Georgia and Armenia may sound like unconventional destinations, but trust us, they ought to top your list of places to visit. Our eight-day trip is a wonderful showcase of the cultural and natural highlights the Caucasus Region has to offer, with a huge helping of beautiful architecture and delicious cuisine to boot. Stroll the narrow streets of Tbilisi, tour ancient monasteries, stare down massive mountain ranges, visit with friendly locals, and soak up all the exotic culture of this underexplored region.
Travel Style
Classic
Service Level
Standard
Physical Grading
2 - Light
What's Included
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your Foodie Moment: Local Lunch and Traditional Cooking Demonstration, Geghard
Your Foodie Moment: Georgian Wine Tasting, Telavi
Your Foodie Moment: Lunch With A Local Family, Kakheti. Echmiadzin visit. Khor Virap visit. Garni Roman temple and gorge visit. Lake Sevan stop with visit to monasteries. Sanahin Monastery Complex visit. City tour of Tbilisi. Georgian Military Road drive. Mtskheta's UNESCO-listed churches visit. Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral visit. Hike to Uplistsikhe Cave. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
What are the main highlights of this trip?
Set eyes on the stunning Caucasus Mountains, Tour ancient monasteries, Stroll narrow streets in Tbilisi, Savour under-the-radar delicious food and wine in Georgia
How large will the group be?
Max 16, avg 12.
What meals are included in this trip?
7 breakfasts, 3 lunches
What are the modes of transportation on my trip?
Private van, walking.
Is there an extra cost for travelling solo?
We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Where will we stay during the trip?
Standard hotels (7 nts).
Itinerary
Yerevan
Arrive at any time. There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tbilisi
Depart at any time.
Is travel insurance required for my trip?
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Please confirm details and booking information with your travel advisor.
