Upgraded - Treasures of Georgia and Armenia

Our tour starts today in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. An ancient and cosmopolitan city where you can find a synagogue, a mosque, a Georgian basilica, an Armenian church, and a Zoroastrian Fire-Worshipper's temple all within a 15-minute walk of one another.

For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Tbilisi at any time (please note, hotel rooms will not be available until after 3pm).

If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Tbilisi International Airport (TBS), which is around a 30-minute drive from our hotel. As part of our Upgraded range, we also offer a complimentary transfer to those who have made pre-tour accommodation arrangements through Explore, regardless of your arrival day. If you miss the welcome meeting, our tour leader will inform you of any essential information at 9am on day 2.

Also, if you'd like to add on extra days in Tbilisi before our tour starts, contact us to book accommodation.

After breakfast this morning we'll head out to explore Tbilisi on a walking tour, starting our visit at the 13th-century Church of Metekhi, situated imposingly on a cliff overlooking the Mktvari River that bisects the city. Crossing the Metekhi Bridge, we'll take the cable car up to Narikala Fortress for a bird's-eye view over the city before heading down to the famous brick-domed Sulphur baths of the Abanotubani district. We'll continue through the narrow lanes of Old Tbilisi where we'll pass colourful houses with painted wooden balconies and along our way, we'll see the Great Synagogue, Medieval Sioni Cathedral, and Anchiskhati Church. Arriving in the newer part of the city, we'll stroll along Tbilisi's main street, Rustaveli Avenue, with its many grand buildings.

The rest of the day is free, and you can choose to further explore Tbilisi or enjoy an afternoon of relaxation at one of the centrally located thermal spas.

After breakfast this morning, we'll leave Tbilisi behind and make our way into the region of Khaketi where we'll experience its renowned hospitality and wine.

On arrival in Kvareli, we'll head to a local family's house for lunch where we'll also have a hands-on lesson in making Georgian bread and churchkhela, traditional Georgian sweets that look a bit like candles. Churchkhela is made with grape juice that's heated in large copper cauldrons to remove impurities before being thickened with flour. Shelled nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds being most typical) are stung onto threads and then dipped into the cooled grape mixture until coated to the desired thickness, they're then hung up to dry in the sun.

In the afternoon, we'll head to the Tsinandali Estate which is also our stop for the night. A local guide will take us on a tour of Duke Alexander Chavchavdze's wine estate and garden which dates back to the 19th century. The park and house used to be the gathering place of famous poets and artists at the time, and it was here that the first wine was bottled in Georgia. Staying on theme, at the end of our tour, we'll get to taste some of the wine produced on the estate.

Our hotel for the night is situated within the grounds of the estate so we'll have time to enjoy our surroundings, take a dip in the stunning infinity pool, or have an aperitif cocktail at the elegant vaulted hotel bar.

Our overall driving time for today is approximately three hours.

Our first port of call this morning is the local farmers' market in Telavi. It's a great place to mingle amongst local shoppers and admire the stalls, loaded with local produce from fresh fruits and vegetables to meats and different varieties of cheese.

Afterward, we'll drive northwest to the dramatic Caucasus Mountains and the Georgian-Russian border. The Kazbegi region is a picturesque area, with alpine meadows and towering snow-capped mountains. The road we drive along is known as the Georgian Military Highway and it has a long history as both a trade route and as a means of invading Georgia from the north. On our journey, we'll pay a visit to Ananuri where two churches and a 17th-century fortress overlook the Zhinvali reservoir.

At lunchtime, we'll stop at the village of Pasanauri to enjoy its picturesque location and some free time. Later in the afternoon, after crossing the Cross Pass at 2,395 metres/7,587 feet, we'll reach Stepantsminda (formerly known as Kazbegi), our base for the next two nights.
On arrival, we'll check into our rooms and there will be time to breathe in the clear mountain air and admire mighty snow-capped Mt Kazbegi from the comfort of the indoorpool.

Our total driving time for today is approximately four hours.

This morning, we'll drive through Gergeti village and up to the iconic 14th-century Church of the Holy Trinity, stunningly located at 2,210 metres/7,250 feet on a hilltop overlooking the snowy peaks of the Caucasus Mountains. The area is a treasure trove of mythology - Prometheus was chained to the majestic Mount Kazbegi (5,054 metres/16,581 feet), the highest peak in this region. Weather permitting, we might catch a glimpse of its glaciers, the highest in the Caucasus. This part of the Caucasus is a protected area and is home to a variety of flora and fauna. Georgia has over 100 different mammals, and although the European bison and Caucasian leopard have become extinct, there are still wolves and bears in the mountains.

For lunch today we'll enjoy another one of Georgia's national dishes, Khinkali dumplings. We'll visit a local family and have the chance to help prepare the dumplings. Made from twisted knobs of wheat dough, the dumplings are traditionally stuffed with spiced meat (lamb or beef and pork mixed), onions, chili and cumin. Today, herbs such as coriander and parsley are often added and vegetarian versions with mushrooms, potatoes, and cheese can be found. Khinkali resemble little sacks and are usually eaten by hand, picked up by the top of the pleated knot (kudi) which is discarded after the juice of the dumplings is sucked out before the meat and dough are eaten.

Before returning to our hotel, we'll have time to call in at the Art House to see how felt is made following the traditional process. Here, we'll also have the chance to try some local jams and herbal teas. The inhabitants of the area forage from a wide variety of botanical sources for their herbal teas from bilberry and blackberry leaves to wild mountain thyme, rose hips, hawthorn berries, and wild mint.

Today we'll make our way to Mukhrani village where we visit the royal estate of the Duke Ivane Mukhranbatoni. His interest in farming was greatly enhanced during his trip to France in the late 19th century where he learned more about winemaking and on his return home, he decided to start producing Georgian sparkling wine using a French bottling technique. We'll enjoy a delicious lunch and sample the wine produced at the estate.

