The Heart of the Caucasus - Armenia and Georgia in 15 Days
15-day odyssey through Armenia and Georgia. From Yerevan explore Garni, Geghard and UNESCO monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin. In Georgia discover Tbilisi, Kazbegi, Kutaisi, Okatse and Martvili canyons, Svaneti with Mestia and Ushguli, Batumi on the Black Sea, Vardzia and return to Armenia via Gyumri, Lake Sevan, Khor Virap and Noravank.
Itinerary
DAY 1: Arrival in Yerevan
Transfer from Zvartnots airport to hotel in Yerevan.
Accommodation: Hotel Ani Plaza ⭐⭐⭐⭐
13 km | 25 min by car
DAY 2: Yerevan - Garni - Geghard
Yerevan city tour: Republic Square and Cascade complex with Mount Ararat views. Visit to Armenian Genocide Museum and Tsitsernakaberd Memorial. Garni Temple, the only Hellenistic monument in the Caucasus. Geghard Monastery, UNESCO Heritage carved into rock with extraordinary acoustics.
Accommodation: Hotel Ani Plaza ⭐⭐⭐⭐
81 km | 2h 25 min by car
DAY 3: Yerevan - Saghmosavank - Haghpat - Sanahin - Tbilisi
Saghmosavank Monastery on the edge of Kasagh River canyon. UNESCO monasteries of Sanahin and Haghpat in Lori region, masterpieces of Armenian religious architecture with khachkars. Border crossing at Sadakhlo into Georgia with vehicle and guide change.
Accommodation: Ibis Styles Tbilisi Center ⭐⭐⭐⭐
301 km | 5h 53 min by car
DAY 4: Tbilisi - Guided Tour
Rustaveli Avenue: Parliament, Opera House, Rustaveli Theatre and Kashveti Church. Metekhi Square with views over Mtkvari River. Cable car to 4th-century Narikala Fortress. Abanotubani district with sulfur baths. Anchiskhati Basilica, the city's oldest church.
Accommodation: Ibis Styles Tbilisi Center ⭐⭐⭐⭐
DAY 5: Tbilisi - Ananuri - Kazbegi - Tbilisi
Ananuri Fortress with views of Zhinvali reservoir. Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,170 meters under Mount Kazbek. Alpine landscapes of the Greater Caucasus.
Accommodation: Ibis Styles Tbilisi Center ⭐⭐⭐⭐
321 km | 6h by car
DAY 6: Tbilisi - Mtskheta - Uplistsikhe - Gori - Kutaisi
Mtskheta: Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, UNESCO Heritage. Iron Age rock city of Uplistsikhe. Stalin Museum in Gori. Arrival in Kutaisi.
Accommodation: Best Western Kutaisi ⭐⭐⭐⭐
267 km | 4h 44 min by car
DAY 7: Kutaisi - Okatse Canyon - Martvili Canyon
Okatse Canyon: 700-meter hanging walkway with gorge views. Martvili Canyon: emerald waters, boat ride between rock walls and waterfalls (water level permitting).
Accommodation: Best Western Kutaisi ⭐⭐⭐⭐
128 km | 2h 40 min by car
DAY 8: Kutaisi - Ushguli - Mestia
Ascent to Svaneti reaching Ushguli (2,200 m), UNESCO Heritage with medieval defensive towers under Mount Shkhara. Hike toward glacier base. Night in Mestia.
Accommodation: Hotel Posta Mestia ⭐⭐⭐⭐
208 km | 5h 20 min by car
DAY 9: Mestia - Chalaadi Glacier - Hatsvali
Hike to Chalaadi Glacier crossing bridge over Mestiachala River. Cable car to Hatsvali up to Zuruldi ridge with views of Mount Ushba and Tetnuldi.
Accommodation: Hotel Posta Mestia ⭐⭐⭐⭐
34 km | 1h 11 min by car
DAY 10: Mestia - Zugdidi - Dendrological Park - Batumi
Descent from Greater Caucasus via Zugdidi. Shekvetili Dendrological Park: century-old trees, bamboo forests, lemurs and flamingos. Arrival in Batumi, the Black Sea pearl.
