This 12-day tour of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan will take you from Baku to Yerevan through the most magnificent locations in the Caucasus Mountains.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Baku
When you land in Baku, we'll be waiting for you in the arrivals terminal to take you to the hotel where you'll be staying. Check-in will be after 2 pm, and then you'll then have the rest of the day free.
Day 2: Gobustan National Park
After having breakfast at the hotel, we'll set off for the Absheron Peninsula, one of Azerbaijan's most popular areas among tourists. First, we'll head into Gobustan National Park for 3 hours, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Here, we'll marvel at the famous mud volcanoes and admire some of its over 6,000 cave paintings.
Then, in 45 minutes, we'll take a panoramic tour of Baku from Upland Park, passing by the most iconic spots. We'll reach the city of Icheri Sheher, a unique historical complex in the heart of Baku. Did you know that it's also known as the Inner City? There, during the approximately 3-hour tour, we'll see the Maiden Tower, the Shirvanshah Palace, Fountain Square and the avenues along the Caspian Sea.
Finally, we'll drop you off at your hotel in Baku.
Day 3: Shamakhi - Shaki
After breakfast, we'll embark on a 2.5-hour journey to Shamaki. There, we'll stop for 1.5 hours and visit one of the key cities on the Silk Road. We'll visit the mausoleums of Yeddi Gumbez and Diri Baba, which were built in the early 18th century for the family of the last Khan of this region.
Next, we'll give you an hour to have lunch on your own before continuing with the tour. We'll continue to Shaki, a journey of about 2.5 hours, where you'll have 1.5 hours to visit the Khan's Palace, famous for its Venetian stained glass windows and 18th-century frescoes. Did you know that Shaki was the international centre of silk production for 20 years? You'll be amazed!
Finally, we'll take you to the hotel in Shaki, where we'll stay and rest until the following day.
Day 4: Shaki, Lagodekhi, Alaverdi and Telavi
We'll have breakfast at the hotel and then head to Lagodekhi, where the border with Georgia is located. Upon arrival in about 2 hours, we'll change guides and drivers and visit the architectural complex of Gremi, which will take another hour to reach. Considered one of the most sacred places, it has an excellent location in the Alazani Alaverdi Valley and boasts one of the oldest churches in the country. Did you know that?
After this 45-minute visit, we'll continue on to Alaverdi Cathedral, just 15 minutes away. Before visiting the cathedral, we'll give you an hour to have lunch in the town. Then, in half an hour, you'll be able to explore the grounds. You'll learn that parts of the monastery date back to the 6th century, but the current temple was built in the 11th century.
Afterwards, in 15 minutes, we'll reach Vardisubani, where we'll taste traditional Georgian wine in a cellar.
After this 30-minute visit, we'll continue on our way and arrive in Telavi, where we'll spend the night.
Day 5: Telavi, Tsinandali, Signagi, Bodbe and Tbilisi
After a delicious breakfast, we'll set off on a 30-minute journey to the museum village of Tsinandali. For an hour, you'll explore this former residence of the Dukes of Georgia, with its beautiful English garden, museum and wine cellar that belonged to Prince Chavchavadze, a poet and public figure in the 19th century.
After this visit, we'll travel half an hour to the town of Sighnaghi, in the heart of Georgia. There, in 1.5 hours, you can visit its picturesque landscapes: with views of the vast Alazani Valley, pastel-coloured houses and narrow cobbled streets. A beautiful postcard of the Caucasus Mountains!
Don't forget to visit Bodbe Monastery before having lunch at one of the local restaurants on your own. Finally, in 2.5 hours, we'll arrive in Tbilisi, where we'll stay for the next 3 nights.
Day 6: Tbilisi
We'll spend the 6th day exploring Tbilisi. After breakfast at the hotel, we'll set off on a 3.5-hour guided tour of the city. We'll head to the historic centre and learn about the history of one of the few places in the world where an Orthodox church, a Catholic church, a synagogue and a mosque coexist. Impressive!
During the tour, we'll take you to see the Metekhi Church, the Narikala Fortress, the sulphur baths, the Juma Mosque and the Great Synagogue as we stroll through the cobbled streets. We'll also take a 1-hour walk through the craft market, where you can learn about the meticulous work of the locals in creating unique pieces.
Finally, we'll leave the rest of the afternoon free for you to sample the local cuisine and explore at your leisure. We'll spend the night in a hotel in Tbilisi.
Day 7: Uplistsikhe and Mtskheta
After breakfast at the hotel, we'll set off for Jvari in an hour. Here, you can visit the Jvari Monastery for 45 minutes, from where you can enjoy legendary panoramic views of the confluence of the Aragvi and Kura rivers.
Next, we'll head to Uplistsikhe, an ancient cave city carved directly into the rock, which is about 30 minutes away. Its passageways, temples and natural viewpoints will transport us back to the days of trade routes and lost civilisations.
