8 Days Georgia and Armenia Country tour

8 Days Georgia and Armenia Country tour

This diverse tour to the most historical and beautiful spots of hospitable Georgia and charming Armenia will tell you about a millennia of history in just 8 days. Admire famous artworks in Tbilisi, taste wines in Kakheti, the cradle of Georgian wine making, walk through some of the oldest Christian churches in Armenia, and finish with the monuments and history of Yerevan. This tour through the two oldest Christian countries in the world is sure to leave you with a lifetime of memories and new experiences, and bring you deep into the magical world of the Caucasus.

Itinerary

Day 1: Tbilisi

Stop At: Old Town (Altstadt) Tbilisi, Tbilisi Georgia
Arrival in Tbilisi. Transfer to the hotel. Check-in at noon.

The first day of your Georgia and Armenia tour starts with a guided sightseeing tour in Tbilisi. Start at Holy Trinity cathedral, one of the largest orthodox cathedrals in the world. Continue to Metekhi church and the monument to Vakhtang Gorgasali, the legendary founder of Tbilisi. Visit Narikala Fortress to enjoy breathtaking panoramic view of the city. Walk down to the district of Sulphur bath houses passing by the only mosque in Tbilisi. Stroll through the Sharden area full of narrow streets with cozy cafés, wine tasting bars, souvenir shops, and breathe in the living past. Visit Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica, and the clock tower of famous Rezo Gabriadze Theatre. Cross the Bridge of Peace leading to Rike Park and head to Open Air Museum of Ethnography, a miniature model of Georgia
Duration: 10 hours

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

Day 2: Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Ananuri – Kazbegi

Stop At: Mtskheta Church of the Holy Cross, Mtskheta Georgia
After breakfast, drive to Mtskheta, one of the oldest towns and the cultural and religious centre of Georgia. Mtskheta was the capital of the Eastern Georgian Kingdom of Iberia from the third century BC. Visit Jvari Church, an architectural masterpiece of the early Medieval Period overlooking the confluence of Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers from a hilltop. You will also visit Svetitskhoveli, the main cathedral of Mtskheta and a sacred place where the robe of Christ is being kept.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Ananuri Fortified Castle Ensemble, Georgian Military Highway, Ananuri Georgia
Continue to Ananuri architectural complex, a former residence of Argveti Dukes. The complex features churches and towers dating back to the 16-17th centuries, beautifully overlooking the Jinvali reservoir. Continue driving on Georgian Military Highway passing through the highest point of it at 2379 m above sea level. En-route, make a stop at the mineral water spring flowing down from a hilltop.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Mount Kazbek/ Mqinvartsveri, Stepantsminda Georgia
Arrive at Kazbegi, a small town with the views of Mount Kazbek (or Mkinvari) 5033 m, the seventh highest peak in the Caucasus Mountains. Visit Gergeti Holy Trinity Church located on altitude of 2170 m. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration: 3 hours

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

Day 3: Kazbegi – Gori – Uplistsikhe – Tbilisi

Stop At: Gori Fortress, Gori Georgia
After breakfast drive to Gori and visit the Stalin Museum. The museum includes more than 60,000 artifacts, the tiny house where Stalin was born, and a bulletproof train Stalin used to travel to Yalta and Potsdam.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Uplistsikhe, Georgia
Explore the cave town Uplistsikhe dating back to Hellenistic Period and notable for unique combination of various styles of rock-cut cultures and the co-existence of pagan and Christian architecture. Return to Tbilisi for overnight.
Duration: 4 hours

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

Day 4: Tbilisi – Sighnaghi – Bodbe – Tsinandali – Telavi – Tbilisi

Stop At: Sighnaghi Ethnographic Park, Signagi Georgia
After breakfast depart towards the Kakheti region of Georgia, the cradle of Georgian wine.

Our first stop will be in Bodbe convent, which according to the legend is a burial place of St. Nino, who converted Georgia to Christianity in the 4th century. According to Tsar Alexader III of Russia decree, since 1889 Bodbe complex functions as a nunnery. Continue Sighnaghi, the city of love and the Royal Town, one of the crossroads of the Great Silk Road surrounded by defensive walls with 23 towers. Drive to Tsinandali, the residence of dukes of Georgia with beautiful English garden, a museum, and the wine cellar which belonged to prince Chavchavadze, 19th century public figure and poet.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Bodbe Monastery of St. Nino, Signagi Georgia
who converted Georgia to Christianity in the 4th century. According to Tsar Alexader III of Russia decree, since 1889 Bodbe complex functions as a nunnery. Continue Sighnaghi, the city of love and the Royal Town,
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Tsinandali Palace, Tsinandali village, Tsinandali Georgia
Drive to Tsinandali, the residence of dukes of Georgia with beautiful English garden, a museum, and the wine cellar which belonged to prince Chavchavadze, 19th century public figure and poet.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Telavi Wine Cellar, Kurdgelauri Village, Telavi 2200 Georgia
Reach Telavi, the administrative and historic center of the region. Have a short walk through charming streets of old Telavi and have a photo stop at the monument to Erekli II.
Duration: 2 hours

