The Best of Armenia & Georgia
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Highlights:
Armenia and Georgia share a border, a long Christian tradition, a small land mass and noteworthy neighbors including Russia, Iran and Turkey. Despite or perhaps because of this, both countries embrace a joy of life embodied by their respective cuisines, similar but subtly different and their love of wine.
Armenians claim their wine comes from Noah while the Georgians claim the better vintages. On this program you will get to see and taste for yourself. Your hotels are the best in each country and will offer you friendly service and a genuine welcome.
Armenia and Georgia share a border, a long Christian tradition, a small land mass and noteworthy neighbors including Russia, Iran and Turkey. Despite or perhaps because of this, both countries embrace a joy of life embodied by their respective cuisines, similar but subtly different and their love of wine.
Armenians claim their wine comes from Noah while the Georgians claim the better vintages. On this program you will get to see and taste for yourself. Your hotels are the best in each country and will offer you friendly service and a genuine welcome.
SKU:
Explore Armenia & Georgia
Customizable Itinerary - 12 Days (from $4,876 per person)
Day 1: Depart USA
Your journey to Armenia and Georgia begins once you board your overnight flight to Europe where you will connect to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
Day 2: Welcome to Armenia
Depending on your connecting point you will likely arrive in the evening in Yerevan. You are met by your Ultitude guide and escorted to your car which will take you to your centrally located hotel where you will be able to catch up on your sleep.
Day 3: Highlights of Yerevan
Today you will meet your guide for an introduction to the key sights in Yerevan. The city was founded in the 8th Century although the country itself is much older. There is about 1,200 feet of elevation change in the city and you start at the highest parts to get a good view of the city. You then proceed to the city centre where your guide will take you on a walking tour before visiting the Matenadaran which although relatively new, houses one of the world’s largest collections of ancient illustrated manuscripts. There are over 14,000 completely preserved handwritten books, beautifully illustrated and covered in antique leather. After lunch you will visit the Genocide Memorial Museum built in remembrance to the 1.5 million Armenians killed during the first two years of the First World War. Your last visit will be to the Ararat Brandy Company where you get to taste this nectar. So tasty is it that Winston Churchill ordered 400 bottles a year (one per day with a little extra) after first tasting it at the Yalta Conference. After your tour you return to the hotel to freshen up before having dinner at a local restaurant with traditional Armenian music.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: A Touch of Rome and the Secrets of Armenian Bread
After breakfast you meet up with your guide and head into the countryside. Your excursion starts at the Monastery of Geghard which means Lance in Armenian. Legend says that the lance that pierced the body of Christ on the cross was found in the area and the monastery itself is partly carved out of the rocks. Nearby is the area of Garni which at one time was the site of a major Hellenistic temple and fortress complex. That was destroyed by the Romans in 59AD but was replaced by a Roman Pagan temple which still stands today. There are also some excellent Roman Baths and Mosaics. You will then travel to the village of Garni where you will enter a local home to learn the secret of making Lavash the famous Armenian Bread. You return to Yerevan where you have the chance to freshen up before dining at another local restaurant
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Mount Ararat and Lake Sevan
Today you will depart Yerevan and head into the Armenian countryside. Your first stop will be Khor Virap Monastery where an Armenian King imprisoned Gregory the Illustrator in a dungeon (which you can visit today) because of his desire to convert the country to Christianity. Gregory was imprisoned for 13 years before the both the King and the country to convert to Christianity. The monastery also offers spectacular views of Mount Ararat the final resting place of Noah’s Ark. It is said that one of the first things Noah did upon coming down from Mt. Ararat was to plant a vineyard and to this day fine wine is produced here which you will have a chance to sample before and during lunch. Your journey t will take you through the Selim Pass which, in ancient times was part of the Silk Road. You will visit a Caravanserai, where the traders would stay on their way from China to Europe, before arriving at Lake Sevan where you have a chance to visit Seven Monastery one of the last functioning monasteries in the country. You arrive at your charming hotel overlooking the Lake where fish, fresh from the lake is a specialty in the restaurant.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Dilijan and the Road to Tbilisi
