Eastern Gems: A South Caucasus Expedition

Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia are three South Caucasus countries that are intertwined on the ridge mountains, across the borders of Europe. The breathtaking mountain landscapes, resilient stone architecture, and dedication to hospitality are just a few of the cultural values these countries share. Georgia might seem overshadowed by other countries regarding world-renowned cuisines, but it claims to be the first land to cultivate wine grapes. Azerbaijan is a country closely associated with the Persian Empire before Islam; it is rumoured that the natural gas that vents on the Absheron Peninsula inspired Zoroastrian fire rituals. Armenia was the first country to officially adopt Christianity in the early 4th century. We are embarking on an exploration of these countries that are small in size but rich in culture.

Upon your arrival in Baku, transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay will be at our hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, we begin our tour by visiting the Martyrs Cemetery, located on a terraced hill above Baku port. We walk through the Old City of Baku. The Old City is surrounded by medieval gates and walls, winding streets, private residences, mosques, madrasas, carpet merchants, and small shops. We see the Maiden Tower, which is the oldest construction in Baku's UNESCO-listed Old City. The Shirvanshahs Palace complex is our next stop, located on the walled hill of the Old City, and is part of Baku's UNESCO World Heritage site along with the Maiden Tower and the Old City itself. You will have free time for lunch. Afterwards, we take a walk in Fountain Square, breathe in the city's atmosphere and head towards the National Museum of Azerbaijani Carpets. We conclude the day at the Villa Petrolea Nobel Brothers Museum. Free time for dinner in the evening. Overnight stay will be at our hotel.

In the morning, we set off for Sheki and visit the Bibi-Heybat Mosque along our route. We continue towards Gobustan, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2007. The rock carvings in Gobustan were accidentally discovered by quarry workers in the 1930s. Since then, the carvings depicting men, women, animals, and artefacts have been the focus of much research and speculation. We stop in Shemakha, the former capital of the Shirvanshahs. We explore the city and see the Juma Mosque, dating back to the 10th century and is considered the oldest mosque in the Caucasus. Free time for lunch. We arrive in Sheki late in the evening and check into the Sheki Palace Hotel. Free time for dinner in the evening. Overnight stay will be at our hotel.

Discover Sheki, one of the oldest towns in Azerbaijan, with us. Sheki is home to the Khan's Palace, a well-preserved architectural gem situated in a rose garden with 500-year-old trees. The city is renowned for its carpets and a special type of sweet halva. We embark on a walking tour in this charming little town and explore the Caravanserai which is considered as a part of the still-living culture in Sheki’s history. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon, we set off for Kish Village. Kish Village, located on the banks of the Kish River, is the only remaining part of the original Sheki before the mudslide of the 18th century. Free time for dinner in the evening. Overnight stay will be at our hotel.

After breakfast, we head towards the Georgian border. Once we complete the customs and passport procedures, we transfer to our bus that will take us towards Georgia. Passing through the Kakheti region, we reach Georgia's wine country. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon, we arrive at the Alazani River Valley and stop at the Tibaani vineyards of Pheasant’s Tears Winery, one of the country's largest and most acclaimed natural wine producers. We embark on a walking tour to explore vineyards in the Kakheti micro-region, known for producing organically grown wines from various grapes. We visit the cellars and see where the grapes ferment and age in large wax-lined ceramic vessels. We transfer to our hotel located in the centre of Signagi. Free time for dinner in the evening. Overnight stay will be at our hotel.

After having breakfast at the hotel, we set out to explore Signagi, one of the most beautiful towns in Georgia. We walk along the narrow streets of this charming town and admire its famous wooden balconies adorned with lace-like decorations and intricate carvings. We enjoy the bright green, panoramic views surrounding the fertile agricultural land of Kizikhi. After exploring the town, we set off towards Tbilisi. A bit further from Signagi lies one of the holiest places in Georgia, the 9th- century Bodbe Monastery, where St. Nino is believed to be buried. We continue towards Tbilisi and arrive in the city in the early evening. Free time for dinner in the evening. Overnight stay will be at our hotel.

Meet Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia! Starting from the sulfur baths of Tbilisi, we embark on a guided walking tour through the city centre. Today's tour includes views of the Narikala Fortress, built in the 4th century to observe the narrowest point of the Kura River. Depending on the time available, you may ascend the fortress, but if not possible, you can still admire the beautiful scenery from the Metekhi Church. Another notable sight included in today's tour is Mother Georgia, towering over the city, holding a sword for enemies and a wine bowl for guests, visible from many vantage points throughout the tour. We visit the 6th-century stone Anchiskhati Basilica, the oldest church in the city, and take a break at the Sioni Cathedral, which houses the Cross of St. Nino. Our next stop is the 13th- century Metekhi Church, which was built on the site of David the Builder's former palace, overlooking the Kura River. After your free time for lunch, we return to our hotel for a short time. Afterwards, we explore the Lado Gudiashvili Museum with a private tour and reception. Our journey then takes us to the pantheon of writers and public figures situated atop Mt. Mtatsminda, offering a panoramic view of Tbilisi and serving as the final resting place of Lado Gudiashvili. We return to the hotel with a stroll along Tbilisi's main thoroughfare, Rustaveli Avenue, enjoying the city's unique atmosphere. Free time for dinner in the evening. Overnight stay will be at our hotel.