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

Day 5: Tbilisi – Armenian border – Haghpat – Lake Sevan – Sevanavank – Yerevan

Stop At: Haghpat Monastery, next to Saint Nshan Church, Haghpat Armenia
At 09:00, our driver will meet you at your hotel in Tbilisi and transfer to “Sadakhlo-Bagratashen” Georgian-Armenian border point. Cross the border, meet your Armenian guide and driver and start the journey to the land of ancient traditions and the oldest temples.

Drive to Lori region and visit Haghpat Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This stunning example of Armenian traditional architecture was erected in 10-13th centuries. Standing on a hillside, Haghpat beautifully overlooks the Debed River. Location of monastery was chosen to protect peace and seclusion of its monks.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Armenia, Armenia
Drive through Dilijan to Lake Sevan, “The Jewel of Armenia” and one of the largest high-mountain freshwater lakes in the world. The coastline of Lake Sevan is rich with thick woods, white bare steep rocks, mountain steppes and Alpine meadows. Stop at Sevanavank to visit the remnants of the monastery that include two temples
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Monastery Sevanavank, next the Holy Mother of God Church, Sevan Armenia
Surb Arakelots and Surb Astvatsatsin standing among numerous khachkars - carved cross-stones. The buildings were constructed from black tuff which probably gave the monastery its name Sevanavank – “the Black Monastery”. The view from there is simply magnificent: the mountains surround lake from all sides and snow tops are seen almost on the entire perimeter and disappear behind horizon. Continue to Yerevan for overnight.
Duration: 3 hours

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

Day 6: Yerevan – city tour

Stop At: Yerevan Botanical Garden, Acharyan str. 1, Yerevan 0040 Armenia
One of the oldest cities of the world, Yerevan is famous as a pink city and calls visitors with its humble and at the same time splendid landscapes. Start city tour visiting the Cascade Monument, which was the main symbol of the cities 2780th anniversary with the equivalent number of stairs. The mega scale staircase is 500 meters high and 50 meters wide. A panoramic view from the monument opens up breathtaking city view with Opera House, Mount Ararat, Swan Lake, Republic Square, and Abovyan Avenue, which you will also walk by during the tour. If it is a weekend, visit Vernisage, the biggest souvenir market in Yerevan. Continue to the Armenian Genocide memorial complex on the hill of Tsitsernakaberd. An excellent round-up of the tour will be a visit to the Megeryan carpet factory where you can observe a process of creating famous Armenian rugs. You will see carpets from different regions of Armenia and find out about hidden meanings of elements used in their design. In the evening, enjoy dinner and traditional folklore show. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration: 8 hours

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

Day 7: Yerevan – Garni – Geghard – Etchmiadzin – Tbilisi

Stop At: Yerevan Zoo, 20 Myasnikyan Ave, Yerevan 0025, Armenia
which you will also walk by during the tour. If it is a weekend, visit Vernisage, the biggest souvenir market in Yerevan. Continue to the Armenian Genocide memorial complex on the hill of Tsitsernakaberd. An excellent round-up of the tour will be a visit to the Megeryan carpet factory where you can observe a process of creating famous Armenian rugs. You will see carpets from different regions of Armenia and find out about hidden meanings of elements used in their design. In the evening, enjoy dinner and traditional folklore show.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery Road H3, Garni Armenia
Depart Yerevan and drive to Garni, one of the major villages in Armenia famous for its fortress. The fortress is the only pagan sacred place from the 1st century that survived aggressive introduction of Christianity in the 4th century. Next stop is at the monastery complex Geghard (means a spear in Armenian).
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Etchmiadzin Library, Vagharshapat, Armenia
The beautiful landscape of Geghard is framed with towering cliffs. Decorative art cut into rocks reflects Medieval Ages development in the region. The complex appeared in the 4th century as a sacred spring inside the cave. Continue to the Holy See of Armenia, Etchmiadzin. Visit Etchmiadzin Cathedral, which is the residence of the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Catholicos of All Armenians. Drive back to Tbilisi. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration: 4 hours

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

Day 8: Tbilisi – departure

Stop At: Tbilisi International Airport, Tbilisi, Georgia
Check-out from hotel till noon. Transfer to Yerevan International Airport. End of the tour.
Duration: 3 hours

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