DAILY ITINERARY
Day 1, Sun. Arrive Baku
Upon arrival in Baku, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
D Hyatt Regency
Day 2, Mon. Baku Sightseeing Tour
Baku one of the great oil gushers of the world is an intrinsically
fascinating place. The atmospheric medieval town surrounded by an
impressive defensive wall dating from the 12th century was one of the
five biggest cities in the former USSR and the most prosperous of the
Caucasian capitals. After a trip briefing over a late breakfast, we will
begin our tour of Icheri Shey Har, the old town, with its maze of
narrow, cobblestone streets lined with small mosques nestled between
terrace cafes and grand turn-of-the-century architecture. A highlight of
our afternoon's explorations will surely be Shirvan Shahs Palace, a
royal palace built in the 15th century and the finest surviving example
of Shirvan architecture. After lunch, we will visit the State Museum of
Carpets and Applied Art. Housed in the former Lenin Museum, this
impressive collection displays many rare and beautiful Azeri carpets
from Azerbaijan as well as northern Iran and villages in Georgia and
Armenia. We will enjoy a leisurely boat tour on the bay before dinner at
a local restaurant.
B/L/D Hyatt Regency
Day 3, Tue. Absheron Peninsula
Once the center of Baku booming oil industry, this former agricultural
jewel north of the capital is now a desolate landscape of semi-arid
vegetation, grim industry and forgotten oil fields. However, the views
of the Caspian are top-notch and hidden among this industrial sprawl,
lay several sightseeing gems. We will visit both Atesgah, the sacred
Zoroastrian fire temple built on the site of a natural gas vent, and
Yanar Dag or Flaming Mountain, one of few remaining natural gas flares
in the area. We will carry on further down the Caspian coast to
Gobustan where over 6000 stone and iron age petroglyphs have been
discovered in the hill caves above town depicting scenes of hunting and
dancing rituals, a varied repertoire of animal figures along with
thousands of artefacts and tools.
B/L/D Hyatt Regency
Day 4, Wed. Baku/Shemakha/Sheki
Today we head westward along one of the most scenic routes in
Azerbaijan. Passing through stark, arid landscapes dotted with mud
volcanoes, we will arrive in Maraza where just off the main road lies
Pir Diri Baba
mausoleum built precariously into the side of a cliff.
Continuing past small villages nestled among steep mountains and lush
valleys dotted with vineyards, we will stop in Shemakha, a city that
served for many centuries as the capital and commercial center of
western Azerbaijan before being replaced by Baku in the latter part of
the 19th century. Nearby sit the famed Yeddi Gumbaz (Seven Tombs), of
which only three remain completely intact, the royal tombs of the last
Shirvan Khans to rule before the region became part of the Russian
Empire. In town, we will stop at Juma
Meschid or Grand Mosque whose 10th century foundations are part of the
first mosque built in the Caucasus. We will stop for lunch in Gabala,
former capital of Caucasian Albania, before reaching Sheki, our home
for the night. Sheki grew rich as a trade center linking mountain
traders with the Caucasian trade route and is an architectural preserve
famed for its silks and crafts.
B/L/D Caravan Saray Hotel
Day 5, Thu. Sheki/Telavi
We will have the morning to continue our explorations of this charming
town. The jewel of Sheki is the exquisite Khan's Palace set in the midst
of dilapidated fortress walls and adorned with detailed mosaics and
Shebaka windows made from fragments of coloured glass and hand-shaped
wooden cross-pieces. Later, we will have the opportunity to visit a
Shebaka workshop as well as the local bazaar where we will wander among
street peddlers and artists selling everything from local handicrafts
and souvenirs to halva, a sweet confection flavoured with cinnamon,
fennel or saffron.
In the afternoon arrive in Kakheti region of
Georgia (which is synonymous with wine) as a fitting place to begin our
introduction to the world-renowned Georgian hospitality and delicious
food.
B/L/D Guest House
Day 6, Fri. Telavi/Tbilisi
A short drive from Telavi will take us to Gremi and its impressive
citadel complex consisting of a 16th century domed church, tower and
king chamber. Our road winds further to the Ikalto Academy beautifully
located in a grove of cypresses. Founded by King David the Builder in
the 12th century, the academy was the largest center of education in
medieval Georgia and said to have served as a place of study for the
celebrated poet Shota Rustaveli who wrote Georgia national epic, The
Knight in the Panther Skin.Also visit Alaverdi Cathedral.
The
Tsinandali Museum and Residence just off Gurjaani road is the former
residence of the 18th century Kakhetian prince, A. Chachavadze. A poet
as well as a prince, he turned the residence into a center for Georgian
intellectual life. The lovely grounds boast a beautiful English-style
park filled with roses and exotic plants. It also houses one of the
oldest wine cellars in existence with wine dating from 1814.
B/L/D Marriott Hotel
Day 7, Sat. Tbilisi
In the more than 1500 years since becoming the capital of Georgia, 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. The city has rebounded in recent
years to become one of the most lively and cosmopolitan cities in the
Caucasus. Today we will wind through Tbilisi's narrow streets and inner
courtyards and stroll down Rustaveli Avenue, the main thoroughfare
running east through the city. Visit Metekhi Church of the Virgin, Sioni
Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica, Bakery. State museum of Georgia.
B/L/D Marriott Hotel
Day 8, Sun. Tbilisi/Gudauri
Today we will drive north along the famed Georgian Military Highway,
the main transport artery linking Georgia with Russia into the
mountainous provinces of the Greater Caucasus. Our first stop of the
day will be in sacred Mtskheta, the ancient capital of eastern Georgia,
at the southern end of the highway. Georgia conversion to Christianity
occurred in Mtskheta in 337 AD and it is considered one of Georgia's
most important religious centers. We will visit Church of Jvari perched
on a cliff overlooking the city, Sveti-Tskhoveli Cathedral, the first
Christian church to be built in Georgia and its largest functioning
cathedral and the Samtavro monastery complex.
Continuing our journey, we will stop in 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 continue on for another
hour's drive to Gudauri, a popular winter mountain resort, which will
serve as our home for the night.
B/L/D Sports Hotel
Day 9, Mon. Gudauri/Kazbegi Pass
Continuing our journey up and north through alpine meadows of yellow
rhododendron and mountain passes littered with medieval watchtowers, we
will reach Dariali Gorge, a 9 mile gash in the earth. We will marvel at
the snow-capped Mount Mkinsvartsveri, an extinct volcano which
surrounds us and reaches to just over 5047 m. Legend has it that, much
like Prometheus, Amirani was chained to the top as punishment for
bringing fire to mortals. We'll return to Gudauri for the night.
B/L/D Sports Hotel
Day 10, Tue. Gudauri/Bakuriani
We begin our descent today stopping for lunch in Gori, a town whose
place in infamy is linked to being the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. The
town will also provide a convenient jumping off point for our
explorations of nearby Uplis-Tsikhe, an ancient cave town dating from
the first half of the 1st millennium BC. The entire town is a complex
of rock-cut streets, residences, churches, secret tunnels, water
passages, markets and the oldest theatre in Georgia. Of the 700
existing caves, visitors have access to a mere 150.
En route to Bakuriani - a picturesque mountain village, we will pass
through Borjomi gorge. The town of Borjomi is one of the most popular
Georgian spa resorts and boasts a temperate climate, mountain scenery
and famed curative mineral waters.
B/L/D Apollo Hotel
Day 11, Wed. Vardzia
We venture further into the south-western region of Samtshke-Javakheti,
named after two of the original Georgian tribes, the Meskh and Javakhs
and often seen as the cradle of Georgian culture. The road to Vardzia
leads past arid and stone-terraced landscapes, past the famed Khertvisi
Castle (10th century), one of the
oldest fortresses in Georgia.
Vardzia is inextricably linked to Queen Tamar, Georgia's most famous and
loved royal who reigned during the 12th century. Crowned as co-ruler by
her father, Giorgi III, she became the first woman to ascend to the
throne of feudal Georgia and is credited with extending and unifying
Georgian rule with successful defeats against Muslim and Turk forces.
