3 Capitals Of The Caucasus

Arrive in Baku, Azerbaijan. Transfer to hotel. 

Overnight in Baku

We will start our today excursion with the visiting of Highland Park. Panorama of the city presented to the height of the mountainous part of a television tower clearly gives an idea of the contrasts and the extent of Baku, the horseshoe bay of Baku.
The city is shaped like an amphitheater, descending to the Caspian Sea. We continue our tour with the central part of the city showing the most interesting historical and architectural sites. Explore Baku, which is one of the oldest and biggest cities in the East for antiquity, territory, and population.
We’ll visit the Walled City of Baku with the “Shirvanshah” Palace and “Maiden” Tower, UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Inner City (Icheri Sheher) has preserved much of its 12th century defensive walls. Later we will visit “Juma” Mosque and the Carpet Museum. We will have a walk in Seaside Park and along Baku Boulevard, the second largest one in Europe.
Tour to “Gobustan Excursion on historical-art reserve “Gobustan”, where rock paintings have perfectly remained, barrows and housing objects dated from X-XIII millennial BC to the Middle Ages. There are certificates of inhabitants of region of an epoch of the Stone Age and the subsequent periods in “Gobustan” – Rock drawings, person parking, gravestone monuments, are concentrated there. Nearby is “Gaval Chalan” – original stone- tambourine, representing flat wise established huge plate. It is possible to hear rhythmic accurate motives by knocking on it. It is considered that these sounds accompanied ritual dances and ceremonies. Visiting of “Gobustan” will transfer you to other world, the world of last mankind and will allow you to feel the atmosphere of thousand – year history of this place.
Overnight in Baku
Meal plan: Breakfast

We will start our tour with excursion to Ateshgah. The temple of fire worshippers Ateshgah is located at the Apsheron peninsula at the outskirts of Surakhani village in30 km from the center of Baku and was revered in different times by Zoroastrians, Hindus and Sikhs. Current constructions of the temple are dated by XVII century. As a result of excavations far more ancient artifacts were discovered here. Pentagonal complex has an open courtyard with temple-altar in the center which was the place of pilgrimage for worshippers. By the decree of the President of Azerbaijan Ateshgah was declared a State historical-architectural reserve. This museum under the open sky was recently restored. Different workshops and souvenir galleries are located here now.
Continue to “Yanar Dag” (Meaning: The Burning Mountain) where you can see the nature phenomenon, incessant burning nature gas on the rock which named to the Yanar Dag reserve the burning rock. As the historians say, maybe this place gave the name “The Land of Fire” to Azerbaijan.
Overnight in Baku
Meal plan: Breakfast

Transfer to the airport and depart from Baku to Tbilisi Arrival to Tbilisi International Airport.
Meeting with the guide. Today you will explore the city which reflects history and culture of two biggest civilizations of the world – Eastern and Western. Tbilisi became a capital of the country in the 5th C. AD and from the day of its establishment it was a crossroad of Asian and European caravans passing their way throw the city and bringing here a part of their traditions and culture and also taking from here a piece of city’s unique spirit.
Here you can enjoy Asian style cozy and narrow streets, houses with fabulous balconies, wide avenues, almost all architectural styles of European architecture and modern buildings from the last decade.
During the pedestrian tour you will visit old churches (Abchiskhati (VI C), Tbilisi Mosque, Old Tbilisi Baths, which are related to the foundation of the city, viewpoints on Metekhi Plateau and Narikala fortress and old streets of Sololaki and Aghmashenebeli district (old German Colony).
Overnight in Tbilisi
Meal plan: Breakfast

Today we will drive to explore Kartli region.
We will visit the ancient cave town Uplistsikhe, carved into the rock. Uplistsikhe cave town is one of the oldest cave towns in Georgia. The earliest traces of human presence in Uplistsikhe date back to the end of the 2nd millennium BC. We will take a walk and learn how Georgian people used to live and use such places.
After driving 12 KM we will be in the city of Gori, where we will visit Stalin’s House-museum, the birthplace of the Soviet leader.
Our next stop is going to be a famous winery Château Mukhrani – here you may find a true caste of the Georgian Royal Family Bagratuni. While being here the guest will taste wine, learn interesting history of the place, and have a tour of the place.
Continue to Mtskheta, the old capital of Georgia. Mtskheta is a UNESCO world heritage site with its 2 churches – Jvari (VI C) and Svetitskhoveli (XI C). During our visit in Mtskheta we will stop at Jvari viewpoint – must see while being in Georgia. By the evening we drive back to Tbilisi.
Overnight in Tbilisi
Meal plan: Breakfast

