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Why should we go on this journey?
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.
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Day 1 - 18 January Friday Arrival At Baku
Upon your arrival in Baku, transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay will be at our hotel.
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Day 2 - 19 January Saturday Baku
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.
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Day 3 - 20 January Sunday Baku - Şeyxə
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.
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Day 4 - 21 January Monday Şeyxə
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.
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Day 5 - 22 January Tuesday Şeyxə - Signaqi
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.
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Day 6 - 23 January Wednesday Signaqi - Tbilisi
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.
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Day 7 - 24 January Thursday Tbilisi
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.
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Day 8 - 25 January Friday Tbilisi - Tserovani - Gori
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.
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Day 9 - 26 January Saturday Tbilisi - Mtsheta - Ananuri
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.
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Day 10 - 27 January Sunday Tbilisi - Yerevan
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.
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Day 11 - 28 January Monday Yerevan - Thor Viran - Garni - Geghard
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.
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Day 12 - 29 January Tuesday Yerevan
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.
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Day 13 - 30 January Wednesday Yerevan - Echmiadzin
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.
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Day 14 - 31 January Thursday Yerevan
Our tour concludes with transfers to the airport for morning international flights.
Until our next journey, goodbye!
Prices:
• Per Person in Double Room: 3.000 USD
• Single Supplement: 1.250 USD
Hotels:
• Hilton Baku 2 Nights
• Sheki Saray 2 Nights
• Tbilisi Marriott 5 Nights
• Alexander Hotel Yerevan 4 Nights
Nots:
• Please contact SOFOS TOURISM for installment options.
Registration: Your registration will be created upon the full payment of the amount mentioned above. Travel Cancellation Guarantee and Travel Health Insurance will not be valid if the Tour Contract and Tour Participation Form are not signed within 24 hours of the payment date.
Included Services:
• Transportation according to the program from 10.00 – 21.00 (“Setra AC – Wi- FI 36 seats”)
• Professional guiding service throughout the tour,
• Accommodation in 4 or 5-star hotels,
• Breakfasts at the hotels,
• All transfers,
• Entrance fees to the specified museums and historical sites during the tour,
• Water 2 bottles 0.50 per pax per day.
Excluded Services:
• Airplane tickets,
• Visa expenses,
• Lunch & Dinner,
• Early check-in & Late check out,
• All personal expenses,
• Minimum medical and emergency evacuation insurance,
• Trip cancellation insurance or any other travel insurance,
• Other expenses not mentioned in the included services,
• Meals on your own,
• Gratuities.
Accommodation:
• We would like to inform our guests who wish to stay in a double room and have made reservations based on the 'double occupancy per person' rate that, if they cannot find a roommate 60 days before the trip, they will need to pay the difference for a 'single room' or cancel the trip.
• Triple room accommodations are not available in every hotel. In hotels that offer this option, standard double/twin rooms are usually converted into triple rooms by adding an extra bed. In triple room accommodations, the third bed is not standard and may be a foldable or sofa bed.
Transportation:
Flight Ticket:
• You can consult SOFOS TOURISM for the supply of flight tickets.
• The flight recommended by SOFOS TOURISM for this trip is as above.
• SOFOS TOURISM does not perform seat selection, check in, boarding pass operations on behalf of the passenger.
• Airports and airlines have introduced a number of new rules. These rules must be followed unconditionally. In case of non-compliance, you may not be taken to the terminal or to the plane. SOFOS TOURISM is not responsible for any damages that may occur in such a case. The health and / or safety measures applied by the official authorities in the relevant country must be complied with by the participant, the participant who does not comply with the official announcements or practices in question may be banned from being included in the relevant part of the trip and / or route by the tour guide. The participant is directly responsible for all damages, losses and expenses incurred by SOFOS TOURISM in cases such as damage to the other participant due to non-compliance by the participant with the health and / or safety measures applied by the official authorities in the relevant country, and in cases such as part or all of the trip cannot be performed as specified herein, SOFOS TOURISM will be recourse to the participant by SOFOS TOURISM.