To follow, we drive to Borjomi Central Park, travelling through the majestic forests of the Borjomi Gorge and stopping to sample the sulphurous water, which is believed to have healing properties. On arrival, we'll have the opportunity to explore the charming spa town of Borjomi and part of its native forest, before checking in to our hotel which sits by the small river that crosses the park. The in-house SPA offers an array of treatments and therapy baths if you wish to pamper yourself.

Our total driving time today is around four-and-a-half hours.

Today we'll head towards one of Georgia's most significant sites, the cave town of Vardzia. We'll drive through a remote and beautiful landscape of rolling hills, with mountain peaks on the horizon and pine trees occasionally standing like sentries along the sides of the road. Vardzia itself is cut into a towering cliff and was established as a stronghold against the Turkish Sultanate (the Turkish border is only 10 kilometres away) by King Giorgi III in the 12th century. Vardzia was subsequently developed by his daughter, Tamar (later to become King Tamar), who created a cave monastery that became a centre of Georgian culture. This network of caves above the Mtkvari (Kura) River once numbered 3,000, with up to 19 tiers in some places. Much of it was destroyed after a huge earthquake in 1456 and only 550 caves have been discovered since. There are numerous churches, meeting halls, refectories, and wine cellars, all interconnected by tunnels and stairways.

We'll have time to explore and navigate our way around this fascinating place before having lunch at a locally-owned guesthouse. Virtually everything you'll eat comes from what they grow in their garden.
After lunch we'll head to the Georgia/Armenia border at Bavra. Here we'll say goodbye to our Georgian tour leader and meet our Armenian tour leader. After clearing customs, we drive on to Gyumri where we will spend the night. This evening dinner is included as a welcome to Armenia.

Our total driving time today is approximately five hours.

This morning we'll visit Gyumri, Armenia's charming second city, known for its distinctive 19th-century architecture and resilient spirit. Once devastated by the 1988 earthquake, Gyumri has beautifully rebuilt itself while retaining its artistic soul and warm, down-to-earth atmosphere. We'll wander through the Kumayri Historic District, admire the black tuff stone buildings, visit artists\ studios and quirky museums, and enjoy a relaxed meal in one of the city's cosy, characterful cafes.

In the afternoon we'll drive towards the Armenian capital and check in to our centrally located hotel, which will be our base for the rest of the tour. The bar and restaurant on the rooftop offer a stunning view of Republic Square - having a meal here during your stay is highly recommended. In Yerevan, tree-lined streets display both grand Soviet-era architecture and traditional, coloured stone buildings, all set against the dramatic backdrop of the fabled Mount Ararat. This imposing mountain is in the background of virtually every photograph of Yerevan and it's a beloved sight for all the Armenian people. Just over a century ago, this imposing mountain was located on the territory of the Armenian Highlands, subsequently given to Turkey by the Soviets as part of their peace treaties of Moscow and Kars in 1921.

We'll visit the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex and its museum, an important and unmissable stop to learn about what the Armenian population endured between 1915 and 1922 at the hand of the Ottoman Empire. We'll then make our way to the Cascade complex - a Soviet-period structure that resembles a giant stairway and houses a modern art museum. Finally, we'll continue on to see the expansive Republic Square where our tour of Yerevan will come to an end.

After breakfast we travel through a landscape of alpine meadows to the Hellenistic temple at Garni. This pagan monument, dedicated to the worship of the sun, was built in AD77 and is an extraordinary site to be found in Armenia, so far from the rest of the Hellenistic world.

We'll then continue to the nearby UNESCO-listed Geghard Monastery, found in a beautiful location surrounded by mountains. Partly made up of caves and partly built from local stone, this tranquil monastery dates from the 4th century and houses two main churches decorated with impressive well-preserved carvings and a fountain of spring water alleged to have rejuvenating properties. At lunch time, we head to a local village house for a home-made meal.

Returning to Yerevan in the late afternoon the rest of the day is free.

In the morning, we'll leave the capital behind and head to the vast plains of Ararat to visit the Khor Virap Monastery. From here the mountain is so close that it feels like you can almost touch it. Saint Gregory, who founded and was the first head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, spent thirteen years imprisoned in the dungeon of this monastery, which is now one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Armenia.

Later in the morning, we return to Yerevan to pay a visit to a local craftsman who specialises in duduk making. The duduk, recognized by UNESCO as part of the world's intangible cultural heritage, is closely tied to Armenian identity and music. The master of the studio will give us a presentation of this fascinating instrument in the back garden and an introduction to this very special 1,500-year-old type of flute, whose sound resembles human voices.

We plan to visit the Republic Square in time for lunch, after which we head to the fruit market. There is the option to visit the Vernisage art and craft market.

This morning, we'll travel out to the 'Holy City' of Echmiadzin, Armenia's former capital, where we'll visit the UNESCO-listed Echmiadzin Cathedral. The cathedral is thought to be the oldest in the world and it dates back to the 4th century.

At lunchtime, we'll join a local family where we will learn how to make gata, a beloved Armenian pastry known for its rich, buttery flavour and flaky texture. After our meal, we'll continue our drive.

Finally, we'll return to the capital for our final afternoon - a mix of free time for sightseeing and a late afternoon Ararat brandy tasting.

Our trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Yerevan.

There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Yerevan at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Yerevan International Airport (EVN), which is around a 30-minute drive from our hotel. As part of our Upgraded range, we also offer a complimentary transfer to those who have made post-tour accommodation arrangements through Explore, regardless of your departure day.

Also, if you'd like to explore the Armenian capital further, you can add extra nights to your trip. Please contact us to book additional accommodation. You might like to attend a performance at the Armenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre.