"CAUCASUS HERITAGE" (Azerbaijan+Georgia)

Combined group tour to two South Caucasus countries – Azerbaijan and Georgia. You start the journey from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, Sheki and continue the way to Georgia, visiting Sighnaghi, Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Kazbegi, Gudauri, Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe. Two highly-qualified and friendly guides will work for you. They will take you to the most remarkable historical and architectural monuments, UNESCO World Heritage Sights, special highlights, they will help you to choose delicious food and finest wines. Get acquainted with two different cultures, see diversity of the traditions and visit the most unique and spectacular sights of these countries. The group is “Guaranteed to Run” after two people book the tour.

ACCOMMODATION:  8 nights

3 nights in Baku, 1 night in Sheki, 4 nights in Tbilisi. 

TOUR PROGRAM:

DAY 1. Baku

• Arrive at the Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport and meet our local representative at the pick-up point.
• Check-inn at the hotel. Free time for rest.
• Dinner at the restaurant.  (Overnight in Baku)
• Meal: Dinner

 DAY 2. Baku city tour

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Baku city tour: 
• Icheri Sheher (Old City), known as a “fortress” – is a unique historical and architectural conservation area in the center of Baku. This is one of the ancient and densely populated places of the country and even of the Middle East. Archaeological excavations revealed burial vaults of the Bronze Age. The Maiden Tower (the 12th century) and the Shirvanshah palace (the 13th-16th century) are well-known historical monuments also locate in Old City. Besides them there are a lot of other unique monuments of Icheri Sheher: mosques, minarets, the remnants of caravanserais "Multani" and "Bukhara", ancient baths. There are a lot of souvenir shops where you can purchase national clothes, kerchiefs, scarves and caps, dishes and handmade carpets.
• walking down to Nizami Street (old trading zone with lots of shops and boutiques), Fountain Square, shopping center “Park Boulevard”, etc. Baku Boulevard is the second largest one in Europe where tourists can get a boat to make a trip along Baku Bay and to be introduced to the interesting facts and legends of the largest lake in the world better known as Caspian Sea.
• Baku panorama viewing from the Upland Park, and have the opportunity to have a look at Baku hotel complex «Flame Towers Baku» – a new business card of the city (Overnight in Baku).
• Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch

DAY 3. Baku - Gobustan - Fire Temple - Baku (approx.120 km.)

• After breakfast, transfer to Gobustan, sightseeing in:
• Gobustan rock art sites (inside); Mud volcano group (inside); Bibi-Heybat Mosque; Fire Temple (inside); Yanar Dag (inside
• (Overnight in Baku)
•  Meal:Breakfast, Lunch ( Grilled fish meal), Dinner

DAY 4. Baku - Shamakhi - Sheki (approx. 300 km.)

• After breakfast, Check out the hotel. Transfer to Shamakhi, visit in Diri Baba tomb; Juma Mosque
• Transfer to Sheki, visit Khan Summer Palace (inside).
• Transfer to hotel check in the hotel (overnight in Sheki).
• Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 DAY 5. Sheki - Lagodeghi - Signaghi - Tbilisi (approx.280km.)

• After breakfast, Check out the hotel. Transfer to Azerbaijan-Georgian border.
• On the way stop at the village of Bodbe and see the monastery complex of St. George and the grave of St. Nino that brought Christianity to Georgia. Afterwards, arrive in Sighnaghi and walk along the ancient town that is placed at the top of the ridge, overlooking Alazani valley.
• Here you will enjoy a Georgian wine tasting, Lunch and cooking class at the wine cellar. In the late afternoon arrival to Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia. (Overnight in Tbilisi).
• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, wine tasting & cooking class at the winery in Kvareli

DAY 6. Tbilisi - Mtskheta - Tbilisi (approx.60 km.)

