Grand Tour: Best of Georgia & Armenia

Day 1: Arrival to Tbilisi

Arrival to Tbilisi International Airport. Meeting with driver, transfer to the hotel.

Night stay in Tbilisi.

Day 2: Walking Tbilisi City Tour (10 km)

Breakfast in the hotel.

10:00 Meeting with guide.

The old Tbilisi walking tour is the perfect thing to do to feel the beauty of this magnificent town. During this tour, you will walk through the old town’s tiny streets. You’ll have a chance to discover secrets behind colorful streets and hear beautiful legends and stories.

Firstly, Tour starts with walking from Rike park and Peace Bridge. Secondly, after some walking, we go up to Narikala fortress & Mother of Georgia by Cable -car to enjoy the birds-eye views of Tbilisi. After that, walking down from the fortress, we move to Sulphur Baths, known as the city’s heart. Finally, we end up at the Leghvtakhevi waterfall – beautiful and the most adored place for unforgettable pictures and selfies.

Free time for lunch.

Then we will walk through Meidan Bazar – is right underneath the Meidan square, the heart of touristic centre of Tbilisi. In this underground tunnel – shop all products of typical touristic interest are assembled. Everything is Made in Georgia here: from wine to hand crafted socks, from postcards to Georgian jams, sauces, spices and tea.

The next stop we will have at the Georgian national museum, where impressive galleries are lined with the art and artifacts of this diverse nation, dating back to the 8th millennium BC.

After transfer to the hotel, free time.

Evening dinner in a Georgian restaurant, where you will taste delicious Georgian foods and enjoy watching Georgian national dances.

After transfer to the hotel. Night Stay in Tbilisi. (B/-/D)

Day 3: Tbilisi-Vardisubani-Gremi-Nekresi-Kvareli-Telavi (210 km)

Breakfast in the hotel. Check out.

09:00 Meeting with guide at the lobby.  Trip to Kakheti, you will start with Kakheti winery where you will have chance to taste Georgian traditional delicious wines. Drive to Kbilashvili winery, two of the most well-known qvevri makers in Kakheti are Remi Kbilashvili and his son, Zaza Kbilashvili. The Kbilashvili family’s qvevri workshop and winery are located in the small village of Vardisubani, about 3 kilometers from Telavi.

We will have informative tour on the qvevri production process, which includes everything from amassing the clay to drying it and sculpting the final product.

Drive to the Kvareli region, firstly we will visit Gremi, which was built in the 16th century in the times of King Levan of Kakheti, who announced Gremi the capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti.

After drive to Nekresi monastery, consists of various buildings dated to the 4th – 9th centuries.

Have you heard about Tunnel Winery Khareba. It is the largest of Georgia’s wine cellars. There are perfect storage conditions for wine, 7,7 km of tunnels, and galleries maintain a constant temperature of 12-14 degrees 0C. You have a walking tour with a local Georgian guide to find out more information and details about wine and taste it. In addition, we will have delicious lunch, wine tasting of 4 types, Chacha degustation, also we will have master-classes if baking Georgian Bread, making churchkhela, “Mtsvadi” on the grill, baking Khachapuri, Making Khinkali.

After drive to Telavi, check in.  Free time. Night stay in Telavi. (B/L/-)

Day 4: Telavi-Tsinandali-Bodbe-Sighnaghi-Tbilisi (190 km)

Breakfast in the hotel. Check out.

09:00 Meeting with guide at the lobby.

First destination of this day will be Telavi Bazaar, which located in the Kakheti region of Georgia, has been a cornerstone of culinary and cultural exchange since the 17th century. Renowned as the new trading center after the devastating invasions of Abbas I, it has successfully evolved into an enticing market full of local delicacies and artisanal offerings.

