Azerbaijan — Georgia — Armenia

Arrival to Baku. Our representative meets you in airport. Transfer to hotel

After breakfast Baku sightseeing: What a pleasure to find yourself in Baku, a city of secrets, riddles, contrasts and a long history. Here every guest will be able to find something for his own soul. Someone will feel a little European, because the view of the Baku Bay resembles the Naples Riviera so much, and Baku Venice will dip you in Italian romance. Alexander Dumas lived and worked here, and Marco Polo wrote about these amazing places 750 years ago. And someone will feel the real spirit of the east, with numerous mosques, caravanserais, palaces, narrow streets carrying away the secrets of the old city and of course the colorful bazaars with a riot of colors from spices and fruits … All this is Baku, a city that remains in the heart of every guest forever.
The panoramic evening tour will begin with a visit to the Highland Park. From here, from a bird’s eye view, you can enjoy panoramic views of the whole city. This is a complex that combines a memorial part, a viewing platform and a magnificent park, and this is where the best view of the Flame Towers opens, one of the symbols of Baku.
Next, guests will walk along Baku Boulevard, where they will see the National Flag square of the Republic, the National Carpet Museum (external inspection), the Mugham Museum (external inspection) and will enjoy views of the Caspian Sea. It is no coincidence that this is a favorite place of the people of Baku for going to a walk.
During the second, pedestrian part of the excursion, we will learn all the secrets of the “Old City” or Icheri Sheher and visit many interesting places, such as:
— The Palace of the Shirvanshahs — the former residence of the rulers of Shirvan, located in Azerbaijan.
The palace building is located on the top of the Baku hill, in the oldest part of the city, called the “fortress”. Currently it is surrounded by ancient city walls.
— Workshop of artist Ali Shamsi.
Approaching the artist’s workshop, the first thing you notice is a tree with piercing blue eyes, then you see bystanders who look at the facade of the building with interest and take photos for memory. The artist gives everyone a friendly welcome, invites you into the workshop, allows you to take photographs, says compliments to beautiful girls and gives everyone their own solar energy. The Azerbaijani artist Ali Shamsi has been working on Malaya Krepostnaya Street for more than 30 years and smiles at everyone who, having become interested in the facade, decides to go inside the workshop.
— Museum of miniature books.
The museum contains miniature books published both in pre-revolutionary Russia and in Soviet times. In addition, the museum has books published in Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, from the republics of Central Asia, as well as Europe. The hospitable owner of this museum will be happy to tell you about her collection and show you unique pieces.
— Maiden’s Tower (external inspection)
The most majestic and most mysterious monument of Baku The Maiden’s Tower, or Gyz Galasy, rises in the southeastern part of the Old City and has long been considered a symbol of the city. This unique construction of Azerbaijani architecture has no analogues in the East.
The Maiden’s Tower was erected on a ledge of a coastal rock and is a cylinder 28 meters high and 16.5 meters in diameter laid out of local gray limestone. The walls at the base are 5 meters high and 4 meters above. The tower is divided into 8 tiers, between which there was a screw stone staircase laid in the thickness of the wall. In the rock inside the tower pierced a well depth of 21 m.
The impregnable stone beauty holds many secrets. One of them — for what, after all, it was erected.
On the territory of the “Old City”, several dozens of historical and architectural monuments are also concentrated: Caravanserais, hamam, mosques and much more. It was here that the episodes of such famous Soviet films as The Diamond Arm, Amphibian Man, Aibolit — 66, Teheran 43 were filmed.
Most of the buildings built at the first stage, as well as other buildings of the city of that period, were built in the style of «Neo-Renaissance», «Neo-Gothic», «Baroque», «Neo-Classicism».
It is better to walk at night on the pedestrian part of Nizami street, for which the pre-revolutionary name «Torgovaya» was fixed. Many of the houses are lined with aglay – the local light beige limestone rock, and when the lights turn on at nightfall, you can imagine walking around some Western European city.
Returning to the hotel. Free time. Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. Hotel check out. Departure in the direction: Baku — Shamakha – Sheki.
Transfer to the Shamakhi (Baku – Shamakhi 123 km) city through Ismayilli region, with stops for taking pictures in the most beautiful mountainous areas.
Sightseeing excursion at the Shamakhi city, where Juma Mosque is located, the largest in the Caucasus.
Shamakha district is rich in mountain forests and meadows, is in a zone of moderate humidity. Most of this area is a resort area with multiple springs of mountain water, which makes the city attractive for investment in tourism business.
We will continue our excursion to Shaki (Shamakhi – Sheki 200 km).
Departure to the Shaki City, Sightseeing excursion.
Sheki, like many other cities of Azerbaijan, waslocated on the Great Silk Road. There were many caravanserais, two of which were perfectly preserved today: the Upper and Lower Caravanserai. Walking along the streets, we will visit the workshop of the famous master for the manufacture of Shebek, the weaving workshop, the historical museum of local lore and the shops, where they prepare delicious sweets, especially the famous Shaki bakhlava,the Sheki people themselves only know the method of cooking it.
Overnight in Sheki hotel.