Visa:
• Participants are responsible for any damages arising from the failure of the relevant authorities to issue visas. SOFOS TOURISM makes no representations or warranties in relation to obtaining a visa and does not provide any guarantee in visa matters. In case the participant fails to provide the information, documents, forms and/or documents requested by the Visa Intermediary Organization and/or fails to comply with the instructions of the Visa Intermediary Organization, including the date of appointment or interview, no refund will be made in case the visa is obtained late, the visa period is less than the total tour duration and/or the visa cannot be obtained at all. Since obtaining a visa does not guarantee entry to the country in question, SOFOS TOURISM has no responsibility in case the participant is not accepted to the country within the tour and therefore no refund or compensation can be paid. In addition, the participant is responsible for the damages and losses that will occur in cases where the participant cannot start the tour for any reason, even against his/her will, such as being banned from traveling abroad for reasons such as tax debt, etc., and no refund will be made in such cases. The insurance to be made does not cover the failure to obtain a visa.
• Our guests whose participation in the trip is finalized should not change their passports after sending their passport samples to the Visa Brokerage Organization. Changes to the passports after they have been sent to the Visa Brokerage Organization without informing the Visa Brokerage Organization may cause problems in visa procedures, even prevent the visa from being obtained and put the participation in the trip at risk.
• Loss of the passport during the trip is the sole responsibility of the participant and SOFOS TURİZM does not accept any responsibility in such cases.
• SOFOS TOURISM cannot be held responsible for passport problems between the competent authorities and the person, such as failure to present the passport, cancellation or restriction by the competent authorities.
• Our guests who will participate in the trip must start their trip with the passport they present to SOFOS TOURISM during registration and must keep their passports until the end of the trip.
• SOFOS TOURISM does not accept any responsibility in case of using a different passport than the passport presented during registration for the tour. SOFOS TOURISM cannot be held responsible for any material damages that may occur. Even in such a case, SOFOS TOURISM will have recourse to the relevant participant for any damages, penalties and compensation that SOFOS TOURISM may incur.
Insurance:
• The trip price includes "Compulsory Package Tour Insurance" that protects the consumer against the bankruptcy of the agency and Overseas Travel Insurance, which includes Travel Cancellation Coverage up to 6,000 Euros against force majeure for our guests up to the age of 70. Guests aged 70 and over will benefit from this service by paying the difference specified in the services not included in the price section.
• Overseas Travel Health Insurance is valid between the start and end dates of the trip and covers health and treatment expenses up to 30,000 Euros worldwide in case of injuries and illnesses that may occur during the trip, except for the general exclusions in the insurance policy.
• Trip Cancellation Coverage is up to a maximum of 6,000 Euros, with a 15% exemption for visa refusal and 10% exemption in other cases for trips over 2,000 Euros. This exemption covers the cancellation of the trip due to the reasons specified in the insurance coverage.
• Flight tickets are not covered in travel insurance with cancellation coverage. No refund can be requested for tickets.
• It is important for the validity of the insurance that a certificate is issued as soon as possible upon booking/payment.
Important Notes:
• The countries to be visited within the scope of the travel program have set new rules in terms of tourism activities and are constantly updated. These rules must be followed. In case of non-compliance, there may be consequences such as a financial fine or inability to benefit from a service. In such a case, SOFOS TOURISM does not accept any responsibility.
• This insurance does not cover any epidemic-induced event, pandemic or disease risk and/or pre-trip cancellations due to quarantine and other restrictions.
• SOFOS TOURISM has the right to change the program schedule at any time due to external reasons.
Payment Details
Euro EFT - Wire Transfer Payments Our Account Information For:
SOFOS DANIŞMANLIK TURİZM ORGANİZASYON LTD ŞTİ. T.GARANTİ BANK
T.GARANTİ BANK
Uskudar Branch: 166
Account No: 9083245
IBAN: TR71 0006 2000 1660 0009 0832 45
Dollar EFT -Wire Transfer Payments Our Account Information For:
SOFOS DANIŞMANLIK TURİZM ORGANİZASYON LTD. ŞTİ.
