Information:
I Day: Georgia
Meeting at Tbilisi international airport. Transfer, hotel accommodation . After breakfast city tour in capital of Georgia – Tbilisi: Metekhi (XII century) historic district, Kalaubani (the ancient settlement in Tbilisi), Narikala (the ancient fortress), Abanotubani (one of the oldest district), and The Sioni Cathedral of the Dormition (II part of the Vth century), Shardeni street, old mosque, Sinagoga, Sameba Orthodox Cathedral (was build in 1995-2004). In the evening dinner at restourant with Georgian traditional cusine.
II Day: Georgia
After breakfast drive to Kazbegi, on the way will see Ananuri Fortress (XVI-XVII centuries), the residence of the Eristavs of Aragvi. Going up to Kazbegi (above the sea level of 1750m), where you will see the wonderful sight of Caucasia Ridge, Dariali Gorge and St. Trinity of Gergeti Cathedral (it is built on high mountain and you can see wonderful sight of Kazbegi from there), Dinner at local restaurant. Return in Tbilisi.
III Day: Georgia
After breakfast departure to Batumi. On road excursion: Mtskheta– the ancient capital of Georgia, where there are the monuments protected by UNESCO, you will see Jvari Monastery (VI century church), Svetitskhoveli (XI century monument). Arrival in Batumi, Dinner in local restaurant. Accommodation at the hotel in Batumi.
IV Day: Georgia
After breakfast excursion: Apsaros fortress in Gonio village. Due to its strategic location the fortress acted as on of the citadels for the Roman and Byzantine empires. Waterfall of Makhunytseti, Botanical Garden, Green cape, sightseeing tour of Batumi. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Batumi.
V Day: Georgia
Excursion After breakfast depart to Kutaisi (Kutaisi is the second big city and it was the capital of Georgia for 992-1122 visit Gelati (XII-XIII centuries), Bagrati Cathedral (X-XI), Motsameta Monastery (Monastery Complex) and Sataplia State Reserve is a most multifarious and very rare monument. It is of complex character and contains geologic, paleontological, speleological and botanical monuments, Prometheus Cave - Prometheus Cave is one of the richest caves of Europe. Dinner at local restaurant, Hotel accommodation in Kutaisi .
VI Day: Georgia
After breakfast departure to Tbilisi on road visit Gori. Uplistsikhe (the ancient rock-hewn town), wonderful gorge of Ateni and Ateni Sioni Cathedral, I.B. Stalini house-museum in Gori. Arrival in Tbilisi. Hotel accommodation. After having a rest, walking alongthe old streets of Tbilisi. Shardeni - In the past, the old Tbilisi’s shopping street, dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Tbilisi.
VII Day: Georgia
After breakfast departure to Kakheti. David Gareja Monastry complex -rock-hewn Georgian Orthodox monastery complex. on the half-desert slopes of Mount Gareja, The complex includes hundreds of cells, churches, chapels, refectories and living quarters hollowed out of the rock face, Ikalto -The Ikalto monastery was founded by Saint Zenon, one of the 13 Syrian Fathers, in the late 6th century. Alaverdi - Alaverdi Cathedral, At a height of over 55 meters, Alaverdi Cathedral is the second tallest religious building in Georgia, Tsinandali - Alexander Chavchavadze inherited this village, lying in the Alazani River vally, from his father, Prince Garsevan. Wine degustation at Tsinandali wine factory, Dinner – traditional Georgian table "KakhetianYard” spending night at the hotel in Telavi.
VIII Day: Georgia - Azerbaijan
After breakfast departure for Kvareli, Nekresi -Nekresi monastery complex with a beautiful view of the Alazani valley (6th century), Gremi - The Gremi Church was built and painted upon the order of King Leon in 1565. Peculiar relation of proportions to separate volumes of Gremi Church attaches new features to traditional structure of Georgian cross-cupola churches, Ilia Lake, wine degustation in "wine tunnel”, going to Lagodekhi to the borderline of Azerbaijan, going through the formalities of borderline and continuation of tour in Azerbaijan.
Pass Georgian – Azerbaijan border at Lagodekhi / Mazykh custom gates. Drive to Ilisuvillage which is a municipality in the Qakh district of Azerbaijan and has a wonderful panoramic view. It has a population of 1,370. The village was settled in XIII century. Adistance of 3km for the first Ilisu village existed in the past have been people living in the area now known as Kendtala. The area of the ancient tombs on examples of epigraphic written in Kuficlin eprovesit once again. Then continue to Sheki. Sheki is one of the most famous and ancient places of Azerbaijan. Situated 700 m (2297 ft.) above sea level like an amphitheatre surrounded by the mountains and forests of oak trees, this ancient city was long famed as a silk centre and an important stop on the Great Silk Route. There is an assumption that the name of the town goes back to the ethnonym of the Saks, who reached the territory of Azerbaijan in the 7th century BC. We’ll start our Sheki tour from visiting the 18th century Khan's summer palace with magnificent frescos and exquisite stained glass work. Sheki History museum is famous with artifacts from several periods. Dinner at local restaurant or at hotel. Overnight in Sheki.
IX Day: Azerbaijan
After breakfast visit the Albanian church located in Kish village. Legend says that the church was built in 78 AD, but the researchers place it a few centuries later. Then drive to famous Lahij village in Ismayilly district. Many of the 2,000 people living in Lahij are involved in ancient crafts such as engraved copper work and carpet weaving. In the mid-19th century, there were more than 200 workshops in Lahij. Traders discovered Lahij crafts many centuries ago, and sold them for high prices at bazaars in Baghdad [now Iraq], Shiraz [now Iran] and other Middle Eastern cities. Stop by a copper workshop for a impromptu lesson in ancient craftsmanship you'll get to see coppersmiths use small mallets to decorate plates, trays, jugs, goblets and pitchers, just as their ancestors have done for centuries. Continue to Baku. Arrive and check-in to the hotel diner and overnight.
X Day: Azerbaijan
After breakfast visit of the old city "Icherisheher-the inner city”- Baku. It was called the inner after the oil boom of the middle of the XIX century when the city stopped to hold in defense walls and left its limit. Several tens of the historical- architectural monuments at the same time the Shirvanshakhs Palace, the symbol of Baku city The Maiden Tower, the place of merchants rest Karavansaray are concentrated in the Icherisheher, with the square of 22 hectares. Icherisheher is the live organism which has its own infrastructure and inhabited files. The place where 1300 families are living. In a word it is an ancient city in the modern city.
Excursion to YanarDag. You can see here nature phenomenon, incessant burning nature gas on the rock which named to the Yanar Dag reserve the burning rock. As the historians say, maybe this place gave the name "the fire country” to Azerbaijan. Visiting the temple of the fire worshippers Atasgah.Atashgah means the House of Fire, place of fire. The territory of this temple is known for unique nature phenomenon as the burning exits of the natural gas. The temple of fire is of the main places where the ancient supporters of Zoroaster religion worshipped there to the fire. In The museum complex Atashgah you will be told about the life way Zaraustra worshippers and also about the traditions and the customs which they adhered. Dinner at restaurant, overnights in Baku.
XI DAY : Azerbaijan
After breakfast transfer to airport for departure.
Total Price per person in case of group of 16 people on Half Board bases 3480 GEL