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DISCOVER THESE ANCIENT LANDS THROUGH YOUR EYES
ARMENIA and GEORGIA
10 nights / 11 days
4 night – Georgia, 6 night – Armenia
DURATION: 11 DAYS
| Dates 2021
Sun 16 May – Wed 26 May Sun 18 Sep – Wed 29 Sep |
Tour cost: £1950
Single supplement: £250
Suggested airline Georgian Airways from Gatwick on Saturday
| Persian Voyages
Tel: +44 (0)1306 885894 Email: info@persianvoyages.com Website: www.persianvoyages.com Please continue for itinerary |
What included in the tour price:
SERVICES in Armenia and Georgia:
Full transportation (AC) and transfers in Armenia and Georgia as specified in itinerary
Meals as indicated – 10 x Breakfast,
Entrance fees
11 night at 4/5 * Hotel – based on double/Twin occupancy in Armenia and Georgia (early check in)
- 5 nights in Tbilisi
- 1 night in Dilijan
- 1 night in Yeghegis
- 4 night in Yerevan
English speaking tour guide during the trip
Bottle Water per day during the rip
Extra Jeep car – DAY 03, DAY 09
Armenia/Georgia maps and souvenirs
What is not included:
- International flight (suggestion flight is with Georgian airline from Gatwick airport on Saturday)
- Dinner-Lunch
- Travel insurance.
ITINENARY
DAY 01
Early arrival to Tbilisi. (at 06.40)
Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the hotel in Tbilisi. Check in hotel. Time for resting.
Breakfast served
TBILISI CITY TOUR!
A few unforgettable hours of familiarization with the capital. A charming town built in the 5th century along the twisting valley of Mtkvari River. All the places of interest are very close to each other, within a few minutes’ walk. Start our excursion Metekhi (13th century) plateau, before taking the cable car to Narikala Fortress which dominates the skyline of the Old Town. Proceed to explore brick-domed underground sulfur baths (17thcentury) – the district of naturally hot mineral waters and discover the hidden waterfall. Afterwards proceed to cafe street Shardeni and walk across the Bridge of Peace which is a stunning design as well as convenient crossing between the newly constructed Rike Park and the Old Town. It also provides superb views over the city.
OVERNIGHT IN TBILISI.
DAY 02:
After breakfast we drive to a small town of Sighnaghi (16th c) – one of the most beautiful towns of Georgia. Its attractiveness is largely defined both by the age-old architectural sites and its natural characteristics: the Town is located on a hilltop and looks over the boundless area of the Alazani Valley and the snow-covered Caucasian mountains. We wonder along the cute streets of the town. Gverabi – ancient cave winery where you will have a chance to taste, purchase and enjoy fine Georgian wine. The Monastery of St. Nino at Bodbe. Originally was built in the 9th century. The monastery now functions as a nunnery and is one of the major pilgrimage sites in Georgia. OVERNIGHT IN TBILISI
DAY 03:
Breakfast at the hotel.
Early in the morning start very scenic drive up through the High Caucasus Mountains along the Georgian Military Highway towards Kazbegi region. On the way we will drive across the Cross Pass (2 395m.) and along the Tergi River that brings us to Kazbegi – main town in this region. From Kazbegi a leisurely 4 hours walk through beautiful valleys and woodland that leads us to Gergeti Holy Trinity church (14th century), stunningly located on a hilltop (2170 m.) both overlooking the surrounding snowy peaks of the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Here we will enjoy unique nature with beautiful panoramic views of Caucasus, including mount Kazbegi (5047m.).
Optional: – You can also hire the 4 X 4 vehicle to reach Gergeti Trinity Church
Afterwards drive back to Tbilisi. In route visit Ananuri architectural complex (17th century) overlooking a reservoir on the Aragvi River. In the evening drive back to Tbilisi.
OVERNIGHT IN TBILSI
Day 04:
After breakfast at the hotel, proceed along the Silk Road and arrive in Gori – the birthplace of the Soviet leader Stalin.
