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13 days
Specific Tour
22 people
English, French, German, Italian, Russian
Take a 13-day spiritual and cultural journey through Armenia and Georgia. This fascinating tour takes you through holy monasteries, ancient churches and breathtaking landscapes, offering a deep connection to a rich Christian heritage.
Arrival to Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan, meet with your tour guide and transfer to the hotel. Free time Overnight Yerevan
Today you explore the secrets and hidden gems of Yerevan, the pink “pearl” of Armenia, a beautiful European city mostly built with different shades of local pink stone called “tuf” quarried in Armenia. Founded in 782 B.C. Yerevan is reputedly one of the oldest cities in the world to have been continuously inhabited. We start the exploration with the “Victory Park” and “Mother Armenia” monument offering a “bird’s-eye” view of the city with the fantastic view of the majestic snow-capped Mount Ararat (5165 m) dominating the skyline. Continue to the colossal monument of Cascade and Cafesjian Center for the Arts which includes a world-class sculpture garden and indoor modern art museum with works from Botero, Chihuly, Arshile Gortky, Jennifer Bartlett, Lynn Chadwick, Barry Flanegan and Jaume Plensa and many others. Exploring the Republic Square, Abovyan Street, one of the oldest streets in Yerevan which used to be a part of the Great Silk Road, we walk down the Northern Avenue and arrive at the Freedom Square, the home of the Opera and Ballet Theatre (architect A. Tamanian). The design and layout of the building was awarded with Grand Prix in 1936 World Exhibition in Paris. Tour of “Goom” bazaar of Yerevan, a real museum of food with pyramids of fresh and dried fruits stuffed with different kinds of nuts, honey, cinnamon and other spices, colorful strings of “sweet sujukh”, orange beads of dried peaches(“alani”) stuffed with walnuts, piles of “lavash” traditional Armenian bread, many kinds of cheeses some of them aged in clay pots, pickles, beans and other organic products offered by local farmers. Visit St Gregory the Illuminator Church, the largest church in Armenia. Opened in 2001 when Armenia celebrated 1700 of being the first Christian country in the world. Overnight in Yerevan Meal plan: Breakfast - Lunch
Today we embark on our journey to the lands of ancient treasures of Christian history…Vatican City of Armenia, Holy Echmiadzin with its world’s earliest Christian churches included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visit Echmiadzin Mother Cathedral originally built by Saint Gregory the Illuminator in 301-303A.D., when Armenia became the first officially Christian state in the world. Continue to St. Hripsime Church built in 7th century, a masterpiece of early medieval Armenian architecture. Also visit the Ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral, a majestic cathedral dedicated to St. Gregory. The remnants of Zvartnots, even in ruins, are a majestic sight… Cooking master class during lunch. Back to Yerevan to visit the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum. Free time at the Vernissage market, the largest outdoor arts & crafts bazaar in the Caucasus. Overnight in Yerevan Meal plan: Breakfast - Lunch
Today is a long but fascinating day! It is dedicated to exploration of Southern Armenia combining the magic of Armenia’s finest medieval architecture with stunning landscapes. Our first stop is at Khor Virap Monastery, one of the most popular destinations in Armenia for a number of reasons, primarily because it is where St. Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years before curing King Trdat III of a disease. This caused the conversion of the king and Armenia into the first officially Christian nation in the world in the year 301. Its location, near the closest point to biblical Mount Ararat within Armenian borders, offers a spectacular view of the mountain, the national symbol of Armenia. Our next stop is the Monastery of Noravank, an architectural gemstone nestled among brick-red cliffs, just above a deep gorge. It’s only here where you can see a bas-relief with the representation of Father God with almond-shaped eyes which look far ahead. Lunch in at a local home-made wine-maker’s house with stunning views, where you will taste the cuisine of Vayots Dzor region – local cheese and yogurt, salads prepared with organic and fresh herbs and vegetables growing in Armenia, and chicken barbecue from “tonir” oven is our main dish today followed by a local pastry “gata” as a dessert with tea/coffee. Visit Areni, the village of winemakers. We will tour of the world-class archaeological site, the cave complex Areni-1 to see the oldest winery in the world (6100 years old)! Back to Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan Meal plan: Breakfast - Lunch
Today we drive to Garni Fortress, the royal summer residence of the Armenian kings and visit Garni Temple of the Sun, the only standing Hellenistic temple in the Caucasus and the former USSR. It resembles Parthenon in Greece but its dimensions are smaller as it was built only for the Armenian royal family to worship the Sun God. We continue to Geghard Monastery (UNESCO), the most beautiful rock-cut medieval monastery in the world with its fascinating natural setting and decorative art carved inside the solid rock. It is the only place in Armenia where you can see a large number of the Armenian exquisite lace-type cross-stones carved on the rocks. Master class of traditional Armenian bread “lavash” being baked in tonir (underground oven). The preparation, meaning and appearance of traditional bread as an expression of culture in Armenia has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage on Humanity. After a hearty lunch we will explore the most surreal site in Armenia, the stunning Garni Gorge where you can marvel at basalt rock formations – columns looking like honeycombs or pencils. The site stretches for a kilometer along the river… Overnight in Yerevan Meal plan: Breakfast - Lunch
Driving through the Russian Old believers’ villages and picturesque Canyon of Debed River we visit the Monastery of Haghpat dating back to the 10th century. It’s a perfect example of medieval Armenian architecture. Being astonishingly well preserved with its frescoes, “lace” stone-crosses, inscriptions and bas-relieves it became the first Armenian architectural monument to be included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Drive to Sadakhlo Georgian – Armenian border. Change buses and guides. Continue to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi Meal plan: Breakfast - Lunch
Tbilisi was founded in the 5th century and became the capital of Georgia in the 6th century. Since that time, the city has been destroyed and rebuilt on nearly 30 different occasions following a long history of fighting off Persian, Arab, Turkmen, Mongol, Turk and finally, Russian invaders. Tbilisi today is one of the most modern and cosmopolitan cities in the Caucasus. We begin our visit with a walking tour through Tbilisi’s narrow streets and inner courtyards and stroll down Rustaveli Avenue, the main thoroughfare running east through the city. We will also visit Metekhi Church of the Virgin, Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica. Later we will visit the Georgian national museum. Overnight in Tbilisi Meal plan: Breakfast - Lunch
After breakfast we drive to Mtskheta (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the ancient capital of the Georgian Kingdom. Here we visit Jvari Monastery (6th c.) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral built in the 11th century as one of the symbols of unification of Georgia. Visit Samtravo monastery. We will also visit the city of Gori founded by one of the greatest kings of Georgia, David the Builder in the 12th century. One of the “must see” places of Gori is the house museum of Joseph Stalin. After visiting that unique museum we drive to Uplistsikhe meaning “the lord’s fortress”. It’s an ancient rock-hewn town. Built on a high rocky left bank of Mtkvari River, it contains various structures dating from the 2nd ML BC to the Late Middle Ages. Overnight in Tbilisi Meal plan: Breakfast - Lunch
This morning we depart to Kakheti region, famous for being the most important wine making region in Georgia. Our first stop is Alaverdi monastery, located on the Alazani valley, on the background of the snowymountains of the Caucasus Range. Later we will visit Ikalto Academy, beautifully located in a grove of cypress trees. Founded by King David the Builder in the 12th century, the academy was the largest center of education in medieval Georgia and was said to have served as a place of study for the celebrated poet Shota Rustaveli who wrote the Georgian national epic, “The Knight in the Panther Skin” Later we will explore the city of Telavi, visit the palace of Irakli the II, the last king of Georgia. Overnight in Telavi Meal plan: Breakfast - Lunch
After breakfast we will visit Tsinandali– the summer residence of the noble Georgian family – Chavchavadze. The founder of this beautiful European style palace and gardens was the father of the Georgian romanticism – Alexander Chavchavadze. Drive to Vardisubani and visit the “Qvevri” (clay amphora) workshop in the house of Zaza, a 4th generation “Qvevri” maker. Meet Zaza, who is also an amazing winemaker and learn all about the ancient Georgian traditional Qvevri wine-making secrets inscribed as a UNSCO Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Continue to Sighnaghi, a city which is famous for its wine and carpet making culture. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Kizikhi area and the unique charm of Sighnaghi Royal Town. Have a walk in the narrow streets of the town shadowed by the wooden balconies, which are richly decorated with the lace of carved ornaments. Drive back to Tbilisi. On the way back to Tbilisi, visit Bodbe monastery. Overnight in Tbilisi Meal plan: Breakfast - Lunch
Today we will drive north along the Georgian Military Highway, linking Georgia with Russia into the mountainous provinces of the Greater Caucasus. The first stop of our tour will be Ananuri to see the incredible 16th century fortress complex built by the warring dukes of Aragvi in an attempt to control the main road. We will marvel at the snow-capped Mount Kazbek (the highest mountain in Georgia), an extinct volcano that surrounds us and reaches to just over 16,500 feet (5047m). We drive to the base of the hill and then walk across the meadow leading to the Tsminda Sameba Monastery – a 14th century church built on a mountain peak at 7,200 feet (2200m). Back to Tbilisi Overnight in Tbilisi Meal plan: Breakfast - Lunch
Free time. Transfer to Tbilisi International Airport, departure