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Orthodox Caucasus: Georgia, Armenia
Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Ananuri – Gudauri – Kazbegi – Telavi – Tsinandali – Sighnaghi – Manavi – Gori – Uplistsikhe – Tbilisi – Sevan Lake – Dilijan – Sanain – Yerevan – Garni – Geghard – Matenadaran – Khor Virap – Noravank – Echmiadzin – Yerevan (8 days, 7 nights)
Day 1: Tbilisi
Arrival to Tbilisi. Meeting with the representatives of the agency. Hotel accommodation.
Sightseeing tour in Tbilisi. The capital of Georgia is unique.It stands on the several mountain hills, on which "creep" the old blocks. Tbilisi – is a beautiful river Kura with its picturesque rocky shores, that flows across the whole city. Tbilisi is one of the rare places in the world, where can peacefully exist in the Old Town orthodox church, catholic cathedra, synagogue and mosque.
"Old Town" - is the historic center of Tbilisi, that is located at the root of Mtatsminda (Holy Mount) mountain. Near sulfur baths, which are attended and enthusiastically described AS Pushkin and Alexander Dumas. Almost all of the buildings of the Old Town are historical and cultural sites, this part of the city is round-the-clock full of life, here walk alone or in groups tourists, meet lovers near the Clock Tower. This amuzing Tower appeared here recently, built by the Puppet Theatre director Rezo Gabriadze. Here artists exhibit their paintings, artisans offer numerous souvenirs. Walk on the Shardeni street– a cult place in Tbilisi, named after the French Catholic missionary, who now represents something that resembles the Champs-Elysées, with its many restaurants and boutiques. Using the newest lift we get to Narikala fortress ( IV c.), during the lifting we can observe the city from the bird's eye view. Lunch
During the excursion, visit of Mechetian Church (V c.), Sioni Cathedral (VI-VII c.), Anchiskhati Basilica of St Mary, the oldest surviving church, Synaxis of Saint Truinity of the temple complex of Tsminda Sameba — the main Cathedral of Georgian Orthodox Church. Walking tour at the Shota Rustaveli avenue. Buying souvenirs on the Dry Bridge.
Visit to the National Museum of Art. Dinner. Overnight at the hotel in Tbilisi.
     Day 2: Tbilisi — Ananuri — Gudauri – Kazbegi — Tbilisi
Breakfast. Departure to modern ski resort – Gudauri. On the way to it, we overlook the picturesque Ananuri fortress (XVI c.), located above Aragvi river, and also the amazing beauty of Zhinvali reservoir. When the weather is fine: a trip through Cross Pass (2400 m), in the direction of Stepantsminda (Kazbegi). Lunch in the mountains. Excursion in Kazbegi: church of the Most Holy Gergeti Triunity (2170 m above the sea level). When the weather is fair, the stunning view on the mountain Kazbeg (5147 m), one of the highest tops of Georgia, opens. Dinner. Return to Tbilisi. Overnight.
     Day 3: Tbilisi – Gori – Uplistsikhe – Mtskheta – Tbilisi
Breakfast. Departure to Tbilisi. On the way excursion to Gori - Stalin's homeland. Excursion in the Stalin museum. Museum consists of three blocks - museum, house and railway carriage.
Excursion in Uplistsikhe (I centuries BC), ancient cave town, that was finishing the building for centuries, and included more than 700 caves and buildings, including wineries, bakeries, antique theater, hall of receptions of Queen Tamara, preserved to this day. Lunch.
Arrival to Mtskheta. Excursion in the ancient capital of Georgia Mtskheta – the town-museum, included to the UNESCO World Heritage Site List. Visit of Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (1010-1029), at the bottom of which is buried one of the major Christian relics Lords chiton, as well as the burial place of many of the Georgian kings. Here is also the part of life-giving pillar. Visit of Samtavro monastery, where year round grow, flower and fruit blackberry bush, near of which in the IV century lived and preached St. Nino- enlightener, the first preacher of Christianity in Georgia. Woderworking icon of Iberian Mother of God, woderworking icon of St. Nino, grave of St. Tsar Merian and Tsarina Nani, hallows of St. Abibos Nekresky, St. Shio Mhvimskoho are placed inside. Visit of the ancient temple - monastery Jvari (VI c.). Arrival to Tbilisi. Dinner. Overnight.
     Day 4: Sighnaghi – Manavi – Tbilisi
Breakfast. Arrival to the "town of everlasting love" Sighnaghi, that is placed at the top of the ridge, overlooking Alazani valley. Visit to the historical and ethnographic museum with exhibits from the 5th millennium BC. until the 19th century The museum also exhibites paintings of the famous Georgian artist Niko Pirosmani.
Then, passing through, acquaintance with the history of the Manavi Fortress (XI century) and the Manavi Temple (XVIII century). The church was built in 1794 by the abbot of the monastery of John the Baptist from the monastery David Gareji - Ephraim. In the 17th century here was located the royal vineyards and the estate of Heraclius II. Stop in the pearl of Kakheti - a private estate "Chateau Fort de Manavi". In the program of the visit: tasting of wines and chacha, produced according to traditional old Georgian technology directly in the marani "Chateau Fort de Manavi" from grapes grown in the estate's own vineyards. The highlight of the tasting will be "Manavi Green" - a wine made from a special grape variety that grows only in the area of the village of Manavi in Georgia. Master class - baking in the tone of Georgian bread - dedas puri and cooking churchkhela. Dinner in traditional Georgian style. The menu includes only Georgian cuisine from ECO products grown on the "Chateau Fort de Manavi" farm. Transfer to Tbilisi. Overnight.
