Overview
Georgia and Armenia constitute one of the most authentic and distinct regions of the Caucasus. On this trip, you will travel through the land of the first medieval kingdoms to adopt Christianity as an official religion, discover two countries with unique cultures, languages and traditions as well as meet their resilient and warm-hearted people. Besides the exciting cultural exploration, you will also enjoy breathtaking sceneries of rugged mountains and massive volcanoes.
The itinerary will first take you to Georgia’s iconic Kazbegi region, where you will marvel at the vast mountainscapes dominated by the imposing Mt. Kazbek. Near the border with Azerbaijan, you will also visit David Gareja, a rock-hewn monastery complex located on the half-desert slopes of Mount Gareja. In Armenia, you will explore some of the country’s most iconic monasteries, lake Sevan and the slopes of Mt. Aragats.
This is a journey for adventurous travellers looking for an authentic experience combining scenic walks and cultural exploration of an “off the beaten track” destination. We offer this trip as a private group departure with a local guide, who will help you get the most out of the trip, taking care of the logistics and giving you a personal perspective of the historical and cultural complexities of the region.
- Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia
- Explore the region of mount Kazbek
- Davit Gareji Monastery Complex
- Yerevan, the capital of Armenia
- Noravank Monastery
- The scenic Lake Sevan
- Climb one of the peaks of Mount Aragats
- Ghegard Monastery (a UNESCO site with enhanced protection status)
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Tbilisi
You arrive and check-in at your hotel in Tbilisi in the evening or the early morning on the next day.
- Accommodation: Hotel Gureli or similar
Day 2: Tbilisi
In the morning, you depart on a guided Tbilisi walking tour. Tbilisi’s historical part is located at Narikala Fortress’s foot and charms its visitors with its romantic, narrow streets, beautiful facades, and picturesque sites next to each other, including the Metekhi Church Synagogue, the Sioni Cathedral, the Bridge of Peace, the Anchiskhati Church and the famous sulphur bathhouses. After lunch, continue walking over Orbeliani Square and Dry Bridge market to the New Tiflis pedestrian street leading to Marjanishvili Metro Station. From here, take the subway back to Avlabari, where your hotel is located. You will have some free time to explore more or relax before dinner in a traditional Georgian restaurant.
- Accommodation: Hotel Gureli or similar
- Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: Tbilisi – Ananuri – Khada Valley – Stepantsminda | 2.5h
Transfer along the Georgian Military Highway leading to the Higher Caucasus Mountains. On the way, visit Ananuri fort from the 17th century, overlooking the Jinvali water reservoir. Once you reach Gudauri, a famous ski resort in Georgia, you will start hiking on alpine meadows towards medieval tower ruins in Khada Valley. After a picnic lunch, you will head back to get on a cable car connecting Gudauri with Kobi, a ride that will reveal you great mountain views. A transfer will take you to Stepantsminda, where you will have dinner and spend the following two overnights.
- Accommodation: Green Sheep Hotel or similar
- Walking for the day: approx. 2.5h, ↑100m ↓300m
- Included meals: breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
- Driving for the day: approx. 160km, 3.5h
Day 4: Stepantsminda – Gergeti – Stepantsminda | 3.5-7h
Stepantsminda settlement is famous for its proximity to the beautiful Mt. Kazbek (5,047m), one of Georgia’s highest mountains. According to an old Greek legend, Prometheus was chained to this mountain as a punishment for stealing fire from Zeus. A walk on the forested slopes will lead you to Gergeti Trinity Church, dating to the 14th century. A wonderful vista opens from there, over the settlement Stepantsminda and its surrounding mountains. You can also continue hiking towards the glacier upon your wish (approx. 4h more). After the descent, you can enjoy some free time and dinner at the hotel.
