The Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan Tour
Exploring the Extraordinary Countries of the Caucasus Region
The Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan Tour
15 days / 14 Nights
About this Tour
This tour allows you to visit all three of the Caucasus countries , each of which is quite different from the others.
While Georgia and Armenia are ancient Christian countries, each with their own language and alphabet, Azerbaijan on the other hand is a Turkic country whose language is fairly close to Turkish.
Since this, like all our other tours, is a private, custom-made tour, it can be extended to spend more time in any one of the three countries to be visited.
Since this tour covers a lot of ground we do not recommend making it any shorter. The itinerary outlined below starts in Azerbaijan and ends in Armenia, but this can also be done starting in Armenia and ending in Azerbaijan.
The itinerary packs a lot into two weeks of travel and there is a great deal of variety in what you will see. For anyone who wants to visit all three of the Caucasian countries, this is the tour to take.
The Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan Tour Prices*
2-person private tour
$5,295 per person
(2 people sharing 1 room)
4-person private tour
$4,295 per person
2 rooms (2 people per room)
6-person private small group tour
$3,995 per person
3 rooms (2 people per room)
8-person private small group tour
$3,695 per person
4 rooms (2 people per room)
* Single room supplement for all tours is $595. For example, if two people travel together but each person has his or her own room, the cost is an additional $595.
Included in the tour price:
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary below
- English-speaking guide and private vehicle
- Assistance in getting a visa, but not the cost of a visa
- Entrance fees for all museums and tourist attractions
Not included in the tour price:
- Tipping
- Extra beverages
- Mini Bar at hotels
- Personal services such as laundry, etc.
Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan – Day 1
Arrival in Baku, Azerbaijan
You will be met at the airport upon arrival and transferred to your Baku hotel, the City Park Hotel. This hotel is a nice modern property, and it is within short walking distance of the Old Town, which is a big advantage.
Baku is on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. There are two major divisions in Baku: the Old Town, and the newest part of the city that has the Flame Towers. The population in 2020 was 2.3 million.
- Overnight at the City Park Hotel
Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan – Day 2
Baku: Old and Modern Tour
After breakfast, we head to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Qobustan, home to over 6,000 Stone Age cave drawings, where we will explore caves, petroglyphs, and mud volcanoes.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we return to Baku for a tour of the city. Baku is really two different cities: the modern, high-end business center on the one hand, and the old walled city, known as the “inner city,” or Old Town which is probably of most interest to tourists.
But there is some interesting modern architecture to be seen in the modern part of the city, such as the Flame Towers. And, since Baku lies on the shores of the Caspian Sea, you can look out to the East and see the oil pumping stations that make Azerbaijan a world player in the oil market.
Later in the day, we explore the modern part of Baku, including a stop at the National Carpet Museum, which has the largest display of Azerbaijani carpets in the world.
- Overnight at the City Park Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan – Day 3
Baku to Lahij
We’ll have the full morning to enjoy Baku, the Caucasus’s most cosmopolitan city. We’ll focus on the old walled city (Inner City), and after entering through the Shemakhi Gate, we’ll visit the imposing Maiden Tower and the impressive Shirvanshahs’ Palace (both UNESCO World Heritage sites).
It can be safely said that the Inner City part of Baku is one of the most fascinating and well-preserved ancient cities to tour on foot.
After lunch, we will leave Baku and head west into the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains to the picturesque mountain village of Lahij, famed for its coppersmiths and thriving craft trade.
- Overnight at the Evim Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan – Day 4
Lahij to Shaki
After breakfast, we will have more time to wander around Lahij, then we set off for the historic city of Shaki, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and should be a highlight of your trip.
Few foreigners visit Azerbaijan beyond the capital city, Baku. In so doing, they overlook a true gem in the form of Shaki.
The small city of Shaki has a whole lot to offer by way of historic attractions; in particular, the Palace of the Shaki Khans (Khansarai) is a magnificent work of Islamic architecture and a world heritage site.