After an hour and 15 minutes of visiting, we'll stop for photos and a 30-minute lunch in Gori, Stalin's birthplace. We'll continue on to Mtskheta, which we'll reach after a 2-hour drive. There, we'll discover the ancient Georgian capital and spiritual enclave declared a World Heritage Site. You'll also see Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, whose name means 'pillar of life'.
We'll end the day back at the hotel in Tbilisi.
Day 8: Haghpat, Sevan and Yerevan
We'll have breakfast at the hotel and, changing guides and transport, we'll leave the capital of Georgia behind and enter Armenia. The Haghpat Monastery will be the first place we visit after a 3-hour journey. There, you'll have an hour to admire its stone structure, which once housed a collection of manuscripts, cafés and universities until the 13th century.
Then, after 30 minutes for lunch, we'll depart for the commune of Dilijan, a 2-hour drive away. Upon arrival, you'll have 30 minutes to stroll through its narrow streets. Afterwards, in another 30 minutes, we'll reach Lake Sevan, which covers 5% of the Caucasian country's surface area. It's located more than 2,000 m (6,561 ft) above sea level and is the second-highest freshwater lake in the world!
Our next stop will be at the Sevanavank monastic complex, located on the shores of Lake Sevan. The tour will end at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 9: Echmiadzin and Zvartnots
After breakfast, we'll leave the hotel and set off on a half-hour journey to Echmiadzin, the holy city of Armenia and seat of the Catholicos, the head of the country's Apostolic Church. Over 3 hours, we'll explore its cathedral and the ruins of the Zvartnots temple, considered the pearl of 7th-century architecture and, of course, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You'll find it spectacular!
After an hour for lunch, we'll return to Yerevan and visit the Memorial Park and Museum of the Victims of the Genocide, Tsitsernakaberd. We'll have an hour to admire the site. Before us will appear the immense concrete spire rising towards the sky and the 12 sloping slabs surrounding it, representing the lost Armenian provinces.
Afterwards, we'll head to the Vernissage market, where you'll have an hour to browse among its stalls of handicrafts. The day will end at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 10: Yerevan
We'll have breakfast at the hotel and spend the day exploring the most emblematic places in Yerevan, known as the "pink city" because of the color of its buildings.
First, we'll spend 1.5 hours at the Matenadaran, a famous museum that houses ancient manuscripts and documents of incalculable value. Next, we'll begin a 4-hour tour of the city. We'll pass by Republic Square, the urban heart where Soviet architecture dialogues with the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Afterwards, we'll walk along Mashtots Avenue, one of the oldest thoroughfares, before approaching the Opera and Ballet Theatre, a cultural icon of the country. From there, we'll arrive at the emblematic Cascade, a monumental staircase under which the Cafesjian Art Centre is located.
The route will continue with a visit to the fruit market, where local aromas, colours and flavours will envelop us. Afterwards, you'll have an hour of free time to enjoy lunch. Finally, we'll visit the History Museum. There, we'll take a 1-hour guided tour, ideal for gaining an in-depth understanding of the country's evolution over the centuries.
At the end of the tour, we'll return to the hotel in Yerevan to rest.
Day 11: Garni and Geghard
After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, we'll embark on an hour-long journey to the Temple of Garni. Upon arrival, you'll have an hour to explore the only example of pagan culture in the country and the former summer residence of Armenian royalty. We'll also give you an hour to explore the Symphony of Stones monument, where you'll discover its enormous hexagonal basalt columns. You'll be amazed!
The next hour will be spent watching how "lavash" is made. We'll also learn how to make it. How will it be? We'll find out! When hunger strikes, you'll have an hour to have lunch and refuel for what lies ahead.
Next, we'll visit the Geghard Monastery for 2 hours. There, we'll find a masterpiece of 13th-century Armenian architecture and the ideal place for spiritual chanting.
We'll return to the capital at the end of the day and drop you off at your hotel in Yerevan.
Day 12: Yerevan
After breakfast, we'll take you to the airport. There, we'll say goodbye and end our 12-day tour of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
What Do I Need?
All you need to do this tour is a one-way flight to Baku, arriving on the day you have booked, and a return flight from Yerevan 11 days later. In other words, if you arrive on a Tuesday, you should return on the following Saturday.
Accommodation Info
When booking the 12-day tour of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, you can choose whether you want to stay in standard (3-star) or superior (4-star) hotels with half board. We'll be staying in the following hotels or similar:
Standard (3-Star)
- Baku: Central Park Hotel or similar
- Shaki: Saray Hotel or similar
- Telavi: Seventeen Rooms Hotel or similar
- Tbilisi: KMM Hotel or similar
- Yerevan: Ani Central Inn or similar
Superior (4-Star)
- Baku: Midtown Hotel or similar
- Shaki: Sheki Macera Hotel or similar
- Telavi: Holiday Inn or similar
- Tbilisi: Ibis Styles Old Hotel or similar
- Yerevan: Opera Suite Hotel or similar