Itinerary
- Day 1
Baku
You'll arrive at Baku Airport and get transferred to your hotel to settle in. At 6 pm, there's a welcome meeting with your local leader and fellow travelers. If you have time beforehand, walk through Nizami Street to see the Baroque and Neo-Gothic architecture, then head out for dinner with the group.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Arrival transfer from Baku Airport
- Welcome meeting with local leader
- Welcome dinner at local restaurant
Optional Activities
- Walk down Nizami Street to observe Baroque, Neo-Gothic and Neo-Renaissance architecture
Landmarks Nizami Street 
- Day 2
Baku
A guided city tour takes you through Baku's history, starting with the fortified Old City and its medieval past. You'll see the Shemakha Gate, Maiden Tower, and Old Market Square before visiting the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, which offers panoramic views of Baku's varied skyline. After that, the rest of your day is free to explore on your own pace.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Old City with local guide
- Visit Shemakha Gate
- Visit Old Market Square
- Guided tour of Palace of the Shirvanshahs
Optional Activities
- Visit Maiden Tower
- Visit National Museum of History of Azerbaijan (AZN10)
- Visit National Carpet Museum (AZN10)
Landmarks Old City (Icherisheher) Shemakha Gate Maiden Tower Old Market Square Palace of the Shirvanshahs 
- Day 3
Baku - Qobustan - Baku
Head south to Qobustan (about 60 km from Baku) for a half-day trip. Along the way, you'll see old oil rigs and learn about Azerbaijan's oil industry role. Visit Qobustan National Park and its open-air archaeological museum showing rock art from 40,000 years ago depicting hunting and gathering scenes. The mud volcanoes create a landscape that feels almost lunar. Back in Baku by afternoon, you can visit the modern Heydar Aliyev Center or walk the waterfront to see the Baku Eye and Flame Towers lit up at night.
Included Activities
- Half-day trip to Qobustan
- Stop to view old oil rigs
- Visit Qobustan National Park
- Guided tour of open-air archaeological museum with ancient rock art
- Visit mud volcanoes
Optional Activities
- Visit Heydar Aliyev Center
- Walk along waterfront to find restaurant for dinner
- View Baku Eye and Flame Towers at night
Landmarks Qobustan National Park Mud Volcanoes of Qobustan Heydar Aliyev Center Baku Eye Flame Towers - Day 4
Baku to Sheki
Travel northwest from Baku toward the Caucasus Mountains, watching the landscape shift from arid to densely forested. You'll stop at the Yeddi Gumbaz Mausoleum and Juma Mosque in Shamakhi, then head to Sheki. There, check out a local craft workshop where shebeke stained-glass windows are handmade with intricately carved frames. Explore the Palace of Sheki Khans with its impressive frescoes and stained glass, then enjoy dinner featuring Azerbaijani cuisine at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Azerbaijani cuisine at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Yeddi Gumbaz Mausoleum
- Visit Juma Mosque in Shamakhi
- Visit local shebeke craft workshop in Sheki
- Guided tour of Palace of Sheki Khans
- Dinner at local restaurant
Landmarks Yeddi Gumbaz Mausoleum Juma Mosque Palace of Sheki Khans - Day 5
Sheki to Telavi
After breakfast, drive to Lagodekhi on the Azerbaijan-Georgia border where you'll switch transportation. Continue into Georgia's Kakheti wine region and stop in Sighnaghi, a town overlooking the Alazani Valley and Caucasus Mountains. Arrive in Telavi at your accommodation (it has an outdoor pool and wine cellar). This evening, dine with a local winemaking family and enjoy homemade cuisine, wine, chacha (local brandy), and traditional Georgian polyphonic songs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with local winemaking family including homemade cuisine, wine and chacha)
Included Activities
- Visit Sighnaghi
- Dinner and wine tasting with local winemaking family
