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Essential Caucasus
Yerevan Walking Tour
Upon arrival in Yerevan, you’ll be met by your driver and guide and transferred to your hotel. Yerevan, one of the world’s oldest cities (dating back to 782 BC), blends ancient history with a lively café culture and vibrant arts scene. Its markets offer traditional crafts like woodcarving, lace, carpets, and obsidian jewelry.
This afternoon, enjoy a half-day walking tour of the city center, including Republic Square, Mashtots Avenue, the Opera House, and the Mother Armenia statue. You’ll also visit the State History Museum, showcasing Armenia’s rich heritage from prehistory to modern day.
Armenians are known for their deep-rooted hospitality, and despite centuries of foreign rule, they’ve preserved a strong cultural identity, language, and alphabet.
Later, you may wish to explore the Vernissage open-air market, full of handmade crafts and Soviet-era souvenirs.
Hotel: Alexander Hotel Yerevan
Yerevan City Tour
Start with a visit to the Matenadaran, home to the world’s largest collection of ancient manuscripts, including works by Aristotle and Eusebius. Next, tour the famous Yerevan brandy factory for a tasting and visit the Ararat Museum to learn about Armenia’s national drink. Then, visit the Tsitsernakaberd memorial, honoring Armenian Genocide victims..
Later, explore Etchmiadzin, the spiritual heart of Armenia and site of the UNESCO-listed cathedral built by St. Gregory the Illuminator. On the way back, stop at the 7th-century Zvartnots Temple ruins, known for its unique circular design.
Return to Yerevan for a free evening.
Hotel: Alexander Hotel Yerevan
Ararat Region Day Trip
This morning, your driver and guide will meet you for a day excursion in the Ararat Region, where you will see the biblical Mount Ararat and the Khor Virap Monastery.
Later today, you will continue to the Vayots Dzor province, where you will visit the Noravank Monastery. This masterpiece of Armenian medieval architecture is in a narrow gorge cut by the Gnishik River near the city of Yeghegnadzor.
Hotel: Alexander Hotel Yerevan
Yerevan - Dilijan
After check-out, meet your driver and guide for more city exploration before heading into the countryside.
You’ll visit a remarkable 4th-century cave monastery, then enjoy a late lunch in a local village where you’ll bake traditional Armenian bread.
Next, explore an ancient sun temple perched above a river, known for its impressive columns and Roman-era bathhouse.
On the way to your mountain hotel, stop at a scenic lakeside monastery with stunning views.
Arrive at your charming hotel in Dilijan for a leisurely evening, capped with dinner at Armenia’s top fish restaurant (included).
Hotel: Tufenkian Old Dilijan
Dilijan – Tbilisi Via Lori
After meeting your guide, depart the scenic spa town of Dilijan and visit a secluded forest monastery.
Continue to Lori to explore a UNESCO-listed monastery and a famous medieval bridge before lunch at a local spot.
Then cross into Georgia, where your new driver and guide will take you to the green, mountainous capital.
Check in at your hotel and enjoy a free evening in Tbilisi.
Hotel: Paragraph Freedom Square Tbilisi
Tbilisi City Tour
Start the morning at an ancient fortress, then explore Tbilisi’s Old Town, including the famous sulfur baths once visited by literary greats. Discover a vibrant district with historic churches and a synagogue along the main thoroughfare.
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This afternoon you will be invited into one of the leading restaurants of the city for a khachapuri-making class. Khachapuri is the national dish of Georgia, and it is delicious—a hot, freshly baked bread filled with warm cheese. You can learn about the different styles and traditions of making khachapuri while you watch your creation baking in the brick ovens. An afternoon feast that you will never forget will follow!
Continue your tour past iconic city landmarks and elegant avenues, with an option to visit the Museum of Georgia, featuring exhibits on the country’s rich history. Finish your day soaking in Tbilisi’s lively café culture over tea.
Hotel: Paragraph Freedom Square Tbilisi
Mtskheta & Gori
This morning, travel to Gori, the birthplace of Stalin, where his modest home stands alongside the Stalin Museum and his private train carriages.
