Explore Georgia & Azerbaijan on a fantastic Small Group Tour

Arrival in Baku

Arrival in Baku International Airport. Hotel accommodation and overnight stay in Baku. (Optional: Transfer to the hotel) (-/-/-)

Baku - Gobustan - Baku (120 km)

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the panoramic park of Baku, once called the Mountain Park during the Soviet era, now known as the Alley of Martyrs. From here, looking over the splendid Baku Bay, we realize that Baku and Naples are true twin cities. Continue to the famous Old Town of Baku. On the way, the guide shares stories of buildings dating back to the early 20th century, constructed by Azerbaijan's oil magnates. Arrive in the Old Town and visit historical monuments, including the caravanserai, the remains of the Church of St. Bartholomew, the old Hammam, the famous Maiden Tower, ancient mosques, and more. Afterward, visit the Shirvanshahs' Palace. After exploring the Old Town, depart for Gobustan, a prehistoric area 60 km from Baku. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it features over 7,000 rock paintings. The visit begins at the modern museum, where interactive screens, photos, videos, and samples of engraved stones provide context. Here we learn about scenes of daily life—such as hunting, feeding, and burial of ancient people. Next, explore the rocks with several petroglyphs. After touring the open-air museum, depart for the mud volcanoes, one of Azerbaijan's natural wonders. This area is home to volcanoes of varying heights, creating a lunar landscape.

Return to Baku. Overnight at the hotel. (B/L/-)

Baku - Absheron - Baku (80 km)

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for the Absheron Peninsula. Arrive at Atashgah, the Temple of Fire, in the village of Surakhani, a sacred site still revered by fire worshippers. Next, visit Yanardagh (Burning Mountain), one of Azerbaijan's incredible natural wonders. Return to Baku with a stop at the magnificent cultural center designed by Zaha Hadid (entrance not included), where you can admire its imposing and futuristic architecture. Not far from there, visit the "Yashil Bazar" (Green Market). After lunch, take a walk along Nizami Street.

Overnight at the hotel. (B/L/-)

Baku - Shemakha - Sheki (300 km)

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Sheki. Stop on the way to visit the mausoleum of Diri Baba, a Sufi who was buried here in 1402. The mausoleum has miraculously remained intact. The sanctuary, built in a natural cave on a ridge, has become a pilgrimage site over the centuries. Continue to Shamakhi, which was once the capital of the Shirvanshah state, to visit the oldest mosque in Azerbaijan. Arrive in Sheki, one of the most important cities on the Silk Road. Visit the village of Kish, home to an important Christian church, built between the 1st and 5th centuries AD, when Christianity spread in the region and became the dominant religion in what was known as Caucasian Albania.

Overnight at the hotel. (B/L/-)

Sheki - Lagodekhi (entry to Georgia) - Tbilisi (270 km)

The morning is dedicated to a visit to the Sheki Khan’s Palace (1762), a rare example that combines national architectural traditions with palace architecture. Its unique design and interior decoration make it particularly interesting to visitors. It is known that no nails were used in the construction of the palace. The mosaic work is done in the traditional Shabaka style, using colored glass. We will also visit the caravanserai. Afterward, we drive to the Azerbaijan-Georgian border at Lagodekhi, arriving around 4 pm. We will meet with the Georgian guide and then head to Tbilisi. A

ccommodation and overnight at the hotel in Tbilisi. (B/L/-)

Note: The distance between the exit checkpoint of Azerbaijan and the entry checkpoint of Georgia is about 600 meters. We will need to cross on foot with our luggage.

Tbilisi – Mtkheta – Tbilisi (50 km)

Today, we visit Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, which was founded in the 5th century. We begin our day with a visit to the medieval Church of Metekhi (13th century), followed by a cable car ride to the Narikala Fortress, which majestically overlooks the old quarter of the city. We continue exploring the old city: the district of sulfur baths (17th century). The capital's name is inspired by these hot sulfur springs, as 'Tbili' means 'hot' in Georgian. Next, we visit the Sioni Cathedral (16th century) and Anchiskhati (6th century), the oldest church in the city. We will then take a walk along Rustaveli Avenue, the main avenue of Tbilisi. Later, we head to the ancient capital of Georgia, Mtskheta, located at the intersection of the Military Road and the Silk Road. Here, we visit two UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Jvari Monastery (6th century), offering a splendid view of the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, and the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century), one of the most sacred places in Georgia, as it is believed to house the tunic that once belonged to Christ. Return to the capital.

Overnight at the hotel in Tbilisi. (B/L/-)

Tbilisi – Stepantsminda – Ananuri – Tbilisi (310 km)

This morning, we follow the Georgian Military Road to the north, passing through Gudauri (2,200 meters), a winter sports resort on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus mountain range. We cross the Cross Pass (2,395 meters above sea level) and arrive at the village of Stepantsminda, located at the foot of the impressive Mount Kazbek (5,047 meters above sea level), which marks the border with Russia. We reach the 14th-century Trinity Monastery of Gergeti by 4x4. Perched at an altitude of 2,170 meters on a promontory, it offers the most spectacular views of the Greater Caucasus. Lunch in Stepantsminda. On the way back to Tbilisi, we visit the fortified complex of Ananuri (17th century), one of the country’s major sites, located next to the blue Jinvali Lake.

Return to Tbilisi and overnight at the hotel. (B/L/-)

Tbilisi - David Garedja - Kakabeti - Tbilisi (235 km)

A day dedicated to discovering the Kakheti wine region, located in the east of the country and renowned for its hospitality. We head southeast to the desert steppe of David Gareja, recognized by National Geographic as one of the 17 most beautiful places in the world. Visit the monastic complex founded in the 6th century by the Assyrian monk David, who settled in a cave in the desert. The place is characterized by a unique combination of architecture. Then, we stop at a traditional Georgian wine cellar in the village of Kakabeti for an organic wine tasting. The tasting will be followed by a typical lunch.

Return to Tbilisi and overnight at the hotel. (B/L/-)

Departure from Tbilisi

(Optional: Transfer to the Airport). Departure from Tbilisi to home. (B/-/-)