Accommodation: Best Western Premier Batumi ⭐⭐⭐⭐
268 km | 5h 08 min by car
DAY 11: Batumi - Ubisa - Borjomi - Akhaltsikhe
9th-century Ubisa Monastery with 14th-century frescoes. Borjomi: Mineral Park and volcanic healing waters. Arrival in Akhaltsikhe beside its fortress.
Accommodation: Hotel Gino Wellness Rabath ⭐⭐⭐⭐
324 km | 5h 43 min by car
DAY 12: Akhaltsikhe - Vardzia - Border - Gyumri
12th-century Vardzia rock-hewn monastery city with Queen Tamar frescoes. Border crossing at Bavra into Armenia with vehicle and guide change. Arrival in Gyumri.
Accommodation: 21 Rooms Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐
193 km | 3h 55 min by car
DAY 13: Gyumri - Dilijan - Lake Sevan - Yerevan
Walk through Gyumri, Armenia's cultural capital, with 19th-century volcanic tuff architecture. Dilijan old town, the "Little Switzerland". Lake Sevan, the high-altitude "sea". Arrival in Yerevan.
Accommodation: Hotel Ani Plaza ⭐⭐⭐⭐
DAY 14: Yerevan - Khor Virap - Areni Cave - Noravank
Khor Virap Monastery with the most iconic Mount Ararat view. Areni Cave: world's oldest winery. 13th-century Noravank Monastery among red rock cliffs.
Accommodation: Hotel Ani Plaza ⭐⭐⭐⭐
239 km | 4h 23 min by car
DAY 15: Departure from Yerevan
Transfer from hotel to Zvartnots airport according to flight time.
13 km | 25 min by car
Prepare for an unforgettable 15-day odyssey through the ancestral lands of Armenia and Georgia. "The Heart of the Caucasus" is not just a trip; it is a deep immersion into the cradle of civilization, where history intertwines with landscapes of breathtaking beauty. This itinerary is our most ambitious and complete proposal, meticulously designed for the traveler who is not content with seeing, but seeks to feel and understand the essence of these sister nations.
Armenia: Land of Sacred Stones and Infinite Horizons
Our adventure begins in Yerevan, the vibrant pink capital of Armenia. From here, we will explore the spiritual treasures of the world's first Christian country. We will visit the Holy See of Echmiadzin, the "Armenian Vatican", and marvel at the pagan temple of Garni, a piece of classical Greece in the Caucasus, and the rock-hewn monastery of Geghard, where the celestial acoustics will give you goosebumps. Views of the biblical Mount Ararat from Khor Virap and a visit to the mystical wine region of Areni will not be missed.
Georgia: Contrasts, Mountains and the Black Sea
Crossing the border northward, Georgia welcomes us with its legendary hospitality. We will discover Tbilisi, a city of wooden balconies and sulfur baths, before ascending to the peaks of the Greater Caucasus in Kazbegi. But the true gem of this grand tour is the exploration of western Georgia. We will travel to the land of the Golden Fleece in Kutaisi and venture into the untamed region of Svaneti. There, among the medieval towers of Mestia and Ushguli (Europe's highest village), you will feel you have traveled back in time.
The journey culminates with a relaxing contrast on the Black Sea coast in Batumi, strolling through its tropical botanical garden, before returning through the historic cave city of Vardzia and Akhaltsikhe fortress. We will return to Armenia via Gyumri, completing a perfect circle of culture, nature and gastronomy. This is the ultimate trip to fall in love with the Caucasus.
Included
- Accommodation: 14 nights in selected hotels
- Meals: Bed and breakfast
- Transport: Private vehicle with A/C and fuel
- Guide: Professional English-speaking guide
- Logistics: Staff expenses (guide/driver)
- Water: 1 bottle per person/day
- Taxes: Local taxes
- Entrance fees: Monuments according to itinerary
Not Included
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Lunches and dinners (unless indicated)
- Alcoholic beverages and tips
- Personal expenses