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Azerbaijan – Georgia – Armenia (for individual tourists)
Baku – Gobustan – Shemakha – Baku – Tbilisi — Mtskheta — Ananuri — Gudauri — Kazbegi — Sighnaghi — Bodbe – Manavi — Yerevan – Erebuni — Garni — Geghard — Khor Virap — Noravank — Sevan — Dilijan — Yerevan (12 days, 11 nights)
1 day: Baku
Arrival to Baku. Hotel accommodation. Overnight in Baku.
2 day: Baku
Breakfast. Excursion in Baku: Ateshgah - the temple of the fire worshipers, the block of the old Baku " Ichery - Shekher", historical and architectural reserve in the city center, in December 2000, it was included to the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage; Maiden Tower (XIIv.), mosque Bibi Heybat (XIIv.) built by Shirvanshahs Abu al-Fath Farruhzadom; Maiden Tower of the Shirvanshahs Palace (XVI c.), where were well preserved mosque, bath and entrance gates. Overnight.
     Day 3: Baku – Gobustan – Baku
Breakfast. Arrival to the reserve " Gobustan". In 2007, the cultural landscape of the art of Gobustan rock was included in the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage. There are about 6000 images that were created since the Mesolithic period and the Middle Ages. Figures are found mainly in caves and at the ruins of the rocks. Among the pictures, you can find hunting scenes, ritual dances, farming, depict of various animals, boats and various symbolic signs. Return to Baku. Overnight.
    
Day 4: Baku – Shemakha – Tbilisi
Breakfast. Excursion in Shemakha – one of the oldest and most interesting cities. Founded approximately in V c. BC, in the IX. BC was the capital of an extensive kingdom of Shirvan, in the XVIII c. - Shemakhan Khanate. The main attraction of the city is Giz-Galasi fortress (Gulistan, XI-XII centuries.) - the last refuge of Shirvanshahs, mausoleum of Eddie Gumbez "Seven Domes" with numerous tombs of rulers of Shemakha, Juma Cathedral Mosque (X c., rebuilt in the XIX century.) , numerous ruins of buildings of X-XVII centuries. It is a recognized center of carpet weaving.
Return to Baku. Transfer to the railway station. Departure to Tbilisi by a night train.
     Day 5: Tbilisi
Breakfast. Excursion in the capital of Georgia. The capital of Georgia is unique. It is located 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. "Old Town" - is the historic center of Tbilisi, that is located at the root of Mtatsminda (Holy Mount) mountain. 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 amusing Tower appeared here recently, built by the Puppet Theatre director Rezo Gabriadze. Here artists exhibit their paintings, artisans offer numerous souvenirs. Basically there are 2-3-storey houses, built of brick and stone, and of particular Tbilisi architecture, distinguished by narrow streets, galleries and carved wooden balconies. Tbilisi is one of the rare places in the world, where can peacefully exist in the Old Town orthodox church, catholic cathedral, synagogue and mosque.
During the excursion, visit of: Mechetian Church (V c.), Narikala fortress (IV c.), Sioni Cathedral (VI-VII c.), Anchiskhati Basilica of St Mary, the oldest surviving church, Synaxis of Saint Triunity of the temple complex of Tsminda Sameba - the main Cathedral of Georgian Orthodox Church.
Folklore dinner with national songs and dances.     
Day 6: Tbilisi — Mtskheta — Tbilisi
Breakfast. 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. Wonderworking icon of Iberian Mother of God, wonderworking 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.). Return to Tbilisi. Walk at the Shota Rustaveli avenue. Overnight in the hotel.
     Day 7: Tbilisi — Ananuri — Gudauri — Kazbegi – Tbilisi
Breakfast. In the morning departure from Tbilisi in the direction of Stepantsminda (Kazbegi). On the way to it, we will explore the scenic fortress Ananuri (XVI century), situated on the river Aragva and fantastic beauty of Jinvali reservoirs. Passing the ski resort Gudauri (2200m.), a stunning drive along the Terek River, through the Cross Pass (2400m) leads us to the Stepantsminda (Kazbegi). Excursion around Kazbegi: Church of the Blessed Trinity Gergeti (2170m above sea level). In clear weather, opens a stunning, phantasmagorical view of one of the highest peaks in Georgia - Mountain Kazbek (5147m). Return to Tbilisi. Overnight.