With Georgia's strong economic and political position, she founded the
cave town of Vardzia which became the most important monastery and
primary center of culture in Georgia. We will take a peek inside the
monastery to view the remarkably well-preserved frescoes depicting the
young queen. We will return to Bakuriani for the night.
B/L/D Apollo Hotel
Day 12, Thu. Bakuriani/Tbilisi
The Church of St. Nicholas in the Kintsvisi Monastery houses some of
the most well-preserved 13th century frescoes. We will visit them today
as well as Samtavisi Cathedral with its elegantly detailed, stone-carved
fade en route back to Tbilisi.
B/L/D Marriott Hotel
Day 13, Fri. Tbilisi/Haghartsin/Sevan
The mountain scenery just gets grander as we head south into Armenia
today. After passing through customs, we will continue on to Haghartsin
Monastery – a monastery built in a picturesque location, concealed in a
forest. We will then travel to Lake Sevan a popular summer resort and
one of the world’s highest fresh-water lakes at just over 6200 feet.
Many routes of the Silk Road passed by Lake Sevan, which is surrounded
by steep mountains and pine forests. We will have the opportunity to
hike or swim in its stunning turquoise waters or simply relax and enjoy
the dramatic scenery. B/L/D Harsnakar Hotel or Tufenkian Tsapatagh Hotel | |
Day 14, Sat. Sevan/Garni/Geghard
Armenia ’s capital Yerevan will serve as our base from which to roam
the countryside over the next few days. Today we will visit the Sevan
Monastery. Located on the Sevan Peninsula, the monastery was built in
the 9 th century. We continue on to Garni, site of the Roman Temple of
the Sun built in the 1st century. Soon after Armenia adopted
Christianity, the temple became the summer residence of Armenian
royalty. Featuring a sacrificial fire pit and Roman bathhouse within the
complex, the temple was destroyed by an earthquake in the 17th century
and only reconstructed from its ruins within the last forty years. We
will also visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Geghard, a magnificent
monastery partly carved out of a mountain. Later, we will return to
Yerevan for our overnight stay.
B/L/D Golden Tulip Hotel
Day 15, Sun. Echmiadzin
Today we will visit the town of Echmiadzin, located just 30 minutes
outside of the Yerevan and considered one of the holiest sites in
Armenia. This former capital city is now home to the Supreme Catholicos
of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox faith. The main cathedral was founded
by St. Gregory in 303 BC and sits on a former pagan shrine, remnants of
which may still be visible. Beautifully illuminated manuscripts,
jewelled crosses and chalices are housed in the Cathedral’s treasury.
Returning to Yerevan, we will stop at the ruins of the church of St.
Gregory at Zvartnots.
B/L/D Golden Tulip Hotel
Day 16, Mon. Khor Virap/Noravank
Heading to the south of Armenia, we will visit the Monastery of Khor
Virap, a famous pilgrimage site, where Gregory the Illuminator, who
professed Christianity in Armenia and spent 13 years in jail. The
monastery is located on the border of Turkey, from where we will see the
spectacular vista of Mount Ararat. From here, we continue to the
Monastery of Noravank, one of the most splendid monuments of medieval
Armenia, built in a location of significant natural beauty.
B/L/D Golden Tulip Hotel
Day 17, Tue. Yerevan
Yerevan once sat at the crossroads of several important trade caravans
thus solidifying its importance in the region. Modern Yerevan was
redesigned in the early part of the 20th century on top of the old city,
creating a series of parks and squares that run through the city
centre. Our explorations of the city will take us to one of Armenia’s
most fascinating museums, the Matenadaran, which houses a unique
collection of ancient manuscripts covering such topics as philosophy,
law, mathematics, medicine and geography. We will also visit the
Genocide Memorial and Museum, and stroll down Sarian Street, home to the
Museum of Martrios Sarian, one of Armenia’s most well known artists.
B/L/D Golden Tulip Hotel
Day 18, Wed. Depart
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to home city.
B