GEORGIA+AZERBAIJAN

Description

Day 1. Tbilisi-Arrival

Arrival at Tbilisi airport. Meeting with a representative of TABERNE GROUP. Hotel accommodation.

Free time.

Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 2. Tbilisi-Mtskheta-Shio Mgvime-Tbilisi

Breakfast at the hotel.

Excursion to Mtskheta – the ancient capital of Georgia (IV century BC – V century AD), now the religious capital, included in the UNESCO world heritage.

Jvari – 5th century basilica and a temple of the 6th-7th centuries, a place that M.Yu. Lermontov describes in Mtsyri’s poem.

Walk along the city streets, visit the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (XI century) – the place where the greatest Christian shrine – the Chiton of Christ rests.

Moving to the monastery complex Shio-Mgvime, which is located near the city of Mtskheta.

Return to Tbilisi.

Day 3. Tbilisi-Kazbegi

Breakfast in the hotel.

From Tbilisi to Stepan Tsminda we head along the Georgian Military Highway. On the way, we will stop at the Zhinvali reservoir. The Zhinvali reservoir is an artificial reservoir of indescribable beauty with an amazing microclimate. Ananuri Fortress is located on the shore of the reservoir. Ananuri served as the main stronghold for the formidable Aragvi eristavis, the rulers of this region. Next stop is Gudauri. Gudauri is an alpine ski resort in Georgia. It is located on the slopes of the Greater Caucasus Range, on the Georgian Military Highway.

Optional: paragliding ($90 per person).

Photo stops at the observation deck – the Arch of Friendship of Peoples, where a beautiful view of the mountains opens.

Transfer to Stepantsminda – an urban-type settlement. Located on the border with Russia. Here you can not do without SUVs! On off-road vehicles, the guests will be taken to Mount Gergeti to the Gergeti Trinity, where, in a different way, a magnificent view of the Caucasus Mountains and their peak – Mount Kazbek (5033 m) will open.

Optional: lunch at a local restaurant ($8-15 per person).

Return to Tbilisi, hotel accommodation.

Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 4. Tbilisi-Lagodekhi-Sheki (Azerbaijan)

Breakfast in the hotel.

Moving to Azerbaijan.

Excursion along the route of the city of Sheki-Caravanserai-Palace of Sheki Khans

Visiting the local medieval fortress, the palace of the Sheki khans, the local history museum, a mosque, a madrasah and a bazaar. During the tour, you can also visit craft workshops and enjoy panoramic views of the city.

Optional: Lunch at a local restaurant ($10-15 per person)

Overnight in Sheki.

Day 5. Sheki-Shemakha-Baku

Breakfast in the hotel.

Departure from Sheki to Baku. On the way visit Gabala.

Gabala is the ancient capital of Caucasian Albania. Archaeological evidence suggests that the city functioned as the capital of Caucasian Albania as early as the 4th century BC. The ruins of the ancient city are located 15 km from the regional center, on the territory between the rivers Garachay and Zhurluchay.

Optional: lunch at a local restaurant ($10-15 per person).

Visit to the old settlement of Chukhuryurd, Albanian gates, Gabala history of Musyum in Gabala.

On the way, stop in Shamakhi, with a visit to the cathedral Friday mosque and the tomb of the Shirvanshahs “Eddi Gumbez”, which means Seven Domes.

Stop in the city-village of Maraza with a visit to the mausoleum-mosque of Diri-Baba.

Moving to Baku.

Night in Baku.

Day 6. Baku-Gobustan-Absheron-Old City-Baku

Breakfast in the hotel.

A visit to the Gobustan Museum of Petroglyphs, the exposition of the museum includes 12 rooms that show and highlight the history of Gobustan petroglyphs (carved or painted images on a stone base). Continuation of the tour to Yanardag “Fire Mountain” (distance 77 km from Gobustan). Yanardag is a mountain on the Absheron peninsula, 25 km from the north of Baku. Literally means “Flaming Mountain”. a trip to Surakhani, to the temple of fire-worshippers-Ateshgah, the most significant temple in the history of the fire colonel.

Optional: Lunch at a local restaurant ($10-15 per person)

Visiting the old city of Icheri Sheher, an overview of the Maiden’s Tower, the Shirvanshahs’ palace, Shamakhi gates. These sights are included in the UNESCO world heritage. Next, we will continue the tour along Nizami Street, also known as a shopping street, named after the great Azerbaijani classic poet Nizami Ganjavi.

Return to the hotel.

Night in Baku.

Day 7. Baku-Lagodekhi-Telavi

Breakfast in the hotel.

We return to Georgia. Transfer Baku-Telavi.

Overnight in Telavi

Day 8. Telavi-Sighnaghi-Bodbe-Khareba-Tbilisi

Breakfast in the hotel.

Excursion around Kakheti. Sighnaghi is a small cozy town in which the registry office works around the clock and therefore it was called the “City of Lovers”. In 2007, the city was restored and Sighnaghi turned into a European town with narrow streets. This is truly a fabulous city. Guests will climb to the fortress wall, which stretches for 5 kilometers and is one of the main attractions of the city.