Itinerary
- Day 1
Overnight Flight to Yerevan
Your overnight flight departs for Yerevan, Armenia's capital. You'll arrive early the next morning, so get some rest on the plane.
- Day 2
Yerevan
After landing early morning, you'll head to your hotel to settle in. Later, grab a late breakfast before starting to see the city from the Cascade viewpoint, which overlooks Republic Square. From there, you'll check out the UNESCO cathedral in Echmiadzin and the 7th-century Church of Hripsime. The day wraps up with a tour of a well-known cognac distillery where you can taste their products.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Late breakfast)
Included Activities
- Visit Cascade and view over city center to Republic Square
- Visit Echmiadzin Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit Church of Hripsime (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit and sample Armenian cognac distillery
Landmarks/POIs Cascade Republic Square Echmiadzin Cathedral Church of Hripsime - Day 3
Garni - Azat Gorge
Starting in Garni village, you'll visit Geghard Monastery before hiking through Azat Gorge to see the distinctive basalt 'Symphony of Stones' formation. You'll also spend time at Garni temple, then try traditional Armenian bread baking at a local family's home. By evening, you're back in Yerevan checking out the Matenadaran Museum's ancient manuscripts and browsing the market hall for Armenian specialties.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Geghard Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Hike in Azat Gorge (easy, 3 km, 1-1.5 hours walking time, approximately 180m vertical)
- See Symphony of Stones basalt formation
- Visit Garni temple
- Experience traditional bread baking ceremony at a family home
- Visit Matenadaran Museum - collection of ancient Armenian manuscripts (UNESCO World Document Heritage Site)
- Browse market hall with Armenian specialties
Landmarks/POIs Geghard Monastery Azat Gorge Symphony of Stones Garni Temple Matenadaran Museum - Day 4
Chor Virap - Noravank - Goris
This morning starts at Chor Virap monastery, which sits with views of Mount Ararat in the distance. You'll continue south to Noravank Monastery, then have lunch with a local family. The drive south to Goris takes the rest of your day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Chor Virap Monastery with views of Mount Ararat
- Visit Noravank Monastery
- Lunch with a family
Landmarks/POIs Chor Virap Monastery Mount Ararat Noravank Monastery - Day 5
Chndzoresk - Tatev - Yeghegis Valley
You'll explore the ancient cave settlement of Chndzoresk, surrounded by mountain landscape, then hike through the scenery. Later, you'll take a cable car ride over Vorotan Gorge to reach Tatev Monastery, one of the country's important monastic complexes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit old cave settlement of Chndzoresk
- Hike through mountain landscape (moderate, 4 km, approximately 2.5 hours, approximately 350m ascent)
- Cable car ride over Vorotan Gorge to Tatev Monastery
Landmarks/POIs Chndzoresk Cave Settlement Vorotan Gorge Tatev Monastery - Day 6
Smbataberd - Dilijan
Starting with a hike in the mountains, you'll visit Smbataberd fortress and the 10th-century Zorats Church. Then you'll cross Vardenyats Pass and Lake Sevan on your way to Dilijan, stopping at the 14th-century Orbeliden caravanserai along the route.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Hike to Smbataberd Fortress and Zorats Church (moderate, approximately 3.5 km, approximately 5 hours, approximately 200m ascent)
- Visit Orbeliden caravanserai from 14th century
Landmarks/POIs Smbataberd Fortress Zorats Church Vardenyats Pass Lake Sevan Orbeliden Caravanserai - Day 7
Haghpat - Akhtala - Tbilisi
Driving through Debet Gorge in the Lesser Caucasus, you'll reach the UNESCO-listed Haghpat Monastery. Next is Akhtala Monastery, known for its well-preserved 13th-century frescoes showing biblical scenes. Later, you'll cross into Georgia and arrive in Tbilisi by evening for dinner at a local spot.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive through Debet Gorge
- Visit Haghpat Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit Akhtala Monastery with 13th-century frescoes
Landmarks/POIs Debet Gorge Haghpat Monastery Akhtala Monastery - Day 8
Tbilisi
You'll spend this day wandering through Tbilisi's Old Town and taking in the views from Narikala Fortress. In the evening, you'll have dinner at a local restaurant where there's a folklore program to watch.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stroll through Old Town of Tbilisi
- Visit Narikala Fortress with city views
Landmarks/POIs Narikala Fortress - Day 9
Mtskheta - Kazbegi
You'll travel to Mtskheta (a UNESCO site) to see Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari Church. Continuing to Kazbegi, you'll stop at Ananuri Fortress along the way. The evening includes an interactive Georgian dinner at a local family's home where you'll learn to make traditional Chinkali dumplings with onions, herbs, and meat.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral at Mtskheta (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit Jvari Church at Mtskheta
- Visit Ananuri Fortress
- Prepare and cook Georgian Chinkali dumplings with a local family
Landmarks/POIs Svetitskhoveli Cathedral Jvari Church Ananuri Fortress - Day 10
Juta - Lake Chauchi
Your hike starts in Juta, the highest village in the Kasbegi region at 2,200 meters/7,218 feet. You'll trek through Kasbegi National Park to Lake Chauchi at 2,650 meters/8,694 feet. On the way back, you'll stop at Sno village. The evening is free to relax after the hike.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Picnic
Included Activities
- Hike through Kasbegi National Park to Lake Chauchi (moderate, 8 km, approximately 4 hours, approximately 450m altitude gain)
- Visit Sno village
Landmarks/POIs Juta Kasbegi National Park Lake Chauchi Sno Village - Day 11
Holy Trinity Church - Tbilisi
After breakfast, you'll head to Holy Trinity Church, set high in the mountains. On clear days, you'll get views of Mount Kazbek from here. You'll return to Tbilisi by evening with the rest of the day to yourself.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Holy Trinity Church in high mountains
Landmarks/POIs Holy Trinity Church Mount Kazbek - Day 12
Kakheti Wine Region
You're heading to Kakheti, Georgia's wine and farming region. You'll see Gremi Weir Church, which was a royal residence and Silk Road trading center. Then Trinity Fortress, and a roughly 1.5-hour hike to Nekresi Monastery on a ridge, which has one of the country's oldest wine cellars. You'll have a regional dinner at a winery.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Gremi Weir Church - former royal residence and Silk Road trade center
- Visit Trinity Fortress
- Hike to Nekresi Monastery (approximately 1.5 hours)
- Wine tasting at winery
Landmarks/POIs Gremi Weir Church Trinity Fortress Nekresi Monastery - Day 13
Lagodechi Nature Reserve
You'll drive to Lagodechi Nature Reserve and hike through jungle-like terrain to Matchi Fortress. After that, you'll do wine tasting and have lunch at a winery or with a local family. By late afternoon, you're back at your hotel with time to rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Hike through jungle to Matchi Fortress (moderate, approximately 10.5 km, approximately 4 hours)
- Wine tasting
- Lunch at winery or with local family
Landmarks/POIs Lagodechi Nature Reserve Matchi Fortress - Day 14
Bodbe - Sighnaghi - Tbilisi
First you'll visit Bodbe and the Monastery of St. Nino, then move on to Sighnaghi to walk its streets filled with handicraft studios. You'll check out panoramic views of Alazani Valley from the city walls. Then it's back to Tbilisi for your farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Bodbe Monastery of St. Nino
- Stroll through Sighnaghi handicraft studios
- Walk along Sighnaghi city walls with views of Alazani Valley
Landmarks/POIs Bodbe Monastery of St. Nino Sighnaghi Alazani Valley - Day 15
Return Flight
Early this morning, you'll head to the airport for your return flight to Frankfurt.
