Georgia and Armenia

Georgia is considered the birthplace of wine and we now know that they began their wine-making tradition 8000 years ago. This tiny country tucked between the Black and Caspian Seas and in the shadow of Europe’s highest mountains, is not only beautiful, it has wonderful food, wine, architecture, culture and people.
Armenia is one of the world’s oldest and most captivating destinations, where dramatic mountain landscapes, millennia-old sacred sites, and a thriving food and wine culture come together in unforgettable harmony. This tour is offered as a seamless continuation from Georgia and invites you to explore the very best of the country.
This tour will explore the best that Georgia and Armenia have to offer with wine-tastings and delicious meals, visits to food bazaars, polyphonic singers, amazing architecture and beautiful orthodox churches all in stunning locations.
Itinerary Georgia
Day 1 - Arrivals
Meet in lobby of the Qarvasla Hotel at noon.
Visit to Dezerter Bazaar, Tbilisi's most vibrant farmers' market. A former Silk Road outpost, trade has been an important part of Tbilisi as merchants carried goods from East and West.
Visit to Carvasla, Tbilisi's Historical Museum which is located in a beautifully restored caravanserai in the heart of the old town (and very near our hotel).
Time to wander around the picturesque old town.
Optional dinner at Honore Restaurant. This is one of Tbilisi's best restaurants housed in an old German Hospital and in the area of Solaki where many new bars and restaurants are located.
Day Two: Tbilisi
Breakfast at hotel
Tour of Tbilisi, combined driving and walking (wherever possible) including Metekhi Church (13th c), Narikala Fortress (4th c), Meidan Square, Achiskhati Basilica (6th c), the Bridge of Peace and the cable car to Mother Georgia.
Georgian National Museum tour
Optional dinner at Shavi Lomi one of Tbilisi's best known restaurants.
Overnight at Qarvasla Hotel
Day Three: Tbilisi - Kardnakhi - Kakheti
Breakfast at hotel.
Tbilisi - Kardenakhi Estate (approx 2 hour drive). Wine tasting at this authentic Georgian winery in the heart of the Kakheti wine region. Taste 4 types of wine plus chacha (grappa).
Check into our hotel at Mosmieri Winery. The complex consists of a winery, a wine shop and a restaurant built in an elegant blend of modern design and Georgian ethnic accents. The Chateau is located on the slope, surrounded by vineyards and stunning views of the Alazani Valley and the snow capped heights of the Caucasus Mountains..
We will taste three of Mosmieri's wines - white, amber and red.
Free time at Mosmieri to enjoy the estate and swimming pool.
Enjoy a memorable dinner at Togonidze’s family winery, where you’ll taste delicious local dishes paired with their finest wines. While you dine, you’ll be treated to live performances of traditional Georgian polyphonic songs by local singers creating a truly authentic atmosphere.
Day 4 - Kakheti - Kvetera - Annuli - Gudauri - Kazbegi
Breakfast at hotel
Drive to Kazbegi through town Akhmeta.
En-route visit Kvetera church, built in the early 10th century. It is a relatively small church and with the Georgian cross-dome architectural style (note that 1 km walk, uphill is necessary to reach the church from main road).
Drive to Ananuri fortress 14-17th cc. The complex consists of fortifications and residential buildings of Aragvi Dukes. The purpose of the monument was to control the trade rout and to guard the country from North.
Visit Gudauri, a cylinder monument with a spectacular views, overlooking Devil’s Valley and the Caucasus Mountains.
Gudauri Viewpoint was erected by the Soviets in 1983 in the mountains of northern Georgia. The famous Georgian architect Giorgi Chakhava designed it and placed it on a spot offering a spectacular view over the surrounding landscape.
Drive (40 mins) to Stepantsminda where we check into the famous Rooms Hotel with its fabulous views of Kazbegi Mountain and the Gergeti Trinity Church.
Day 5 - Kazbegi
Drive to Gergeti mountain and the iconic Gergeti Trinity church overlooked by Mt. Kazbegi. Gergeti Holy Trinity Church is an important altar of 14th century, located on the slope of Mount Kazbegi. The church facade preserves stone decorations depicting ancient rituals and beliefs.
If we are lucky with weather, we will see Mount Kazbegi (5047 m. above sea level). According to the legend Amirani – a cult hero and a prototype of Greek Prometheus, punished by Gods was chained on the mountain.
Dariali Monastic Complex is beautifully nested in Dariali Gorge, between the high mountains of the Greater Caucasus, in just 10 km from the administrative center of Khevi region - townlet Stepantsminda.
The complex is situated in picturesque Dariali – the canyon of river Tergi (Terek), at an elevation of 1300 meters above sea level.
We will have dinner at Kheti's Family Cafe where we will also experience a masterclass in how to make Kinkhali, the famous Georgian dumplings that are known as "mountain food' because they were a portable meal for shepherds.
Day 6 - Kazbegi - Mukhrani - Mtskheta - Jvara - Tbilisi
Breakfast at hotel
Drive to Château Mukhrani – former estate of Ivane Mukhranbatoni Royal family. Here you will have a guided tour at the estate, gardens, stable and old wine-cellars, learn the history of Georgian royal family, visit the contemporary winery and factory and find out how Château wines are made. The excursion will be followed by tasting finest Château Mukhrani wines with snacks.
Drive to Mtskheta – the ancient capital of East Georgia. Visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral of 11th c - one of the most sacred places in whole Georgia, with the Christ’s robe preserved in the Cathedral.
Visit Jvari monastery (6th c) - monument included in UNESCO world heritage list.
Stop at Salobie (at the foot of Jvara) where we can taste lobio the Georgian bean stew served in clay pots with corn bread. Other Georgian food will also be served along with homemade wine.
Return to Tbilisi where we will overnight.
Itinerary Armenia
Day 7 - Tbilisi to Dilijan
Breakfast at the hotel followed by a drive to the Armenian border where we transfer to our Armenian driver and coach.
Visit the Ijevan Wine-BrandyFactory which produces high quality brandies, vodka and wine. It was one of the first wineries established in Armenia during Soviet times.
Continue to the spa town of Dilijan and its lovely surroundings known as the “Switzerland of Armenia”. Walk along Sharambeyan Street, one of the cities oldest streets with shops and artists workshops.
Overnight in Dilijan

