VIBRANT CAUCACUS

Day 1: Arrival to Baku
Upon arrival to International airport of Baku transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Baku. 

Day 2: Baku/Absheron Peninsula/Baku
Sightseeing tour of Baku with a visit and tour of the monumental, historical and architectural monuments of the city: you will see a panorama of the city of Baku Bay and the Upland Park. 
Then excursion to Absheron Peninsula – Ateshgah Fire Temple. The temple is located at the Apsheron peninsula at the outskirts of Surakhani village in 30 km from the centre of Baku and was revered in different times by Zoroastrians, Hindus and Sikhs. Current constructions of the temple are dated by XVII century. As a result of excavations far more ancient artifacts were discovered here. Visit Yanardagh. After the tour we return to Baku.
Overnight in Baku. 

Day 3: Baku/Shemakha/Kish/Sheki
Transfer to Shemakha and visit outstanding mausoleum - Yeddi Gumbez. Short stop at Diri Baba Mausoleum. Drive to Sheki. On road Excursion to the village Kish. Village Kish famous for its huge Christian architectural monument. This is Albanian church which history goes back to 6th-7th centuries. 
Overnight in Sheki.

Day 4: Sheki/Azerbaijan Border Lagodekhi/Sighnaghi/Tbilisi
Morning visit to town of Sheki and its wonderful palace of Sheki Khan. Continue to Georgia over the Lagodekhi checkpoint. Travel to explore tiny romantic town of Sighnaghi nestled inside the defensive walls. Take a walk and enjoy the views over the valley topped by the Great Caucasus Mountains covered by snow. In the late afternoon travel to Tbilisi.
Overnight at a hotel in Tbilisi. 

Day 5: Tbilisi/Mtskheta/Gori/Uplitsikhe/Tbilisi
Meet your guide and driver in the morning and take a tour to the ancient capital and spiritual center of Georgia – Mtskheta with its historical sites: the Church of Jvari (6th century) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century). Jvari and Svetitskhoveli are World Heritage Sites of UNESCO. And according to the legend it is believed Svetitskhoveli houses the Robe of Christ. Mtskheta is the town where St. Nino – a 14-year old Cappadocian maiden preached Christianity as early as 4th century AD and converted Georgia officially to Christinity in 337 AD making Georgia the third official Christian country in the world.
Continue to Gori – the town where Georgia’s infamous son J. Stalin was born. We visit the original house where he was born and leaving this still communist-looking town we delve deep to Georgia’s ancient history by visiting the ancient cave city Uplistsikhe. Uplistsikhe is one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia, which used to host the old caravans transporting goods from Asia to Europe as it was on the Great Silk Road route.
Overnight at a hotel in Tbilisi. 

Day 6: Tbilisi/Armenian Border Sadakhlo/Dilijan
After breakfast at the hotel we’ll see sites of Tbilisi we weren’t able to see yesterday – churches, synagogue, as well as famous 19th century houses with wooden multi-coloured balconies, Old city, Georgian History Museum, Rustaveli Avenue – the main street in Tbilisi.  Drive to Georgia – Armenia border “Sadakhlo”.  After border formalities we’ll start acquaintances with Armenia with the Haghpat dated to 976 AD, Monastic Complex which one of outstanding works of medieval Armenian architecture and is inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage List.  The complex used to be an educational center of the middle ages where the majority of Armenian scholars and scientists obtained their education.  We’ll continue on driving to Dilijan, where we’ll accommodate at the hotel, overnight in Dilijan.

Day 7: Dilijan/Sevan/Garni/Geghard/Yerevan
After breakfast at the hotel we’ll start sightseeing tour with Lake Sevan – the emerald of Armenia.  It is the second largest alpine freshwater lake in the world and the biggest in Caucasus.  This mountain lake is located at 6200 ft above sea level.  Sightseeing in Sevan also includes peninsula with Sevan Monastery. Today we’ll drive to a magnificent monument of medieval Armenian architecture – Geghard monastery partly carved out of a mountain.  Continue on to Garni Temple – citadel and pagan temple of Garni. Overnight in Yerevan today. 

Day 8: Yerevan/Etchmiatzin/Zvartnots/Yerevan 
After breakfast at the hotel, today we’ll drive to Etchmiatzin.  On the way visiting St. Hripsime Church.  We’ll have lunch in a local community tasting homemade dishes.  Then drive back to Yerevan with stop at the ruins of Zvartnots temple – of the 7th c. architecture.  Second part of the day our main attraction will beTsitsernakaberd memorial of victims of Genocide. We’ll also visit the depositary of ancient manuscripts – Matenadaran, which contains historical documents of Europe and Asia from many centuries.  Overnight at a hotel in Yerevan.

Day 9: Departure
Transfer to the airport and departure.

Includes:

• Accommodation at double/twin room (single at supplement)
• Air conditioned vehicle 
• English speaking guide service
• Meals as mentioned
• All entrance fees
• 1 bottle of water (0.5lt) per person per day
   

Excludes:

• Flights
• Insurance fees
• Visa fees
• Services and meals that are not mentioned above
• Beverages
• Tips and other personal expenses
• Portage