Global Caucasia . Tours

1

Day 1 | Arrival to Baku International Airport

Meeting at the airport. Transfer to Baku Hotel.
Check-in. Overnight in Baku.

2

Day 2 | Baku sightseeing tour & Absheron peninsula

Breakfast at the hotel.
Baku city tour is an ideal introduction into culture of Azerbaijan. Sightseeing tour starts from the panorama on the city from the Highland park, the highest spot of Baku noble for its Flaming towers. Tour around the city covers the central part, showing the most interesting historical and architectural sites: Baku Seaside Park Boulevard, mini Venice, National Carpet Museum, Azneft Square, Javanshir Bridge, the National Academy of Science, Fizuli Square, Izmir park, and other sites of the city.
Photo stop at Heydar Aliev Center, designed by Zaha Hadid with its distinctive architecture.
Walking down to one of the main streets of Baku - Nizami Street, which is noble for its glamorous brand shops and different restaurants and cafes.
Visit to Icheri Sheher – the old and most fascinating part of the city, where you will have possibility to see: Maiden Tower (XII century), Palace of Shirvanshahs (XV century), Castle Synyk Gala, Caravan Saray, Juma Mosque; market square with numerous art studios and souvenir stalls.
Absheron peninsula. Ateshgah, the Fire Worshippers' Temple is located in the village of Surakhany. It was built on the land where natural gas burned eternally and worshipped by Zoroastrian believers who travelled from the province of Multan in India to visit this sacred place. These ancient fires are believed to have given Azerbaijan its name, which is thought by some researchers to mean the “Land of Fires”.
Yanar Dag or “burning mount”, it is rather a hill than a mountain, with natural gas burning on its slope from ancient times.
Back to the hotel. Overnight in Baku.

3

Day 3 | Baku – Shemakhi – Sheki

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Shamakhi.
Maraza village – visit Sufi Dervish Mausoleum Diri Baba. For a long time, the local residents have kept the legend that their imperishable Saint Diri-Baba had been buried. However, many other legends and mystical details are connected with this landmark. Therefore, since the 17th century, it attracts pilgrims and simply curious visitors. Juma Mosque - the oldest and largest mosque in Azerbaijan, Juma, according to the legend was built in the 8th century. To clarify, It is the time of Shamakhi was chosen as residence by an Arabian caliph. And The initial Arabian inscription on the portal of the mosque said that the mosque had constructed in 743.
Departure to Sheki. Sightseeing tour around Sheki includes visits to the following sites: Palace of the Sheki Khans, Caravansarays Ashagi and Ukhari; Gileili and Juma Mosques; Local Museum; Souvenir shops.
Accommodation at the hotel. Overnight in Sheki.

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Day 4 | Sheki – Lagodekhi border – Sighnaghi – Tbilisi

Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure to Azerbaijan-Georgia border in Lagodekhi (border formalities, transport and guide change). We will proceed the tour now on the territory of Georgia - Kakheti region.
Arrival to Sighnaghi - recently renovated “City of Love”. Visiting Bodbe Monastery and holy spring named after Saint Nino – female evangelist from Cappadocia. Walking to see spectacular views of Alazani valley.
As Kakheti region is noble as wine region of Georgia, we are going to visit one of the local winery and have wine degustation. Visit to Khareba Winery.
Departure to Tbilisi. Accommodation at the hotel. Overnight in Tbilisi.

5

Day 5 | Tbilisi & Mtskheta

Breakfast at the hotel.
Sightseeing tour around Tbilisi includes the visits to the following sites: 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...
Visit to Mtskheta. Due to its historical significance and numerous ancient monuments, the "Historical Monuments of Mtskheta" became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
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.
Overnight in Tbilisi.

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Day 6 | Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Ananuri - Kazbegi

Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure to Kazbegi. On the way to Kazbegi you will 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 Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi.

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Day 7 | Tbilisi – Sadakhlo border – Haghpat – Dilijan – Sevan – Tsaghkadzor

Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure to Georgia-Armenia border Sadakhlo, crossing border (border formalities).
Visit to Haghpat Monastic complex. It is an exceptional example of ecclesiastical architecture that developed in Armenia in the 10th to 13th centuries which is unique by virtue of its blending of elements of both Byzantine church architecture and the traditional vernacular building style of this region. Standing on a hillside, Haghpat beautifully overlooks the Debed river.
Continue driving through Dilijan to Sevan, stop at Sevanavank, a monastic complex, located on a peninsula at the northwestern shore of Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-mountain freshwater lakes in the world. Depart to Tsaghkadzor mountain resort, which is located at an altitude of 1750m above the sea level.
Overnight in Tsaghkadzor.

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Day 8 | Tsaghkadzor – Garni – Geghard – Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel.
Tsaghkadzor city, also known as the Valley of Flowers, famous for its beautiful forest and its shining ﬁelds of snow during winter. This morning, you may ride on a cable car to enjoy the fascinating views of Teghenis Mountains.
Drive to Garni and see the extraordinary Pagan Temple built in the 1st century AD. Your next visit is the UNESCO Site Geghard, a medieval monastery partially carved out of the adjacent mountain. Depart to Yerevan city sightseeing tour, see the Cascade, Opera House, Republic Square and Freedom Square. Continue your visit to the Gum Market which offers a variety of fresh and dry fruits, spices, nuts, and teas. Stroll through Vernissage, the biggest souvenir market in Yerevan.
Overnight on Yerevan.

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Day 9 | Yerevan – Khor Virap – Echmiadzin – Zvartnots –Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel.
Start the day by visiting Ararat Factory to taste renowned Armenian cognac. Head to Khor Virap Monastery, which sits on a spur above the Ararat Valley and offers spectacular views of the majestic Mount Ararat (5,163 metres). Tuck into an authentic lunch in a local art school before heading to the Echmiadzin Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the 7th century ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral — it was built at a time when much of Armenia was under the Byzantine empire. In the evening, enjoy a farewell evening meal and be entertained by an Armenian Folk show.
Overnight in Yerevan.

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Day 10 | Departure

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out.
Departure to Yerevan International Airport.

TOUR PACKAGE: «HARMONY OF CAUCASUS»