Day 3
Re-board the coach today for the journey west out of the city and into the beautiful, rolling countryside, heading first to ancient Gori, beneath its own imposing fortress, and famed as birthplace of Soviet leader Josef Stalin. A fascinating museum houses over 60,000 exhibits, including the house in which the dictator is said to have been born, and the train in which he travelled.
You’ll also visit the ancient cave town of Uplistsikhe, where dwellings, some from the 1st century BC, as well as temples and whole streets with houses and merchants’ shops, are hewn from the barren rock. Lunch is included.
Return to Tbilisi for the evening, to dine at your leisure.
Day 4
Today’s tour heads east to the picture book Alazani valley, overlooked by impossibly pretty hilltop town Sighnaghi, and offering spectacular views of the towering Caucasus beyond. You’ll first pay a visit to the 9th-century Bodbe Monastery, where the remains of Georgia’s Patron Saint, St Nino, are enshrined, before heading to Sighnaghi. This being the centre of the Kakheti wine-growing region, you’ll also enjoy a pleasant lunch and tasting of traditional grown organic wines at a farm cellar, and learn about life in rural Georgia through the ages.
After a marvellous day, return to Tbilisi for the evening.
Day 5
On a remarkably scenic day, you’ll head north towards the foothills of the mighty Caucasus, pausing first at the former capital of the Georgian kingdom, Mtskheta. The country’s cultural and spiritual home, and cradle of its Orthodox Christianity, riverside Mtskheta stood at the crossroads of the Roman, Persian and Byzantine empires, and boasts sacred Svetiskhoveli cathedral (burial place of kings) and the Jvari Monastery of the Cross among its UNESCO-listed treasures.
Journeying further north, you’ll pass beneath striking Ananuri castle in its commanding position above the Aragvi River, to arrive in the village Gudauri for an included dinner at your hotel.
Day 6
Continue north to the mountain resort of Stepantsminda, still more commonly known as as Kazbegi, which is surrounded by some of the most beautiful peaks of the Caucasus, including towering Mount Kazbek. Upon arrival, we switch to four-wheel-drive vehicles for the short journey to the hilltop Gergeti, ‘Trinity’ Church, which offers sensational views, on clear days, of the Terek river valley and the towering flanks of Mount Kazbegi.
A wonderful day ends with a visit to a local artist, for the chance to admire intricate felt work and to taste teas and other delicacies. Dinner is at your hotel this evening.
Day 7
Bidding farewell to your Gudauri hosts, return south to Tbilisi, where a highlight of the day will be lunch at a family owned vineyard en route, accompanied by wine.
Day 8
This morning you’ll transfer to Sadakhlo on the border with Armenia, where you’ll say goodbye to your Georgian guide and hello to your new Armenian guide. Travel through the historic Lori Region, calling at the fascinating Mikoyan Brothers’ Museum and the 10th-century UNESCOÂ-listed Haghpat Monastery. Enjoy lunch at the mountainous Lake Sevan, known as the Pearl of Armenia, before continuing to capital Yerevan and check-in at your new hotel, followed by an evening at leisure. Â
Day 9
Join your tour manager this morning and head into the hills to Garni Temple, Armenia’s only remaining Greco-Roman structure. Originally built in the 1st century, the temple was dedicated to the Mihr, Armenia’s sun god. The temple was severely damaged by an earthquake in the 17th century, before being restored in the 1970s. Continue to the UNESCO¬-listed medieval Geghard Monastery, which is partially carved out of a mountain and dates back to the 12th century. Enjoy a traditional lunch in a local village.
Return to Yerevan, for a fascinating walking tour of the city, which is notable for its grand Soviet-era architecture, and the Cascade, a giant limestone stairway lined with sculptures and fountains that links the downtown area of the city with the Monument neighbourhood. The tour continues to the Yerevan Brandy Company, famous for distilling Ararat brandy. An included dinner at a local restaurant completes a wonderful day.
Day 10
Head out into the fertile Ararat Valley this morning, to the historic monastery at Khor Virap, where you can enjoy fantastic views of Mount Ararat. Armenia’s patron saint, Gregory the Illuminator, was imprisoned here, before he introduced Christianity as Armenia’s religion in 301, making it the first country on earth to do so. Continue to the Areni-1 Cave, where archaeologists discovered the remains of the world’s oldest winery, dating back to 6,000 BC. Continue to the Noravank Monastery and enjoy lunch at the family-run Old Bridge winery, before returning to Yerevan, where the rest of the day is free to spend at your leisure.
Day 11
Today you’ll learn more about Armenia’s fascinating and sometimes troubled history. Travel first to the nearby UNESCO¬¬-listed Echmiadzin Cathedral, one of the world’s great ancient churches, built and consecrated by Gregory the Illuminator in 303. According to legend, Gregory had a vision of Christ descending from heaven, marking the site where the church was to be built with a golden hammer. Today, Echmiadzin is the seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the country’s religious and spiritual centre. The tour continues to the ruins at Zvartnots, once a 7th-century Catholic cathedral. Enjoy lunch at local restaurant, where you’ll also learn how to make traditional Armenian sweets and pasta.
Return to Yerevan for an included visit to the sobering Genocide Memorial and Museum, which commemorates the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide. Perhaps enjoy some souvenir shopping at the flea markets at Vernissage, before spending the final evening of your trip at leisure.
Day 12
Check out of your hotel today and transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK at the end of a fascinating break.