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Excursion in the former capital city Mtsketa that is the religious center of Georgia.
• Visit its Monuments, which are in the UNESCO Heritage list.
• Mtskheta is one of oldest cities of Georgia (in Kartli province of Eastern Georgia), near Tbilisi.
• Mtskheta was a capital of the Georgian Kingdom of Iberia during the 3rd century BC - 5thcentury AD. Here Georgians accepted Christianity in 317 and Mtskheta still remains the headquarters of the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church.
• Jvari Monastery is a Georgian Orthodox monastery of the 6th century near Mtskheta (World Heritage site), Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, eastern Georgia. The name is translated as the Monastery of the Cross. For another, Jerusalem-located Georgian monastery with the same name.
• Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, built in the 11 th century. Though the site itself is even older dating back to the early 4th century and is surrounded by a number of legends associated primarily with the early Christian traditions. Svetitskhoveli, known as the burial site of Christ's mantle, has long been the principal Georgian church and remains one of the most venerated places of worship to this day. The church is in UNESCO world heritage sites.
• Visit home winery near Mtskheta-2 kind of wine and vodka tasting. Lunch.
• Transfer to Tbilisi
• Walking tour in the old part of Tbilisi:
• Metekhi church (c. XII) 
• Abanotubani –(Literally “bath district”) , there we will see one of sights of the old city – the well-known Sulfuric Baths which were reflected in Marco Polo, A. S. Pushkin and Alexandre Dumas's memoirs. 
• Fortress “Narikla” – move up by the ropeway
• Legvtakhevi – beautiful pedestrian street with little waterfall.
• «Peace Bridge»
• Walking through the street «Bambis rigi»
• Rezo Gabriadze Famous Marionette theatre with clock tower.
• The sulphur baths are intimately connected with Tbilisi.
• It is said that the hot springs are why the city was built here.
• High in sulphurs and other minerals, with a constant temperature of 38C to 40C, the waters have long been used as a therapeutic aid for a range of ailments including skin conditions and arthritis. (Overnight in Tbilisi)
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch

 DAY 7. Tbilisi - Ananuri - Kazbegi -Tbilisi  (approx. 300km)

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Our first stop will be at the Ananuri fortress. This is a medieval castle that was constructed to protect the trade route. The place is well-known not only for its reach history but also for the breathtaking views of the Zhinvali water reservoir. Ananuri castle was a scene of many battles over the centuries. It was protecting the surrounding lands from the numerous invaders, coming from the Darial Gorge. Now it is a peaceful place, famous for its outstanding views on the surrounding mountains.
• We will prolong our way along the Georgian Military Road, pass through the Gudauri Ski resort (one of the most popular in Georgia).
• Finally, we will go up the mountain and enjoy the breath-taking views from the Gergety Trinity Church –built in medieval time the church is located on the slope of Mount Kazbek with the Caucus mountains rising in the background.
• Transfer to  Tbilisi. Dinner at the restaurant with show program of Georgian national dances. (Overnight in Tbilisi).
• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 DAY 8. Tbilisi - Borjomi - Akhaltsikhe - Tbilisi (approx. 450 km.)

• Breakfast at the Hotel.
• Departure to small city Borjomi, which is famous for its mineral water industry (which is the number one export of Georgia). Archaeological excavations have revealed the existence of stone baths in the area, proving that these mineral waters have been utilized by people for thousands of years. Borjomi is also home to the most extensive ecologically-themed amusement park in the Caucasus.
• The most remarkable virtues of Borjomi are its striking nature and unique mineral waters. One of the best places to experience this is the “Mineral Water Park” of Borjomi.
• Visit town “Akhaltsikhe”. Its name means “a new fortress”, because the town’s fortress used to be the most important landmark of the region. Now, the huge freshly renovated fortress of Rabati remains the main landmark of Akhaltsikhe. Its upper part includes the castle of the Jakeli amily, where the Museum of Samtskhe-Javakheti region is situated; there are also an Akhmediye Mosque, an orthodox church, an amphitheatre and a citadel. The other part of Rabati includes touristic objects as hotels, cafes, restaurants, an information center, and even a marriage hall. It is a very beautiful place for a wedding ceremony and a romantic photo site, indeed!
• Lunch in Borjomi. (Overnight in Tbilisi)
• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 DAY 9. Tbilisi

• Breakfast at the hotel. 
• Check-out from the hotel and transfer to the airport of Tbilisi.

ALL PRICES ARE GIVEN FOR ONE PERSON IN ROOM IN USD.

PRICES INCLUDES:

• Professional Guide Service; 
• Transportation during the whole tour 
• Local off-road jeeps in Kazbegi 
• All entrance fees 
• Narikala camble tickets 
• Entrance fees in Azerbaijan: (Shirvanshah's Palace, National Museum of History of Azerbaijan, Gobustan, Mud volcano, Fire Temple, Yanar Dag, Khan Summer Palace)
• Wine degustation & master class in Wine Cellar (baking bread, making churchkhela/ degustation desk (cheese, churchkhela, Georgian sweets, walnut)  
• 7 Lunches & 8 Dinners 
• Accommodation at 4/5  Star  hotels  with Breakfast according the program.

PRICES NOT INCLUDES:

• Early check-inn or late check-out 
• Flight tickets 
• Visa fee 
• Entrance tickets:  Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre - 9 USD pp; Shirvanshah Palace - 9 USD pp; Maiden Tower - 9 USDpp 
• Travel & Medical insurance