Itinerary
- Day 1
Baku
You'll arrive in Baku and get picked up from the airport for the drive to your hotel. After checking in, spend the rest of the day settling in and recovering from travel. This gives you time to adjust to the local time and grab a meal whenever you're ready.
- Start point
- Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD), Mardakan Hwy, Baku Azerbaijan (Airport)
- Day 2
Baku
After breakfast, head into Old Baku, the city's ancient core with its maze of narrow cobblestone streets and old buildings. You'll walk through the Palace of Shirvan Shahs and see the iconic Maiden Tower, both part of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The historic Caravanserai is also on your route, and wandering these streets really does feel like you've stepped back centuries, even though modern Baku surrounds it all.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Old Baku (Icheri Shey-Har) UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit Palace of Shirvan Shahs
- Visit Maiden Tower
- Visit Caravanserai
Landmarks Old Baku (Icheri Shey-Har) Palace of Shirvan Shahs Maiden Tower Caravanserai - Day 3
Absheron Peninsula
This morning you'll drive out to Absheron Peninsula, a landscape shaped by oil production over many years. At Gobustan, you'll see over 6,000 ancient rock carvings that date back 5,000 to 20,000 years, another UNESCO site. Later you check out Ateshgah, an old fire temple, and then head to Yanar Dag mountain where fire burns naturally on the hillside. After that, you'll head back to Baku for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Gobustan UNESCO site with ancient petroglyphs
- Visit Ateshgah fire temple
- Visit Yanar Dag (Burning Mountain)
Landmarks Gobustan Ateshgah Yanar Dag 
- Day 4
Baku to Sheki
You'll drive northwest through dry, bare landscapes with mud volcanoes dotting the terrain. Stop to see Pir Diri Baba Mausoleum sitting on a cliff, then continue to Shemakha for the Grand Mosque, which was built on top of the region's first mosque from the 10th century. The drive takes you higher into the mountains toward Lahij, a town known for its copper workers and distinct local language. By evening you'll reach Sheki, a charming town that sits on the old Silk Road.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Pir Diri Baba Mausoleum
- Visit Grand Mosque in Shemakha
- Explore Lahij coppersmiths town
Landmarks Pir Diri Baba Mausoleum Grand Mosque of Shemakha Lahij 
- Day 5
Sheki
Start early with a trip to Kish Church, a beautiful medieval structure just outside Sheki. Back in town, you'll visit a traditional workshop where artisans make shebeke stained glass windows by hand using no glue or nails. The main event of the day is Khan's Palace inside the fortress, with its detailed mosaic work and ornate windows.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Kish Church
- Visit shebeke stained glass window workshop
- Visit Khan's Palace
Landmarks Kish Church Khan's Palace - Day 6
Sheki to Telavi
You'll travel into Georgia through the Greater Caucasus foothills to reach Kakheti, an ancient wine region. Lunch happens at a local winery, then you head to Gremi's 16th-century citadel complex with its domed church and tower. Next is Alaverdi Cathedral, an 11th-century structure that's Georgia's second-tallest religious building. The day wraps up at Ikalto Academy, set among cypress trees and once the country's largest medieval school.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local winery in Kakheti region)
Included Activities
- Lunch at local winery in Kakheti region
- Visit Gremi citadel complex
- Visit Alaverdi Cathedral
- Visit Ikalto Academy
Landmarks Gremi Citadel Alaverdi Cathedral Ikalto Academy - Day 7
Sighnaghi to Tbilisi
Today brings you to Sighnaghi, a fortified town famous for wine and carpet making. You'll walk narrow streets lined with carved wooden balconies while looking out over the Kizikhi area. This royal town captures the character of the Kakheti wine region before you head toward Tbilisi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Sighnaghi
- Explore Sighnaghi narrow streets and wooden balconies
Landmarks Sighnaghi 
- Day 8
Tbilisi
