Armenia & Georgia: Treasures of the Caucasus

Fly to Tbilisi via Istanbul

Fly from London to Tbilisi, Georgia via Istanbul, Turkey, with Turkish Airlines. Arrive and transfer to the Museum Hotel Orbeliani (or similar) for two nights. (N) Meal basis: As per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Tbilisi

Today’s full-day tour of Tbilisi includes a cable car ride to fourth-century Narikala Fortress, which occupies a scenic spot overlooking the city; and the fifth-century Metekhi Church, an unusual cross-cupola church which became an infamous prison during the Soviet era. Visit the State Museum, home to hundreds of Caucasian icons and metalwork dating from the Bronze Age to the 20th century. Spend the remainder of the afternoon at the Georgia Museum of Art on a private guided visit, led by a senior curator. (B, L, D)

Etchmiadzin

Depart Tbilisi and cross the border to Armenia. Visit the 13th-century Haghartsin Monastery, followed by lunch in the picturesque town of Dilijan. Continue to Yerevan and stay at the Hotel Metropol (or similar) for 3 nights. (B, L, D)

Yerevan

Take a full-day tour of Yerevan with visits including the Matenadaran – the repository of ancient Armenian manuscripts – and Erebuni Fortress, where you meet a local expert (subject to confirmation). Continue to Tsitsernakaberd, a memorial and museum dedicated to the Armenian genocide of 1915, with its picturesque views over the city. Next, visit the National Art Gallery, which contains some excellent examples of medieval frescoes and Armenian and European art. (B, L, D)

Etchmiadzin - Garni - Geghard

Begin your day with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Echmiatsin (now called Vagharshapat), the spiritual centre of the Armenian-Gregorian Church, and take a private behind-the-scenes tour of the monastic complex. Visit a fine example of Armenian architecture at the St Hripsime Church before visiting Echmiatsin Cathedral, the oldest state built cathedral in the world, dating back to the early fourth century. Inside the cathedral is the reputed Holy Lance that pierced Christ’s side during his crucifixion. Proceed to the seventh-century ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral. End the day with a visit to the temple of Garni, a classical Hellenistic temple that is the best known structure and symbol of pre-Christian Armenia. Nearby is the medieval monastery of Geghard, partially carved out of cliffs within a plunging valley. (B, L, D)

Lake Sevan & Monasteries - Tbilisi

Cross the border to Georgia, stopping en route to see Lake Sevan and the UNESCO-protected monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, unique for their 10th-century architectural styles. Proceed to Tbilisi and stay two nights at the Museum Hotel (or similar). (B, L, D)

Mtskheta - Gori - Kutaisi

Drive north-west to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mtskheta. Lying at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, the city was the place where Christianity was proclaimed as the official religion of Georgia in 337 AD. Continue to the nearby church of Jvari, then to Gori, birthplace of Joseph Stalin. Visit the intriguing Stalin Museum, which features numerous personal artefacts, including Stalin’s notorious armour-plated railway carriage. Drive to Kutaisi and spend one night at the Bagrati Hotel (or similar). (B, L, D)

Bagrati - Gelati - Ubisa - Tbilisi

This morning, visit Bagrati Cathedral, which occupies a prominent position over Kutaisi. Continue to the Gelati monastery complex, built by the former king of Georgia, David IV the Builder. This UNESCO World Heritage Site features a number of 12th- and 13th-century churches and houses numerous murals, mosaics and manuscripts. Drive eastwards to Tbilisi, stopping at Ubisa for a short visit. Overnight at the Museum Hotel (or similar), Tbilisi. (B, L, D)

Gremi - Ikalto - Signagi

Travel east through the hills and winelands of Kakheti to the town of Gremi, destroyed by Shah Abbas’s army in the 16th century, save for the well preserved Royal Tower and Church of Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Next, drive to Signagi via the monastery of St Nino at Bodbe, a Georgian Orthodox monastic complex and one of the major pilgrimage sites in Georgia, with views of the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Overnight at Kabadoni Hotel (or similar). (B, L, D)

Signagi - Tsinandali - Telavi - Alaverdi - Tbilisi

After a walking tour of Signagi, visit Tsinandali, the palace and vineyard of a Georgian noble family. Nearby is Telavi, capital of the Kakheti region and home to the best vineyards in the country. Continue to the Ikalto Academy, which – together with Gelati – is the pinnacle of Georgia’s great medieval academies. After lunch at a wine house or with a local family, visit Alaverdi, a functioning Georgian monastery dating from the sixth century, including its towering 11th-century cathedral. Return to Tbilisi for a farewell dinner and stay overnight at the Museum Hotel (or similar). (B, L, D)

Fly to London via Istanbul

Transfer to Tbilisi airport. Fly to London, via Istanbul. (B)

