GEORGIA – ARMENIA – AZERBAIJAN

• This morning, our tour of Yerevan begins at the History Museum with its vast collection of archaeological treasures dating to prehistoric times. • Stop at the Cascade, a huge stairway that links the city center to parks and residential areas. View the city’s sports complex, the Presidential Palace, Academy of Sciences, National Parliament, the Opera House,the VernissageMarket and bustling Republic Square. • This evening, attend an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager on the fascinating tour of Armenia and the Republic of Georgia that lies ahead. • Afterwards, join your fellow travelers at a festive Welcome Dinner Overnight: Yerevan Meals: Breakfast, Lunch &Dinner

• Spend a delightful morning at medieval Geghard Monastery carved into a mountain, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a specially arranged spiritual concert in one of the grand halls of the monastery with its astonishing acoustics. • At Geghard Gorge, pause to admire the fantastic views before continuing to the stunning 2000-year-old Garni Temple, the only surviving pagan temple in Armenia, a blend of Greco-Roman and Armenian architectural styles. • After, savor lunch at a rustic home in the village, along with a demonstration and lesson on how to prepare Lavash, the traditional Armenian bread. • On the drive back to Yerevan, pause at the somber Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial that honors innocent victims of the first Genocide of the 20th century. • Tonight, dinner and show at a lively folk restaurant Optional: Dinner and Show at a folk restaurant Overnight: Yerevan Meals: Breakfast, Lunch& Dinner

• Drive to the Armavir region in west Armenia to visit the magnificent Zvartnots Cathedral, a 7th century architectural masterpiece, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built as Armenia’s main cathedral in 641, this majestic temple was constructed during the Byzantine era. Spend some free time here before continuing to Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the oldest state-built church in the world, known as the “Catholicate of All Armenians.” • Afterward, stop for a traditional lunch at Armenian Cross Unity, an NGO that provides orphans and children with disabilities education in art. • On your return to Yerevan, enjoy tastings of the legendary Armenian brandy at a distillery that has preserved the traditions of brandy manufacturing since the 1800s. • End the day with a visit of the family-owned Megerian Carpet factory; see hundreds of antique and new handmade carpets, learn the process of carpet making and see weavers at work on their patterns. Overnight: Yerevan Meals: Breakfast, Lunch& Dinner

• Today, a much anticipated visit as you drive towards biblical Mount Ararat and the Khor Virap Monastery, a pilgrimage site dating back to the 4th century, closest point to the legendary mountain. At this site according to Armenian tales, St. Gregory healed the King of Armenia who then converted Armenia to Christianity. • Then, on to the striking centuries-old Noravank Monastery a UNESCO World Heritage Site, tucked into a quiet valley that harmonizes with its backdrop of craggy mountains. This stunning two-storied monastery is a masterpiece for both its architecture and picturesque setting. • After a lunch break, travel along the winding country roads to the small town of Goris with its tree-lined avenues and grand 19th century homes that attest to its glorious past. • Dinner together at the hotel Overnight: Goris Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Board the “Wings of Tatev,” the longest cable car in the world that whisks you high over the river gorge and lush forested hills to the spectacular Tatev Monastery. • Enjoy panoramic views on your walk to the main church, built to house important 9th century relics. • A delightful lunch and traditional musical duduk (Armenian oboe) performance follows; this hand-carved instrument is known to express the soul of Armenia. • Driving along the Selim pass, visit Caravanserai, an important stop on the Silk Road, and medieval Noradus cemetery with its over 800 khachkars (stone crosses). • Continue on a scenic drive to beautiful Lake Sevan, the largest fresh water high altitude lake in the Caucasus region. On its only island, view a medieval hilltop monastery and ancient cemetery. • Complete the day in the forested resort town of Dilijan renowned for its spas and traditional craft workshops. • Dinner together caps a magnificent day Overnight: Dilijan Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• A walking tour along historic Sharambeyan Street in the Old Town reveals artisans’ workshops, tiny shops with Armenian wares and the Esayan Museum with its recreation of typical 19th century Tufenkian homes. Observe the impressive ‘art of wood carving’ before continuing along the lanes of this enchanting town with its typical architecture of two-storied tiled wooden homes and intricately carved balconies. • Lunch in the Alaverdi region before traveling to the medieval Haghpat Monastery complex. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, this a masterpiece of religious architecture was a major center of learning in the middle Ages. • Afterwards, border formalities as you cross from Armenia into the Republic of Georgia, a former Soviet republic, home to Caucasus mountain villages and Black Sea beaches. • Arrive in Tbilisi, capital of the country, for dinner and overnight Overnight: Tbilisi Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Today explore Tbilisi, known for its diverse architecture and maze-like, cobblestone streets. Wander along the lanes of the picturesque Old City with its colorful houses, pretty balconies and modern Soviet-style architecture. At the 13th century landmark Metekhi Church admire the stunning views before walking to the Georgian Synagogue, Sioni Cathedral, the Sulphur Baths and Anchiskhati Basilica. • From here, visit the 4th century Narikala Fortress that dominates the skyline, once a Persian Citadel. • Lunch on your own at one of the inviting cafes in the Old Town. • Afternoon visit to the National Museum with its wealth of gold, silver and precious stonework and to the bustling Flea Market with treasures galore. • Tonight, enjoy a group dinner at a local Tbilisi restaurant Overnight: Tbilisi Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• A fascinating visit to the abandoned rock hewn town of Uplistsikhe that played an important part in Georgian history, one of the oldest places of settlement in the Caucasus. This major religious and political stronghold during the 14th century was an important trading stop on the Silk Road. Tour the remains of this impressive and enormous city with its many ruins, including a pagan temple and Hellenistic amphitheatre. • Next, proceed to Gori, one of the oldest cities in Georgia, birthplace of Joseph Stalin. • After an included group lunch, visit the Stalin Museum guarded by his massive statue. Inside, walk through the halls of memorabilia and the tiny mud brick house where he lived as a child. • Return to Tbilisi Overnight: Tbilisi Meals: Breakfast, Lunch& Dinner

