Treasures of the Caucasus - Overland Trip

Itineraries

Arrive in Tbilisi and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

A guided tour around Tbilisi, taking in the fascinating history of this long overlooked region. We visit the National Museum, home to many of the treasures that inspired the legend of the golden fleece, as well as the Metekhi Temple and the Sioni Cathedral, among other sites. (B)

We head first to the semi-desert region of David Gareja, overlooking the border with Azerbaijan, home to a fantastic collection of rock-cut churches and frescoes as well as a remote, but still operational, monastery. From here we head to Telavi and taste some of Georgia’s famous wines. (BD)

Our journey takes us into the heart of the High Caucasus mountain range as we take 4WD jeeps over the Abanos Pass and on to Shenako, a remote village in the province of Tusheti. The Caucasus Mountains contain some of Europe’s most spectacular scenery, as well as isolated communities that were once the first defence against the Imperial Russian army. We stay tonight in a private home and enjoy the overwhelming hospitality of the area. (BLD)

The best way to see the mountains is to walk among them, and we spend these days walking through magnificent scenery. En route we’ll pass fortified villages that date back hundreds of years, many containing the traditional watchtowers that were used to watch and guard against the invaders that this region has experienced. Trekking past dense forests that hold bears and wolves, and across glacial rivers, this is one of the highlights of our journey here. We camp or stay in village houses along the way. (BLD)

We return to Tbilisi, visiting the Alaverdi Cathedral on the way. Upon arrival the rest of the day is free. (BL)

Today we drive along the Georgian Military Highway to the small town of Kazbegi, close to the Russian border. En route we visit the church fortress of Ananauri, an unusual mixture of military and religious architecture dating back to the 16th century, and the town of Mtskheta, once the capital of Georgia and home to its most impressive cathedral. Upon arrival in Kazbegi, we hike up to the Holy Trinity Church for superb views across the mountains. Weather permitting, we will have great views of snow-capped Mt Kazbek, Georgia’s highest mountain. We spend the night in Gudauri. (BLD)

Gori is best known for being the birthplace of Georgia’s most famous son, Stalin, and we visit the Stalin Museum while there. We then move on to the abandoned cave city of Uplistsikhe, one of Georgia’s most famous sites, and spend some time exploring before we return to Tbilisi for our final night in Georgia. (BL)

A sad farewell to Georgia as we cross the border into Armenia. There are some great monasteries en route to Yerevan, including the World Heritage sites of Haghpat and Sanahin. These display amazing examples of ancient khachkars, carved stone crosses which are a strong symbol of Armenian culture. We also stop at the vast Lake Sevan and visit the Sevanavank Monastery. (BL)

This morning we enjoy a city tour of Yerevan, a surprisingly cosmopolitan city. Garni is an excellent example of a pagan temple, dating back to the 1st century BC and with commanding views of the valley below. Nearby is the monastery of Geghard, built into steep cliffs and partly hollowed out of the rock, which is reputed to have contained the spear that pierced Christ on the cross. (B)

Khor Virap, fabled to be the place where St Gregory the Illuminator, Armenia’s Christian father, was imprisoned for 13 years, dates back to the 3rd century and overlooks Mt Ararat in Turkey, once part of Armenia’s historical empire. One of the best preserved caravanserais in the world, Selim harks back to days when the Silk Road was trodden by merchants on their journeys between the east and west. (BL)

Echmiadzin - Armenia’s equivalent of the Vatican City - is the religious centre of the country and gives a great insight into the first country in the world to officially adopt Christianity. We also visit the impressive Amberd Fortress, perched at 2,300m on the slopes of Mt Aragats. Your final afternoon is free to explore Yerevan. You may choose to visit the Genocide Museum, a harrowing but integral part of understanding the diverse history of Armenia. (B)

Tour ends. (B)