- Accommodation: Green Sheep Hotel or similar
- Walking for the day (to Gergeti Church): approx. 3.5h, ↑470m ↓470m
- Walking for the day (extension towards the glacier): approx 4h, ↑430m ↓430m
- Included meals: breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Day 5: Stepantsminda – Juta – Mtskheta – Tbilisi | 4h
An off-road transfer through Sno Valley will bring you to the village of Juta, cut from the rest of the world during the winter. From Juta village, start your hiking towards Chaukhebi Mount. After the hike, transfer to the old capital and religious centre of Georgia – Mtskheta. Visit its historical sites: Jvari church (6th century) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century, UNESCO World Heritage Site), where the Robe of Christ is supposedly buried. Dinner in a traditional Georgian restaurant.
- Accommodation: Hotel Gureli or similar
- Walking for the day: approx. 3.5-4h, ↑400m ↓400m
- Included meals: breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
- Driving for the day: approx. 160km, 3.5h
Day 6: Tbilisi – Samshvilde – Tbilisi | 2h
Today you will depart on tour to the South to the region Kvemo Kartli. After 1.5h drive, you will start walking to the ruins of the fortified city Samshvilde dating back to the 3rd century BC (2h walk, easy). The site includes ruins of several churches, a citadel, palaces, houses, a bridge over the Chivchavi river, water cisterns, bathes, and a cemetery. You will also enjoy beautiful views of the canyons on both sides of the fortress. Then have lunch in the former German settlement Elisabethtal (today Asureti) on the way back to the capital city. Back in Tbilisi, you will enjoy a farewell dinner and your last evening in Georgia.
- Accommodation: Hotel Gureli or similar
- Walking for the day: approx. 2h
- Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Driving for the day: approx. 160km
Day 7: Tbilisi – Sadakhlo – Yenokavan | 3-4h
Transfer to the Georgia-Armenia border at Sadakhlo, where you will change your guide and vehicle and enter Armenia. You will head towards Sanahin village (1,060m), with a first visit to the Sanahin Monastery (10th century, UNESCO World Heritage Site). Start hiking to another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Haghpat Monastery (10th-13th centuries). Then transfer to Yenokavan village and check in at your accommodation in Apaga resort.
- Accommodation: Apaga Resort or similar
- Walking for the day: approx. 3-4h, ↑200m ↓200m
- Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Driving for the day: approx. 265km, approx. 5.5h
Day 8: Yenokavan – Lastiver – Dilijan | 6h
Breakfast at the hotel. Start hiking from Yenokavan to Lastiver, a 100m deep gorge covered with dense forest located in the northeast of Armenia. There are several caves in the gorge with some rock carvings. The trail cross over the Khachaghbyur river ending at Lastiver Waterfalls. Continue driving to Dilijan, a town known for spa resorts and traditional craft workshops, surrounded by the forests of Dilijan National Park. Check-in at your accommodation in Dilijan.
- Accommodation: Armeni Toon BB or similar
- Walking for the day: approx. 6h, ↑135m ↓370m
- Included meals: breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
- Driving for the day: approx. 45km, 45min
Day 9: Dilijan – Parz See – Sevan – Yeghegis | 2.5h
Breakfast in the hotel. The day starts with the transfer to Parz Lich, a small lake in Dilijan National Park. Hiking begins from Parz Lich to Goschavank monastery of the 13th century, famous for Armenian most beautiful cross-stone. The trail is laid mainly in forests. You will stop for lunch at a local house in Goshavank. After, visit the monastery and depart to Lake Sevan, the second largest and highest alpine freshwater lake in the world, and explore the medieval 9th-century monasteries on the peninsula. Take a boat trip on Lake Sevan (20-30min) and continue to Yeghegis. Check-in at your accommodation in a boutique hotel.