T.GARANTİ BANK
Uskudar Branch: 166
Account No: 9083246
IBAN: TR44 0006 2000 1660 0009 0832 46
*Payments made with a credit card will be subject to the relevant exchange rate on the day of payment.
Important:
Please send us the ticket numbers / ticket images of our guests who obtain their plane tickets with their own means;
- We kindly ask our guests who wish to purchase their tickets through SOFOS to indicate this during registration.
- For our guests who buy their tickets with their own means, they are responsible for all flight operations / seat selection / ticket cancellation / ticket refund.
-Our guests who will participate in the tour must have a passport with a validity date longer than July 17, 2025.
General Information:
• The type of our transfer vehicles varies as Minibus, Midibus and Bus.
• Payments are made by credit card or money order and the entire balance is collected at the time of tour sale.
• SOFOS has the right to cancel the tour by notifying the participant in writing or by permanent data storage at least 30 days in advance due to the failure to meet the minimum foreseen participation.
• Our tour guides are employed in the light of the articles in the regulation on Tourist Guides Services.
• The consumer has the right to withdraw within 7 days from the signing of the package tour contract without any justification and without penalty.
• General Conditions are an integral part of the tour program and cannot be considered independent of the tour program.
• The duration of the trip is 13 nights and 14 days.
• During the tour, our guide may change the tour program according to unexpected weather and road conditions, provided that the specified program is followed as much as possible.
• During the tour, SOFOS is not responsible for any breach of the contract; in the event of the participant's fault, the unexpected and unavoidable behavior of a third party not involved in the contract performance process, force majeure, the occurrence of an event that the package tour organizer cannot foresee and prevent despite all due diligence.
• The information contained in this brochure is binding for the package tour organizer.
Payment and Cancellation Policy:
• In case of cancellation, "SOFOS CONSULTANCY AND TOURISM ORGANIZATION LTD ŞTİ SERVICE SALES CONTRACT TERMS" are valid.
• Those who make the first payment are deemed to have accepted the trip program and "SOFOS CONSULTANCY AND TOURISM ORGANIZATION LTD ŞTİ SERVICE SALES AGREEMENT CONDITIONS".
• For cancellations made by the customer up to 31 days before the start of the trip, 40% of the trip price will be deducted, for cancellations 30 - 16 days before the start of the trip, 65% of the trip price will be deducted, and for cancellations 15 days or less before the start of the trip, 100% of the trip price will be deducted. For trips with an Additional Protocol, the Cancellation and Refund Conditions of the Additional Protocol will apply.
• In case of cancellation, "SOFOS CONSULTANCY AND TOURISM ORGANIZATION LTD ŞTİ SERVICE SALES CONTRACT TERMS" are valid. Those who pay are deemed to have accepted the trip program and "SOFOS CONSULTANCY AND TOURISM ORGANIZATION LTD ŞTİ SERVICE SALES CONTRACT TERMS".
SOFOS TOURISM has the right to change the program at any time due to external reasons.
Important Note:
SOFOS TOURISM is an intermediary between the airline and the passenger and is not obliged to fulfill special requests. It cannot be held responsible for time changes and delays that may be made by airline companies. There may be changes in the tracks according to the city where the plane will land. Times may change before the flight and all times must be confirmed 48 hours before departure dates. It is compulsory to have a passport valid for at least 6 months for trips abroad. SOFOS TOURISM reserves the right to change the tour itinerary when deemed necessary, provided that the content remains the same. SOFOS TOURISM reserves the right to change the hotel names provided that the category remains the same. The excursions specified in the programs can be made on a day other than the specified day / days due to some reasons. Excursions or tours that are not allowed by the local authorities for any reason are not allowed. SOFOS TOURISM cannot be held responsible for the failure of these excursions or tours. In 3-person rooms, there is an extra bed application and the 3rd bed is smaller than the standard bed.
SOFOS is a member travel agency of TÜRSAB with a business certificate numbered A10432 of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye.