Baku, Tbilisi, Erevan

Day 1 - Arrival at Baku airport

Transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in Baku.

Day 2 - Baku

After breakfast, city tour of the Old Town of Baku. The Old Town is an ensemble of narrow streets and winding passages neatly bordered by high fortress walls. The Old Town features the low stone walls of the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, built in the 15th-16th centuries, the splendor of the masonry and the inscriptions on the royal chambers, mosques and mausoleums. The royal complex includes a domed pavilion, a small two-story palace, courtyards, a royal mausoleum and a mosque. On the outskirts of Icheri Sheher, the legendary Maiden Tower opens up a stunning view of the bay.

Drive to the Highland Park to see the panorama of Baku.

Free evening and overnight in Baku. (B/L)

Day 3 - Gobustan, Absheron Peninsula

Drive to Gobustan Nature Reserve (UNESCO). This state reserve is located about 64 km southwest of Baku. It was established in 1966 when the area was declared a national historical landmark of Azerbaijan to preserve the prehistoric petroglyphs, mud volcanoes and musical stones in the region.

The Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape within the reserve, which covers an area of ​​about 537 ha, includes more than 6,000 petroglyphs depicting people, animals, fighting figures, ritual dances, bullfights, boats with armed rowers, warriors with lances, camel caravans, the sun and stars, and are on average 5,000–20,000 years old.

Continue to Apsheron Peninsula. The Apsheron Peninsula is an extension of the Caucasus Mountains on the Caspian Sea, the largest inland sea in the world, covering an area of ​​386,400 km² (149,200 sq mi). On this excursion, you will learn about the history of oil production in Azerbaijan. Even in ancient times, the existence of oil was known on the Apsheron Peninsula, and there were various religious cults associated with oil and gas fields. You will be acquainted with the non-traditional use of oil, the current situation of the oil industry in Azerbaijan and the country's oil development prospects.

You will visit the temple of fire worshipers Ateshgah in the village of Surakhani and see natural gas outlets (Yanar Dag - "Burning Mountain").

Return to the hotel. Overnight in Baku (B/D)

Day 4 - Baku, Shamakhy, Sheki

After breakfast, departure for Sheki.

On the way, stop in Shamakhy to visit the Juma Mosque.

Tour in Sheki: panoramic view of the city of Sheki, visit to the royal summer palace of the Khans of Sheki with magnificent frescoes (one of them is 24 meters long) and exquisite stained glass, caravanserai, Christian temples: an early medieval round temple (now the Museum of National Applied Arts) in the warehouse district of the city "Sheki Galasy".

Overnight in Sheki. (B/D)

Day 5 - Sheki, Sighnaghi, Tbilisi

After breakfast, departure to the border between Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Guide and bus change.

Visit the medieval town of Sighnaghi, walk through old winding streets and on the old city wall. This picturesque town offers wonderful views of the Greater Caucasus.

Visit the Bodbe nunnery (10th century), where Georgia's enlightener St. Nino is buried.

Visit to a winery with a tour of the wine cellar, wine tasting and early dinner with traditional Georgian dishes.

Overnight in Tbilisi. (B/D)

Day 6 - Capital Tbilisi

After breakfast, city tour in Tbilisi: Metekhi Church, Bath District, Narikala Fortress, colorful alleys with cafes, restaurants, carpet and souvenir shops, old Caravanserai with art workshops, Sioni Church.

After the lunch break, visit to the Treasury of the National Museum with pre-Christian treasures of Georgia.

Orientation drive through the city center and return to the hotel.

Dinner in a traditional restaurant and overnight stay in Tbilisi. (B, L)

Day 7 - Georgian Military Road, Greater Caucasus

After breakfast, drive towards the northern border to the village of Stepantsminda. On the way, stop at the picturesque Shinvali Reservoir.

Then, continue along the Georgian Military Highway to Stepantsminda, where Georgia's second-highest mountain, Mount Kazbek (5047m), is located.

Hike/drive to the Gergeti Trinity Church (14th century). Breathtaking mountain panorama!

Early dinner with a local family, where guests will learn how to make Khinkali and Khachapuri, traditional Georgian dumplings and cheese bread.

Return and overnight stay in Tbilisi. (B, D)

Day 8 - Older capital Mtskheta, Gori, Uflisziche, Tbilisi

After breakfast, drive to Mtskheta, the ancient religious capital of Eastern Georgia. From here, Christianity spread throughout Georgia in the 4th century. Visit to Jvari Monastery (6th century) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century), both UNESCO monuments.

Continue to Gori with an optional photo stop at Stalin’s birthplace.

Visit the ancient rock-hewn city of Uplistsikhe (7th-6th century BC), originally carved into sandstone as a pagan temple fortress.

Return to Tbilisi. (B/D)

Day 9 - Armenian border, Haghpat, Sanahin, Dilijan

After breakfast, drive to the Georgian-Armenian border. Guide and bus change.

Visit the ancient monastery complexes of Haghpat (10th-13th century) and Sanahin, both UNESCO monuments, where impressive cross-stones can be seen.

Continue to Dilijan, with a stroll through the town.

Overnight stay and dinner in Dilijan. (B/D)

Day 10 - Dilijan, Lake Sevan, Noravank, Khor Virap, Yerevan

After breakfast, continue to Lake Sevan, a high-altitude lake at 1950 meters.

Stop at the small Selim Caravanserai on the ancient Silk Road.

Continue to Noravank Monastery (13th century). Lunch at the monastery gastro-yard.

Afterward, drive to the Ararat Plain to visit Armenia’s most significant pilgrimage site, the renovated monastic complex of Khor Virap (4th-7th century). According to tradition, Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned in a "deep pit" here for spreading Christianity. Enjoy a unique view of Mount Ararat (5165 m), the sacred mountain of Armenians, which lies in Turkish territory. Then, continue to Yerevan.

Overnight stay in Yerevan. (B/D)

Day 11 - Yerevan, Etchmiadzin

The sightseeing tour begins with an orientation drive through the city, followed by a guided visit to the History Museum of Yerevan.

Visit to the Cascade (a large open-air stairway) with a magnificent view of the city and Mount Ararat (weather permitting).

Next, visit to the "Tsitsernakaberd" (Swallow Fortress) Park, home to the memorial for the victims of the 1915 genocide.

Drive to Etchmiadzin, the center of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the residence of the Catholicos (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Visit the partially restored ruins of the Zvartnots Cathedral (House of Angels), a monumental circular church from the 7th century. Explore the Church of St. Hripsime, built in 618, considered the most characteristic of all Armenian churches, as well as the Cathedral and the Treasury, which houses ancient cultural treasures.

Lunch at the old refectory next to the Etchmiadzin Church or, in good weather, in an apricot garden. Return to Yerevan. Free time, for example, for a stroll through the Vernissage, an arts and crafts and souvenir market.

Overnight stay again in Yerevan. (B/L)

Day 12 - Yerevan – Geghard – Garni – Yerevan

Drive to the cave monastery of Geghard (UNESCO). Even in pre-Christian times, people carved caves into the soft volcanic rock and established sacred water shrines. Concert of sacred music in the cave chapel of Geghard.

Continue to the Ionic temple of Garni from the Hellenistic period, built in the 1st century by King Tiridates on the edge of a deep basalt gorge.

Back in Yerevan, enjoy a guided tour of the scientific library Matenadaran, which houses a valuable collection of ancient Armenian manuscripts, the oldest dating back to the 5th century.

Overnight stay and dinner in Yerevan. (B/D)

Day 13 - Transfer to the airport. End of the trip.

Services included in the travel price:

Transfer from/to the airport:  All transfers according to the program in a comfortable tour bus (depending on the group size)

Tour guide: Continuous German- or English-speaking, trained tour guide from/to the airport

Accommodation:

All overnight stays in double rooms in 4* and partially 3* hotels

Catering:

• Breakfast in all hotels
• 8x dinner
• 3x lunch
• 1x wine tasting
• 1 bottle of water (0.5l) per day and per person

All entrance fees + guided tours according to the program

Not included in the travel price:

Flight (can be booked in consultation with the guest!)
Travel insurance
Alcoholic beverages except during wine tastings
Tips