Best of Georgia & Armenia

Georgia and Armenia may sound like unconventional destinations, but trust us, they ought to top your list of places to visit....

Armenia, Georgia

Best of Georgia & Armenia

DAY 1 Yerevan

Arrive at any time. There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting.

Administrative

Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group

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.

Accommodation

Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.

Ibis Yerevan Center

Hotel
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.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Yerevan- Echmiadzin0.5h

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

Landmark

Echmiadzin Visit

Echmiadzin1h-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.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Echmiadzin- Yerevan0.3h-0.75hAFTERNOON

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

Land Tour

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

YerevanEVENING

Enjoy exploring this capital city.

2

Optional Activities - Day 2Show

Accommodation

Ibis Yerevan Center

Hotel
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.

Landmark

Khor Virap Visit

Khor Virap2h-3h1km

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.

Landmark

Garni Temple and Gorge Visit

Geghard2h-3h2km

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.’

Cuisine

Your Foodie Moment: 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

YerevanAFTERNOON

Continue exploring this charming city.

2

Optional Activities - Day 3Show

Accommodation

Ibis Yerevan Center

Hotel
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.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Yerevan- Lake Sevan1h-1.5h66kmMORNING

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

Landmark

Lake Sevan Visit

Lake Sevan2h1km

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.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Lake Sevan- Haghpat3h131kmEVENING

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

Landmark

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".

Accommodation

Hotel Qefo Haghpat

Hotel
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.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Haghpat- Bagratashen0.75h36km

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

Landmark

Sanahin Monastery Visit

Alaverdi1h-2h1km

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.

Administrative

Border Crossing (Armenia - Georgia)

Bagratashen- Sadakhlo1h-2h

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

Bus

Private Vehicle

Sadakhlo- Telavi2h165km

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

Cuisine

Your Foodie Moment: 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.

Accommodation

Hotel Zuzumbo Telavi

Hotel
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.

Cuisine

Your Foodie Moment: 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.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Telavi- Tbilisi100km

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

Land Tour

City Tour Tbilisi

Tbilisi2h-3h3km

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.

Accommodation

Hotel Astoria Tbilisi

Hotel
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.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Tbilisi- Mtskheta0.45h25km

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

Landmark

Mtskheta Visit

Mtskheta2h2km

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.

Landmark

Uplistsikhe Visit

Uplistsikhe1h-2h1km

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.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Mtskheta- Tbilisi0.75h25kmEVENING

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

Accommodation

Hotel Astoria Tbilisi

Hotel
DAY 8 Tbilisi

Depart at any time.

Day
chat