After breakfast you head to the charming craft village of Dilijan located in the mountains covered with trees and reminding many people of Switzerland. In the 19th Century Dilijan was a center of culture and cuisine with wealthy vacationers traveling from Tbilisi and Baku to escape the summer heat and enjoy the culture. Things atrophied under the soviet era but now work is underway to restore Dilijan to its former glory. The center of life is Sharembayan Street where you will find specialized workshops and studios selling jewelry, clothing, carpets, ceramics, woodcarvings and furniture all made by hand according to Armenian traditions You have the morning to explore and then, after lunch, you head to Sadacklo which represents the border between Armenia & Georgia. After border formalities you say goodbye to your Armenian guide and are introduced to the Ultitude guide who will, in turn, introduce you to Georgia. You drive to Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital where you check-in to your hotel. This evening you will enjoy typical Georgian food and entertainment at a local restaurant.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Walking and Wine Tasting in Tbilisi
After breakfast you are able to take advantage of your hotel’s location as your guide takes you on a walking tour of the old town dating back to the 5th Century. You will visit Mekhi Church, Narikala Fortress and Soini Cathedral. You will then visit one of our favorite Georgian restaurants where you visit their wine cellar to get an introduction to Georgian wines. You will have lunch and then proceed to the Georgian State Museum. You return to your hotel for a chance to rest. In the early evening your guide will return to take you on an evening walk on Rustaveli Avenue one of Tbilisi’s most fashionable streets. After your walk you dine at one of the city’s many fine restaurants.
Day 8: Sighnaghi and the Tradition of the Tamada
After breakfast at the hotel you will meet up with your guide and head to the East of Georgia and the province of Kakheti, a rich fertile region with abundant vineyards and wine producing villages. First however you will stop in Sighnaghi a royal town built by King Erekle II in the 18th Century and noted for its defensive wall enhanced by 23 watch towers. The town had many gates through which Georgia was connected with Europe and Asia by various trade routes. After enjoying the town’s tiny and cozy streets and the views of the Alazani Valley you head to a local winery to enjoy a taste of the “Pheasant’s Tears” wine as a prelude to lunch at a local wine bar. After lunch you stop in the village of Gurjaani where you visit a local family home for some down home cooking lessons. This evening will be spent in Telavi where you will visit a typical Georgian guest house where you have dinner enhanced by the presence of a Tamada, a toast maker, who will assist you in enjoying many toasts with fine Georgian Wine. Enjoy the evening.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: The Wines of Kvareli
You start your day with a visit to the local food market in Telavi before continuing on to Gremi which was the residence of Kakhetian kings in the 16th and 17th Centuries. Arriving in Avarali you visit several local wineries before lunch at a local restaurant. You continue on to the Tsinandali estate and the winery founded by the famous poet Alexander Chavchavadze in the 19th Century. You will visit the vineyards and the cellar where the oldest wine dates back to 1814.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Stalin and the Bean Secrets of Shrosha
Your first stop today will be Gori, the birthplace of Joseph Stalin the infamous leader of Russia. You will see the house in which he was born and the museum with some of his artifacts. Your next stop will be the ancient complex of Uplistsikhe which was founded in the Hellenistic period and flourished through the early Christian era. You will be able to see banquet halls, temples and narrow streets, many carved from the ancient rock. After lunch at a local restaurant you pass through the town of Kutaisi before arriving in Shrosha and its basket market. While in Shrosha you will learn the secrets of making Lobio a classic Georgian appetizer made from beans and walnuts. You return to Kutaisi where you have dinner and overnight.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: An Ecclesiastical Heritage
Like its neighbor, Armenia, Georgia has a long Christian heritage and on your way back to Tbilisi you will see several manifestations of that starting with the Gelati academy and monastery complex created in the 12th Century and noted for its murals and mosaics dating from the 12th through the 17th Centuries. You will then drive to the ancient town of Mtskheta, a cultural and political center dating from the 3rd Century. Have lunch in town and then drive to Jvari Monastery, an excellent example of Georgian Medieval architecture dating from the 6th Century. Your last visit will be to the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, an 11th century architectural monument. Arrive back in Tbilisi to enjoy a farewell dinner enhanced by a folk performance.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Return to USA
In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for the beginning of your return to the USA which will occur later that same afternoon.
