Georgia and Armenia

We are flying to Tbilisi.

Upon arrival, our guide will be waiting to take us to the Museum Hotel, where we can check in and rest before the city tour.

We start the day with breakfast at the hotel. Around 1 pm we set off on a tour of Tbilisi. The city is beautifully situated in the Kura River valley, surrounded by high mountains.

We stroll through the charming old town with its winding alleys and traditional houses with beautiful balconies. Our first stop is the medieval church of Metekhi, which sits on a cliff overlooking the Kura River. We continue to one of the city's old bathhouses, built on top of one of the many hot springs in the area that gave the city its name: tbili means "hot" in Georgian. The Narikala fortress, originally built in the 4th century, rises on a hill above the old town, and from here we have a fantastic view of the city. We go up there by cable car.

During our tour we also visit the Sioni Cathedral and Tbilisi's oldest preserved church, Anchishchati. We finish with a walk along the main street Rustaveli, which is lined with impressive buildings. After the tour we have time for our own wanderings. In the evening we have a joint dinner with typical Georgian food at a restaurant.

After breakfast we check out of the hotel and head south across the border into Armenia. We pass the picturesque mountain village of Dilijan, known as the Switzerland of Armenia. We stop for a photo.

After the visit, we head on to Armenia's largest lake, the mountain lake Sevan, which is located 1,900 m above sea level. The lake area has a fascinating history and is home to many sanctuaries. Here we have lunch together before continuing on to the Sevanavank monastery, which dates back to the 8th century. After that, we head on to today's final destination, Yerevan, where we check in for four nights at the central Ani Plaza. The evening is free.

The capital of Armenia, Yerevan, is one of the oldest cities in the world and has been continuously inhabited since the Bronze Age. We embark on a tour to discover some of the city's many attractions and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere. We see, among other things, Republic Square, the National Museum and the 23-meter-high statue of Mother Armenia.

We visit the Historical Museum which has a large archaeological collection with finds from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. We also visit the memorial monument and the underground museum built in memory of the Armenian Genocide in the early 20th century when over a million Armenians were murdered.

Then we will visit the Megerian Carpet Factory where we will have some lunch. We will also have the opportunity to visit Armenia's largest food market, Gumi Shuka, before it is time to discover more of the city on our own. Yerevan has lots of cozy cafes, including around the opera and Republic Square. The main street, Northern Avenue, also offers great shopping opportunities. The evening is free at leisure.

Today we follow in Gregory's footsteps to the church of Khor Virap, built above the cave where he is said to have spent thirteen years in captivity under the pagan king Tiridates III.

After that we visit Old Bridge Winery and taste some of their finest wines with snacks. The family business, founded in 1998, is located on the right bank of the Arpa River, next to the village of Arpi at an altitude of 1250-1300 m above sea level. The winery combines traditional Armenian (especially from the Vayots Dzor region) and modern winemaking techniques to make products of the highest quality. After that we return to the city where you can enjoy the evening on your own.

Today's excursion begins with a visit to Echmiadzin, home to the world's oldest cathedral and an important pilgrimage site with ancient churches and religious artifacts. Today we have lunch in a private home nearby where we learn how to bake the local flatbread lavash.

In the afternoon we visit a brandy distillery. Brandy is the national drink of Armenia and has been produced there since the late 19th century. The evening is free for your own activities.

After breakfast and check-out, we head north towards Georgia and Tbilisi. On the way, we stop at the ruins of the medieval Amberd Fortress, located on the southern slope of Mount Ararat, 2,300 meters above sea level.

We continue across the border into Georgia, and in Tbilisi we check in again at the Museum Hotel. The rest of the day is spent on our own before we gather in the evening for a shared dinner.

We leave Tbilisi and head north towards Gudauri. Our first stop on the journey is Mtskheta, one of Georgia's oldest cities. Many of the churches in the area are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In Mtskheta we visit the majestic Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, which is Georgia's second largest church and one of the most important. Jesus' clothing is said to be buried under the church, which was built in the 11th century.

From Mtskheta, the journey continues to Stalin's birthplace, Gori, where we have lunch together. After that, we visit his childhood home and the Stalin Museum.

We then continue to the ancient city of Uplistsiche, which was a religious center in pre-Christian times. Homes, temples and public buildings are carved directly into the rocks that slope down to the river. From Uplistsiche we continue to today's destination, the ski resort of Gudauri. We check in at Marco Polo and then have time on our own before it's time for dinner in the evening.

Today we head towards the Caucasus Mountains on the so-called Georgian Military Highway. We arrive at the beautifully situated small mountain town of Stepantsminda where we enjoy a short walk and the magnificent view of Mount Kazbek.

The road from here is so steep that we change to a jeep or minibus before continuing towards the Trinity Church, which is Georgia's national symbol. In Kazbek we have lunch with a family and taste chacha, the area's own vodka.

We then continue to Tbilisi, on the way we visit the Jvari Monastery in Mtskheta, which sits on a mountaintop overlooking the city and the river below. We then reach Tbilisi where we spend the rest of the day and evening on our own. We check in again at the Museum Hotel for two nights.

From Tbilisi we make an excursion to one of the most beautiful villages of Kakheti, Signagi, which is located on top of a hill overlooking the Alazani Valley and the Caucasus Mountains. The village is characterized by narrow cobblestone streets and pastel-colored houses with beautifully carved wooden balconies. The old city wall from the 18th century with its 23 towers is still intact and it is possible to take a short walk up it.

Wine has been made in Georgia for over 7,000 years, and wine is an important part of the country’s culture. It is said that the Georgian alphabet was created using the grapevine as a model. Kakheti is famous for its vineyards, and here we visit a local family winery to learn more about Georgia’s traditional winemaking. We also enjoy a delicious lunch and learn how Georgian flatbread is baked in underground ovens.

We will also see how the traditional sausage-shaped sweet tjurtchchela is made. In the evening we will gather for dinner.