Global Caucasia . Tours

1

Day 1 | Arrival to Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

Meeting at the Baku International Airport. Transfer to Baku hotel.
Check in at the hotel. Overnight in Baku.

2

Day 2 | Sightseeing tour around Baku.

Breakfast at the hotel. Welcome to Azerbaijan – to the land of fire, the land where eastern colors combine magnificently with western progress. Azerbaijan is a country of unique nature, unmatched culture, centuries of history with its customs and traditions and fine cuisine; a place which will satisfy the expectations of the most sophisticated gastronomists, and finally, it is the country of Caucasian hospitality and friendliness.
Sightseeing tour around Baku includes the visits to the following historical sites: Icheri Sherer, Virgin Tower, Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Caravanserai, Nizami Street, Fountains Square, Heydar Aliyev Center.
We will start the tour with exemplified restored Icheri Sheher - the Baku Old Town, where we will take a close look at its symbols: the Virgin's Tower from the 12th century, the Shirvanshah Palace and the Caravanserai. We will see from the hill the panorama of the city amphitheater located in the bay with the Prospekt Neftchiler, a promenade stretching along the coast. We will go through the dazzling street of Nizami, and enjoy the Fountain Square. We will also visit Heydar Aliyev Center designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid.
Back to the hotel and overnight.
Overnight in Baku.

3

Day 3 | Absheron Peninsula Tour

Breakfast at the hotel. The first station will be Yanar Dag – 116-meter hill located on top of a pocket of natural gas that constantly erupts into flames. These flames jet out at least three meters into the air, through a porous layer of sandstone. Unlike the other mud volcanoes of Azerbaijan, Yanar Dag has no seepage of mud or liquid, so the fire always burns. Then we will visit the Temple of Eternal Fire - Ateshgah - is an authentic Azerbaijani exotic. It is well-known practically all over the world. It is located 30 km from the center of Baku in the suburb of Surakhany. This territory is known for such unique natural phenomenon as burning natural gas outlets (underground gas coming onto surface contacts oxygen and lights up). The temple in its present state was constructed in the 17th-18th centuries. It was built by the Baku-based Hindu community related to Sikhs.However, the history of the Temple is even longer. From times immemorial this was the holy place of Zoroastrians- fire worshippers (approximately beginning of our era). They attributed mystical significance to the inextinguishable fire and came there to worship the relic. The final station is Gala – Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum Complex in the open air to preserve the monuments in the territory of the Gala State History and Ethnography Museum and enrich the Preserve by bringing in archaeological finds discovered in Absheron. Petroglyphs covering the period from the 3rd and 2nd millennia B.C. to the Middle Ages, gavaldash (tambourine stone), ceramics, domestic and adornment items, weapons and coins, conserved remnants of an ancient residential complex etc. found in the Absheron peninsula were placed at the Complex.
Back to Hotel. Overnight in Baku.

4

Day 4 | Baku – Gabala

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out from Baku hotel.
Departure to Gabala. Gabala was a part of Shirvanshahs state and later Sheki khanate. The city was repeatedly exposed to devastating invasions. But, despite of this Gabala has preserved material evidence of its civilized past. The ruins of ancient Gabala are 15 km from the present day city. The excavation finds from the ancient settlement can be seen in the city museum. Gabala vicinities have numerous historical and architectural monuments.
Check – in at the hotel.
Overnight in Gabala.

5

Day 5 | Gabala City Tour

Breakfast at the hotel. We will go to Nohur Lake. The lake is surrounded by a forest; you can walk around the lake. Here you can relax, even sail boat on the lake. Tour to Tufandagh - longest teleferic of the world. Whether for skiing, or just for memorable summer views of the Alpine scenery behind Gabala, jump aboard the Tu¬fandag network of four cable cars. Then you can enjoy Gabala entertainment center and Shooting center.
Back to Hotel. Overnight in Gabala.