Photo-stop at the museum of Stalin and proceed to the cave town Uplistsikhe (1st millennium BC) – one of the first cities in Georgia carved into the rock. The caves were the site of pagan rituals, before Georgia became a Christian country. After inspecting the cave city, head to Mtskheta – an ancient capital of Georgia, important religious center and city-museum which is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Jvari Church . Along the way we will stop on the top of the mountain, at the confluence of two rivers – Mtkvari and Aragvi. Arrive in Mtskheta. Walk along the narrow streets with souvenir shopping possibility and visit its important sites. In the evening drive back to Tbilisi.
OVERNIGHT IN TBILISI.
DAY 05: Tbilisi – Sadakhlo – Yerevan (250 km.)
Breakfast served and Check out – DEPART TO ARMERNIA!
Continue to the Armenia-Georgia border Sadakhlo. – border formalities….
After some drive we’ll rich to the town of Alaverdy – town in a canyon between Yerevan and Georgian – is famous for its copper mines.
We proceed to the outstanding masterpiece of Armenian architecture Haghpat Monastery (World UNESCO Heritage) in which artistic merits transcended the limits of the national culture.
Together with nearby Haghpat is another breathtaking architectural achievement and celebration of Armenia’s spiritual faith, and rightfully heritage Aghtala monastery.
Drive to Dilijan: “A piece of Switzerland in Armenia” – Earth and sky, woods and fields, rivers, the mountains become excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn otherwise… The old approach in the new century …
OVERNIGHT IN DILIJAN
DAY 06
Breakfast served and Check out
“Old Town Dilijan” complete with craftsmen workshops, small shops with traditional Armenian products and crafts, museum, showing typical 19th century living with all its local customs and handmade wood furnishings…..
Visit to Haghartsin Monastery- 10-13th centuries
On the way visit to Lake Sevan – the emerald of Armenia, a beauty under the sky. Lake Sevan is considered to be one of the largest sweet water lakes in the world, situated at an altitide of 1,897 meters above sea level. The most picturesque view of Lake Sevan is seen from the peninsula atop which Sevan Monastery is nicely nestled dating to the 9th century;
Trip to Noraduz -“Forest of Khachkars-Cross Stones”: masterpiece of stone art;
After we have another stop in one of the ancient Orbelian’s Caravanserai from 14th century. Continually on the way, you will admire a splendid view of the area. Which is passing via one of the principal routes of the “Great Silk Road” – Vardenisyan (Selim) Pass, linking the southern region of Vayots Dzor to the eastern region of Gegharkuni.
OVERNIGHT IN YEGHEGIS
Trip to Noraduz -“Forest of Khachkars-Cross Stones”: masterpiece of stone art;
After we have another stop in one of the ancient Orbelian’s Caravanserai from 14th century. Continually on the way, you will admire a splendid view of the area. Which is passing via one of the principal routes of the “Great Silk Road” – Vardenisyan (Selim) Pass, linking the southern region of Vayots Dzor to the eastern region of Gegharkuni.
DAY 07
Breakfast served and Check out
Tatev Monastery in the early morning; on the way you will admire a splendid view of the area. The Aerial Tramway of Tatev – spanning 5.7 kilometers across the spectacular Vorotan River Gorge, offers a spectacular journey with breathtaking views of the river gorge below. Most importantly, it will link you to one of the jewels of Armenia’s medieval legacy – Tatev Monastery as well the Tatev Aerial Tramway – the longest passenger aerial tramway in the world – is poised to be one of southern Armenia’s most popular attractions. The picturesque monastery is nestled at the top of an impregnable plateau, crowned by the ramparts walls from the upper part of the territory. Afterwards, you will have time to discover the interior of the monastery which was founded in the 4th cent., becoming an important religious and educational center of medieval Armenia in 9-10th cc.
Next, we will take the path through the narrow gorge, revealing Noravank Monastery, nestled inside the deep red landscape of the tuf stone mountains.