Day 8 - Dilijan - Lake Sevan - Goris
Breakfast at hotel.
​Drive to Lake Sevan, one of the largest, freshwater, high-altitude lakes in the world and enjoy its breathtaking scenery and astonishingly blue water.
​Visit the Mikayelyan Family Farm and taste a variety of unique cheeses including wine-cheese and cognac-cheese.
​We now join the pathways that were once used by the travellers of the Great Silk Road. We drive through the Selim Caravanserai, which served as an important centre of exchange, trade and lodging Silk Road journeys.
​Lunch at a local restaurant.
Drive to Goris
​Day 9 - Goris - Knhndzoresk - Tatev - Areni Cave - Momik Wine Cube
Breakfast at hotel.​​​

​​Visit Khndzoresk village where people lived in caves for 1000 years (until 1950).
Drive to Tatev Monastery - a masterpiece of medieval Armenian architecture and a centre of learning from 9th - 13th centuries.
To reach Tatev, you’ll experience an unforgettable ride on the Wings of Tatev, the world’s longest non-stop double-track cable car. This Guinness World Record-holding cable car spans 5.7 kilometers, offering stunning aerial views of the lush Vorotan Gorge.
Visit Areni Cave where the oldest wine cellar and oldest women shoe of the world has been discovered. Visit Momik Winery for Wine tasting and lunch in the wine cube.
​Drive to Yerevan and check into hotel.
​Day 10 - Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel.

​Tour of Yerevan. Mainly walking but driving to further sites.
​For ages this city has been known as a “pink city” because of the color of the stone it has been built with. We will visit Republic square, Mashtoc Avenue, the House of Opera and Ballet named after Aram Khachatryan and the park “Cascade”. Then we will visit the Manuscript Museum of Armenia, which is called Matenadaran; where all ancient Armenian Manuscripts are kept. Visit the Genocide Memorial known as Tsitsernakaberd. No visit to Armenia is complete without seeing the Ararat Cognac factory, where we can watch the production process and then have a tasting of the world-famous Armenian cognac, Winston Churchill’s favorite drink. Visit Gum Market -a local market for fresh fruits and vegetables.
​Overnight in Yerevan

Day 11 - Yerevan - Garni - Geghard - Yerevan
Breakfast at hotel.

We visit the Temple of Garni, a classical Hellenistic temple built in the first century BC. This temple was dedicated to Mythra, a deity popular in the Near East which became the patron goddess of the Roman Empire.
​
We continue our trip to Geghard Monastery which contains a number of churches and tombs cut into living rock which illustrate Armenian medieval architecture at its highest point. It is renowned for the relics houses there, the most famous being the spear (geghard) which wounded Christ on the Cross and was allegedly brought there by the Apostle Thaddeus.
​For lunch we will visit a local house where we can participate in making the famous lavash bread which we will enjoy with cheese.
​Return to Yerevan for free time before enjoying the farewell dinner at a local, traditional restaurant.
​Day 12: Departures
Breakfast at hotel

​Departures
​For those wishing to return via the direct Tbilisi - London flights, we will arrange a bus option to Tbilisi (additional cost).
​
Price For Georgia - GBP £1750 per person (double/twin). Single supplement GBP £450
Price includes:
Professional English speaking local guide throughout the tour
Tour leader (Jo)
Six nights hotel with breakfast (3 nights at 5* Qarvasla, Tbilisi, 1 night at Mosmieri Winery and Estate, Kakheti, 2 nights at Rooms Hotel, Kazbegi)
All ground transportation in comfortable coaches
3 dinners (Day 3,5,6)
4 Wine tastings (Kardanakhi, Mosmieri, Mukrani and Togonidze’s)
Kinkhali masterclass at Keti’s Family Cafe
Tours with English speaking guides and admissions
Polyphonic singers at the Togonidze’s dinner
Entrance fees to all museums etc according to the programme
2 bottles of spring water per person daily

Price excludes:
Flights
Travel insurance
Gratuities for local guides and drivers
Alcoholic beverages (with the exception of wine tastings)
Any meals that are optional or not in the schedule
The hotels in each location are chosen for their unique Georgian character, architecture and beauty.
Price For Armenia : £1595 double/twin Single Supplement £210
£100 discount per person for those doing Georgia and Armenia together.
​Price Included:

• Accommodation in central hotels with breakfast
• All ground transportation by comfortable air-conditioned minibus
• Sightseeing with local, English speaking guides and tour leader (Jo)
• Entrance tickets to the monuments and museums on all tours
• Meals as mentioned
• Wine/brandy tasting as mentioned
• Cheese tasting as mentioned
• Bottled water (one bottle per person per day)

The price does not include:

• International flights
• Lunches and Dinners not included in schedule above
• Any additional transportation to anywhere not listed in the schedule
• Hard drinks including wine (other than at mentioned tastings)
• Porter service if required
• Tipping for drivers and guides
• International arrival/departure transfers can be arranged for approx £25/car each way