Baku Cultural, religious and historic sites Trips

Azerbaijan: visit Qobustan, which isn't included in the itinerary. Also the Heydar Aliyev Center, and the flame towers at night. Georgia: visit Batumi if possible, which is being dropped from the itinerary. Read Rustaveli's opus: the Knight in the Panther's Skin. Enjoy Georgian wine. Armenia: take the escalator in the Cafesjian Center for the Arts to view contemporary sculptures. Listen to liturgical music by Komitas. Note that there is a different overall guide for each country.

It was very good and I wouldn't have left any of it out...but really needed two or three more days to explore the big cities better and get a break from sitting on the bus.

This was certainly a trip with a difference and I learned so much on the journey in the company of like minded and exceptionally well travelled people. The tour guides were exceptional especially Anahit who took over for the last leg of our journey in Armenia. Her enthusiasm, knowledge and energy levels were incredible and provided a useful window in to the history and politics of the Caucasus countries. The included meals were wonderful and food was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. I will take away so many happy memories of this trip.

The tour days were not strenuous nor too laid back. Meals supplied and on your own were well apportioned based on the tour day's activities. We had a good opportunity to try the local cuisines of the three countries visited which is important to me since I'm a foodie and the wine tastings were interesting as well.

We really didnt know much about this area which has a rich and long history. Everything was beautifully organized with excellent, comfortable hotels, all including breakfast; a number of lunches and a few special dinners too, a range of cultural, historical, geological and archeological places to visit and the occasional day off to relax and do things on our own. We really appreciated that! Excellent and varied local food. The itinerary was well thought out. Although we could have stayed longer and seen more, this 2 week tour hit the highlights. Some of those highlights: Baku Azerbaijan, our first stop, a modern city right on the Caspian Sea, the 3 Dubai-like flame towers with a light show every night, the stunning architecture of the Heydar Aliyev Center. Walking on the beautiful wide lively 100 year old Baku Boulevard along the Caspian, with many locals also enjoying the view, the vendors, the food, the artwork. It was really nice to stay right across the street from it, with a view of the Flame towers too. Riding in Ladas to walk around rare mud volcanoes - wow. Gobustan cave paintings. Georgia: wine tasting in caves, overnight at the luxurious Akhasheni wine resort, Tbilisi, visiting Gergeti Holy Trinity Church high in the Caucasus mountains (stunning!), the rock cut cave town Uplistsikhe, Unesco World Heritage site. Armenia: Views of Mt. Ararat from everywhere, in Yerevan the fabulous Cascades multilevel art gallery going up a steep hill via escalators or walking.

I would warmly recommend the Caucasus as a trip for people interested in history, culture, beauty and food. We were especially impressed with Georgia, its natural sites, hospitality and culture. Tbilisi was charming, the visit to the wine resort was the cherry on the cake and the trip to the Kazbegi mountain, where we lucked out on an amazing sunny day, was exhilarating. We also tremendously enjoyed Baku, mostly as a centre for modern architecture, which was one of our main interests. Food was wonderful throughout and we were offered even more dinners and lunches than initially included in the itinerary. Our guides were very knowledgeable and personable.