A relatively small city, Shaki has a population of about 63,000. Shaki is located at an altitude of 500 m (1,640 ft).
It is situated in northern Azerbaijan on the southern part of the Greater Caucasus mountain range, 325 km (201 mi) from Baku and not far from the Georgian border.
- Overnight at the Sheki Saray Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan – Day 5
Shaki – Kish – Shaki
iWth a full day in and around Shaki, among the places we will visit are the beautifully renovated Khan’s Palace and the very impressive caravanserai.
Later in the day, we will head out to the scenic village of Kish to see the round-towered Albanian Church.
It is said to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest, Christian churches in the world, dating back to the First Century AD.
Returning to Shaki, we will have time to see more of this fascinating old city.
- Overnight at the Shaki Saray Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan – Day 6
Travel from Shaki to Telavi, Georgia
Today we drive to the Azerbaijan/Georgia border and cross over into Kakheti, Georgia’s famous wine-growing region. We will have opportunities along the way to sample that wine.
After joining a local family for lunch at their home, we drive to the Nekresi Monastery, a Georgian Orthodox monastery founded in the 6th Century.
En route to Telavi, where we will spend the night, we stop to visit the 16th-Century fortified architectural site of Gremi, known as the Archangels’ Church Complex.
In the evening, we arrive in Telavi.
- Overnight at the Marani Elizbar 1918 Hotel or the Kviria Hotel (both beautiful boutique hotels)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan – Day 7
Telavi – Sighnaghi –Gori
This morning, before we leave Telavi, we’ll drop in on the local market.
We’ll then visit the 18th-Century fortified hilltop town of Sighnaghi, a beautiful village nearby.
From there, we will come to a local wine cellar where wine is produced and stored.
Of course, we will get to sample some of the typical wines of the region.
We then drive on to Gori, Stalin’s birthplace, where we will spend the night.
- Overnight at the Gori Inn or Georgia Gold
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan – Day 8
Gori – Kazbegi
Gori is famous or infamous as the birthplace of Josef Stalin. Surprisingly enough, Stalin remains popular among some older Georgians, even well-educated ones.
After a visit to the fascinating Stalin Museum (which remains unchanged since its opening in the Cold War era), we move on to the ancient remains of the Uplistsikhe cave city.
This fascinating rock-cut town dates back to the Iron Age. After lunch, we start our scenic drive up through the High Caucasus Mountains along the Georgian Military Highway, which remains the major route linking Georgia with Russia.
En route to our next overnight stop at Kazbegi, we’ll visit Ananuri, a medieval castle complex overlooking the Zhinvali reservoir. It has been nominated as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
After visiting Ananuri, we drive on to Kazbegi, where we will spend the night.
- Overnight at the Hotel Porta Caucasia
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan – Day 9
Kazbegi – Tbilisi
In the morning there will be a chance to walk for about 2 hours up and through the beautiful valleys and forests to the Gergeti Trinity Church (14th Century), located on top of a mountain and one of Georgia’s country’s most iconic images.
Weather permitting, we may also be able to catch a glimpse of one of the highest glaciers in the Caucasus Mountains, Mount Kazbegi (16,655 feet).
Afterwards, leaving the High Caucasus behind us, we head for Georgia’s ancient capital and religious center, Mtskheta, settled 3000 years ago and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
There, we will visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. First, the Jvari Monastery, which has survived almost unchanged since the Sixth Century, Then the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th Century), where the Robe of Christ is said to be buried.
We then continue on to Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, where we will spend the next two nights.
- Overnight at the Citrus Hotel or the KMM Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan – Day 10
Exploring Tbilisi
After breakfast, part of the day will be devoted to a walking tour of the old town center of Tbilisi.
You will stroll down narrow cobblestone streets with distinctive balconies. Tbilisi also has ancient domed sulfur baths, which you can sample if you plan ahead. You will certainly smell the sulfur as you walk by.
