The Caucasian Pearls

Day 1.Arrival
Arrival at the Zvartnots airport. Meet and greet transfer, accommodation at the hotel.

Day 2. Yerevan city tour / Etchmiadzin/ Zvartnots
Start Yerevan city tour that includes visiting Armenia National History Museum. Then drive to Echmiadzin, visit Echmiadzin Cathedral and the treasury. Drive back to Yerevan with a stop at the ruins of Zvartnots ruins (7th century). Both Echmiadzin and Zvartnots are listed as World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.

Day 3. Khor Virap / Taperakan / Noravank / Yerevan
Sightseeing tour to the cradle of civilazation to Khor-Virap monastery 4- 17th cc. 45 km. both religious and secular. Wine tasting in the village Taperakan. Continue tour to Noravank monastery - a great religious and cultural centre of 12th centuy. Drive back to the capital city. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.

Day 4. Garni / Geghard / Matenadaran
Sightseeing with your guide starts with a visit to the last Hellenic Pagan temple of Garni (1 A.D.). During lunch time you will participate in Armenian bread lavash making process and will taste barbeque made in special ground stove. Continue to Gueghard monastery(13th century)listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.

Day 5. Yerewan / Sevan / Dilijan
About 70 miles north of Yerevan sits Lake Sevan the largest alpine in the world. Visit the monastery Sevanavank on the peninsula. Drive through spectacular forested region Dilijan, where you can walk through a museum street. with the ceramics workshops and woodcarvers studios. Visit the monastery Goschavank in the forests of Dilijan, an example of the ineffable harmony of nature with architecture.Overnight at the hotel in Dilijan.

Day 6. Dilijan / Haghpat / Sanahin/ Sadachlo – Tbilissi
Drive to the architectural complexes of Sanahin (966 AD)and Haghpat (976 AD) which are among the outstanding works of medieval Armenian architecture. Drive to Armenian –Georgian border Sadachlo. Border formalities. Guide and transport change. Transfer to Tbilisi. Overnight at the hotel in Tbilisi.

7. Day: Tbilissi – Mzcheta – Tbilissi
City tour: Visit the old town with the Metekhi Church (13th century) and the equestrian statue of the town founder Vakhtang Gorgasali. Countinue tour to the church Antchishati (6th century), the oldest church in the city. Visit the treasury of the art museum with a valuable collection of icons and altar crosses. Then depart to the former capital from Georgia Mtskheta, located at the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers, where we visit the church Djavari and Swetizchoveli cathedral. Visit the church Samtawro. Drive back to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 8. Tbilissi – David Garedscha – Signagi – Telawi
Departure from Tbilisi to visit the David Gareja. Tour of the Lavra monastery. Hike (about 2.5 hours) to Udabno Monastery. Then visit the city from the 18th Century Signagi. The city fascinates by its architecture and offers nice views of the valley Alazani. The day ends in Telavi. Overnight in Telavi in hotel Rcheuli Marani

Day 9. Telawi – Tbilissi
Visit Alaverdi Cathedral and Ikalto Monastery. Continue to the castle Gremi. Lunch on the way up on a farm with local specialties. Drive to Tbilisi. Enroute visit a rustic, 300 year old wine cellar with wine tasting. Overnight at the hotel in Tbilisi.

Day 10: Departure.
Transfer to the airport. Departure

Contact John Chekian for his expertise on Armenia and Georgia on 1800 047 047.