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At Chateau Mukhrani, explore historic vineyards and a restored castle. Learn how traditional Georgian winemaking blended with European methods to create renowned wines. Enjoy a tour and tasting of their exceptional wines.
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Savor a light lunch with wine at the estate, followed by a thrilling performance of Khridoli—Georgia’s ancient martial art, now revived and taught in the military.
Later, visit Mtskheta, Georgia’s spiritual heart, home to ancient churches and monuments central to the nation’s Christian heritage.
Return to the city for an evening at leisure.
Hotel: Paragraph Freedom Square Tbilisi
Sighnaghi Day
You will reach Sighnaghi – a small but extremely charming town which is a must-see in this part of the country.
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For lunch, you will visit one of the best traditional wineries in the region. Georgia is considered the cradle of wine-making as archaeological finds suggest that wine production may have begun here as early as 6,000 BC, long before it reached the Mediterranean and Western Europe. You will meet with a local wine expert and taste some regionally-produced wines.
Late afternoon arrival back in Tbilisi and transfer to your hotel
Hotel: Paragraph Freedom Square Tbilisi
Tbilisi - Baku
This morning is at leisure before your transfer to the airport for your flight to Baku.
Upon arrival, your guide will escort you to the stunning Four Seasons Hotel Baku, perfectly located by the Caspian Sea and Old Town.
Baku is a city of striking contrasts—historic minarets sit alongside the modern Flame Towers, reflecting its transformation from an oil town to a vibrant, contemporary capital with world-class architecture.
This evening, explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town with your guide—a maze of ancient alleys, caravanserais, carpet shops, and cozy tea houses where you can sample fresh lavash bread.
Visit the well-preserved 12th-century city walls and the 15th-century Shirvanshah’s Palace, feeling the echoes of history as you wander through its baths, mosque, and residences. Don’t miss the Maiden Tower and its panoramic views if open.
Hotel: Four Seasons Baku
Gobustan & Nobel House Day
This morning, travel about 90 minutes outside Baku to Gobustan, an open-air museum with over 4,000 Neolithic rock drawings dating back 12,000 years. Visit the new interactive museum that vividly brings this ancient era to life. On the return trip, stop to see 2,000-year-old Latin graffiti left by Caesar’s troops.
Next, explore the Baku Carpet Museum, housed in a striking building shaped like a rolled carpet. The museum showcases one of the world’s largest carpet collections and tells the fascinating history of regional carpet weaving.
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Visit the former Nobel family house, key players in Baku’s historic oil boom. Enjoy an exclusive reception with caviar and champagne (or vodka) as you learn about the Nobels’ impact on the city’s rise.
Early evening, you may opt for a boat tour in Baku’s harbor to see the city from the water (optional, not included).
Hotel: Four Seasons Baku
Yanar Dag Day
Start with an early visit to the bustling Bazaar, where local traders sell famous Baku tomatoes, citrus, and nuts as they have for centuries.
Then visit Yanar Dag, the “burning mountain” fueled by natural gas flames that have burned for decades. Nearby is the Ateshgah Temple, a well-preserved fire worshippers’ site built on a sacred gas vent dating back to the 6th century.
Return to the city center to explore the striking Aliyev Cultural Center, designed by Zaha Hadid, featuring exhibitions and a museum dedicated to Azerbaijan’s first president.
The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Hotel: Four Seasons Baku
Depart Baku
Check out of the hotel and meet your driver for the transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Optional:
If time allows this morning, you will certainly not want to miss the Azerbaijan Art Museum, housed in the Rothschild family mansion in the city center. This fine collection is particularly strong in Russian paintings, including Aivazovsky, Repin, and Kandinsky, three of the greatest.
Alternatively, your guide can take you to the History Museum of Azerbaijan, one of Baku’s most beautiful orientalist mansions: the Taghiyev Mansion. The Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited parts in the region. This is the most popular area of the city, a maze of alleys, winding streets, and caravanserais sometimes called the “Acropolis of Baku.”.
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