6

Day 6 | Sheki ~ Oghuz tour

Breakfast at the hotel.
We will depart from Gabala to Sheki for sightseeing tour.
On the way we will stop at Oghuz Xalxal Village.
Historical sides of Sheki – Khan’s Palace, Caravanserai, Silk shop, Halva shop.
Archaeological data show that Sheki has been inhabited for about 2,500 years, making it one of the oldest cities in the Caucasus. There are several architectural and archaeological places around the city, including the Gelersen-Gerersen Fortress (8th-9th centuries), numerous caravanserais, the Juma Mosque (18th century), the Gileilin Minaret (18th century), and medieval baths. The Palace of Shaki Khans was a summer residence for the Sheki Khans. It was built in 1797 by Muhammed Hasan Khan.
Caravanserai was the main stop of silk way merchants for rest.
Back to Gabala. Overnight in Gabala.

7

Day 7 | Departure from Azerbaijan to Georgia

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out from the hotel.
Departure to Azerbaijan – Georgia border Lagodekhi. Border formalities.
Transfer to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi.

8

Day 8 | Tbilisi sightseeing tour

Breakfast at the hotel.
Tbilisi city tour: Holy Trinity Cathedral, Metechi church with panoramic views over the old part of the city, Sioni cathedral, Anchiskhati Church, Narikala fortress, Old streets of the city, Sulphur Baths in Abanotubani, Meidan Square, Chardin Road, Freedom Square, House of Melik Azarianc (Passage), Bridge of Peace, Rustaveli Avenue, Shota Rustaveli Theatre, Vorontsov Palace, Pantheon on Mtatsminda Mount, Turtle Lake and more other sites of the city...
Free time. Back to the hotel. Overnight in Tbilisi.

9

Day 9 | Stepantsminda & Kazbegi

Breakfast at the hotel. The route to Kazbegi leads to Mtskheta-Mtianeti region and lies through Georgian military way, which connected the country with the Northern Caucasus. On the way to Kazbegi, we are going to visit: Ananuri Architectural Complex and Jinvali Water Reservoir is easy via Georgian Military Highway. Continuing the route to Kazbegi through popular Georgian winter resort Gudauri. Arrival to Kazbegi, Stepantsminda. The sightseeing tour includes the visits to: Gergeti Trinity Church is located near settlement Stapantsminda, on the Gergeti Mountain (2200m a.s.l.), one of the highest and most beautiful peaks of Caucasus and is the only cross-cupola church in Khevi province. You can enjoy the breathtaking views to the mount Kazbebi. Mount Kazbegi is the third highest mountain in Georgia and the seventh highest peak in the Caucasus Mountains. The summit lies directly to the west of the town of Stepantsminda and is the most prominent geographic feature of the area. Mt. Kazbek is the highest peak of Eastern Georgia.
Back to the hotel. Overnight in Tbilisi.

10

Day 10 | Mtskheta city & Borjomi National Park

Breakfast at the hotel.
Drive to Mtskheta. Mtskheta Jvari Monastery is a Georgian Orthodox monastery of the 6th century, it is situated on a cliff above Mtskheta. The name is translated as the Monastery of the Cross. It is the culmination of a number of artistic and architectural aspirations in early Christian Georgian.
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is one of the most sacred places in Georgia and, along with Jvari Monastery, the clear highlight of a trip to Mtskheta. It was founded in 1010, built on the site of Georgia's first church, and contains the graves of the ancient Georgian kings, including Sidonia, who was said to have been buried holding Christ's robe.
Due to its historical significance and numerous ancient monuments, the "Historical Monuments of Mtskheta" became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
Borjomi national park - sightseeing tour around the place, drinking mineral water. It is the first National Park in Caucasus that corresponds to the international standards. This is wild, mountainous, forested land, and holds most of the large wildlife found anywhere in Europe. The resort gained its special reputation owing to mineral sources, of almost legendary status. The water is rich with elements necessary for the organism and is the best treatment, or means of avoiding, numerous illnesses.
Tasting water from mineral springs. Tasting water from mineral springs.
Drive back to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi.

11

Day 11 | Departure

Breakfast at the hotel.
Check out from the hotel. Transfer to Tbilisi International Airport.

TOUR PACKAGE: «AZERBAIJAN & GEORGIA»