We journey to the city of Gori and on our way, we visit the village of Tserovani, which serves as a home to internally displaced individuals. During our visit, we gather information about the situation of internally displaced persons in Georgia. We continue our journey to Gori, the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. The name Gori comes from the Georgian word "goraki," meaning "hill." Stalin was born in Gori in December 1879 and lived here until 1883. Stalin's father was Vissarion Dzhugashvili, a local shoemaker. The original wooden hut where their family lived on Stalin Street is now the Stalin House Museum. In the museum's garden, we see Stalin's stylish private railway carriage that used to transport him to various locations in the Soviet Union. We visit the nearby Uplistsikhe cave town; Uplistsikhe means "Lord's Fortress". At the end of the day, we return to Tbilisi. Free time for dinner in the evening. Overnight stay will be at our hotel.

Today, we embark on a journey to uncover hidden treasures along the Georgian Military Road. Along the way, flocks of sheep may spill onto the road, and churches resembling ancient fortresses can be seen perched above villages. Our initial stop after departing Tbilisi is the Jvari Monastery, an impressive structure situated atop a hill with commanding views of the merging Kura and Aragvi rivers. Continuing onward, we head towards the UNESCO World Heritage site of Mtskheta. After your free time for lunch, we continue to the breathtaking Ananuri Castle. Beneath the castle on the slopes of green hills, the azure expanse of the Zhinvali Reservoir sparkles, making this one of the most beautiful places in Georgia. You will have free time for dinner in the evening, you can embark on a culinary journey to explore the local flavours of Georgia. Overnight stay will be at our hotel.

Following breakfast, we set off towards the Sadakhlo border. Once we complete the border crossing formalities, we'll transfer to vehicles to continue our journey to Armenia and head towards Yerevan. We drive through the Lori Region, renowned for hosting one of the largest nature reserves in the South Caucasus and adorned with secluded mountain monasteries. We stop to explore Haghpat, offering an insight into Armenia's ancient spiritual heritage. In the evening hours, we arrive in Yerevan. Just off the road between Artashavan and Yerevan, there is an open-air monument where the 39 letters of the Armenian alphabet stand silently. These independent letters were designed by the renowned architect J. Tarosian and were unveiled in 2005 to celebrate the 1600th anniversary of the creation of Mesrop Mashtots' curved alphabet. Free time for dinner in the evening. Overnight stay will be at our hotel.

In the morning, we visit the Khor Virap Monastery, located about 37 miles south of Yerevan and near the Turkish border. This observation point offers magnificent views of Mount Ararat on clear days. In the afternoon, we visit the Garni Temple. The Garni Temple stands on a cliff near the Azat River valley. Finally, we visit Geghard, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Geghard Monastery and Upper Azat Valley." This 12th-13th-century monastery carved into the mountainside is one of the most impressive monuments in Armenia. Free time for dinner in the evening. Overnight stay will be at our hotel.

Today, we're discovering Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, which is claimed to be older than Rome. We explore the captivating Cafesjian Center for the Arts situated amidst the staircases of the Cascade, which showcases Gerard Cafesjian's comprehensive collection. After leaving the museum, we visit the Genocide Memorial, known as the "Swallow Castle," located at the top of Tsitsernakeberg. We deepen our knowledge of this historical era in Armenia by exploring the underground museum located at the memorial site. Later, we visit Matenadaran, renowned as one of Armenia's most ancient museums. Positioned atop a hill with a view of the city, the facade of the building is adorned with statues honouring prominent Armenian scholars, among them St. Mesrop Mashtots, the visionary behind the Armenian alphabet, after whom Matenadaran is named. If time allows, you can make a short stop at Vernissage nearby, renowned for its open-air market. Free time for dinner in the evening. Overnight stay will be at our hotel.

We begin our tour to explore Armenia's religious history. We head to the town of Echmiadzin, which dates to 117 BCE and was once known as Vargarsapat, the capital of Armenia. Echmiadzin is recognized as the spiritual centre of Armenia and the seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church Patriarch. We take a break at the 7th-century Hripsimeh Martyria Church. Sometimes, it's possible to see the underground crypt where Zoroastrian fire rituals were once conducted. The church complex also encompasses the remains of the 7th-century Zvartnots Cathedral. Free time for dinner in the evening. Overnight stay will be at our hotel.

Our tour concludes with transfers to the airport for morning international flights.

Until our next journey, goodbye!