Active pace with longer touring days. Expect intermittent walking at a moderate pace for 2–3 hours over a variety of terrain, including cobblestones, hills and uneven pavements. Must be able to negotiate stairs of varying heights, sometimes without handrails. Can tolerate periods of standing during guided tours and be able to climb in/out of various modes of transportation. Some days may include 5–7 km of walking over the course of the day.
We depart for Tbilisi with a change of planes in Istanbul.
Arrive in Tbilisi in the evening. Transfer to hotel
This morning we tour beautiful Tbilisi, Georgia’s ancient capital. We will visit the Old Town, Metekhi Temple, the sulfur baths, the main fortress, the 11th-century Sioni Cathedral and the Peace Bridge. Afternoon is at leisure with our Welcome Dinner in the evening.
We start our day with a walking tour of beautiful David Aghmashenebeli Avenue, known for its 19th-century classical architecture, and visit the National Museum of History. After an afternoon at leisure, we take a funicular for wonderful views of the city.
We cross into Armenia and proceed to Haghpat to visit its famous monastery on a high plateau, exploring its churches, sepulchers, bell towers, galleries, and bridges. We continue to Dilijan to visit another famous medieval monastery and explore one of Armenia’s main cultural centres.
At 2,000 m above sea level, Lake Sevan is one of the world’s highest mountain lakes. We will stop at Garni Temple, the summer residence of Armenian royalty. Lunch will be at a family home where we will learn about local traditions and see a demonstration of how to make lavash, a delicious local bread. We visit Geghard Cave Monastery for a moving choral concert before continuing to Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, for a 2-night stay.
We travel through the Ararat Valley to visit the medieval monastery Khor Virap (Deep Dungeon). On our return to Yerevan, we take a city tour, explore the Matenadaran Museum, home to 18,000 ancient manuscripts, and visit the Genocide Memorial and Museum. We finish our day with a tasting at the Yerevan Brandy Factory.
We visit the ruins of Zvartnots Temple, then continue to Echmiadzin - former capital of Armenia and now a religious centre. We will visit the Cathedral founded by St. Gregory in 303 BC, and the unique Church of Hripsime. Then we cross back into Georgia and on to Tbilisi.
In Mtskheta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we visit the 6th century Jvari Monastery and 11th-century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Then it’s on to Gori, the birthplace of Stalin, and an eye-opening visit to the Stalin Museum. From there, we drive to Uplistsikhe, a 3,000-year old cave town. Finally, we proceed to our hotel in Borjomi for a 2-night stay in a beautiful mountain setting.
Today we stop at the medieval Khertvisi Fortress, and travel through the scenic Kura Valley to Vardzia, a unique example of a Georgian Renaissance town, with free time to explore
We travel along the Georgian Military Road, with photo stops at spectacular viewpoints, to see the 16th-century architectural complex of Ananuri, crossing the Greater Caucasus Mountains before proceeding to Gudauri for one night.
We cross the Greater Caucasus at the Jvari Pass (2,395 m) before making our way down to Kazbegi, a picturesque town at the foot of Georgia’s highest mountain. We visit the hilltop Gergeti Trinity Church, enjoy lunch with a local family, drive 4x4 vehicles to beautiful Sno Valley and the mountain village of Juta, before returning to Tbilisi.
A final day at leisure in Tbilisi. This evening is our Farewell Dinner.
We fly home via Istanbul.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (90 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
