From Armenia to Georgia

Arrival at the international airport of Tbilisi. Dinner in traditional restaurant and overnight in the hotel.

In the morning you will have free time for rest and relaxation. After breakfast meet the tour guide and start Tbilisi city tour, which is famous for its historical monuments, bridges and caravanserais, for its hot mineral springs which gave start to the city’s name. According to written sources, its history goes back more than 1550 years. The historical center of Tbilisi “Old Town” is located at the foot of Mount Mtatsminda. It has retained Tbilisi’s special flavor, which is distinguished by narrow streets built up mainly by 2 or 3 story stone or wooden houses with porches and balconies. The buildings belong to the middle of the 14-19^th centuries. The sulfur baths were built over the hot springs, about which A. Pushkin and A. Dumas raved in their travel notes 200 years ago. Overnight in the hotel.

Breakfast. Drive along the legendary and picturesque Georgian Military Highway. This road leads to Georgian-Russian border and will take us to the small town of Kazbegi located amidst the majestic Caucasus Mountains. On the way we’ll visit Ananuri architectural complex of the 17^th century. Arrive to Kazbegi and leisure time. Walk along the picturesque surroundings of the town and then climb the hill to the main attraction of the area Gergeti Trinity Church, which is located at an elevation of 2170 m. Enjoy the wildly beautiful views of the Caucasus Mountains and Mount Kazbek. Return to Tbilisi. Overnight in the hotel.

After breakfast we will drive to the ancient capital and religious center of Georgia – Mtskheta. The history of town dates back to more than 3000 years. It was the capital of the Georgian Kingdom and has experienced several religions. Visit to the Monastery of Jvari of the 6th century, included in UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, and Svetistkhoveli Cathedral of 11^th century, where Christ’s Robe is buried. The trip continues to the hometown of Stalin – Gori. Visit Stalin Museum and the famous cave city Uplistsikhe (1^st millennium BC), where the Great Silk Road used to pass. Return to Tbilisi.

Breakfast. Transfer to the Armenia-Georgia border Bagratashen. After border formalities, we will change the guide and bus. Crossing the Georgian – Armenian border we’ll enter the Lori region and drive towards the forested resort town of Dilijan, which is also called “Armenian Little Switzerland” for its nature. On the way, we will stop at the medieval bridge of Sanahin over the Debed River. Visit Haghpat and Sanahin – two outstanding UNESCO listed monasteries of medieval Armenian architecture (10-13^th cc.). Lunch in a local restaurant. Continue the trip to reach the town of Dilijan. Dinner and overnight in Dilijan.

After breakfast we will walk along the most beautiful and oldest street of the Old Dilijan – Sharambeyan where we will find small art schools and souvenir shops. Dilijan has a rich historical and cultural heritage. Here we will visit one of the highlights of the region, the medieval Monastery Haghartsin (13^th century). Then we will continue to Lake Sevan one of the largest high altitude and fresh water mountain lakes in the world.  Inspection of Sevanavank Monastery, standing on the peninsula that offers magnificent panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountains. In the evening arrival to Yerevan.

Breakfast. A visit to Matenadaran – Institute of ancient manuscripts. Here are kept more than 17,000 manuscripts and the collection is constantly updated with new discoveries, acquisitions and gifts. After we will visit the cave Monastery Geghard (4-13^th cc., UNESCO), which consists of a large above-ground church and three rock-hewn churches, in the vicinity of hundreds of natural and artificial caves. Continuation of the tour will bring us to the pagan Temple of Garni (1^st century). Inspection of “Temple of the Sun” and the ancient royal baths, the only Hellenistic temple extant in the region. The temple is situated on the edge of the picturesque valley. Lunch time. Return to Yerevan.

Breakfast. A trip to the Ararat valley, visiting one of the most revered shrines of the Armenian people – the Monastery of Khor Virap, which is located 200 meters away from the Turkish border. Khor Virap is considered to be a place pilgrimage center for all Armenians, from where we can have the best view of Biblical Mount Ararat. The tour will be continued to the one of the most beautiful monasteries in Armenia – Noravank, which is a remarkable architectural complex of 13^th century. Lunch in a local restaurant. On the way back we will visit Areni wine factory in Areni village to taste local wines. Return to Yerevan.

Breakfast. A trip to Echmiadzin, the spiritual and administrative center of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Inspection of the pearls of Armenian architecture of the Church of St. Hripsime (7^th century), and the world’s first Christian Cathedral (4^th century). We will visit the unique museum of Echmiadzin Cathedral. Visit the Church of St. Gayane (7^th century). On the way back we will stop at the ruins of one of the most famous temples in Armenia – Zvartnots (7^th century). Return to Yerevan. Lunch time. Visit of the memorial of Tsitsernakaberd, which commemorates the innocent victims of a severe in history of the Armenian Genocide in 1915. Leisure time.

Check out and transfer to the airport.