Highlights of Georgia & Armenia

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• VD

  Verity
  Written on August 4, 2018

  4.5 - Excellent

  The Armenian guide was incredible but Nino the Georgian guide not as good at organization or communication. Some long travel spells on poor roads.

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  Anonymous
  Written on July 4, 2012

  4.0 - Good

  Two interesting countries emerging from a troubled history, seemingly modern and European in feeling. Both were very pretty, the food was excellent and the people friendly and welcoming.  Then there were the Churches - lots and lots of them!  Rather a sedentary tour, could have done with some exploring on foot.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Armenia - The scenery was wonderful, and the little Churches perched on hilltops were magical.  Each day there was a lovely lunch in a beautiful setting, and the best of all was with a family in their garden near to Lake Sevan.Georgia - The drive up the Georgian Military highway was fantastic with magnificient scenery and interesting stops along the way.  What a shame we arrived too late in the day to walk up from Kazbegi to Holy Trinity Chruch and had to go by jeep.  The food in Georgia was also a highlight.  I did a wine-tasting too - the wines were memorably good.What did you think of your group leader?Both Mery in Armenia and Eliza in Georgia were excellent guides, enthusiastic and keen to tell us about their country.  Both made that extra effort, such as buying us local delicacies to try, which added to our experience and made the holiday really memorable.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Take a swimming costume to Armenia; it is hot there and many of the hotels have swimming pools.Is there anything else you would like to add?Great travelling companions too.
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  Anonymous
  Written on July 2, 2012

  3.0 - Average

  For both countries we had superb guides, wonderful scenery, great church locations and full bellies (the included food is tasty and in abundence even for veggies). The hotels were also all of a good standard and often better than expected. We did find ourselves a bit churched out though and some of the drives didn't warrant the reward.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Our particular highlights of the trip were; Armenia Stunning scenery and church locationsGeghard Monastery and its Armenian rock sculptures inside Sanahin with its monastery and the museum of the Mikoyan brothersGeorgiaGori's Stalin museumUplistsikhes enormous cave city Alpine regions and Mount Kazbek sceneryWhat did you think of your group leader?Both Mere (Armenia) and Elisa (Georgia) were superb ambassadors for their countries. Different styles but both equally knowledgable and looked after us well.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Go knowing that you will visit easily 20 plus churches on this trip. It did drain us toward the end.Instead of the synagogue in Yerevan, visit the Museum of Sergio Parajanov, a film maker and artist born in Georgia and living his last years in Armenia. Its full of his art and collages and gives a different insight into the two countries. We travelled in June 2012 and Georgia is under a lot of construction and renovation. Hopefully this will be more complete come 2013. It didn't adversely affect our trip, but you should know.Most of the time you arrive at your destination around midday and it can get hot. This is particularly relevant to the walk to Gergeti Holy Trinity church. I would recommend that the group take the jeeps up and down. Then ask if you can do the 4km (return) walk to a waterfall. Do not go to the Russian border it is a waste of time, there is nothing to see.
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  Anonymous
  Written on June 30, 2012

  4.0 - Good

  This trip provides an easy, comfortable and informative way of seeing the beautiful countryside and experiencing something of the people, culture and very good food.  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The several times we drove up the very high mountains into the superb alpine meadows, which were alive with flowers and singing birds.  The countryside was at its best in early June.What did you think of your group leader?The Armenian guide Mere was a class act.  Very knowledgeable with a very professional and entertaining way of putting things across and very attentive.  The driver  Edward was also excellent and I never felt ill at ease with his driving.The Georgian guide Elisa was good but appeared a little tired and world-weary at first, but brightened up.  The driver was a friendly chap, but he worried me as he often answered his mobile phone while driving and even made some calls.  On Georgian roads this is a bit scary.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Make sure to drink a lot of water, as it can be very hot.  Bring rehydration salts.Is there anything else you would like to add?People expecting to do some walking may be disappointed as the walking element advertised didn't materialise due to the tight schedule. The schedule is long and there sometimes wasn't much time for relaxing at the end of the day.
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  Anonymous
  Written on January 19, 2012

  4.0 - Good

  Both the scenery and the old buildings were fantastic. The guides were both exceptionally good and the food remarkably fresh and variedWhat was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Climbing the hill to the monastery near the end of the Georgian military highway close to the Russian border.What did you think of your group leader?Absolutely first class.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Accept any offers of extra visits!Is there anything else you would like to add?We particularly love Georgia - the people were so welcoming.
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  Anonymous
  Written on January 6, 2011