Meal basis: As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Fly to Tbilisi via Istanbul

Fly from London to Tbilisi, Georgia via Istanbul, Turkey, with Turkish Airlines. Arrive and transfer to the Museum Hotel Orbeliani (or similar) for two nights. (N) Meal basis: As per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Tbilisi

Today’s full-day tour of Tbilisi includes a cable car ride to fourth-century Narikala Fortress, which occupies a scenic spot overlooking the city; and the fifth-century Metekhi Church, an unusual cross-cupola church which became an infamous prison during the Soviet era. Visit the State Museum, home to hundreds of Caucasian icons and metalwork dating from the Bronze Age to the 20th century. Spend the remainder of the afternoon at the Georgia Museum of Art on a private guided visit, led by a senior curator. (B, L, D)

Etchmiadzin

Depart Tbilisi and cross the border to Armenia. Visit the 13th-century Haghartsin Monastery, followed by lunch in the picturesque town of Dilijan. Continue to Yerevan and stay at the Hotel Metropol (or similar) for 3 nights. (B, L, D)

Yerevan

Take a full-day tour of Yerevan with visits including the Matenadaran – the repository of ancient Armenian manuscripts – and Erebuni Fortress, where you meet a local expert (subject to confirmation). Continue to Tsitsernakaberd, a memorial and museum dedicated to the Armenian genocide of 1915, with its picturesque views over the city. Next, visit the National Art Gallery, which contains some excellent examples of medieval frescoes and Armenian and European art. (B, L, D)

Etchmiadzin - Garni - Geghard

Begin your day with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Echmiatsin (now called Vagharshapat), the spiritual centre of the Armenian-Gregorian Church, and take a private behind-the-scenes tour of the monastic complex. Visit a fine example of Armenian architecture at the St Hripsime Church before visiting Echmiatsin Cathedral, the oldest state built cathedral in the world, dating back to the early fourth century. Inside the cathedral is the reputed Holy Lance that pierced Christ’s side during his crucifixion. Proceed to the seventh-century ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral. End the day with a visit to the temple of Garni, a classical Hellenistic temple that is the best known structure and symbol of pre-Christian Armenia. Nearby is the medieval monastery of Geghard, partially carved out of cliffs within a plunging valley. (B, L, D)

Lake Sevan & Monasteries - Tbilisi

Cross the border to Georgia, stopping en route to see Lake Sevan and the UNESCO-protected monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, unique for their 10th-century architectural styles. Proceed to Tbilisi and stay 2 nights at the Museum Hotel (or similar). (B, L, D)

Mtskheta - Gori - Kutaisi

Drive north-west to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mtskheta. Lying at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, the city was the place where Christianity was proclaimed as the official religion of Georgia in 337 AD. Continue to the nearby church of Jvari, then to Gori, birthplace of Joseph Stalin. Visit the intriguing Stalin Museum, which features numerous personal artefacts, including Stalin’s notorious armour-plated railway carriage. Drive to Kutaisi and spend 1 night at the Bagrati Hotel (or similar). (B, L, D)

Bagrati - Gelati - Ubisa - Tbilisi

This morning, visit Bagrati Cathedral, which occupies a prominent position over Kutaisi. Continue to the Gelati monastery complex, built by the former king of Georgia, David IV the Builder. This UNESCO World Heritage Site features a number of 12th- and 13th-century churches and houses numerous murals, mosaics and manuscripts. Drive eastwards to Tbilisi, stopping at Ubisa for a short visit. Overnight at the Museum Hotel (or similar), Tbilisi. (B, L, D)

Gremi - Ikalto - Signagi

Travel east through the hills and winelands of Kakheti to the town of Gremi, destroyed by Shah Abbas’s army in the 16th century, save for the well preserved Royal Tower and Church of Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Next, drive to Signagi via the monastery of St Nino at Bodbe, a Georgian Orthodox monastic complex and one of the major pilgrimage sites in Georgia, with views of the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Overnight at Kabadoni Hotel (or similar). (B, L, D)

Signagi - Tsinandali - Telavi - Alaverdi - Tbilisi

After a walking tour of Signagi, visit Tsinandali, the palace and vineyard of a Georgian noble family. Nearby is Telavi, capital of the Kakheti region and home to the best vineyards in the country. Continue to the Ikalto Academy, which – together with Gelati – is the pinnacle of Georgia’s great medieval academies. After lunch at a wine house or with a local family, visit Alaverdi, a functioning Georgian monastery dating from the sixth century, including its towering 11th-century cathedral. Return to Tbilisi for a farewell dinner and stay overnight at the Museum Hotel (or similar). (B, L, D)

Fly to London via Istanbul

Transfer to Tbilisi airport. Fly to London, via Istanbul. (B)

Meal basis: As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.