Later on we will taste and enjoy a guided tour of the famous “Areni Winery.” In Armenian, there is a famous saying that “Wine is bottled poetry”.
Driving through the fertile plains of the Ararat valley, you will reach Khor Virap Monastery – the beginning of the History of Christianity in Armenia, magnificently set against the towering slopes of the Biblical Mountain, Ararat. You have some quite spectacular photo opportunities before a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty. The monastery is the site where St. Gregory the Illuminator was incarcerated and it is a pilgrimage destination for every believer.
Drive Yerevan
OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
DAY 08
YEREVAN CITY TOUR – Republic Square, Yerevan, the rose-colored capital, so called because most buildings use a pink shade of “tuf” stone, quarried in Armenia. Let’s start our acquaintance with the Yerevan by stepping through its ancient history at the Erebouni museum and Fortress, founded in 782 BC.
Tsitsernakaberd memorial and museum to the 1915 Genocide, Sports and Concert Complex, Kievian Bridge, Bagramyan Avenue, Presidential Palace, Academy of Sciences, National Parliament, Opera Theater,
The next stop is the Cascade, which is a huge white stairwell built on a Yerevan hillside in the 1970s, with water fountains running down the sides, all reminiscent of a natural river or stream cascading and Gerard Cafesjian Art Museum, which is Armenia’s largest repository of modern art with the Sculpture Garden at the base of the Cascade. It connects the central district to Haghtanak Park –“Victory” Park to the center of the city.
The structure has escalators so that it is unnecessary to manually ascend the stairs all the way to the top.
OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
DAY 09:
Breakfast served
This morning we will travel to Garni, the location of the rare pre-Christian pagan temple maintained in Armenia.
Visit to the canyon of Garni – “Symphony of stones”
Optional: – You can also hire the 4 X 4 vehicle to reach Garni Canyon
Later on, we will reach the Geghard cave monastery, an architectural complex (12-13th c.), carved out of one monolithic rock. Due to the extraordinary acoustics, when the local monk begins to sing in this chamber, it is hard to believe a large choir isn’t singing. A visit to Geghard is truly a spiritual experience. Back to Yerevan
You will enjoy a tour of the most enigmatic of cities, visiting the remarkable Matenadaran Library and Research Institute of Armenia, one of the richest depositories of manuscripts and books in the world which houses about 17,000 rare manuscripts. The history of the Matenadaran dates back to the creation of the Armenian alphabet in 405. This center of manuscripts is centuries old and continues into the 21st century with modern upgrades
OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
DAY 10:
We embark on our journey to the lands of ancient treasures in Christian history, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the religious capital of Armenia, and the seat of the Supreme Patriarch – the Catholics of all Armenians. The story holds that the place where Noah made the fire after the flood is the site upon which the main Cathedral, one of the earliest Christian churches, was built. Nowadays, it is located in the lower
chamber, underneath the main Altar of the Cathedral.
Then, admire the Hripsime and Gayane Churches (7th c) named after faithful virgins of the 3rd century, followers of Christ who were martyred. St. Hripsime was a nun from the Church of Rome. Due to the persecutions of the Emperor Diocletian, she and the other sisters of her order fled the empire with their mother superior Gayane, finding their way to Armenia. Their relics are housed in these churches.
On the way back to Yerevan, visit the magnificent ruins of Zvartnots (celestial angels) Cathedral (7th c.). See the uniqueness of Armenian church architecture, at the site where once stood an impressive three-tiered circular structure with a spectacular central dome.
OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
DAY 11:
Breakfast served and Check out
Depart to Georgia!
Transfer to Tbilisi Airport at 16.30 for 19.25 flight
HOTEL OPTIONS:
YEREVAN
HOLIDAY INN or similar hotel
TBILISI
CRON PALACE or similar hotel
YEGHEGIS – HOTEL AREVI or similar hotel
https://www.arevi.am/am/site/HotelArevi
DILIJAN – TUFENKIAN OLD DILIJAN or similar hotel
https://tufenkianheritage.com/en/accommodation/old-dilijan-complex/
