Baku tour Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive Baku (AZERBAIJAN)
Xosh galmisan! (Welcome in Azerbaijani) Upon arrival in Baku we are met and transferred to our hotel.
Overnight: Grand Europe Hotel, Baku (3 nights)

Day 2: Baku
Morning tour of the Gobustan and the mud volcanoes. Our afternoon sightseeing tour of Baku highlights some striking architectural monuments of the Islamic Medieval period including the medieval walls of the Old Town, Shirvan Shakh's Palace, the Maiden Tower, the Carpet and Applied Arts Museum. (B, D)

Day 3: Baku
This morning sightseeing tour of Baku highlights some striking architectural monuments of the Islamic Medieval period including the medieval walls of the Old town, Shirvan Shakhs' Palace, the Maiden Tower, the Carpet and Applied Art Museum, the Ateshgan fire worshippers temple and the 14th century temple in Mardakan. (B, D)

 Sheki (Drive)
Today we embark on a scenic and relaxed drive to Sheki. We will take advantage of the early arrival with a tour of Sheki, including the Museum of Applied Arts, "Shebeke" manufacturing workshops, and the magnificent Sheki Khan's palace (view from the outside only). Evening is free to enjoy and stroll around Sheki town.
Overnight: Caravan Saray, Sheki (1 night) (B, D)

Day 4: Baku /Guba
Day trip to Guba town. (95 miles north of Baku) A pleasant town on the slopes of the Shahdag Mountain Range (2000 feet above sea level) A 16th century fortress dominates Guba but another great site is the hundreds of apple orchards (which should be in blossom in early May!) En route stop near sanctuary Pir Khydyr Zinde. Visit mosque of Sakina-Khanum, Ardabil mosque, Dome-shaped Baths in Guba. Continue to canyon of Tengy on the river of Valvalachay. Lunch at local restaurant. Walk to Afuja waterfall before transferring back to Baku. Dinner in Baku

 

Day 5: Sheki / Lagodekhi / Telavi (GEORGIA - Drive)
Morning we prepare for our departure from Azerbaijan as we are driven to the border where we will meet with our Georgian guide and transport for our transfer to Telavi. As we drive to Telavi, we visit the Tsinandali Winery and Park, Alavedri Cathedral and Shuamta Monastery in the Kakheti province.
Overnight: Private homes, Telavi (1 night) (B, D)

Day 6: Telavi / Tbilisi (Drive)
Another interesting day ahead as we drive from Telavi to the David Gareji Monastery in the Gareji semi-desert. We also visit Lavra and walk up to Udabno cave Monastery. Afternoon is a leisurely drive to the capital city of Tbilisi.
Overnight: Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel, Tbilisi (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 7: Tbilisi
Our full day sightseeing tour starts with the State Museum of Georgia with its magnificent exhibition of gold work dating back to the 3rd century BC, the Old Caravansary Merchants oriental style building, the Metechi cross cupola church (12th-13th century), areas of the Royal residential complex, the Sulfur Bathhouses, the Carpet Collection, Siony, the Main Cathedral of Tbilisi (7th-19th century), and finally Rustaveli Avenue, the most beautiful street of Tbilisi. Rustaveli is a popular street where both local and foreigners gather to meet and spend time together. This is also a popular shopping place and one can often find roadside musicians displaying their talent. (B, D)

Day 8: Tbilisi / Bakuriani (Drive)
A scenic drive with some interesting sites being covered today. We start off with a visit to Mtskheta where we visit Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. We then continue for Gori where we visit Uplistsikhe cave town. We may possibly also visit the Joseph Stalin Museum. Later we embark on our journey to Bakuriani ski resort via Borjomi.
Overnight: Vera Palace Hotel, Bakuriani (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 9: Bakuriani
An exciting day ahead as we drive to Samtskhe-Javakheti Province where we will visit some exceptional sites. The Khertvisi Fortress (11th century) that, according to legend, was seen along with other Georgian fortresses by Alexander of Macedonian in the 4th Century BC during his campaign in the east. The Cave-town of Vardzia (12th -13th Century frescos), is a striking complex hewn in rock, regarded as the cultural and educational center of the time. (B, L, D)

Day 10: Bakuriani / Tbilisi (Drive)
On our return journey from Bakuriani to Tbilisi we take a diversion and turn north along Georgian Military Highway up to Zhinvali Lake. Here we visit the Ananauri architectural complex. We arrive in time at Tbilisi to allow us with some independent time to wander through the town and local bazaars.
Overnight: Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel, Tbilisi (1 night)(B, D)

Day 11: Tbilisi / Yerevan (ARMENIA - Drive)
After breakfast we head for Sadakhlo on the Georgian-Armenian border. Bidding farewell to our Georgian friends we are met by our Aremenian friends and warmly welcomed and transferred to Yerevan. En-route our journey to the Armenian capital, we visit the Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, touted as the best architectural examples of Armenian religious art between the 10th and 13th Centuries.
Overnight: Marriott Hotel, Yerevan (4 nights) (B, D)

Day 12: Yerevan
We start the day with a sightseeing tour of the city of Yerevan with visits to the National Museum of Armenian History and the Matenadaran, followed by an excursion to the Echmiadzin Church and Museum, and the Ripsime and Zvartnots Cathedrals. Evening is free to stroll on your own. Yerevan offers an interesting place to walk on your own and meet local folks as well as do some shopping. (B, D)

Day 13: Yerevan
Today is our excursion to Garni and Gegard, followed by an afternoon visit to the empty beaches and white sands of Lake Sevan. This mountainous lake covers approximately 5% of Armenia's surface area and is 2000 meters / 2187 yards above sea level. Maxim Gorky said about the waters, that they were like a piece of the sky that had descended to earth among the mountains. It will be an interesting countryside day. (B, D)

Day 14: Yerevan
Full day excursion south to Khor Virap, one of the romantically sited monasteries in Armenia with views across vast planes of Turkey and the twin peaks of Mount Ararat. Here, in the atmosphere of historical environment and vivid imagination one notices Noah's Ark in the snows of Ararat. Humankind was reborn here, and Noah is considered to be the first tourist in the world. The theatrical ceremonies and festivals performing on a Noah's-Ark-shaped stage in the immediate vicinity of the monastery and against the majestic Mount Ararat will take you back to the Noah's ages. Free time for people to enjoy Yerevan including visiting the hole where Gregory the Illuminator was jailed for disseminating Christianity in Armenia. The tour culminates with a visit to the 12th century monastery of Noravank set in a canyon rich with rare flora. (B, D)