Breakfast
Your journey to Armenia and Georgia begins once you board your overnight flight to Europe where you will connect to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
Day 2: Welcome to Armenia
Depending on your connecting point you will likely arrive in the evening in Yerevan. You are met by your Ultitude guide and escorted to your car which will take you to your centrally located hotel where you will be able to catch up on your sleep.
Day 3: Highlights of Yerevan
Today you will meet your guide for an introduction to the key sights in Yerevan. The city was founded in the 8th Century although the country itself is much older. There is about 1,200 feet of elevation change in the city and you start at the highest parts to get a good view of the city. You then proceed to the city centre where your guide will take you on a walking tour before visiting the Matenadaran which although relatively new, houses one of the world’s largest collections of ancient illustrated manuscripts. There are over 14,000 completely preserved handwritten books, beautifully illustrated and covered in antique leather. After lunch you will visit the Genocide Memorial Museum built in remembrance to the 1.5 million Armenians killed during the first two years of the First World War. Your last visit will be to the Ararat Brandy Company where you get to taste this nectar. So tasty is it that Winston Churchill ordered 400 bottles a year (one per day with a little extra) after first tasting it at the Yalta Conference. After your tour you return to the hotel to freshen up before having dinner at a local restaurant with traditional Armenian music.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: A Touch of Rome and the Secrets of Armenian Bread
After breakfast you meet up with your guide and head into the countryside. Your excursion starts at the Monastery of Geghard which means Lance in Armenian. Legend says that the lance that pierced the body of Christ on the cross was found in the area and the monastery itself is partly carved out of the rocks. Nearby is the area of Garni which at one time was the site of a major Hellenistic temple and fortress complex. That was destroyed by the Romans in 59AD but was replaced by a Roman Pagan temple which still stands today. There are also some excellent Roman Baths and Mosaics. You will then travel to the village of Garni where you will enter a local home to learn the secret of making Lavash the famous Armenian Bread. You return to Yerevan where you have the chance to freshen up before dining at another local restaurant
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Mount Ararat and Lake Sevan
Today you will depart Yerevan and head into the Armenian countryside. Your first stop will be Khor Virap Monastery where an Armenian King imprisoned Gregory the Illustrator in a dungeon (which you can visit today) because of his desire to convert the country to Christianity. Gregory was imprisoned for 13 years before the both the King and the country to convert to Christianity. The monastery also offers spectacular views of Mount Ararat the final resting place of Noah’s Ark. It is said that one of the first things Noah did upon coming down from Mt. Ararat was to plant a vineyard and to this day fine wine is produced here which you will have a chance to sample before and during lunch. Your journey t will take you through the Selim Pass which, in ancient times was part of the Silk Road. You will visit a Caravanserai, where the traders would stay on their way from China to Europe, before arriving at Lake Sevan where you have a chance to visit Seven Monastery one of the last functioning monasteries in the country. You arrive at your charming hotel overlooking the Lake where fish, fresh from the lake is a specialty in the restaurant.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Dilijan and the Road to Tbilisi
After breakfast you head to the charming craft village of Dilijan located in the mountains covered with trees and reminding many people of Switzerland. In the 19th Century Dilijan was a center of culture and cuisine with wealthy vacationers traveling from Tbilisi and Baku to escape the summer heat and enjoy the culture. Things atrophied under the soviet era but now work is underway to restore Dilijan to its former glory. The center of life is Sharembayan Street where you will find specialized workshops and studios selling jewelry, clothing, carpets, ceramics, woodcarvings and furniture all made by hand according to Armenian traditions You have the morning to explore and then, after lunch, you head to Sadacklo which represents the border between Armenia & Georgia. After border formalities you say goodbye to your Armenian guide and are introduced to the Ultitude guide who will, in turn, introduce you to Georgia. You drive to Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital where you check-in to your hotel. This evening you will enjoy typical Georgian food and entertainment at a local restaurant.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Walking and Wine Tasting in Tbilisi
After breakfast you are able to take advantage of your hotel’s location as your guide takes you on a walking tour of the old town dating back to the 5th Century. You will visit Mekhi Church, Narikala Fortress and Soini Cathedral. You will then visit one of our favorite Georgian restaurants where you visit their wine cellar to get an introduction to Georgian wines. You will have lunch and then proceed to the Georgian State Museum. You return to your hotel for a chance to rest. In the early evening your guide will return to take you on an evening walk on Rustaveli Avenue one of Tbilisi’s most fashionable streets. After your walk you dine at one of the city’s many fine restaurants.