  4.0 - Good

  It has been a very easy travel, available to everybody (special fitness is not required), The two countries visited were very unknown for me, i enjoyed it, but at last, it was a religious travel, there are so much religious issues in this countries, all their lives goes arround it, and it is noticed and lived in some way during the trip. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?without doubt when everyone arrive to the nice and very old churches spread arroud this countries. Also Tbilisi is charming, modern, alive, i enjoyed there very much.What did you think of your group leader?About the group leadres, i have to say that i was very unpleased, they do not personalise in any way, they never try to use our names (i was spain for one of them all the travel, and it bother me very much). About the Georgian leather was, even, unpolite shouting me when i gave an opinion.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Take in mind that you visit two countries, think that  Georgia is colder than Armenia,
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  Anonymous
  Written on January 6, 2011

  4.0 - Good

  It has been a very easy travel, available to everybody (special fitness is not required), The two countries visited were very unknown for me, i enjoyed it, but at last, it was a religious travel, there are so much religious issues in this countries, all their lives goes arround it, and it is noticed and lived in some way during the trip. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?without doubt when everyone arrive to the nice and very old churches spread arroud this countries. Also Tbilisi is charming, modern, alive, i enjoyed there very much.What did you think of your group leader?About the group leadres, i have to say that i was very unpleased, they do not personalise in any way, they never try to use our names (i was spain for one of them all the travel, and it bother me very much). About the Georgian leather was, even, unpolite shouting me when i gave an opinion.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Take in mind that you visit two countries, think that  Georgia is colder than Armenia,
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  Anonymous
  Written on November 11, 2010

  2.0 - Rather poor

  Armenia fantastic - should spend more time thereGeorgia disappointing after Armenia, repetitive going back through Tbilisi. far too many churches of poorer quality than Armenia. On final day majority of group couldn't be bothered getting off the coach. we had voted to change itinierary but one member wanted as is so contractually we had to go. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Beautiful churches in ArmeniaWhat did you think of your group leader?Armenia - great leader, knowledgeable & good  logistics managerGeorgia Leader - needs to gain some life experience. felt she had the job as her dad had connections. But then that's Georgia for you!Do you have any advice for potential travellers?don't go to Georgia
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  Anonymous
  Written on November 11, 2010

  2.0 - Rather poor

  Armenia fantastic - should spend more time thereGeorgia disappointing after Armenia, repetitive going back through Tbilisi. far too many churches of poorer quality than Armenia. On final day majority of group couldn't be bothered getting off the coach. we had voted to change itinierary but one member wanted as is so contractually we had to go. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Beautiful churches in ArmeniaWhat did you think of your group leader?Armenia - great leader, knowledgeable & good  logistics managerGeorgia Leader - needs to gain some life experience. felt she had the job as her dad had connections. But then that's Georgia for you!Do you have any advice for potential travellers?don't go to Georgia
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  Anonymous
  Written on November 8, 2010

  2.0 - Rather poor

  Essentially a 'coach tour' of churches and monasteries of these two post-soviet Caucasus countries with a lot of driving, some pretty poor accommodation in Georgia and little free time and opportunity to do anything else.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Some good scenery, good food and interesting buildings but nothing 'inspirational' except perhaps for the religious devotee.What did you think of your group leader?The Georgian leader was poor.  The included visit to the Treasury in Tbilisi did not happen because she said it was closed.  We found out it wasn't and were then told it was full and could not be booked.  My wife and I subsequently went on our own at our own expense.  It was open and almost empty.  Anything not specified in the itinerary had to be asked for including stopping to buy/eat lunch and loo stops.  By contrast the Armenian leader, Mary, was excellent and ensured that we not only saw everything on our ininerary but if the opportunity presented itself en-route to add something else she did.  Experienced small-group travellers should understand that these people are not really leaders but guides and do not become part of the group, socialising and on first name terms as leaders typically do.  You may thus feel more of a 'customer/tourist' and less of a small-group traveller, especially as you drive around in your huge 46 seater coach.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?If you like coach tours and looking at churches this one's for you!  If two weeks of that seems a bit much try and find a trip just to Armenia.  I think it the better of the two Countries.  Some great scenery, enough religious buildings to see, often in more spectacular sites than Georgia, better food, better hotels and nicer people.  The Armenians also seem less diminished by their Soviet past despite its obvious and detrimental affect and seem to have a more optimistic outlook for their future.  Go there once you have been to Bhutan, Ethiopia, Mali, Yemen, Nepal, Tibet, Ecuador, Antarctica, Peru, Kyrgyzstan and a few other places.Is there anything else you would like to add?A big thank you to all the other members of the group whose friendship and sociability added hugely to the trip and, despite my comments above, meant we still had a good time.. . and, by the way, don't believe what they say about Georgian wine, it's not that good but it is cheap which allows you to drink enough of it not to care. Happy travels!