After that you will visit Tsinandali Estate which is recognized as a historical site of wine’s origin, with the first recorded bottling of wine taking place there in the 1800s. It since maintains production with the traditional methods of Georgian winemaking as well as using modern technology to produce classical European vintages. They produce several distinguished, full-bodied vintages while farming organically over 11 different local vine species.

Free time for lunch.

The next stop is Monastery of St. Nino, named Bodbe Nunnery. Here you can enjoy with peaceful environment & a magical view of Alazani Valley.

Finally, we stopped at the viewpoint of Sighnaghi and took terrific pictures.

Sighnaghi is a town in Kakheti. However, Georgia’s smallest town serves as a popular tourist destination due to its picturesque landscapes, pastel houses with wooden fretwork balconies, and narrow cobblestone streets.

After drive back to Tbilisi. Transfer to the hotel. Night Stay in Tbilisi. (B/-/-)

Day 5: Tbilisi-Dilijan-Sevan-Yerevan (350 km)

Breakfast in the hotel, 09:00 check out, meeting with your guide at the lobby of the hotel and transfer to the Border of Armenia Sadakhlo. (Duration 1.30 hours), border facilities (1 hour), walking with luggage to the Armenian transport.

Meeting with guide and driver. Let’s start our tour from Dilijan. Dilijan entices people with its unforgettable beauty and mild climate. The city stretches on the banks of Aghstev river, surrounded with mountains and forests. Dilijan has the fame of a health resort. The warm sun, fresh air and natural spas have great healing influence on people. Dilijan is also rich in interesting architectural monuments.

The next stop will be Lake Sevan. The fascination and the “pearl” of mountainous Armenia is Lake Sevan, which is one of the world’s greatest high altitude fresh-water lakes. It is about 1900 m above sea level. The lake is of volcanic origin and is surrounded with mountains of 3000 m and higher. The beautiful landscape and the crystal water serve nice preconditions for excellent rest. The lake is also famous for its peninsula and medieval church complex, built in 874.

At the end of the day, you will have an overnight stay in Yerevan. (B/-/-)

Day 6: Yerevan-Mother Cathedral of Holy Echmiadzin-Zvartnots Temple-Sightseeing tour in Yerevan-Ararat Brandy Factory (120 km)

Breakfast in hotel.

10:00 This trip takes you to churches, that are listed among the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites. The first stops are the churches of St. Hripsime and St. Gayane, that are two of three churches in Echmiadzin, dedicated to the Christian women-martyrs who escaped from Rome with their abbess Gayane.

Next up is Echmiadzin Mother Cathedral, the main cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the very first Christian cathedral in the World. Currently Mother Cathedral is under reconstruction and, unfortunately, you can see it only from the outside.

Final stop is Zvartnots, the medieval temple of St. Gregory, built in the 7th century. It was one of the tallest buildings of the time.

Then you will return back to Yerevan for the city tour. Yerevan, the heart of Armenia. You are going to enjoy interesting stories of the thousand-year history of the capital along with visits of architectural monuments (such as the Opera House, Cascade Complex, National Assembly Building, Republic Square), as well as vintage central streets of the city (such as Abovyan str., Mashtots ave., Baghramyan ave., Northern ave.). And from the height of the special viewpoint the whole city will open up towards you.

At the end of the day, you will get to know the taste and history of Armenian brandy. ARARAT brandies – embody the Legend itself, the spirit of Armenia, its cultural and historical heritage and the craftsmanship of the Armenian people. ARARAT is the most famous and successful brand of Armenian brandy in the world. In the brandy factory one can follow the production phases of brandy making, also enjoy the delicious taste and flavor of different kinds of ARARAT brandy just from the first hand. In the museum of the factory the 120 years old history of Armenian brandy production is presented. Overnight in Yerevan. (B/-/-)

Day 7: Yerevan-Temple of Garni-Monastery of Geghard-Lavash baking master class-Yerevan (100 km)

Breakfast in hotel. Continue by exploring the most amazing attractions of Armenia! Visit Garni the only remained pagan temple in Armenia. Garni temple, which towers over a triangular cape, is the unique survived example of heathen culture in Armenia. It is a blend of Greco-Roman and Armenian styles. King Trdat The First ordered building the temple in the first century AD and dedicated it to the God of Sun. After adopting Christianity in 301, the pagan temple lost its significance and the fortress of Garni became the summer residence of the kings. Nowadays the ruins of the royal palace and the bathroom with a stunning mosaic work can be found near the temple.