     Day 8: Tbilisi — Bodbe — Sighnaghi — Manavi - Yerevan
Breakfast. Departure to the "city of everlasting love" Sighnaghi. Visit in the Bodbe village of the monastery complex of St. George and the grave of St. Nino, that brought Christianity to Georgia. Upon request, bathing in the holy waters of the increate spring, that heals the sick and make miserable people happy. Excursion in the ancient Sighnaghi "city of everlasting love" that is placed at the top of the ridge, overlooking Alazani valley. Visit of the museum - workshop of the handmade carpets and narrow carpets production. 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.
Return to Tbilisi. Transfert to the railway station and departure to Yerevan by a night train.
     Day 9: Yerevan – Erebuni fortress — Garni temple — Gegard monastery — Yerevan
Arrival to Yerevan. Breakfast. Yerevan city tour. Armenian capital Yerevan – is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is the same age as Babylon and Rome. The year of foundation of the city is 782 BC - then the king of Argishti founded fortress of Erebuni. On the hill of the park Tsitsernakaberd is built a monument to the victims of genocide in 1915. Near fortieth meter obelisk in the form of a pointed forked pyramid. In 2001 in Yerevan to the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia was erected a magnificent temple of Gregory the Illuminator.
Visit of the Erebuni Fortress, founded in 782 BC by the king of Urartu Argishti (29 years before the foundation of Rome) - this place is considered as the cradle of Yerevan. After that, we will go to the picturesque mountainous area to the east of Yerevan to fortress complex of Garni (1st century AD). We will visit the only well kept pagan temple in Armenia. Garni - is a unique monument of the Hellenistic period in Armenia. The temple is dedicated to the sun god Mithra, was built in the second half of the I century AD under King Tiridates I, and has remained after the country adopted Christianity, because of the IV century BC to the III century BC castle was the residence of Armenian kings. The fortress is located on a high rocky cliff and is surrounded by deep gorges.
Unique, carved out the rock monastery Gegard (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Gegard - is an ancient monastery, the first buildings of which were built back in the IV. BC The name "Gegard" means "spear." According to legend, the monastery kept spear that crucified Christ was pierced by one of the Roman guards. Spearhead is kept in the museum of St. Etchmiadzin. Overnight.
     Day 10: Yerevan — Khor Virap — Noravank monastery — 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. Then, excursion in Noravank, a XII century monastery, situated among the quaint steep cliffs on the ledge of a tortuous gorge.
Optional wine tasting in the armenian village and brandy tasting in Yerevan (for extra cost).     
Day 11: Yerevan — Dilijan — Sevan — Yerevan
Breakfast. Moving to Dilijan. The city recently opened Museum of Art, which widely presented Russian and Armenian (I. Aivazovsky, Minas Avestyan, etc.) of the XIX-XX centuries., Western European paintings XVII-XIX centuries (Jean-Baptiste Greuze, range master Correggio, the Flemish masters of the XVII century. Etc.) and artifacts of archaeological cultures that have been studied in the Tavush ethnographic collection.
Visit Goshavank - Armenian medieval monastery complex of the XII-XIII centuries. The monastery has preserved manuscripts, a khachkar (a type of Armenian architectural monuments representing a stone stele with a cross). Also, visit of the Armenian monastery of Haghartsin (X-XIII centuries).
Next, a trip to the blue pearl of Armenia and the Caucasus, the largest of the lakes – Lake Sevan (1900m). Climbing the stairs to the observation deck to the monastery of Sevanank, with a magnificent view of the lake.
Return to Yerevan. Overnight.
     Day 12: Yerevan
Breakfast. Depending on the departure time, spare time. Buying souvenirs. Transfer to the airport.
Tour price in euros p/p (min. 2 pax)
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