Itinerary
ITINERARY
DAY 1 YEREVAN ARRIVAL – CITY TOUR
Arrival to Zvartnots International Airport at 00:50. Meet your t/a representative. Transfer to the hotel. Check in. Sleep rest of the night in the hotel. Breakfast at the hotel and morning at leisure.
Afternoon tour: Start exploring Yerevan, the Armenia’s capital city and one of the oldest cities in the world. Stop at the Victory Park and Mother Armenia monument to get a spectacular view of the Biblical Mt. Ararat with a panorama of central Yerevan.
Take a walking tour of Cascade Complex, with its Sculpture Park and Cafesjian Center for the Arts. See Fernando Botero’s sculpture of "The Black Cat" and other renowned artist's works decorating the Park.Visit the magnificent building of the Opera House, the postmodern Northern Avenue and the city's main Republic Square, the centerpiece of the architect Alexander Tamanian's master plan for Yerevan. The Republic Square is ringed by the National Gallery, National History Museum and several government buildings. Take a tour of an open air “Vernissage” market, where you can buy some gifts, souvenirs, jewelry and other handicrafts made of wood, semi-precious stones, silver and other materials. Then stop at the popular fruit market “Shouka” to buy traditional sweets and dry fruits. End of the city tour. Overnight in Yerevan.
DAY 2 YEREVAN – GEGHARD MONASTERY – GARNI TEMPLE – GARNI GORGE – YEREVAN
Breakfast. Drive to one of the most beautiful monasteries in Armenia, the 13th century cave monastery Of Geghard (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The name of the monastery originates from the spear, which had wounded Jesus at the Crucifixion, allegedly brought to Armenia by Apostle Jude, and currently stored amongst many other relics in the Echmiadzin's Cathedral Museum. Continue to the oldest surviving building on the territory of Armenia, the 1st century Garni Pagan Temple. The Garni Temple was built by the Armenian King Tiridates with the money he received after visiting Emperor Nero in Rome, and was dedicated to Sun God Mithra. Take a local 4x4 car down to the bottom of the Garni Gorge, to see the breathtaking vertical cliffs of the well preserved octagonal basalt columns called the "Symphony of the Stones". Return to Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan.
DAY 3 YEREVAN - TSAKHKADZOR - SEVAN - DILIJAN - TBILISI
Breakfast. Check out from the hotel. Drive to Tsakhkadzor resort (“Gorge of Flowers” in Armenian), which is situated along the southeast side of Mt. Teghenis (2,819m), and approximately 60 km from Armenia’s capital Yerevan. Take a ride on the Leitner ropeway to the top. Continue to Lake Sevan. Lake Sevan is one of the highlights of a visit to Armenia. The lakeshore is lined with sandy beaches, some teeming with activity and resorts, offering water sports such as sailing, jet skiing and windsurfing, and some quiet and secluded. Lake Sevan’s proximity to Yerevan, coupled with its cooler summer temperatures, outstretched blue waters and historic sights make it one of Armenia’s key places to visit.
Continue to Armenia-Georgia border. On the way pass through Dilijan, a resort town renowned for its charming nature and some traditional Armenian architecture. Visit the Dilijan’s Historic Center, the cobbled Sharambeyan Street with its collection of stone and wooden traditional buildings, shops, restaurants, souvenir stalls and workshops. Arrive to the border. After border formalities, change the car, cross the border and start the Georgian part of the tour. Drive to Tbilisi hotel. Check into hotel. Overnight in Tbilisi.
DAY 4 TIBLISI CITY TOUR
Breakfast. Start exploring Tbilisi, the capital and the largest city of Georgia. Stop by the Abanotubani district, renowned for its sulfur baths. In the heart of Tbilisi’s old town, the district of Abanotubani is perhaps one of the city’s iconic spots. The blue tiles of the Orbeliani bathhouse recall the grandeur of the Silk Road cities such as Samarkand and the domes from the numerous bath houses dot the square, whose purpose is reinforced by the sulfurous scented air in the neighborhood. Visit the 4th century Narikala Fortress and get a superb panoramic view of Tbilisi, with its hanging houses, the historic Metekhi Church and the gold-topped Sameba Cathedral. Views also sweep down to the glass Peace Bridge and the rest of the city.
Continue tour to Mtskheta, which was the capital of Georgia before establishment of Tbilisi. Mtskheta is approximately 2,500 years-old and because of the abundance of ancient monuments - which are included in the UNESCO Heritage List. Here you will see one of the masterpieces of world architecture - Jvari Church built in the end of VI century and majestic cathedral of XI century - Svetitskhoveli. Return to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi.
DAY 5 TBILISI - ANANURI - GUDAURI - JVARI PASS - GERGETI - TBILISI
Breakfast. Take the Georgian Military Road across the Caucasus Mountains. Built by the Russians in the 19th century, the Georgian Military Road was a major route through the Caucasus from Georgia to Russia, and it passes through the narrow gorges, squeezed between colossal mountains, which makes for some awe-inspiring views. Visit the 17th century Ananuri Castle. This fortress with its churches, was the seat of power of medieval Georgian dukes of Aragvi, and presently, it is one of the most scenic fortresses of Georgia. It's lovely to walk around it as well as on the walls of the castle.
Continue to the ski resort of Gudauri, whose bare hillsides make for Georgia’s best downhill ski runs, and stop at the Jvari Pass. The Jvari Pass starts about 4 km after Gudauri, at 2,379m above sea level, and takes its name from a cross placed here by King David the Builder. Continue to Kazbegi. Kazbegi is a valley town at about 1,750m above sea level, just a few miles short of the Russian border, with the famous hilltop silhouette of Gergeti Trinity Church and the snowy peak of Mt. Kazbek towering to the west. Mount Kazbek is associated in Georgian folklore with Amirani, the Georgian version of Prometheus, who was chained to the mountain in punishment for having stolen fire from the gods and having given it to mortals. Return to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi.
DAY 6 TBILISI DEPARTURE
Breakfast. Day at leisure. At 12:00 check out from the hotel. Free time. Pick – up from the hotel at 17:00. Transfer to Tbilisi International airport. Departure from Tbilisi.