Day 8: Sighnaghi and the Tradition of the Tamada
After breakfast at the hotel you will meet up with your guide and head to the East of Georgia and the province of Kakheti, a rich fertile region with abundant vineyards and wine producing villages. First however you will stop in Sighnaghi a royal town built by King Erekle II in the 18th Century and noted for its defensive wall enhanced by 23 watch towers. The town had many gates through which Georgia was connected with Europe and Asia by various trade routes. After enjoying the town’s tiny and cozy streets and the views of the Alazani Valley you head to a local winery to enjoy a taste of the “Pheasant’s Tears” wine as a prelude to lunch at a local wine bar. After lunch you stop in the village of Gurjaani where you visit a local family home for some down home cooking lessons. This evening will be spent in Telavi where you will visit a typical Georgian guest house where you have dinner enhanced by the presence of a Tamada, a toast maker, who will assist you in enjoying many toasts with fine Georgian Wine. Enjoy the evening.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: The Wines of Kvareli
You start your day with a visit to the local food market in Telavi before continuing on to Gremi which was the residence of Kakhetian kings in the 16th and 17th Centuries. Arriving in Avarali you visit several local wineries before lunch at a local restaurant. You continue on to the Tsinandali estate and the winery founded by the famous poet Alexander Chavchavadze in the 19th Century. You will visit the vineyards and the cellar where the oldest wine dates back to 1814.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Stalin and the Bean Secrets of Shrosha
Your first stop today will be Gori, the birthplace of Joseph Stalin the infamous leader of Russia. You will see the house in which he was born and the museum with some of his artifacts. Your next stop will be the ancient complex of Uplistsikhe which was founded in the Hellenistic period and flourished through the early Christian era. You will be able to see banquet halls, temples and narrow streets, many carved from the ancient rock. After lunch at a local restaurant you pass through the town of Kutaisi before arriving in Shrosha and its basket market. While in Shrosha you will learn the secrets of making Lobio a classic Georgian appetizer made from beans and walnuts. You return to Kutaisi where you have dinner and overnight.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: An Ecclesiastical Heritage
Like its neighbor, Armenia, Georgia has a long Christian heritage and on your way back to Tbilisi you will see several manifestations of that starting with the Gelati academy and monastery complex created in the 12th Century and noted for its murals and mosaics dating from the 12th through the 17th Centuries. You will then drive to the ancient town of Mtskheta, a cultural and political center dating from the 3rd Century. Have lunch in town and then drive to Jvari Monastery, an excellent example of Georgian Medieval architecture dating from the 6th Century. Your last visit will be to the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, an 11th century architectural monument. Arrive back in Tbilisi to enjoy a farewell dinner enhanced by a folk performance.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Return to USA
In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for the beginning of your return to the USA which will occur later that same afternoon.
Breakfast
