive through a narrow ravine so deep that the sun hardly reaches the bottom; later ascend to a high-mountain plateau with striking views of jagged mountains and gorges. On the way back soar above the gorges in the world’s longest aerial tramway, a must-see attraction opened in 2010. (B)

Day 3: Wine Route in Southern Armenia

Southern Armenia combines the magic of Armenia’s finest medieval architecture with stunning landscapes. The agricultural heart of Armenia gives us a chance to sample some of the fantastic produce: we have a private wine touring in maran cellars of a small winery in Aghavnadzor. The next stop will be at Shatin observation point to see Bezoar Goats on the opposite side of the gorge (seasonal). Later the afternoon offers a real off-the-beaten-path experience as we take a jeep ride to reach the fertile valley of Yeghegis and discover Tsakhats Kar Monastery, an enchanting site in the mountains and Fortress of King Smbat, one of the best-preserved medieval citadels in Armenia. (B)

Day 4: Travel in time, Armenia

After breakfast another 4WD trip to travel back in time. Enjoying beautiful mountain vistas and rising to 3000m above sea level we discover 8000 year-old petroglyphs of Mouradsar. The rock art, testimony to the material and spiritual life of ancient inhabitants of the area, provides an insight into the life, customs and beliefs of the time making us lose the sense of time and reality. After an organic alfresco lunch at a highlander cattle-breeding station, we continue to the plateau of Karmrashen to explore the ruins of a medieval settlement, once the residence of Pahlavuni royal family and enjoy the beauty of Her-Her waterfall. Evening at the hotel offering a choice of activities form outdoor water pool, spa and sauna to an evening folk show. (BL)

Day 5: Lake Sevan and Silk Road Adventures

Climb steep paths and enjoy the views of Lake Sevan below, then reach the amazingly intact Selim Caravanserai, an important trading post on the Great Silk Road where little has changed since the fourteenth century. The next stop is Stone Garden at Noraduz with unique collection of exquisite khachkars, cross-stones, dating back to the late 10th century. Lake Sevan, one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world, is the tranquil majesty of its ever-changing waters, stunning mountains silhouetted against the blue sky, all this inspired its name The Pearl of Armenia. For the best photographic views of the Lake, we take a 20-minute walk to the top of Akhtamar Trail and explore romantic Sevanavank Monastery. If we are lucky with the weather, we will take a boat trip (groups of 6 persons and more). (B)

Day 6: Exploring Old Tbilisi

Tbilisi is one of Europe’s prominent cultural and historic centers. This ancient city is the converging point of two cultures, Asian and European. Since the old times Tbilisi has been the transit way of these two parts of the world leaving their marks on the way of life in the city. The history and culture of the vibrant capital of Georgia can be learnt from its architecture, in the old town with its narrow streets and numerous churches, modern avenues and shady parks with monuments to prominent heroes of the Georgian people. Providing an excellent introduction to the history of the city, the Art Museum is an ideal place to start exploration of Tbilisi, new and old. Many of Georgia’s most sacred and revered objects are here, in the exclusive collection featuring the icon of Zarzma Monastery, the Chalice of Bedia, Anchistkhati and Khakhuli Triptychs and much more. Kala is the medieval city center and it’s small yards encircled by galleries, steep street stairs and houses with patterned balconies create picturesque images of Old Tbilisi. Lively Kala also hosts some of Tbilisi’s trendiest restaurants featuring local and international cuisine. The Holy Trinity Cathedral is the largest religious building in the South Caucasus. The other treasure of this beautiful city is Dry Bridge (Mshrali Khidi), open-air exhibition of paintings and artifacts. A unique option this evening is a visit to Nabadi folk theatre where the long history of Georgia is shown in traditional and modern forms of expression, sense of rhythm, folk dances and songs. (B)

Day 7: Ethnography Museum Tbilisi

This day includes some of the most colourful sites of Tbilisi: Metekhi Temple, Narikala Fortress with a marvelous panoramic view of the city, Sulfur Baths dating back to the time of Arab Khalifs, the Synagogue and Sioni Cathedral. The open air Ethnographic museum of Tbilisi includes 70 houses with traditional household furniture and utensils from various regions of Georgia. This collection is spread over a wooded hillside with good views of the city, a truly enjoyable visit. We can also have a bird’s eye view of Tbilisi from Mtastminda Park, the highest entertainment park in city, located on the 800 meters above the sea level. Optional sulphur bath with massage in the evening. (B)

Day 8: Caucasus Mountains and Georgian Military Highway

North from Tbilisi and up into the Caucasus mountains and on to the Russian border runs the famed Georgian Military Highway. Today it serves as the best route to the north with dramatic scenery, crystal-clear air and indescribable grandeur of the mighty Caucasus Mountains. Ananuri fortress, our first stop today, is undoubtedly one of the most attractive sights along the Georgian Military Highway. In the afternoon we arrive at Kazbegi, a lovely town nestled at the base of the Caucasus Mountains. Mount Kazbek (5,047m) is one of the six 5,000 m peaks of the Caucasus range where Prometheus was said to be chained. The magnificent Darial Gorge, Gates of the Caucasus, is one of the only two crossings of the Caucasus mountain range. Gergeti Sameba (Trinity), a remote but enchanting church dramatically sited at the foot of Kazbek, is a site not to be missed on a day in this region. In order to reach the church we take a winding road uphill through flower-filled meadows enjoying fantastic vistas of the area (walking about 2-3 hours round trip or a short ride in local jeeps). (B)

