ARMENIA AND GEORGIA 1

Arrival at Zvartnots International Airport. Transfer to the hotel by our representative and check in free time for leisure.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel and our city tour starts with a visit to Mother Armenia Statue which is the famous victory Memorial of World War II. Here, you can have a panoramic view to Yerevan and biblical Ararat Mountain. Besides, we can visit the military museum underneath the huge statue of Mother Armenia. During the tour we will visit the Cascade complex, famous for being one of the tourists, attraction sites and holding many modern art pieces. The complex has a giant stairway made of limestone; it links the downtown area of Yerevan with the Monument neighborhood. Continue our journey to Northern Avenue with a stop at State Opera and Ballet theatre. The Avenue is well known as the home of luxurious residential buildings, high-end branded shops & restaurants.

Our next stop will be The Republic Square. It is the central town square in Yerevan. Tourists are advised to visit it at nights to enjoy the dancing fountains during summer season. The last visit is Megerian carpet, where rich collections of traditional Armenian carpets are shown. During the tour, visitors will feel the history and heritage of Armenian carpets and rugs.Our last stop will be in Vernissage, the famous flea-market in Yerevan. Visiting this market is a great chance to learn about the Armenian traditional handmade arts and buying souvenirs.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel, departure to Garni Pagan Temple – the only standing Hellenistic style pagan temple in the whole Caucasus. Here we will feel the depth

of the history and culture. This temple was a genuine witness of the birth of one of the ancient Armenian kingdoms – Arshakuni kingdom of Armenia, during the 1st century AD. After the visit we will taste the famous Armenian traditional bread lavash. During this master class you will observe and learn the millennia- old techniques of making lavash, and, of course, taste self-baked lavash together with some fresh greens and yummy local cheese. Feeling the smell of lavash once, you will save this impression for the whole life. We will proceed to Geghard Monastery which means the monastery of the spear. The story of this holy place is related to the spear that Jesus Christ was stabbed by. The other uniqueness of the abbey lies in the fact that part of it is engraved in the rock. It is worthy to mention that Geghard Monastery is a UNESCO heritagesite. Our last stop will be Yerevan Brandy Company, commonly known with its famous brand “ArArAt”, is the leading enterprise of Armenia for the production of cognac. It was founded in 1887, during the period of the Russian Empire. Ararat Brandy Company is one of the largest enterprises and a symbol of the country. The history of the oldest brand of Armenian brandy ARARAT began more than 130 years ago, in 1887, when the first brandy production in Armenia was founded. The spirit of pioneering, laid down by the founders Nerses and Vasily Tairyan, became the brand’s guide throughout its history: the first vintage cognac, the first international recognition at the 1902 World Exhibition in France, the birthplace of cognac. And today ARARAT, presented in 35 countries, is the first global brand of Armenian cognac.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel and our tour starts with a visit to Tsaghkadzor, flower canyon in Armenian, a small town located north of the capital Yerevan, well known by its Ski Resort, ropeway and beautiful Kecharis Monastery. Kecharis is a medieval Armenian monastic complex dating back to the 11^th to 13^th centuries, in the ski resort town of Tsaghkadzor. We will enjoy the spectacular view of the surrounding mountains from the ropeway. 

Continue our tour to Lake Sevan, the largest lake in the Caucasus and one of the highest ones in the world with fresh water, 1900 meters above sea level. There we can visit Sevanavank (monastery of Sevan) which is situated at the top of a small hill and enjoy a boat tour in the lake, depending on the weather condition. We will continue to visit Dilijan resort town. The town is one of the most important resorts in Armenia, situated within the Dilijan National Park. There are many attractive, but “hidden” destinations in Dilijan; Lake Parz is one of them. It is a small lake located in the Dilijan National Park east of Dilijan town in Armenia. The lake was formed by natural climatic changes. The uniqueness of the lake lies in the fact that it is visited and beautiful in winter, spring, summer, and autumn. Additionally, Lake Parz can offer boat rides, Zipline etc… Later, we will visit Haghartsin Monastery in the heart of nature near the town of Dilijan. Continue our visit to old Dilijan, known as Tufenkian Complex. Heading to the hotel for check in and Overnight in Dilijan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Our day will start by visiting Haghpat monastery. These 10^th century complex is very well known for the tourists and it is UNESCO world heritage site.Haghpat monastery was an important spiritual and cultural center of Armenia and it was was famous for its rich library and a school where scholars were taught philosophy, music and manuscript illumination. This monastery represents the highest flowering of Armenian religious architecture.

Then, we are heading to Akhtala monastery, another beautiful 10^th century complex.  The main church is famous for its highly artistic frescoes, which cover the inside walls and the bearings of the building. Continue our tour to the Armenian Georgian border where your Georgian guide will welcome you to start your tour in Georgia.

Overnight in Tbilisi.

Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to the Open-Air Museum of Ethnography, which occupies 52 hectares of land and houses more than eight thousand artifacts from all over Georgia. A walk along Rustaveli Avenue, the main thoroughfare of Tbilisi; Sightseeing tour in Tbilisi: Old Town (Abanotubani –the ancient part of the city, known for its sulfuric baths, Meidan square – the place where the Georgian Orthodox Church, Mosque, Synagogue and Armenian Apostholic Church are located several meters away from each other, Metechi Church, Narikala Castle, Shardeni Street with its wine cellars, cafes and art galleries).  Dinner with traditional Georgian dishes; Mtatsminda (Holy Mountain), St. David Church (XIX c); Mtatsminda (Holy Mountain), St. David Church (XIX c); Sameba (Holy Trinity Cathedral) – the third-tallest Eastern Orthodox cathedral in the world.  Aghmashenebeli Avenue (pedestrian street) with a lot cafes, bars and galleries. Free time.

Overnight in Tbilisi

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia: Jvari Monastery, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral which are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a brief walk along picturesque street of Mtskheta. Departure to Kazbegi. En route medieval Ananuri Fortress situated on the Georgian Military Road. Lunch at the restaurant, with traditional dishes typical for this region.  Gergeti Church (XIV c.) which is situated on the right bank of the river Chkheri (the left tributary of the river Terek), at an elevation of 2170 meters (7120 feet), under Mount Kazbegi.  Drive back to Tbilisi.

Overnight in Tbilisi

After a mouth-watering breakfast, you can spend the day at leisure. Or opt for an optional tour (at additional cost) and drive to Kazbegi. En route, stop to witness the Ananuri Complex, an attraction that has been on the tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage program since 2007. This castle complex is located along the sparkling turquoise waters of the Aragvi River. Witness the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument built during 1983. The huge concrete curved stone plate structural monument was built in celebration of the ongoing friendship between Soviet Georgia and Soviet Russia.

Drive onwards to Kazbegi as you enjoy the scenic views. Take in the wonders of natural landscapes and relax with a cup of tea on the hotel terrace. The jeep ride continues to show you the majestic views from Mount Mkinvartsver (Mount Kazbegi). The tours next stop is the famous Holy Trinity Church (Gergetis Sameba) located at 2200 m above sea level and offers a delightful experience. Ride back to Stepantsminda to reach Tbilisi for an overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day at Tbilisi city for leisure and overnight in Tbilisi.

Enjoy a delicious breakfast and check-out of your hotel. Transfer to the Tbilisi International Airport in comfort. Carry with you sweet memories of a wonderful holiday.