There will also be a visit to the ancient Narikala Fortress, which towers above the city. You can ascend by cable car if you are not feeling energetic enough to walk up.
Depending on where your interests lie, we can visit several other ancient churches as well as a local synagogue.
You can also visit Tbilisi’s historical museum. There is a lot to see here, so it is best to discuss your itinerary with your guide and narrow things down.
The rest of the day can be spent lounging around one of Tbilisi’s many cafes, doing some shopping, or just taking it easy after your walking tour.
In the evening, you can choose, with the advice of your guide, a nice local restaurant for dinner. There are many good choices.
- Overnight at the Citrus Hotel or the KMM Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan – Day 11
Tbilisi – Dilijan, Armenia
After an early breakfast, we will travel south to the border and into Armenia.
We will drive along the stunning Debed Canyon and reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Haghpat Monastery in the town of Alaverdi .
This industrial mining town doesn’t have a lot to offer, but there several beautiful monasteries in the vicinity, the Sanahin Monastery as well as aforementioned Haghpat Monastery.
The Haghpat monastery was built between the 10th and 13th Centuries.
Towards the end of the day, we will arrive at the beautiful spa town of Dilijan, where we spend the night.
Dilijan is the center of Armenia’s “Little Switzerland” area, and is a very popular place for locals to get away from the city.
- Overnight at the the Tufenkian Old Dilijan Complex
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan – Day 12
Dilijan – Goris
Today we will travel along Lake Sevan, one of the world’s largest high-altitude lakes. Lake Sevan is a popular summer beach destination and has many resorts, cabanas, fish restaurants and other amenities for visitors.
Also, a main reason to visit is to see Sevanvank monastery and other lakeside churches. We will take time to stop and explore the medieval Sevanavank Monastery.
We will also stop at the Selim Caravanserai, built in 1332 and said to be the best preserved of its type in the country.
Caravanserai, (ancient inns with a central courtyard for travelers) are found all along the ancient Silk Road.
These roadside inns are usually situated around a day’s journey apart from each other (depending if you were traveling by foot, donkey, horse or wagon, of course).
On our way to Goris, we will stop off at the prehistoric archeological site of Karahunj, Armenia’s version of Stonehenge.
Like Stonehenge, it is thought to have been used for astronomical purposes. We then drive on to Goris, where we will spend the night.
- Overnight at the Mirhav Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan – Day 13
Goris – Yerevan
After breakfast, the Wings of Tatev, the world’s longest cable car, will take us to one of the highlights of this Armenia journey – the Tatev monastery.
The Tatev is a 9th-Century monastery complex that was also the site of a medieval university.
On our way to Yerevan, we will also stop at the Noravank Monastery, which was founded in the 13th Century and built along a narrow gorge.
Armenia seems to have an endless number of spectacularly scenic monasteries.
Late in the day, we reach the ancient capital of Armenia, Yerevan, where we will spend the last two nights of the tour.
- Overnight at the Opera Suites Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan – Day 14
Exploring Yerevan
Today we will enjoy morning sightseeing around the Armenian capital, Yerevan. Yerevan is one of the oldest cities in the world and is considered to be even slightly older than Rome.
The Memorial to the 1915 Genocide, a tragic event that Armenians have not forgotten, is one of the places we will visit.
Sometimes called the first genocide of the Twentieth Century, the Armenian genocide was the systematic destruction of the Armenian people by the Ottoman Empire during World War I.
We will also see the Cascades, a giant stairway made of limestone that houses a contemporary art gallery. It was completed in 1980.
You may or may not want to climb all 572 steps. If not, there is an inside series of escalators to take you to the top.
After lunch, we will have some free time to explore the Armenian capital at our own pace before heading out for our farewell dinner.
- Overnight at the Opera Suites Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan – Day 15
End of Tour & Departure
The tour ends after breakfast at the hotel. You will be transported back to the airport today for your return flight home.
If you have time you might be able to get in some quick gift shopping.
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