12-Day Classic Caucasus Tour

Arrive in Baku. Meet your local guide and driver at the arrival hall and drive to your hotel. The rest of the day will be at your disposal.

Your Caucasus tour starts with a Baku city tour. You will first visit the Highland Park with a panoramic view of the Baku Bay. From there, you will be able to spot the major architectural landmarks of the Baku city, like the three Flame Towers, Crystal Hall, and the National Stadium. Next, explore the Baku Old City (12^th - 19^th century) and go on an inside tour to the three important sites there: Shirvanshah's Palace, Caravanserai, and Maiden Tower. Spend some time strolling the narrow streets and stop at the market square, which has numerous art studios and souvenir stalls.

Flame Towers in Baku

After lunch at a local restaurant, drive to the Absheron Peninsula (30KM) by the Caspian Sea. Visit Ateshgah of Baku, also known as the Fire Temple, which was once a place of worship for saints who came from India. The burning flame was located atop a natural gas vent in old times, but presently, the fire is fed by piped methane gas. Learn from your local guide why this place holds so much significance for the Zoroastrians. Return to Baku and the evening is free for you to explore the city by yourself.

Fire Temple-Ateshgah, a castle-like religious temple

In the morning, drive to Gobustan (64KM) to visit the Petroglyphs Museum, where you can enjoy the cave paintings. Gobustan is home to mud volcanoes, and if weather allows, you can drive through them in a four-wheel drive. In summertime, it is advisable to bring sunscreen with UV protection to avoid getting sunburn.

Mud Volcanoes

After lunch, return to Baku and visit the Heydar Alyev Cultural Centre, one of the signature architectural landmarks of modern Baku, designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid.

Heydar Alyev Cultural Centre, a quirky building designed by Zaha Hadid.

Check out from the hotel and depart from Baku for Sheki (300KM). On the way, you will visit Diri Baba Mausoleum in Maraza village and the historical Juma Mosque in Shamakhi. This will be followed by a scenic drive through the awesome Muganly Mountain Pass. If time and weather allow, you can make a quick stop at Nohur Lake for a great mountain view.

Juma Mosque, a historical site and restored in 2013.

After lunch, continue driving to Sheki, a pleasant medieval town, which is fun to explore by foot. You can spend the rest of the day trying the local famous baklava (a rich, sweet dessert pastry made of layers of filo with hazelnuts, etc.) and strolling through the town.

Check out the hotel in the morning and start your day with a Sheki tour. You will visit the Sheki Khans Palace, which was once the summer residence for the Sheki Khans. The palace is surrounded by fortress walls with very impressive stained glass, but photography is not permitted inside. You will then visit the Caravanserai, a nice place to imagine yourself going back to the ancient Silk Road times. Explore the local bazaar, a colorful market where you can find almost everything you want to eat. Pack some snacks for the rest of your tour.

The stained glasses at the Sheki Khans Palace.

After lunch, drive to the Azerbaijan - Georgia border (115KM) and say goodbye to Azerbaijan. Your new tour guide and driver from Georgia will meet you at the border and escort you to Sighnaghi (50KM), also called the City of Love, which is especially popular among couples. The town was an important trading center on the Great Silk Road, full of architectural monuments, folk art, and handicrafts. This is also one of the best and most romantic places to taste Georgia wine. After checking in at the hotel, you may hire a motorbike from the hotel and go on a small adventure. Ride to discover what might attract you.

Sighnaghi, a romantic royal town, overlooks the Alazani Valley and faces the Greater Caucasus mountains.

You may choose to have a late start to visit the Bodbe Monastery. This holy place is said to be the burial site of St. Nino, who converted Georgia to Christianity in the 4th century. It is now a nunnery and a good place to appreciate the Greater Caucasus Mountains.

Holy Bodbe Monastery

Enjoy some more free time in the town before driving down to Tbilisi (110KM), the capital of Georgia. After checking in at the hotel, you are free to explore the city in the evening.