After heading to Geghard monastery, a complex which is partially carved in a rock. Geghard monastery is the unsurpassable masterpiece of the 13th century Armenian architecture. Some of the churches of the complex are masterfully hewn in a huge rock. From the outset the complex was called Ayrivank (cave monastery), later it was renamed Geghard (lance) as the lance, used by the roman soldier to sting Jesus Christ’s side, had been kept in this monastery for many centuries. Due to its construction, Geghardavank serves the best place for singing spiritual songs. The complex is rich in subtle sculptural embellishments and many striking khachkars (cross-stones). The site is included in UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

See lavash (Armenian bread) baking process, which is one of the most beautiful and common Armenian national traditions. Overnight in Yerevan.  (B/-/-)

Day 8: Free day in Yerevan

We can offer you the following excursion for an additional fee.

Yerevan-Khor Virap Monastery-Areni wine region-1 (Birds-Cave)-Hin Areni Wine factory (tour and tasting)-Noravank Monastery

Breakfast in hotel. The most fascinating attractions of Armenia are here to amaze you! Visit Khor Virap monastery, a great place for embracing picturesque views of the Holy Mount Ararat. Next, see the monastery complex Noravank, that is unique in its construction as the church of Holy Mother of God is 2-storied monastery. After that have wine tasting in “Hin Areni” wine factory, which is one of the oldest settlements in Armenia, famous for its wines. Finally, visit an ancient cave called “Birds-Cave” or Areni-1. Overnight in Yerevan.

Price of transport and guide (2,3 pax-250$, 4 pax-290$)

Entrance tickets: Areni -1 (Birds’ Cave) – 4 USD pp, Hin Areni Wine factory (tour and tasting) – 5 USD pp

Day 9: Yerevan-Haghpat Monastery-Zarni Parni-Akhtala Castle-Armenian Georgian border-Tbilisi (320 km)

Breakfast in hotel.

09:00 In the morning you will drive to the Georgian border.  This tour will at the same time turn into an indescribably positive experience. It is dedicated to the visit of Lori province. After 4 hours drive you will first admire 10th century monastery Haghpat, where at the end of the 18th century the famous ashug Sayat-Nova lived and created. Next on the route, see the magnificent Zarni-Parni Cave Castle Complex, where, according to historical records, renowned scholar and philosopher Hovhannes Imastaser used to live and work. Currently the area is turned into a historical museum, where one can find number of rare ancient agricultural tools and household items.

Afterwards, have a drive to Akhtala fortress, constructed on a plateau resembling a peninsula, surrounded with deep gorges from three sides. Transfer to the Georgian Armenian border.

Border facilities (1 hour), walking with luggage to the Georgian transport.

Meeting with driver, transfer to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi. (B/-/-)

Day 10: Free day in Tbilisi

Breakfast in hotel.  Free day in Tbilisi for walking and shopping. Overnight in Tbilisi. (B/-/-)

Day 11: We offer 2 options of excursion-are included in price.

Breakfast in hotel.

09:00 Meeting with guide at the lobby.

Option 1: Caucasus mountains tour-Jvari monastery-Gudauri resort-Kazbegi-Gergeti trinity church

Option 2: Uplistsikhe the cave city-the city of Mtskheta

Overnight in Tbilisi. (B/-/-)

Day 12: Departure

Breakfast in the hotel, check out, meeting with your guide at the lobby of the hotel and transfer to the Tbilisi international airport. Departure.