• Travel to the 6th century Alaverdi Monastery. • Time to visit the main cathedral, the highest in Georgia, walk around the beautiful grounds and enjoy expansive views of the Caucasus Mountains, rolling fields and nearby vineyards. • Continue to charming Sighnaghi, a small mountaintop town in the historical region of Kakheti. • Next, a delectable home-cooked lunch at Pheasant’s Tears, a top-class winery where wine is aged in large earthenware pots according to the old Georgian traditions. Wine tasting follows along with samplings of ‘Chacha’ (Georgian vodka/grappa). Free time in the romantic town of Sighnaghi, with its charming Italian-style architecture and preserved fortress walls crowned with watchtowers. • Dinner and overnight in Sighnaghi Overnight: Sighnaghi Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• In Gremi, capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti in the 16th-17th centuries, visit the monumental Gremi Fortress standing high above the green valley of Alazan. Once residence of the Royal family, the fortress encircled by a massive wall houses the Domed Church of the Archangel with its colorful frescoes and inscriptions. • Driving through the scenic eastern region of Kakheti, Georgia’s premier wine-producing area, pause for lunch and a tour at the Twins Wine Cellar, established by twin brothers who follow age-old family traditions of wine making. • After wine tasting and a visit to the family’s private museum, on to the Ikalto Monastery, one of the most significant cultural-scholastic centers of the area; archaeological excavations here revealed numerous workshops, wine cellars and ancient storerooms. Return to Tbilisi for overnight Overnight: Tbilisi Meals: Breakfast, Lunch& Dinner

• On your last day in Georgia, a drive to Mtskheta, former capital of Georgia; visit the Jvari Monastery, a masterpiece of Early Christian Orthodox architecture located atop a hill. This UNESCO World Heritage Site served as a model for many other churches in the country, known best for its unique relief sculptures decorating the facade. • Then proceed to Baku , the Capital of Azerbaijan • Arrive in Baku and transfer to your hotel. • Overnight Sapphire Hotel or similar. Baku • Baku is a city with a decidedly split personality. While uber-modern buildings continually spring up and there is talk of turning the city into ‘another Dubai’, much of Baku is still made up of Soviet style apartment blocks. Oil wealth at the turn of the 20th century led to a profusion of rather elegant European style architecture, giving it yet another façade. But without a doubt Baku’s most enigmatic part is the historic centre, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Icheri Sheher with its ancient collection of mosques, palaces and caravanserais, some of which date back to the 11th century. Located on the Absheron Peninsula, Baku can be rather windy – one theory of the origin of its name states that it means ‘wind-pounded place’, and it has numerous parks and squares like many of the old Soviet cities. Its first heyday came at the beginning of the 20th century, when the city produced more than half of the world’s petroleum – after falling into decline during Soviet times, Baku is once again on the up. • Overnight Sapphire Hotel or similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Explore Azerbaijan’s capital, including the medieval fortress of Icheri Sheher, the Shirvanshahs’ Palace and the 15th century caravanserai among other sites. • From Baku we head to the Absheron Peninsula to visit the ‘flaming mountain’ of Yanardag, continuously alight with burning underground gases that seep through holes in the earth’s surface. • Then visit the Gala Museum, the ‘fire-worshippers’ temple of Ateshgah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and continue to the medieval fortress at Amirjan before returning to Baku for the night. • Overnight Sapphire Hotel or similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Yanardag • The burning hillside of Yanardag is one of Azerbaijan’s most bizarre sites. From beneath the earth flammable gases seep through the porous sandstone, erupting into flames that can reach 10 metres in height, although this is rare these days as extraction has considerably reduced the amount of gas. The flames are never extinguished having been lit accidentally in 1958. Most of the world’s ‘flaming mountains’ are situated in Azerbaijan and Marco Polo recorded similar sights nearby as he passed through the region.

• Our last day in Azerbaijan. We visit the History Museum for an insight into the various cultures and civilisations that have held sway here. • We also visit the Heydar Aliyev Center, designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid and noted for its distinctive architecture and flowing, curved style that eschews sharp angles the rest of the day is free for you to explore. • Overnight Sapphire City Hotel or similar Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner The Caspian Sea • Larger by far than any of the world’s lakes, the Caspian Sea became landlocked around 5 million years ago but still retains a certain level of salinity, hence its classification as a sea. Bordering Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, it measures an astonishing 143,000 square miles in surface area, and some of Eurasia’s greatest rivers including the Volga and the Ural flow into it. The Caspian is home to a broad diversity of wildlife – perhaps the best known being the sturgeon, and has its own species of seal.

• Transfer to the airport for departure. Meals: Breakfast ________________________________________