You're spending the full day in Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, which dates back to the 6th century and has been rebuilt roughly 30 times. Head to Old Tbilisi to see the Sulfur Baths district and various historic churches, including the large Sameba Cathedral and Metekhi Church on a cliff over the river. The State Museum of Georgia helps you understand the country's past and different cultural influences.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Old Tbilisi
- Visit Sulfur Baths district
- Visit Georgian Orthodox churches
- Visit Armenian Apostolic church
- Visit Jewish synagogue
- Visit Turkish mosque
- Visit Sameba Cathedral
- Visit Metekhi Church
- Visit State Museum of Georgia
Landmarks Old Tbilisi Sulfur Baths Sameba Cathedral Metekhi Church State Museum of Georgia - Day 9
Tbilisi to Gudauri
You'll drive north along the Georgian Military Highway into the Greater Caucasus mountains. The first stop is sacred Mtskheta, Georgia's ancient capital and where Christianity arrived in 337 AD. You'll see the clifftop Church of Jvari and the stunning Sveti-Tskhoveli Cathedral, Georgia's first Christian church. From there, continue to the Ananuri fortress complex from the 16th century, built to control this strategic mountain pass. By evening you reach Gudauri, a mountain resort town, for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Church of Jvari in Mtskheta
- Visit Sveti-Tskhoveli Cathedral
- Visit Ananuri fortress complex
Landmarks Mtskheta Church of Jvari Sveti-Tskhoveli Cathedral Ananuri 
- Day 10
Gudauri to Dariali Gorge
The drive continues north through alpine meadows and mountain passes with medieval watchtowers standing along the route. You reach the dramatic Dariali Gorge, a 14-kilometer chasm in the landscape, with views of snow-capped Mount Kazbek at 16,500 feet, an extinct volcano. Then you hike across meadows to Tsminda Sameba Monastery, a 14th-century church sitting at 7,200 feet on a peak and one of Georgia's most visited places after Tbilisi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Dariali Gorge
- Walk to Tsminda Sameba Monastery
Landmarks Dariali Gorge Mount Kazbek Tsminda Sameba Monastery - Day 11
Gudauri to Akhaltshikhe
Coming down from the mountains, you'll reach Gori, a town founded by King David the Builder in the 12th century. Here you can visit the house museum where Joseph Stalin was born. Later you drive through Borjomi Gorge and take a walk in Borjomi Forest to see Chitakhevi St. George Monastery, built between the 9th and 10th centuries. Your day ends in Akhaltshikhe in southwestern Georgia.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Joseph Stalin house museum in Gori
- Visit Chitakhevi St. George Monastery
Landmarks Gori Chitakhevi St. George Monastery 
- Day 12
Akhaltshikhe
Today you explore the Samtshke-Javakheti region in southwestern Georgia, known as the birthplace of Georgian culture and named after two original Georgian tribes. The terrain gets dramatic with arid, stone-terraced landscapes as you head toward Vardzia. On the way, stop at Khertvisi Castle from the 10th century, one of Georgia's oldest fortresses. Vardzia is connected to Queen Tamar, Georgia's most famous ruler from the 12th century, and became the country's most important cultural and spiritual center.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Khertvisi Castle
- Visit Vardzia monastery
Landmarks Khertvisi Castle Vardzia 
- Day 13
Akhaltshikhe to Tbilisi
You're heading back toward Tbilisi with a stop at Phoka St. Nino Nunnery, established in 1992 at 6,890 feet. Local legend says this is where Saint Nino first entered Georgia before she traveled to Mtskheta. A basilica dedicated to St. Nino was built here in the 10th century and restored by the monastery in 2005. From there, continue back to Tbilisi for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Phoka St. Nino Nunnery
Landmarks Phoka St. Nino Nunnery - Day 14
Tbilisi to Sevan
Now you're driving into Armenia, starting with Haghpat monastery, a UNESCO site from the 10th century showing medieval Armenian architecture. Next comes Dilijan, sometimes called 'Armenia's Little Switzerland,' followed by Haghartsin, a fairy-tale monastery set in the forest. By evening you reach Sevan, home to one of the world's largest and highest freshwater lakes at 6,233 feet.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Haghpat monastery UNESCO site
- Visit Haghartsin monastery
Landmarks Haghpat Monastery Dilijan Haghartsin Monastery Lake Sevan 
- Day 15
Sevan to Goris
