Following the Footsteps of the Caucasus - Armenia and Georgia in 15 Days
15-day journey combining Armenia and Georgia: Yerevan, Garni, Geghard, Tbilisi, Kazbegi, Svaneti (Mestia and Ushguli), Kutaisi, Vardzia, Gyumri, Lake Sevan and Noravank.
Itinerary
DAY 1: Arrival in Yerevan
Transfer from Zvartnots Airport to hotel with guide assistance.
Distance: 13 km | Accommodation: Hotel Ani Plaza ⭐⭐⭐⭐
DAY 2: Yerevan - Garni - Geghard
City tour of Yerevan: Republic Square, Cascade complex with Mount Ararat views. Visit to Armenian Genocide Museum and Tsitsernakaberd Memorial. Garni Temple, only Hellenistic monument in the Caucasus. Geghard Monastery (UNESCO Heritage), carved into living rock.
Distance: 81 km | Accommodation: Hotel Ani Plaza ⭐⭐⭐⭐
DAY 3: Yerevan - Saghmosavank - Haghpat - Sanahin - Sadakhlo - Tbilisi
Saghmosavank Monastery on Kasagh River canyon edge. Lori region: Sanahin Monastery and Haghpat Monastery (UNESCO Heritage). Border crossing at Sadakhlo into Georgia (vehicle and guide change). Arrival in Tbilisi.
Distance: 301 km | Accommodation: Ibis Styles Tbilisi Center ⭐⭐⭐⭐
DAY 4: Tbilisi - Guided Tour
Rustaveli Avenue with Parliament and Opera Theater, Metekhi Square, cable car to Narikala Fortress (4th century), Abanotubani district with sulfur baths, Anchiskhati Basilica.
Accommodation: Ibis Styles Tbilisi Center ⭐⭐⭐⭐
DAY 5: Tbilisi - Ananuri - Kazbegi - Tbilisi
Georgian Military Highway: Ananuri Fortress over Zhinvali reservoir, Gergeti Trinity Church (2,170 m) beneath Mount Kazbegi with Greater Caucasus snow-capped views.
Distance: 321 km | Accommodation: Ibis Styles Tbilisi Center ⭐⭐⭐⭐
DAY 6: Tbilisi - Mtskheta - Uplistsikhe - Gori - Kutaisi
Mtskheta (UNESCO Heritage): Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Uplistsikhe, Iron Age rock city. Stalin Museum in Gori. Arrival in Kutaisi.
Distance: 267 km | Accommodation: Best Western Kutaisi ⭐⭐⭐⭐
DAY 7: Kutaisi - Okatse - Martvili - Kutaisi
Okatse Canyon with 700-meter suspended walkway over the abyss. Martvili Canyon with emerald waters and boat ride among waterfalls.
Distance: 128 km | Accommodation: Best Western Kutaisi ⭐⭐⭐⭐
DAY 8: Kutaisi - Ushguli - Mestia
Ascent to Svaneti: Ushguli (2,200 m), one of Europe's highest inhabited settlements, UNESCO Heritage, with medieval defensive towers beneath Mount Shkhara. Arrival in Mestia.
Distance: 208 km | Accommodation: Hotel Posta Mestia ⭐⭐⭐⭐
DAY 9: Mestia - Enguri - Zugdidi - Kutaisi
Descent from Mestia with gorge and river landscapes. Enguri Dam. Dadiani Palace in Zugdidi with botanical gardens and Napoleon connection. Return to Kutaisi.
Distance: 256 km | Accommodation: Best Western Kutaisi ⭐⭐⭐⭐
DAY 10: Kutaisi - Bagrati - Gelati - Prometheus - Borjomi - Akhaltsikhe
Bagrati Cathedral with Kutaisi panorama, Gelati Monastery (UNESCO Heritage) with medieval frescoes. Prometheus Cave with ancient formations and underground river. Borjomi with healing mineral waters. Arrival in Akhaltsikhe.
Distance: 239 km | Accommodation: Hotel Gino Wellness Rabath ⭐⭐⭐⭐
DAY 11: Akhaltsikhe - Vardzia - Khertvisi - Bavra - Gyumri
Vardzia, 12th century rock-hewn monastery city with Queen Tamar frescoes. Border crossing at Bavra into Armenia (vehicle and guide change). Arrival in Gyumri.
Distance: 193 km | Accommodation: 21 Rooms Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐
DAY 12: Gyumri - Dilijan - Sevan - Yerevan
Walking tour of Gyumri with 19th century volcanic tuff architecture. Dilijan old town, the "Little Switzerland," with Sharambeyan street. Lake Sevan, the high-mountain "sea." Arrival in Yerevan.
Accommodation: Hotel Ani Plaza ⭐⭐⭐⭐
DAY 13: Yerevan - Khor Virap - Areni Cave - Noravank
Khor Virap Monastery with closest Mount Ararat view. Areni Cave with world's oldest winery. Noravank Monastery (13th century) among red rock cliffs.
Distance: 239 km | Accommodation: Hotel Ani Plaza ⭐⭐⭐⭐
DAY 14: Departure from Yerevan
Transfer to Zvartnots Airport according to flight schedule.
Distance: 13 km
Follow in the footsteps of ancient civilizations on this fascinating 15-day journey titled "Following the Footsteps of the Caucasus." Designed for lovers of history and wild nature, this itinerary combines the solemnity of Armenian monasteries with the majesty of Georgian peaks, offering a balanced and enriching experience that connects two unique worlds.
Noah's Legacy in Armenia
The journey starts in Armenia, an open-air museum under the watchful gaze of Mount Ararat. We will begin exploring Yerevan, a city that mixes modernity with millennia of history. We will delve into the country's spiritual heart visiting Khor Virap, a pilgrimage site where Armenia's Christianization began, and the vineyards of Vayots Dzor, cradle of world oenology. The monasteries of Noravank, amid red canyons, and Geghard, carved into rock, will reveal this people's architectural mastery.
Georgia: From Capital to Svaneti's Peaks
Upon entering Georgia, the landscape transforms into a tapestry of green valleys and high mountains. After discovering the charms of cosmopolitan Tbilisi and the ancient religious capital Mtskheta, we will head toward adventure. This tour stands out for including a deep visit to the mysterious Svaneti region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There, surrounded by eternal glaciers, we will explore the villages of Mestia and Ushguli, famous for their defensive towers that have withstood centuries of invasions and avalanches.
The route will also take us to discover underground wonders in Prometheus Cave near Kutaisi and the imposing rock city of Vardzia in the south, a cave complex that once housed thousands of people. We will conclude our journey returning to Armenia through the city of arts, Gyumri. "Following the Footsteps of the Caucasus" is more than a trip; it's a living history lesson in one of the planet's most fascinating corners.
Included
- Accommodation: 13 nights in selected hotels
- Meals: Bed and breakfast
- Transport: Private vehicle with A/C and fuel
- Guide: Professional Spanish-speaking guide
- Logistics: Staff expenses (guide/driver)
- Water: 1 bottle per person/day
- Taxes: Local fees
- Entrances: Monuments as per itinerary
Not Included
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Lunches and dinners (unless specified)
- Alcoholic beverages and tips
- Personal expenses