- Georgian polyphonic singing performance
Landmarks Sighnaghi Alazani Valley - Day 6
Telavi
Start with a relaxed morning, then visit the Telavi Food Market to browse local cheeses, wines, and sweets. Next, see Batonistsikhe Castle, a well-preserved 17th-century fortress that was once the Kakheti Kingdom's most important royal residence. Drive to the remote Pankisi Valley (inhabited mainly by the Muslim Kist community) for a cultural walking tour supporting local employment. Have a traditional lunch in the valley, then return to your accommodation with the evening free.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional lunch in Pankisi Valley)
Included Activities
- Telavi Food Market visit with tastings
- Visit Batonistsikhe Castle
- Cultural walking tour of Pankisi Valley
- Traditional lunch in Pankisi Valley
Landmarks Telavi Food Market Batonistsikhe Castle Pankisi Valley - Day 7
Telavi to Tbilisi
Drive to Tbilisi and check into your Feature Stay hotel, a historical building once owned by a noble family that has hosted aristocrats and famous writers. The hotel overlooks Georgia's presidential palace. When you arrive, explore Tbilisi at your own pace, wandering the old districts to see colorful houses, patterned balconies, and modern architecture. Your leader has restaurant recommendations for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore old districts of Tbilisi
- Visit colorful houses and patterned balconies
- Explore revamped modern architecture
Landmarks Georgia's Presidential Palace - Day 8
Tbilisi
A local guide leads you on a walking tour through Tbilisi's Old Town, uncovering the city's past. You'll visit the 6th-century Anchiskhati Basilica and take the cable car up to the ancient Narikala Fortress (a former Persian citadel from the 4th century) for sweeping city views. Learn that Tbilisi means 'warm place,' referencing the hot springs where the city was founded. In the afternoon, consider visiting one of Tbilisi's traditional bathhouses for a rejuvenating experience.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Old Town with local guide
- Visit Anchiskhati Basilica
- Cable car ride to Narikala Fortress
- Guided tour of Narikala Fortress
Optional Activities
- Visit traditional bathhouse (from GEL70)
- Old Town walking tour with local guide (Free)
Landmarks Anchiskhati Basilica Narikala Fortress Tbilisi Old Town - Day 9
Tbilisi to Mtskheta to Akhaltsikhe
Visit Mtskheta, the ancient capital and religious center of Georgia, exploring World Heritage sites with your local guide. Next, go to the Tserovani Refugee Settlement (home to 8,000 people displaced by the 2008 conflict) and visit the Ikorta enamel jewelry workshop run by a social enterprise supporting displaced youth and women. Meet the artists and maybe design a piece. After a light lunch and settlement tour learning about long-term displacement, drive to Akhaltsikhe in Georgia's southwest, known for its diverse architecture.
- Meals
- Lunch (Light lunch)
Included Activities
- Visit Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta
- Guided tour of Mtskheta with local guide
- Visit Tserovani Refugee Settlement
- Visit Ikorta enamel jewelry workshop
- Light lunch
- Tour of Tserovani settlement
Optional Activities
- Design an enamel piece at Ikorta workshop
Landmarks Jvari Monastery Svetitskhoveli Cathedral Mtskheta Tserovani Refugee Settlement - Day 10
Akhaltsikhe - Vardzia - Akhaltsikhe
Drive to the remarkable cave city of Vardzia, stopping at the 10th-century Khertvisi Fortress on the way. Vardzia stretches over half a kilometer along the Mtkvari River with 19 tiers of winding cobbled streets, including a rock-hewn church with 12th-century frescoes, dwelling quarters, small churches, refectories, and wine cellars. Tour with a local guide learning about this once-mighty city, now a working monastery. Return to Akhaltsikhe in the afternoon to visit Rabati Fortress with its watchtowers, gardens, and places of worship, or relax at your accommodation.
