GEORGIA AZERBAIJAN

Day 0:

• Arrival in  Tbilisi in the late evening hours

Day 1: Tbilisi airport – Tbilisi city tour – Sarajishvili factory

• After breakfast all-day tour of Tbilisi: walk along Shota Rustaveli Avenue, the old town; visiting the main monuments of the capital: the Sioni Cathedral and the Anchiskhati Basilica – the oldest monastery in Tbilisi; a funicular ride to the Narikala fortress, from which there is a wonderful view of the city; walk to the waterfall located in the city center in the sulfur baths district
• Visit to the Sarajishvili cognac factory in Tbilisi combined with alcohol tasting
• Cable car ride to the Mtatsminda viewpoint
• Free time, possibility to buy souvenirs
• Dinner in a well-known Georgian restaurant combined with a show of traditional Georgian dances
• Return to the hotel and overnight

Day 2: Tbilisi – Stepantsminda – Gergeti Holy Trinity – Gudauri

• After breakfast, departure to the north along the Georgian Military Road (the main route crossing the Caucasus range and connecting Tbilisi with Russia); on the way, a stop at the Zhinvali artificial water reservoir and a visit to the picturesquely situated Ananuri Fortress from the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries.
• Tansfer to the town of Kazbegi (now Stepantsminda; 1740 m above sea level)
• Dive by jeeps to one of the most beautiful monasteries in Georgia – Gergeti Holy Trinity, which is located at an altitude of 2200 m above sea level. at the foot of Mount Kazbek (5033 m above sea level)
• Transfer towards the winter resort of Gudauri and a stop at a beautiful viewpoint in front of the Jvari Pass (2379 m above sea level)
• Hotel accommodation in Gudauri

Day 3: Gudauri –  Mtskheta – Tbilisi – Baku

• After breakfast, return to Tbilisi and sightseeing around Tbilisi – the city of Mtskheta, which until the 5th century AD served as the capital; visiting the legendary temple of Sveti Tskhoveli, the place of coronation and eternal rest of Georgian rulers; drive to the Jvari Monastery located on the top of the hill
• Return to Tbilisi
• Evening transfer by night train to Baku (overnight in couchettes)

Day 4: Baku – Itsheri Sheher – Fire temple – Yanar Dag – Baku

• In the morning arrival to Baku, check-in at the hotel and breakfast
• Visit the old town of Itsheri Sheher (UNESCO), mosque (Palace of Shirvanshah from the 13th century, Tower of Virgins from the 12th century, entrance to the Memorial Park hill with a panoramic view of the city
• Transfer to the village of Surakhani, visit Ateshgah Fire Temple – a Zoroastrian temple from the 17th century
• Yanar Dag – translated as burning ground, from which gas comes out that has been burning continuously for decades
• In the evening return to Baku, dinner and overnight at the hotel

Day 5 : Baku – Gobustan National Park- Baku

• After breakfast, visit the Gobustan National Park, where there are rocks with prehistoric petroglyphs, there are also the first settlements of prehistoric man in the park, light trekking in the field. Park is on the UNESCO List
• Driveway to the volcanic muds – a ride on the volcanic mudslides, mud bathing for those willing
• Return to Baku, dinner and overnight  at the hotel

Day 6: Baku – Wine tour – Sheki 

• After breakfast drive to the Savalan winery, where the group will learn about wine production and taste several types of Azerbaijani wines
• Arrival in the city of Sheki, considered one of the oldest settlements in the Caucasus, the city has been known since ancient times – this is where the silk route ran, gathering the largest number of sellers and merchants in all of Azerbaijan – at the place we will visit the Caravanserai. However, the real pearl is the Sheki Khans Palace from the 18th century, no nails were used during construction and has richly painted walls and stained glass windows – the palace is on the UNESCO list
• Dinner and overnight at the hotel

Day 7: Sheki – Naftalan

• After breakfast departure transfer to the town of Naftalan – accommodation in the Spa hotel, visit the oil baths (visit the baths in hotels depending on availability)
• Return to the hotel, optional massages and/or swimming in the pool
• Dinner and overnight at the hotel

Day 8: Naftalan -Ganja – Tbilisi

• After breakfast drive to city of Ganja – the second largest city in Azerbaijan with a beautiful old town, visiting the main monuments (Juma mosque from the 17th century, Imamzade complex from the 17th-19th century, bottle house)
• Drive to the border with Georgia and cross the border on foot then  return to Tbilisi by bus. Dinner
• Accommodation at the hotel

Day 9: Tbilisi – Sighnaghi – Bodbe – Supra – Telavi

• After breakfast, drive to Kakheti – a land known not only for wine production, but also for its unique medieval heritage – historic and restored towns, fortresses and monasteries, which are important religious centers with which the history of Georgia is closely related,
• Transfer to Sighnaghi – a town with a 2.5-kilometer defensive wall, known for the oldest wine festival in Georgia, and on the way visit the Bodbe Monastery – the burial place of St. Nino, who converted Georgia to Christianity
• Georgian Supra – a traditional Georgian feast at a friend’s host in the vineyard, combined with wine and local food tasting, Georgian cuisine workshops (bread baking, churchkhela or khinkali making) and live music
• Return to Telavi and overnight at the hotel

Day 10: Telavi –  David Gareja – Tbilisi

• After breakfast drive to the steppe in the south of the country and visit the complex of David Gareja rock monasteries, founded in the 6th century right on the border with Azerbaijan
• Lunch at the restaurant in the steppes, specializing in Svan cuisine
• Wine tasting in a nearby vineyard, purchase of gifts
• Return to Tbilisi and hotel accommodation
• free time in the old town
• Farewell dinner and overnight at the hotel

Day 11: Transfer to the airport