Start your morning by sightseeing in Tbilisi. You will first visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral, which is the third-tallest Eastern Orthodox cathedral in the world. Continue to Metekhi Church, from where you can capture panoramic views of the old part of the city. Take the one-way Aerial Tramway up to the Narikala Fortress and admire the whole city from the top. Stroll down from the fortress and you will reach to the old part of the city.

Views from the Narikala Fortress.

The whole afternoon is for you to explore Sioni cathedral, the clock tower at the Rezo Gabriadze Theatre, Anchiskhati Church, Liberty Square, and the narrow streets with cozy cafes, wine bars, and souvenir shops. Try to take the local subway, a soviet style one with very deep underground and long escalators. Ask your guide for directions to reach your hotel.

After breakfast, drive to the former capital of Georgia, Mtskheta (25KM). You will stop at the Jvari Monastery, an architectural masterpiece of the early Medieval Period. It is situated on a cliff above Mtskheta, a good place to view the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers. Continue to drive to Mtskheta and visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, a sacred place where the robe of Christ is kept.

Jvari Monastery

After lunch in a local restaurant, drive to the Ananuri Fortress Complex (78KM). It was a former residence of Argveti dukes, which overlooks the Jinvali Reservoir. This multifunctional architectural complex combines a castle, a bell tower, three churches, and beautifully carved walls. Take some nice pictures here. Head back to Tbilisi in the late afternoon.

Ananuri Fortress Complex

After breakfast, drive to the Georgian-Armenian border, Sadakhlo (75KM); on crossing the border, your local guide and driver will greet you in Armenia.

Drive to visit the Haghpat Monastic Complex (30KM). It is an exceptional example of Armenian architecture of the 10^th - 13^th century, which stands on a hillside, overlooking the Debed River Canyon.

Haghpat Monastic complex, a typical Armenian architecture.

After lunch in a traditional Armenian restaurant, drive down to Lake Sevan (138KM), one of the largest high-mountain freshwater lakes in the world. Here, you will visit Sevanavank Monastery, which is situated at the northwestern shore of the lake, surrounded by snowcapped mountains. It was an important spiritual center for several hundred years.

Depart to Yerevan (80KM), the capital of Armenia.

Sevanavank Monastery, also called the black monastery as it was built from black tuff.

Start with a city tour in Yerevan. It is one of the world's oldest cities, and has the nickname "Pink City", as most Soviet-era buildings were constructed out of pink stones. You will first visit the Armenian Genocide Museum, which will give you an insight into the past suffering of the Armenian people. Next, visit the Cascade Monument which offers panoramic views of the city from the top and overlooks Mt. Ararat. The monument is a giant stairway made of limestone, with around 572 steps, separated into 5-6 floors. You can choose to climb the stairs or take the electrical escalators from the ground floor. There are different fountains, sculptures, and indoor galleries as well. Spend an hour and walk along the streets, and you may pass the Republic Square, Opera House, Swan Lake, and Abovyan Avenue.

Republic Square in Yerevan

After lunch in a local restaurant, drive out of the city to Etchmiadzin (20KM). Here, you will visit the Etchmiadzin Cathedral. It was the first cathedral built in ancient Armenia, and the most beautiful example of early Christian art and architecture. Return to Yerevan.

Etchmiadzin Cathedral, a museum of Christian relics

In the morning, drive to Geghard (40KM) and visit Geghard Monastery, an ancient Armenian monastery. It is partially carved out of the mountain and surrounded by cliffs. You may have a chance to hear a cappella performance in this historical site. Visit Garni Temple, the best-known structure and symbol of pre-Christian Armenia. It is the only remaining Greco-Roman colonnaded building in Armenia.

Garni Temple, a 1st century Hellenic temple.

A special experience awaits you in Garni village. You will have a chance to take part in a ritual of baking the national lavash bread with the local villagers. Lavash is a soft, thin unleavened flatbread, baked in a tandoor oven. Enjoy an open-air lunch before returning to Yerevan.

You will have a free afternoon to explore the town before departing home the next day.

Lavash Baking

Check out from the hotel. Your guide and driver will take you to the Yerevan International Airport to take your flight back home. Say goodbye to Armenia.