Caucasus Treasures: Armenia & Georgia

Welcome to Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia. Our tour leader will greet you at the airport and help you with all the ground handling services. 

Lunch will be in a cozy Armenian restaurant with a panoramic view to Temple Garni. Here you will participate in a traditional Armenian lavash baking preparation master class․

We continue towards Garni Temple - the only standing Greco-Roman colonnaded Pagan temple in Armenia and the former Soviet Union. An Ionic pagan temple located in the village of Garni is the best-known structure and symbol of Pre-Christian Armenia. The structure was built in the 1st century AD as a temple to the God of Sun.

Barely recovered from the musical and cultural strong impressions, we take you to Symphony of Stones (half of the road to the Symphony of Stones is hiking) where you can listen to the silent music of stones, that the virtuoso nature has created himself. Garni gorge is one of the most exceptional places for tourists to visit and to see amazing natural rocks known as the “Symphony of Stones” or “Basalt organ”. The rocks have a shape of long hexagonal vertical columns, which are associated with the church organ. Huge stone pillars are located at an altitude of about 50 meters above the ground. It’s hard to believe that neatly and symmetrically sculpted stones are created by nature itself and not by human.

Our next stop is at Geghard Monastery - an incredible medieval monastery, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with enhanced protection status. Here you may have a chance to enjoy the performance of a fantastic choir in one of the chambers of the monastery with one of the greatest acoustics you have ever seen. The choir will leave you with goose bumps and unforgettable emotions.

Back to Yerevan. The rest of the day is free.

Accommodation

• Overnight in Yerevan.

Included Activities

• Garni Pagan Temple
• Lavash Baking Master Class
• Symphony of Stones
• Geghard Monastery

Meals Included 

• Breakfast at the hotel

08:00 - Breakfast in the hotel and check out

Don’t forget to grab some souvenirs and gifts for beloved ones from Armenia! We will visit Vernissage for souvenirs. Yerevan’s Flea Market is probably one of the best open-air markets in the world. It is called Vernissage (varnishing, from French) — a term used for a preview of an art exhibition. A visit to the market will make the day more beautiful. It offers various kinds of nice national souvenirs, jewelry and other traditional items. The Vernissage is the right place to get little taste of Armenia and a special spot to witness the fusion between national traditions and modern taste.

Not a single visit to Armenia is complete without visiting her majesty Lake Sevan - the highest freshwater mountain lake in Europe, and surrounded by the Lesser Caucasus Mountain range. Set 1900m above sea level, Sevan is the largest lake in the Caucasus, it's also one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in the world. Its colors and shades change with the weather and by its own mysterious processes, from a dazzling azure to dark blue and a thousand shades in between.

Sevanavank Monastery Enjoy a visit to the picturesque site of monastery, an ancient religious complex that overlooks Lake Sevan. Situated on a peninsula that was once an island before the water level dropped, the monastery stands atop a hill, with scenic views of the lake and the often-snow-capped slopes in the backdrop. You'll need to climb a number of stairs to reach the site, but you'll be rewarded with inspiring panoramic views. Explore the two historic churches, most likely dating from the 9th century and exhibiting a typical, simple Armenian style of architecture.

After our day continues to beautiful city of Dilijan that is sometimes referred to as the forest kingdom of Armenia. In this cozy town, you can find vivid examples of traditional wooden house architecture. The mountains and gorges are covered with rich forests changing to alpine meadows and dotted with small farms, hiking tracks, lakes and rivers. The mountainous landscape is highly diverse, with different terrains, climates, soils and water resources. Many natural and man-made features enrich the national park: monasteries, lakes, archeological sites, forests, rivers and farmland create an endlessly-changing environment.

Lunch will be at Toon Armeni restaurant.

Our next stop is Haghpat Monastery. The monastic complex is included in UNESCO World Heritage list. It represents the highest flowering of Armenian religious architecture of that era.  The functional role, location and stylistic characteristics were taken into consideration during the construction of the building that stands in perfect harmony with the picturesque landscape. 

We will reach Bagratashen checkpoint, from where the Georgian side will welcome you and the tour will continue in Georgia.

Check in at the hotel

Accommodation

• Overnight in Tbilisi.

Included Activities

• Vernissage
• Lake Sevan
• Sevanavank Monastery
• Dilijan
• UNESCO World Heritage Site Haghpat Monastery

Meals Included 

• Breakfast at the hotel

We will continue our tour to old part of Tbilisi where you will visit fallowing places: - Tbilisi Sulphur pools - Bridge of Love - Waterfall - Meidan Bazar Tunnel - Gorgasali Monument - Mother of Georgia - Bridge of Peace - Tbilisi clock tower - Anchiskhati - Monument of Tamada - Shardeni Street. Will also drive through main streets and pass: - Freedom square - Rustaveli avenue - Hero square - Agmashenebeli Avenue - President House.

Our first stop is Holy Trinity Cathedral, locally known as “Sameba.” The Cathedral construction was only completed in 2004, so it doesn’t offer the same history as most other Tbilisi churches. But the Holy Trinity Cathedral is impressive in different ways. It’s the third-largest Orthodox cathedral globally, with 97.5 meters only after the Saint Isaac´s Cathedral in Saint Petersburg and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.

Then we will visit the famous Rezo Gabriadze clock. The clock tower was created by the renowned Georgian puppeteer Rezo Gabriadze. On the hour, a window opens at the top and an angel strikes the bell. Below the clock, a screen opens and shows the circle of life: boy meets girl, marriage, childbirth and funeral. The Clock Tower is a popular tourist attraction in the Old Town.

Tamada (toaster) is definitely a very good representation of Georgian traditions. Being a toaster in Georgia means being a very respected and important person at the table who is being in charge of “toasts”.

We will have a lunch.

Mtskheta

Then discover the soul of Georgia through its ancient history and charming landscapes on our unforgettable tour to Mtskheta—the cradle of Georgian civilization and its first capital. Starting your Georgian adventure here is not just an option, it's a narrative of the country's rich history that resonates in every corner of this ancient city.

Accommodation

• Overnight in Tbilisi.

Included Activities

• Tbilisi City Tour
• Mtskheta

Meals Included

• Breakfast at the Hotel

Breakfast at the Hotel and Check out

Departure to the airport

See you soon. We hope that while looking at Armenia and Georgia pinned in your travel map, will bring back unforgettable memories and experience during your trip with us!