Armenia and Georgia 8-days Escorted Tour

Zvartnots

Arrival at the Zvartnots airport. Meet and greet transfer, accommodation at the hotel.

Yerevan city tour – Echmiadzin – Zvartnots (120 km)

In the morning meet your tour guide and start city tour around Yerevan. Drive to Echmiadzin – the place where the only Begotten descended. Holy Echmiadzin is the whole Armenians’ spiritual center and one of the centers of Christianity all over the world. Return to Yerevan with a stop at the ruins of Zvartnots temple - the pearl of the 7th century architecture, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage. Visit Tsitsernakaberd – walking through Memorial park and visit museum of the victims of Genocide. Visit Cafesjian Show Room and then Vernisage flea market, the place to get a little taste of Armenia, to see the fusion between national traditions, art & crafts with contemporary taste. Overnight in Yerevan. (B/-/-)

Yerevan – Khor Virap – Noravank – Yerevan (250 km)

After breakfast, start sightseeing tour to Khor-Virap monastery the importance of which is connected with Gregory the Illuminator, who introduced Christianity to Armenia. It is a wonderful masterpiece situated on top of a hill. It is a pilgrimage place where every year a lot of tourists and native people visit. It looks like a castle where everybody has the hint to sit and dream while admiring the beauty of the church. The highlight is the best view to the biblical Mt. Ararat. Continue tour to Noravank monastery – religious and cultural centre of 13th cen. It is situated in a narrow gorge which is known for its’ tall, sheer, brick red cliffs, directly across from the monastery. The beauty of this monastery is appreciated by thousands of visitors not only because of its’ architecture and history, but for its harmony with surrounding fabulous nature. Drive back to the capital city. Overnight in Yerevan. (B/-/-)

Yerevan – Lake Sevan – Garni – Geghard – Yerevan (250 km)

After breakfast, depart to Lake Sevan, one of the largest freshwater alpine mountain lakes in the world. The beautiful landscape and the crystal water serve nice preconditions for excellent rest. Here we visit Sevanavank Monastery. Then drive to Garni Temple – which towers over a triangular cape and represents the unique survived example of heathen culture in Armenia. After adopting Christianity in 301, the pagan temple lost its significance and the fortress of Garni became the summer residence of the kings. Afterwards drive to Geghard monastery inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage list. Geghard monastery is the unsurpassable masterpiece of the 13th century’s Armenian architecture. Some of the churches of the complex are masterfully hewn in a huge rock. The complex is rich in subtle sculptural embellishments and many striking khachkars (cross-stones). Return to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan. (B/--/--)

Yerevan – Sadakhlo – Tbilisi city tour (280 km.)

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Georgia through Sadakhlo border. Arrive in Tbilisi and hotel accommodation. After some rest, start a few unforgettable hours of familiarization with the capital. All the places of interest are very close to each other, within a few minutes’ walk. Start our excursion from Metekhi (13th century) plateau, before reaching Narikala Fortress (4th century) which dominates the skyline of the Old Town. Continue to explore brick-domed underground sulphur baths (17th century) – the district of naturally hot mineral waters, cafe street Shardeni, Synagogue, Sioni Cathedral and the most ancient Basilica in Tbilisi Anchiskhati (6th century). Walk across the Bridge of Peace which is a stunning design as well as convenient crossing between the newly constructed Rike Park and the Old Town. It also provides superb views over the city. Hotel accommodation and overnight in Tbilisi. (B/-/-)

Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Uplistsikhe – Gori – Tbilisi (210 km)

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Mtskheta – an ancient capital of Georgia, important religious centre and city-museum which is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Along the way we will stop to visit the Jvari Monastery (6th century). This well-known monastery is located on the top of the mountain, at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers. Then head to Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century) which is known as a place where Christ’s robe was buried. Walk along the narrow streets of Mtskheta with souvenir shopping possibility. Then drive to Gori – the birthplace of the Soviet leader Stalin. Photo-stop at the museum of Stalin and proceed to the cave town Uplistsikhe (1st millennium BC) – one of the first cities in Georgia carved into the rock. The caves were the site of pagan rituals, before Georgia became a Christian country. In the evening return to Tbilisi. Hotel accommodation and overnight in Tbilisi. (B/-/-)

Tbilisi – Vardisubani – Alaverdi – Gremi – Tbilisi (255 km.)

After breakfast, start our drive to Kakheti region – Georgia’s premier wine-producing area as well as home to hundreds of historical and architectural monuments. Proceed to Vardisubani village and attend Qvevri making process. Meet the local craftsman who is a fourth generation Qvevri maker, and his son continues the tradition. The visitors can observe the whole process of making a traditional Qvevri (egg-shaped earthenware vessel in which wine is fermented and stored in villages and towns throughout Georgia. UNESCO Intangible Heritage since 2013). Then visit Alaverdi monastery. It was built in 11th century and was one of the tallest structures of the time. The surrounding courtyard is home to vineyards from which local monks make their own wine. Afterwards we have possibility to see Gremi monastery complex. Gremi was the Capital of Kakheti Kingdom (1466–1616 years). It had booming cultural life, but because of internal strife and the invasion of Shah Abbas, the town was destroyed. In the evening drive to Tbilisi. Hotel accommodation and overnight in Tbilisi. (B/-/-)

Departure

Transfer to Tbilisi international airport and departure. (-/-/-)