- Accommodation: Arevi Boutique Hotel or similar
- Walking for the day: approx. 2.5h, ↑160m ↓300m
- Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Driving for the day: approx. 160km, approx. 2.5h
Day 10: Yeghegis – Smbataberd – Noravank – Yerevan | 6-7h
Breakfast and check out. Transfer to Yeghegis valley and start hiking to Smbataberd Fortress, one of the most impressive natural sites of Vayots Dzor province, with picturesque ruins on the mountainside and the background of the Lesser Caucasus valleys. Continue hiking to the 10th-century Tsakhats Qar monastery, which still attracts visitors with its beauty even if it is partly destroyed. After, transfer back to Yerevan. On the way back, not far from Yeghegis, stop at a small family wine cellar, “Old Bridge”, for wine tasting. The last stop is at Noravank Monastery (9th – 14th centuries), located above the Ghnishik river gorge. Continue to Yerevan for dinner and overnight.
- Accommodation: Ani Central Inn or similar
- Walking for the day: approx. 12km, 6-7h, ↑600m ↓600m
- Included meals: breakfast, picnic lunch
- Driving for the day: approx. 120km, approx. 2.5h
Day 11: Yerevan – Trekking to Mt. Aragats – Yerevan | 14km
After breakfast, transfer to Mount Aragats – the highest mountain in Armenia (4,095m), where you will climb to the south summit (3,887m). After the picnic lunch, you will return to Yerevan.
- Accommodation: Ani Central Inn or similar
- Walking for the day: approx. 14km, 4-5h, ↑470m ↓470m
- Included meals: breakfast, picnic lunch
- Driving for the day: approx. 120km, approx. 3h
Day 12: Yerevan – Goght – Garni – Yerevan | 3h
After breakfast, transfer to Goght village and start hiking in the Azat river gorge towards Garni pagan temple dating back to the 1st century. Have lunch at a local house in Garni, then visit the Ghegard cave monastery (listed as a UNESCO site) and return to Yerevan. You can go shopping in Vernissage’s open-air handicraft market or take an evening stroll in Republic Square to enjoy the evening dancing and singing colourful fountains. Farewell dinner and overnight.
- Accommodation: Ani Central Inn or similar
- Walking for the day: approx. 14km, 2.5 – 3h, ↑280m ↓110m
- Included meals: breakfast, lunch
- Driving for the day: approx. 80 km, approx. 2h
Day 13: Yerevan city tour
After breakfast, you will depart on a guided city tour of Yerevan, Armenia’s capital and one of the world’s oldest cities, dating back to 872 B.C. You have the whole day to explore the city’s sites such as the History Museum, the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex.
- Accommodation: Ani Central Inn or similar
- Included meals: breakfast, lunch
Day 14: Departure
After breakfast, transfer to the airport.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in nice 3* hotels and countryside resorts, all in double or twin private en-suite rooms. We have carefully hand-picked all places and regularly monitor their quality. We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
Click to view default hotels
Hotels are subject to availability. In case a hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a property of equal standard. We will provide full accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Meals
The package includes a full-board meal plan (as described in the itinerary), including breakfast in your accommodation, lunches (mostly picnic) and evening meals, allowing you to enjoy the local cuisine.
Difficulty and terrain
The active part of the trip is easy and accessible, with an average of 3 to 7h of walking per day. Still, a good physical shape is recommended to experience the routes in an enjoyable way (read more about difficulty grades). All walks are guided, so you should not be worried about navigating your way.
When to go
This trip is available from June to mid-October. June and July is the best time to go to Armenia and Georgia for walking in comfortable temperatures, as is September and October when wine regions and forests are fuelled with fiery foliage. The flexibility of private departures means there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Getting there
FCO up-to-date travel advice available for Georgia and Armenia
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Inclusions
Included
- 13 overnights in 3* hotels as listed in the itinerary, all in double/twin rooms with en-suite facilities
- Meal plan (as listed in the itinerary)
- Guided walking tours of Tbilisi and Yerevan
- English speaking guide for the whole tour
- Short boat ride on Lake Sevan
- Airport transfers and all transportation during the tour
- Entrance fees as per programme
Excluded
- Plane tickets
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Portage and tips
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- A supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room
- The tour is NOT available for solo travellers
- Extra nights before, after or during the tour (upon request)
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