Included Activities
- Visit Khertvisi Fortress
- Guided tour of Vardzia cave city
- Explore Vardzia church with 12th-century frescoes
- Tour dwelling quarters, churches, refectories and wine cellars
Optional Activities
- Visit Rabati Fortress with local guide
Landmarks Khertvisi Fortress Vardzia Rabati Fortress Mtkvari River - Day 11
Akhaltsikhe to Gudauri
Visit Gori, birthplace of Joseph Stalin, for a city tour including the Stalin Museum, Memorial of Georgian War Heroes, and Gori Fortress. See traditional ornamental mosaics showing the city's artistic side. Then drive the Georgian Military Highway toward the Georgia-Russia border, stopping at the Ananuri architectural complex with two churches and a fortress overlooking the Zhinvali water reservoir. Learn about the site's history and regional fortifications, then continue through the Caucasus Mountains to Gudauri for dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with group)
Included Activities
- City tour of Gori
- Visit Stalin Museum
- Visit Memorial of Georgian War Heroes
- Visit Gori Fortress
- Visit Ananuri architectural complex with two churches and fortress
- Scenic drive through Caucasus Mountains
- Dinner with group
Landmarks Stalin Museum Memorial of Georgian War Heroes Gori Fortress Ananuri architectural complex Zhinvali water reservoir - Day 12
Gudauri - Stepantsminda - Gudauri
Take a scenic drive from Gudauri along the Tergi River to Stepantsminda. From there, hop in 4WDs for the mountain road to Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,170 m above sea level. Weather permitting, you might see Mt Kazbegi. On the way back, stop at the small village of Sno to explore a park with massive stone heads representing famous Georgian historical figures. Return to Gudauri this afternoon with free time to enjoy the mountain air and views. Your hotel has a wellness centre.
Included Activities
- Scenic drive along Tergi River
- 4WD journey to Gergeti Trinity Church
- Visit stone heads park in Sno village
Optional Activities
- View Mt Kazbegi (weather dependent)
Landmarks Gergeti Trinity Church Mt Kazbegi Sno village stone heads park Tergi River - Day 13
Gudauri to Dzoraget
After breakfast in Gudauri, drive to Sadakhlo at the Georgia-Armenia border. You'll break the journey with lunch in Tbilisi, then continue through border formalities to Armenia. Begin your Armenian adventure with Haghpat Monastery, a World Cultural Heritage Site with outstanding medieval Armenian architecture. Your leader will introduce you to Armenia's history and design. Continue to Dzoraget for the night, surrounded by Debed River views.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Haghpat Monastery
- Introduction to Armenia's history and design
Landmarks Haghpat Monastery Debed River - Day 14
Dzoraget to Yerevan
Meet your Armenian driver and local guide after breakfast and drive to Lake Sevan, nicknamed 'The Pearl of Armenia' and one of the world's largest fresh-water high-altitude lakes. Visit Sevanavank Monastery overlooking the water on the peninsula. Move to Garni village to see the first-century Garni Temple built by King Tiridates and dedicated to the God of the Sun. Enjoy a special local performance with the Duduk, a UNESCO-listed Armenian instrument. Travel northeast to Geghard Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage site, partly carved from a mountain and surrounded by cliffs). Drive to Yerevan in the afternoon and check in for two nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Lake Sevan
- Visit Sevanavank Monastery
- Visit Garni Temple
- Duduk performance at Garni Temple
- Visit Geghard Monastery
Landmarks Lake Sevan Sevanavank Monastery Garni Temple Geghard Monastery 
- Day 15
Yerevan
Your local guide introduces you to Yerevan on a city tour exploring Armenia's capital (established in 782 BC and one of the world's oldest cities). See how the city blends ancient culture with modern lifestyle. Visit the Armenian Genocide Museum to learn the tragic history of this region. The afternoon is free for reflection or further exploration. This evening, join your group for a final dinner at a local restaurant featuring Armenian cuisine like khorovats (barbecued kebab) or spas (yogurt soup).
- Meals
- Dinner (Final dinner at local restaurant featuring Armenian cuisine)
Included Activities
- City tour of Yerevan with local guide
- Visit Armenian Genocide Museum
- Final group dinner at local restaurant
Landmarks Armenian Genocide Museum Yerevan 
- Day 16
Yerevan
Your adventure ends after breakfast this morning. If you'd like to extend your time in Yerevan, speak with your booking agent beforehand to arrange additional accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