Day 9: Mtskheta, ancient capital of Georgia

Gori is one of the ancient towns of Georgia and the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. Visit the remarkable Stalin Museum re-creating surreal and revealing scenes from the life of the tyrant. A large statue of the “Leader of the People” used to dominated the square of Gori until last year. Stalin’s bulletproof train carriage, which he used to travel to the Potsdam Conference in 1945 lies in the grounds of the museum. We explore Uplistsikhe or Fortress of God is an ancient cave town dating back to the I millennium BC. Its caves, temples, labyrinth passages and colonnaded streets are carved out of stone. Mtskheta, our next stop today, is the ancient capital of Georgia founded 3000 years ago, home to a number of very important Georgian religious sites and famous as the spiritual heart of Georgia. Jvari Church built to house the robe of Jesus Christ and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral are major pilgrimage sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. (B)

Day 10: Highlights of Kutaisi, Kingdom of Colchis

Take a journey to Western Georgia and reveal many secrets of the history of Georgia. Kutaisi is the capital of ancient Colchis, Western Georgian Kingdom. Our first visit is to Khareba Winery where we see every step of the wine making process from fresh grapes to the delicious beverage; our visit concludes with wine tasting. Motsameta Monastery (10th c.) a beautiful monastery with round turrets crowned with peaked tent-shaped domes is our next visit today. Motsameta attracts pilgrims with an ancient legend: if one crawls three times under the ark and makes a wish while touching the hallows, the princes David and Konstantin will grant it. The architectural complex of Gelati Monastery and Academy founded by King David the Builder is one of the country’s most treasured religious and cultural landmarks. Gelati Monastery has preserved a great number of murals and manuscripts dating back to the 12th-17th centuries. A unique option this afternoon is a visit to Sataplia Caves famous for fine speleothems and dinosaur footprints. Now renovated and open to the public, this 300 m long cave abounds in stalactites and stalagmites. Travellers can enter the cave on one hillside, cross the hill underground and then go back on the surface past dinosaur footprints. (B)

Day 11: On to Upper Svaneti

On to Zugdidi with a stop to visit Dadiani Palace and Museum, where we travel back in time and explore rare exhibits from various periods of Georgia’s turbulent history. Among the exhibits is Napoleon’s death mask! Our next stop is at 271-meter Enguri Dam for impressive views and we continue our trip to Zemo (Upper) Svaneti boasting several 4000-5000 meter peaks such as Shkhara (5,048m) and Ushba (4,700m). Surrounded by gigantic, white capped peaks of the Caucasus, Svaneti is one of the most remarkable historic regions of Georgia. Among these mountains live the Svans, independent and amazingly friendly people essentially cut off from the rest of the country during the winter. Mestia is the administrative centre of Upper Svaneti. It is an important cultural centre and contains a number of medieval monuments, churches and forts which are on the UNESCO list. The Margiani open-air ethnographic center and Church of Prophet John are two unique religious landmarks that we will visit today. (B)

Day 12: Ushguli, Highest Settlement in Europe

We start the morning with a brief visit to the house musem of the first alpinist of Svaneti, Mikheil Khergiani to see a variety of alpinist’s memorial objects and interesting exhibits of life in Svaneti: icons, furniture, vessels, agrarian work implements, clothes, alpinist’s tools, paintings. Our next visit is to famous temples of Lagami and Gekhtaga, unique examples of Georgian architecture. On to Ushguli, a community of villages located at 2,200 metres above sea level, at the head of Enguri gorge in Upper Svaneti. In the villages of Ushguli, amidst stern landscapes, there are some truly unique architectural and cult monuments to be found: defensive towers and unusual churches with fabulous frescoes. St. Barbare and St. Kvirike shrines, traditional villages of Ipari and Kala are some of the highlights of this day full of impressions. (B)

Day 13: Back to Tbilisi

After an early breakfast and farewell to our hosts, we take the same route over the mountains back to Tbilisi.

Day 14: Cave of Shio

The final day of our exploration is dedicated to Gvataeba Monastery in Markopi, a beautiful forested area, one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture of ancient and late feudal period. A complete change of scene as we venture into this little-explored land to spend the day walking and enjoying incredible views and marvelous solitude. Rare wildflowers growing out of rocks line our route snaking its way to viewpoints where we gain impressive views of the surrounding area. If there is time we can head to the village of Dzegvi to explore the enchanting Shio-Mgvime, home to a large monastic congregation since the 6th century. Shio-Mgvime means “Cave of Shio” and the monastery is subject to many beautiful local legends. At the end of the day we are back to Tbilisi. (B)

Day 15: David Gareja and Wine of Kakheti

After breakfast we make our way to Eastern Georgia and visit Davit Gareja, a cave monastery complex founded in the 6th century by St. David Garejeli. The monastery is one of the most important landmarks of Georgia. This site is characterised by a unique combination of historic architecture, prehistoric archaeological sites and important bio-geographical features widely spread within the arid and semiarid landscape of river Lori plateau.

We take a light hike up the mountain, the slopes of which lead to another world. In the footsteps of ten centuries of pilgrims, we visit Lavra and Udabno churches for fine frescos and rare examples of cave architecture. Alazani, our next target today, is a fertile valley boasting three hundred years of wine making. Signagi town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, features cobbled streets and terra cotta tile-roofed homes with colorful carved balconies and breathtaking views of the Alazani Valley. We visit a family of winemakers and taste some of the finest red and white wines of the region including Rkatsiteli dry white wine and Saperavi, deep, rich red wine. It is very impressive to learn first-hand about the local traditions of wine making and sample wines from kvevri, a clay jar kept in the ground.

Overnight in Telavi.
Back to Tbilisi, Flight (B)