08:00 Breakfast in the hotel.
09:00 Hotel check out, departure to the border.
Excursions on the way to Georgian border in city tour of Shaki:

• Palace of Shaki Khans
• Nukhin Fortress
• Juma Mosque

10:30 Next, we will have an excursion to the village of Kish: Excursion to the village of Kish. In the village of Kish, the ancient people live the Caucasian people. This people have its own peculiar traditions. Also in this village, there is the first Christian church in the entire Caucasus, built during the Albanian state (1st century AD). In the village of Kish there is also an ancient defensive fortress «Gelersen — Gorersen», which translates as «You will come — you will see». In addition, in the village of Kish there is a bust of the world-famous traveler Tour Heyerdahl, and we will also visit the Museum of Applied Arts.
11:30 Transfer to the border. Cross border and change transport and guide. Continue to the town out trip to Sighnaghi.
We will start our acquaintance with Georgia with Kakheti province famous for its wine making, almost 70 % of Georgian wine is produced here. Visit local private vineyard and taste magnificent wine made according to centuries old technology listed by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. Take a walk in a little lovely town and enjoy views of Alazany valley from the remains of 18^th century fortifications. Visit ethnographic museum in Sighnaghi to see collections of old coins, archaeological and cultural monuments, photographic and painting collections. The museum has several canvas of Niko Pirosmani Georgia’s famous primitivist painter.
Transfer to Tbilisi. Night in Tbilisi hotel.

After breakfast in the hotel. Take a walking tour in the historical center of the city to see all popular touristic places and historical monuments. The tour will start at Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi (Sameba) the biggest Georgian Orthodox Cathedral built at the beginning of the current century on the donations of common citizens then our guide with take you to Metekhi plateau through Avlabari square to the place which was the first 5^th c. royal residence in Tbilisi. Bronze statue of King Vakhtang Gorgosali, the founder of Tbilisi, faces the historical district on the opposite bank of the river Mktvari.  Walk along the narrow Shardeni and Erecle II streets to the Anchiskhati basilica, you will see lots of cafes, restaurants, stores and galleries on your way, continue and cross the grass Bridge of Peace to the funicular and take a cabin to go up to 4^th century Naricala Fortress, take a photo of a beautiful view of the Old Tbilisi and take another walk down under the Botanical Garden, to the small mosque and to the waterfall located right in the center of the city in a little canyon that bring you to sulfur baths area. The place has oriental appearance due to domed structures of the sulfur bathes and blue and green ornaments on Blue Bath (Chreli Abano). Night in Tbilisi hotel.

Check out after breakfast. The final destination of the day is the ski resort Gudauri, on the way you will see 2 UNESCO sites: the 6^th century monastery Jvari and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral 11^th c. in Mtskheta town.  Jvari Church located on top of a hill and overlooking Mtskheta town and the conflux of Mkrvari and Aragvi rivers provides a fantastic panorama from its viewpoint.
Next stop is Ananuri Fortress 16^th c. which was the residence of local dukes. The complex has well preserved towers, three churches, defense walls and residence of dukes.
Transfer to Gudauri. Diner and overnight in Gudauri hotel.

Check out after breakfast and drive to Stepanstminda village through the Cross Pass (2395 m). Enjoy beautiful views of mountains and waterfalls. You will make a stop to taste mineral water and take pictures of a red travertine mount.
In Stepantsminda drive to the top of the Gergeti mount located at the foot of Kazbegi (5033 m) to enjoy views from Holy Trinity Church. Take an opportunity to make absolutely fantastic pictures from the viewpoint of the panoramic views of Mount Kazbek its glaciers and surroundings.
Drive back to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi hotel.

Check out after breakfast. Drive to Armenian border. Our guides will assist you with formal procedures. Change guides on border. Start acquaintance with Armenia visiting two UNESCO sites – Hagpat and Sanahin. Hagpat Monastery 10^th -11^th c. built by Bagratuni royal dynasty. Next to visit is another medieval monastery – Sanahin 10^th c.
Drive to Dilijan to have lunch and visit Sharamberyan street with its beautiful old style houses with tiled roofs and carved balconies. There are shops with handmade souvenirs that worth buying. Transfer to Yerevan. Night in Yerevan hotel.

After breakfast drive to Garni village to take there a walk along the canyon by the 9^th c. basalt columnar stone bridge over Azat river to the pagan temple of Garni 1^st. AD.  Visit 13^th century Geghard Monastery (UNESCO site)  Drive back to have excursion around Yerevan and visit History Museum at the Republic Square and Manuscript museum Matenadaran.
Night in Yerevan hotel.

After breakfast take a trip to Khor Virap Monastery 4^th – 18^th cc. The monastery is famous due to its close location to Mount Ararat which is accepted in Christianity as resting place of Noah’s Ark.    From this place opens an absolutely stunning view of Ararat Mount. Taste Armenian red wines in Areni village. Next stop is 12^th century Monastery Norovank located on the bench of a twisty gorge among sheer rocks. Transfer back to Yerevan. Night in Yerevan hotel.

Check out after breakfast and drive to Sevan Lake 2000 m. above the sea level. Visit Sevanovank Monastery built by Princes Marian the daughter of Ashot 1. Lunch in Dilijan. Visit 13^th century Hagartsin Monastery located in Tavush Province. Enjoy the picturesque views of the surroundings of the monastery. Drive to Armenia- Georgia border. Change guide and drive to Tbilisi hotel.
19:30 Georgian SUPRA: dinner with show: national cuisine and wine, folk music and dance program. (optional 25$ per person).
Night in Tbilisi hotel.

Hotel check out before 12:00 am. Transfer to airport. End of service.