5 Days Georgia and Armenia Country Tour

5 Days Georgia and Armenia Country Tour

This Group tour is tailor-made to showcase Georgia’s and Armenia’s most impressive historic, scenic, and cultural sights in just 5 days. Join us as we visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Haghpat Monastery and Etchmiadzin’s cathedral and churches. Tour Old Tbilisi, the 2,800-year old city of Yerevan, and Georgia’s ‘City of Love’, Sighnaghi. Enjoy Georgia’s rich cuisine and the products of its ancient winemaking tradition in Kakheti. Adventure into the Caucasus Mountains around Kazbegi and enjoy breathtaking views.

Itinerary

Day 1: Tbilisi – arrival

Stop At: Old Town (Altstadt) Tbilisi, Tbilisi Georgia
In the morning, we’ll take a sightseeing tour of Tbilisi. Starting at Metekhi Church, we’ll then visit the monument to Vakhtang Gorgasali, the legendary founder of Tbilisi. Next, we’ll take the cable car to the Narikala Fortress to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. We’ll walk past the only mosque in Tbilisi, down to the sulphur bath house district. We’ll then enjoy a stroll through the Sharden area, which is full of narrow streets with cozy cafés, wine bars, and souvenir shops, and breathe in the history of Old Tbilisi. We’ll also visit Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica, and the famous Rezo Gabriadze Theatre’s clock tower, before crossing the Bridge of Peace to Rike Park. At 19:30, we’ll visit a local restaurant to taste traditional Georgian cuisine, before spending the night in Tbilisi.
Duration: 8 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: Tbilisi – Jvari – Ananuri – Kazbegi – Tbilisi

Stop At: Ananuri Fortified Castle Ensemble, Georgian Military Highway, Ananuri Georgia
Today we’ll explore northern Georgia. The first stop will be Jvari Church, which is built on a hilltop and is a true architectural masterpiece of the early Medieval Period. We’ll enjoy the view of the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers, before continuing to the Ananuri fortress complex, a former residence of Argveti Dukes. This complex features churches and towers dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, beautifully overlooking the Jinvali reservoir. We’ll drive on to see where two small mountain rivers, one black and one white, meet—yet retain their different colours. We’ll then drive over the Cross Pass and make a short stop at the Soviet-era “People’s Friendship” viewpoint, which overlooks a deep gorge of the Caucasus mountain range. In Kazbegi, we’ll switch to a 4x4 vehicle to reach the Holy Trinity Church near Gergeti. This is located at an altitude of 2,170 m and from here we’ll enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Kazbegi. Finally, we’ll drive back to Tbilisi and stay overnight at the hotel.
Duration: 8 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 3: Tbilisi – Telavi – Tsinandali – Sighnaghi – Bodbe – Tbilisi

Stop At: Bodbe Monastery of St. Nino, Signagi Georgia
After breakfast, we’ll take a scenic drive through the Gombori Pass towards the Kakheti region, the cradle of Georgian winemaking. We’ll arrive in Telavi, the administrative and historic centre of the region. Then, we’ll take a short walk through the charming streets of old Telavi, and stop for photos at the monument to Erekli II. Next, we’ll drive to the Tsinandali Estate, the former residence of Georgian dukes. Prince Chavchavadze, a 19th century public figure and poet, turned the Estate into what it is today, with a beautiful English-style garden, a museum, and a wine cellar. Here, we’ll have the opportunity to taste several wines. We’ll then continue to Sighnaghi, the Royal Town and “City of Love”. This city, surrounded by defensive walls with 23 towers, was an important trading centre on the Great Silk Road. After a short tour of the city, we’ll depart for Tbilisi, stopping at Bodbe Convent on the way. According to legend, this is the burial place of St. Nino, who converted Georgia to Christianity in the 4th century. Since 1889, following a decree by Tsar Alexander III of Russia, Bodbe Convent functions as a nunnery. After arriving back in Tbilisi, we’ll spend the night at the hotel.
Duration: 8 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 4: Tbilisi – Armenian border – Haghpat – Lake Sevan – Sevanavank – Yerevan

Stop At: Armenia, Armenia
At 09:00, our driver will meet you at your hotel in Tbilisi and take you to Sadakhlo-Bagratashen, the Georgian-Armenian border crossing point. After entering Armenia, you’ll meet your local guide and driver to start your tour of this land of ancient traditions and historic monasteries. Our first stop will be the Lori region, where we’ll visit Haghpat Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This stunning example of Armenian traditional architecture was erected between the 10th and 13th centuries. Haghpat is located on a hillside with a beautiful view of the Debed River. The monastery’s location was chosen to protect the peace and seclusion of the monks. Next, we’ll drive through Dilijan to Lake Sevan, the “Jewel of Armenia” and one of the largest high-mountain freshwater lakes in the world. Lake Sevan’s coastline is rich with thick woods; bare, white, steep rocks; mountain steppes; and Alpine meadows. We’ll stop at Sevanavank to visit the remnants of the monastery, including two churches—Surb Arakelots and Surb Astvatsatsin—that stand among numerous khachkars (carved cross-stones). The buildings were constructed from black tuff, which probably gave the monastery its name: Sevanavank (the “Black Monastery”). From here, we’ll have a magnificent view: mountains surround the lake on all sides and snowy peaks can be seen along almost the entire perimeter, before disappearing below the horizon. Finally, we’ll continue to Yerevan for the night.
Duration: 8 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 5: Yerevan – Tbilisi – departure

Stop At: Old Town (Altstadt) Tbilisi, Tbilisi Georgia
At 10:00, we’ll start our tour of Yerevan. One of the world’s oldest cities, Yerevan is also nicknamed the “Pink City” and impresses visitors with its grand Soviet architecture. We’ll first visit the Cascade Monument, a 500-metre high, 50-metre wide, limestone staircase. The monument has 2,780 steps, which commemorate Yerevan’s 2,780th anniversary. From the top of the monument you’ll have a breathtaking city view that encompasses the Opera House, Mount Ararat, Swan Lake, Republic Square, and Abovyan Avenue (which we’ll also walk down during the tour). Next, we’ll visit the Armenian Genocide memorial complex on Tsitsernakaberd Hill. Then, we’ll continue to the Holy See of Armenia, Etchmiadzin, where we’ll visit Etchmiadzin Cathedral (the residence of the Catholicos, the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church). Finally, we’ll transfer to Tbilisi International Airport, where the tour ends.
Duration: 8 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.