You'll visit the 9th-century Sevanavank Monastery on a peninsula in Lake Sevan. Then drive through Vardenyats Mountain Pass, known for its colorful mountains, to reach the Orbelian Caravanserai on the historic Silk Road. The best part of the day is a 3.5-mile ride on the world's longest aerial tramway to Tatev Monastery, an impressive 9th-century monastic complex.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Sevanavank Monastery
- Ride world's longest aerial tramway to Tatev Monastery
- Visit Tatev Monastery
Landmarks Sevanavank Monastery Vardenyats Mountain Pass Orbelian Caravanserai Tatev Monastery 
- Day 16
Goris to Yerevan
Start at Karahunj, called the 'Armenian Stonehenge,' said to be the world's oldest observatory at 7,500 years old and definitely a mysterious place. Next is Noravank Monastery, an architectural gem among brick-red cliffs above a deep gorge. You'll continue to Areni village, where viticulture began, and tour the world's oldest winery at 6,100 years old inside Areni-1 Cave Complex, complete with wine tasting. Finish at the iconic 4th-century Khor Virap Monastery, the closest point to Mount Ararat, before driving to Yerevan.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Karahunj
- Visit Noravank Monastery
- Visit Areni-1 Cave Complex
- Wine tasting tour in Areni village
- Visit Khor Virap Monastery
Landmarks Karahunj Noravank Monastery Areni-1 Cave Complex Khor Virap Monastery Mount Ararat 
- Day 17
Yerevan
Today you're exploring Yerevan, Armenia's capital, built with pink local stone and often called the 'pearl' city. Founded in 782 B.C., it's one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities. Visit Matenadaran, one of the world's largest and oldest manuscript repositories, to see illuminated Armenian, Greek, and Persian manuscripts. You'll walk through the Goom food bazaar, eat lunch at a traditional Armenian restaurant, and finish at the historic Yerevan Brandy Company, built in 1877, where you can taste cognac and wines dating back to 1944.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in best traditional Armenian restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Matenadaran manuscript repository
- Tour Goom food bazaar
- Lunch in traditional Armenian restaurant
- Visit Yerevan Brandy Company
- Brandy tasting at Yerevan Brandy Company
Landmarks Matenadaran Goom Food Bazaar Yerevan Brandy Company 
- Day 18
Etchmiadzin
You'll journey to Etchmiadzin, the spiritual center of Armenia and sometimes called the 'Vatican City of Armenia,' seat of the Armenian Patriarch. Explore the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, founded in 303 AD and considered the world's oldest official church. Also visit the 7th-century Church of St. Hripsime and check out the ruins of Zvartnots Temple. After lunch, participate in a traditional cooking class with a local host in a small village, learning to prepare authentic Armenian dishes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch with cooking class in village)
Included Activities
- Visit Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin
- Visit Church of St. Hripsime
- Visit Zvartnots ruins
- Cooking class in village with lunch
Landmarks Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin Church of St. Hripsime Zvartnots - Day 19
Geghard
Drive to Garni Fortress, the old royal summer residence of Armenian kings, and see the Garni Temple of the Sun, the only standing Hellenistic temple in the Caucasus and former USSR. Then head to Geghard Monastery, a UNESCO site carved directly into solid rock with intricate decorative art and the world's most beautiful rock-cut medieval monastery. You'll learn to make traditional Armenian lavash bread near the monastery and eat lunch in a local home. Finish by exploring the surreal Garni Gorge and its 'Symphony of Stones,' one of Armenia's most remarkable natural formations.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in local house with traditional Armenian bread making)
Included Activities
- Visit Garni Fortress
- Visit Garni Temple of the Sun
- Visit Geghard Monastery UNESCO site
- Traditional Armenian lavash bread making
- Lunch in local house
- Tour Garni Gorge Symphony of Stones
Landmarks Garni Fortress Garni Temple of the Sun Geghard Monastery Garni Gorge 
- Day 20
Yerevan Departure
You'll transfer to Zvartnots International Airport near Yerevan for your departure and the end of your trip.
- End point
- Զվարթնոց, Armavir, Armenia (Zvartnots Airport - Yerevan)