     Day 5: Tbilisi – border crossing at Bagratashen – Sevan Lake – Dilijan – Sanain – Yerevan
Breakfast. Arrival to the Armenia-Georgian border. Crossing the border (documentary formalities, etc.).
A trip to the blue pearl of Armenia and the Caucasus, the largest of the lakes – Lake Sevan (1900m). Climb up the stairs to the observation platform of the monastery of Sevanank, with a magnificent view of the lake. Visit of the Monastery. Lunch.
Drive to Dilijan. In the city recently was opened Museum of Art, with the broad participation of Russian and Armenian (I.Aivazovskiy, Minas Avestyan, etc.) paintings of the XIX-XX centuries., Western European paintings of the XVII-XIX centuries. (Jean-Baptiste Greuze, master of the Correggio range, the Flemish masters of the XVII century. Etc.) and the artifacts of the archaeological cultures, studied in Tavush, ethnographic collection.
Excursion around the monastery Sanain. Sanain monastery occupies a small, about 2 ha territory in central part of which, around the main temple Sanain - charges of Blessed Virgin – built Amenaprkich church and chapel of St. Gregory (X c.)the building of the Academy (XI c.), the book depository (1063g.) gallery building (end of X century.), vestibule (1181g.) and bell tower (XIII c.).Arrival to Yerevan. Hotel accommodation. Dinner, overnight.
     Day 6: Yerevan – Garni – Geghard – Matenadaran – Yerevan
Breakfast. We will go to the picturesque mountainous area to the east of Yerevan, to the fortress complex of Garni (1st century AD). We will visit the only well-preserved pagan temple in Armenia. Garni is the only monument of the Hellenistic era in Armenia. The temple dedicated to the sun god Mithra was built in the second half of the 1st century AD. under King Trdat I, and survived after the adoption of Christianity by the country due to the fact that from the 4th century BC. until the 3rd century AD The fortress served as the residence of the Armenian kings. The fortress is located on a high rocky cliff and is surrounded by deep gorges. Lunch.
Visit the unique cave (carved in the rock) monastery Geghard (XII-XIII century). The name of Geghard monastery is related with a lance, by which was pierced Christ by one of the Roman legionaries guarding him. Gegard Monastery is included in the UNESCO list.
Visit of the Research Institute of ancient manuscripts - Matenadaran, which is a unique museum-library of ancient manuscripts (V-XV centuries.), where 17,000 ancient Armenian manuscripts are kept..
Visit and tasting in Yerevan Brandy Factory "Ararat". Dinner, overnight in Yerevan.
     Day 7: Yerevan – Khor Virap – Noravank – Yerevan
Breakfast. Excursion to the fortress-monastery of the XVII century Khor Virap. Here, from the chapel, awaits us an unforgettable view of Mount Ararat – an immortal symbol of Armenia. According to the church legend, St. Gregory the Illuminator – founder of Christianity in Armenia, caught in the professes of "another religion", was imprisoned in a deep dungeon by the order of King Tiridates III for the whole 13 years. Today, this dungeon is open to visitors. Lunch. Then, excursion in Noravank, a XII century monastery, situated among the quaint steep cliffs on the ledge of a tortuous gorge. Near the Noravank, in the Bird cave you will get acquainted with the latest archaeological discoveries in Armenia. In this cave, archaeologists have unearthed winery. Grape seeds, grape vines, combined with arrangements for the production and storage of wine located in Areni can attest to the fact that in this region was located an ancient complex of the industrial production of wine. In the same cave group of foreign archaeologists also found the most ancient in the world (age 5500 years) leather shoes. Return to Erevan. Dinner. Overnight.
Day 8: Yerevan – Echmiadzin – Yerevan
Breakfast. Sightseeing tour in Yerevan. The capital of Armenia Yerevan – is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is of the same age as Babylon and Rome. Year of the foundation of the city is 782 BC - then king Argishti founded the fortress of Erebuni. On a hill of the Tsitsernakaberd park is located the monument to the victims of the 1915 Genocide. Near is located the 40 m obelisk in the form of a pointed forked pyramid. In 2001, in Yerevan to the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia was built a magnificent temple of Gregory the Illuminator. Lunch.
Next visit to the ancient capital of Armenia, the city of Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin). Excursion around the territory of the Catholicosate - the residence of the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Catholicos, visiting the Mother See Cathedral of Surb Etchmiadzin (St. Etchmiadzin - 303 AD), the name of which is translated as "The Descent of the Only Begotten", that is, "The Place of the Descent of Christ". The cathedral was founded at the very beginning of the 4th century, immediately after the adoption of Christianity by the Armenians. According to legend, the place for the construction of the temple was indicated to Gregory the Illuminator by Christ himself. A visit to the museum "Treasury of Etchmiadzin", where the spearhead with which Jesus Christ was wounded is kept, as well as many other unique relics and exhibits.
Visit of the unique ruins of Zvartnots temple. Holy Etchmiadzin and the Temple of Heaven Vigil Forces Zvartnots is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Airport transfer. Farewell.
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