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Day 1/Fri: Arrival /18km/
Meet with your driver at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Check in from 14:00. Free time. Overnight at the hotel in Tbilisi.
Meals /_;_;_/
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Day 2 /Sat: Tbilisi - Mtskheta - Uplistsikhe - Tbilisi city sightseeing tour /200-210km/
After breakfast start tour to Jvari monastery - overlooking Mtskheta city and enjoy the breathtaking view of confluence of Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers. Continue the way to the former capital of Georgia - Mtskheta and see the Grand 11th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Get ready to explore the cave city of Uplistsikhe with stunning views over Mtkvari River and surrounding villages. Tbilisi – the capital city where you can travel, live, love and collect the best experiences in your life. Old Town Tbilisi city tour – during the tour you will visit the most popular and interesting places of the city. Walk through Shardeni and Erekle II streets which are full of small café-s and restaurants.
Meals /B,_,_/
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Day 3/ Sun: Tbilisi - Sighnaghi - Bodbe – Tsinandali /280-290km/
After breakfast start tour to Kakheti Region - the cradle of wine. Start the day with Sighnaghi - Tiny city of narrow and cobbled stone streets decorated with colorful wooden balconies and defended by about 4km. length wall – allowed walking on it. Enjoy the breathtaking views from the old wall of the city overlooking Alazani Valley. Visit one of the most beautiful monasteries in Georgia – Bodbe monastery. Continue the way to Tsinandali - house museum of Chavchavadze, enjoy the beauty of the house with its surrounding stunning garden, and have the first glass of Tsinandali wine. Overnight at the hotel in Tbilisi.
Meals /B,_,_/
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Day 4/ Mon: Tbilisi - Ananuri - Zhinvali - Gudauri - Kazbegi /300-310km/
After breakfast start tour to Kazbegi through the picturesque Military Highway of Georgia. On the way visiting Ananuri Fortress one of the most important complexes in Georgia. Enjoy the breathtaking views from Friendship Monument in Gudauri, which is one of the popular ski resorts in Georgia. Continue the way to the height. Drive up to Gergeti Trinity church and embrace Georgian mountains. Overnight at the hotel in Tbilisi.
Meals /B,_,_/
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Day 5/ Thu: Tbilisi – Sadakhlo – Dilijan – Sevan - Yerevan /290-300km/
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to Georgia-Armenia Sadakhlo Border. After border formalities meet with your guide or guide-driver at Sadakhlo and start your journey to Armenia. The first site you will visit is picturesque town Dilijan – “little Switzerland” in Armenia. Here you will have a photo stop in Sharambeyan Street complete with craftsman’s shops, studios and museum. Visit to Hahgartsin Monastery - the complex was built in 11-13th centuries. The most ancient building of the monastery complex Haghartsin is the church of St. Gregory the Illuminator. The refectory, a rare example of architectural art, was built by the architect Minas in 1248. Lunch at local house with tasting national dishes. Continue tour to Emerald of Armenia Lake Sevan – mountainous lake located 2,000 meters above sea level. Maxim Gorky once said that the waters were like a piece of the sky that had descended to the earth among the mountains. Visit Sevanavank Monastery (9th century AD) from where you have the best view of the peninsula and lake. Drive to Yerevan and overnight at the hotel.
Meals /B, L,_/
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Day 6/ Wed: Yerevan city tour- Echmiadzin city- Zvartnots temple /60-70km/
After breakfast Yerevan city tour - city which is 2800 years old! The history of Yerevan dates back to the 8th century BC, with the founding of the fortress of Erebuni in 782 BC. In Soviet years Yerevan underwent massive reconstruction, following architect Alexander Tamanyan's plan to make a "perfect city". During the tour you will explore the major touristic sights of the city. Continue tour to Echmiadzin which is considered the spiritual center for Armenians all over the world! The word itself means a place where “the only begotten son of the God descended”. Visit to Hripsime church (7th century), one of the finest works of Armenian architecture of the classical period. On the way back to Yerevan visit ruins of Zvartnots cathedral (7th century) – monument which embodies the centuries old traditions of Armenian architects. Zvartnots is an outstanding monument of world architecture, an evidence of high level of the development of the artistic and engineering thought in the 7th-century Armenia. Hripsime cathedral and Zvartnots temple are listed as a World Cultural Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Meals /B,_,_/
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Day 7/ Thu: Khor Virap monastery - Areni village - Noravank monastery /260-270km/
After breakfast tour to Khor Virap - one of the most popular destinations in Armenia for a number of reasons, primarily because it is where Grigor Luisavorich (St. Gregory the Illuminator) was imprisoned for 13 years. Gregory the Illuminator introduced Christianity to Armenia and in 301 Armenia became the first officially Christian nation in the world. The other highlight of this place is the best view to the biblical Mt. Ararat.
Continue tour to Areni village and visit to winery for wine degustation. After you will visit Noravank - a 13th-century Armenian monastery, located in a narrow gorge made by the Amaghu River. The gorge is known for its tall, brick-red cliffs, directly across from the monastery. Noravank was the residence of the Orbelian princes. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Meals /B,_,_/
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Day 8/Fri: Garni temple - Geghard Monastery - fruit & food market /100-110km/
After breakfast tour to Geghard cave monastery (12th—13th centuries) - another incredible ancient Armenian monastery, partly carved out of a mountain. Though the monastery has been around since before the 4th century, the main cathedral was built in 1215. Geghard monastery is listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO. In the village Garni in private house master class of Armenian traditional bread “lavash” backing. Continue tour to Garni template (1st century AD) - the structures of Garni combine elements of Hellenistic culture, which is an evidence of antique influences and the distinctive building traditions of the Armenian people. Back to Yerevan and visit to food&fruit market which is well set out with a beautiful array of dried fruits, nuts, local homemade sweets and etc. perfect for gifts back home. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Meals /B,_,_/
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Day 9/Sat: Departure /15km/
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to airport and departure.
Meals /B,_,_/