Today we visit  Sighnaghi – “the love town” in the wine region of Kakheti. It is located on the eastern part of Georgia, bordered by the small mountains province of Tusheti and mountain-range of Greater Caucasus to the north. Here we’ll visit Bodbe monastery of St. Nino. Her tomb is still shown at the Bodbe Monastery. St. Nino has become one of the most venerated saints of the Georgian Orthodox Church and her attribute, a Grapevine cross, is a symbol of Georgian Christianity. Drive to Tbilisi. 
Overnight in Tbilisi
Meal plan: Breakfast

Transfer to Tbilisi International airport, fly to Yerevan.
Today you reveal the secrets and hidden gems of Yerevan, the pink “pearl” of Armenia, a beautiful European city mostly built with different shades of local pink stone called “tuf” quarried in Armenia. Founded in 782 B.C. Yerevan is reputedly one of the oldest cities in the world to have been continuously inhabited.
We start the exploration with the “Victory Park” and “Mother Armenia” monument offering a “bird’s-eye” view of the city with the fantastic view of the majestic snow-capped Mount Ararat (5165m) dominating the skyline. Continue to the colossal monument of Cascade and Cafesjian Center for the Arts which includes a world-class sculpture garden and indoor modern art museum with works from Botero, Chihuly, Barry Flanegan and many others. 
Exploring the Republic Square, the trendy Abovyan Street, one of the oldest streets in Yerevan which used to be a part of the Great Silk Road, we walk down the colorful pedestrian Northern Avenue and arrive at the Freedom Square, the home of the Opera and Ballet Theatre (architect A. Tamanian). The design and layout of the building was awarded with Grand Prix in 1936 World Exhibition in Paris. A cultural showcase not to be missed is Matenadaran, one of the world’s largest and oldest treasuries of ancient manuscripts. Marvel at the illuminated pages of some of those manuscripts within their glass cases.  
Tour of  “Goom” bazaar of Yerevan, a real museum of food with pyramids of fresh and dried fruits stuffed with different kinds of nuts, honey, cinnamon and other spices, colorful strings of “sweet sujukh”, orange beads of dried peaches(“alani”) stuffed with walnuts, piles of “lavash” traditional Armenian bread, many kinds of cheeses some of them aged in clay pots, pickles, beans and other organic products offered by local farmers.
Overnight in Yerevan
Meal plan: Breakfast

Today is a long but fascinating day! It is dedicated to exploration of Southern Armenia combining the magic of Armenia’s finest medieval architecture with stunning landscapes.  Our first stop is at Khor Virap Monastery, a 4^th century castle-like fairy-tale monastery, the most iconic site in Armenia and one of the most important Christian sites in the world. Its location, near the closest point to biblical Mount Ararat within Armenian borders, offers a spectacular view of the snow-capped mountain, the national symbol of Armenia.
We continue driving to the south marveling at the untamed beauty of Southern Armenia – surreal red rocks providing an eerie echo, honey-colored villages sandwiched between them. Visit Areni, the village of winemakers and tour the world-class archaeological site, the cave complex Areni-1 to see the oldest winery in the world (6100 years old). Wine Tasting in Areni village at one of the best wineries.
Later we visit Noravank, the jewel of the crown among all the medieval sites in South Caucasus. The monastery is nestled among giant red rocks and mountains, just above a deep gorge. Back ot Yerevan.
Overnight in Yerevan
Meal plan: Breakfast

Leaving the frantic pace of the city we are heading towards Garni Pagan Temple, the only Hellenistic Temple in the Caucasus (and former USSR). Gracing the hillside the pagan temple was dedicated to the God of Sun, Mithra. It was built in 77 A.D. by the Armenian King Tiridates I in the territory of Garni Fortress. Then we proceed to Geghard Monastery, an incredible ancient Armenian monastery, partly carved out of a mountain. The architectural forms and the decoration of Geghard’s rock premises show that Armenian builders could not only create superb works of architecture out of stone, but also hew them in solid rock. It is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Back to Garni village where we visit a local house and participate in traditional Armenian bread “Lavash” making in tonir (underground earth-stove).
Continue to the Lake Sevan, the world’s second largest high-altitude lake at 1900m above sea level. It’s a huge mountain lake which takes up 5% of Armenia’s surface area. Marvel at stunning turquoise waters of the Lake Sevan and dramatic mountain scenery after climbing up the peninsula hill where we visit the 9th century Sevanavank Monastery (optional, over 240 steps to get there).
Overnight in Yerevan
Meal plan: Breakfast

Transfer to Zvartnots International Airport. Departure from Yerevan.