PREMIUM
11D8N GREAT CAUCASUS TOUR CODE: MCGYDA (Validity: 1 Apr to 31 Oct 2018) The spectacular mountain scenery, wonderful walks and picturesque old villages with ancient towers are all part of a trip to the Great Caucasus.
14 Exotic | EU Holidays HIGHLIGHTS RUSSIA AZERBAIJAN Flight path • Gobustan Traverse by coach • Baku Old Town Walking Tour Featured destinations • Diri Baba Mausoleum Stepantsminda Overnight stays 1 3 • Juma Mosque Mtskheta • Nohur Lake GEORGIA • Sheki Khan’s Palace 3 Tbilisi
GEORGIA Sadakhlo Sighnaghi • Kakheti Wine Tasting 1 Haghpat Sheki • Sighnaghi ARMENIA Baku • Ananuri Fortress Sevan Yerevan Shamakha 1 • Kazbegi Town 3 Geghard • 4WD to Gergeti Trinity Church Garni Gobustan • Mtskheta Etchmiadzin Khor Virap • Jvari Monastery AZERBAIJAN • Svetitskhoveli Cathedral • Cable Car to Narikala Fortress TURKEY • Tbilisi Old Town Walking Tour
ARMENIA • Haghpat Monastery IRAN • Lake Sevan • Sevanavank Monastery • Geghard Monastery • Garni Temple • Cascade DAY 1 awesome Muganly Mountain Pass and • Matenadaran Museum HOME → BAKU (AZERBAIJAN) make a quick photo stop at Nohur Lake (if • Vernissage Flea Market Meals on board time permits). Afterwards, transfer to Sheki • Gum Market Assemble at the airport for your flight toBaku Khan’s Palace, built in 1762 by Hussein Khan, • Khor Virap Monastery – the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan. the interior of the two-storey building is • Etchmiadzin Cathedral decorated with magnificent frescoes and lit • Zvartnots Cathedral DAY 2 by exquisite stained glass. • Ararat Brandy Factory ARRIVAL BAKU → GOBUSTAN → • Yerevan City Tour BAKU DAY 4 Lunch, Dinner SHEKI → LAGODEKHI BORDER Upon arrival, proceed to Gobustan to visit → KAKHETI (GEORGIA) → famous rock art and museum.The Gobustan SIGHNAGHI → TBILISI DELICACIES Rock Art Cultural Landscape is comprised Breakfast, Local House Lunch, Dinner of more than 6,000 rock paintings and was Today, transfer to Azerbaijian-Georgian Meal Plan recognised as a UNESCO Heritage Site in Border. Then enter region of Kakheti, 8 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches, 8 Dinners 2007. Then return to Baku on coach for an synonymous in the country with wine. orientation tour that includes sights of Baku Visit Kvareli Gvirabi, Georgia’s largest wine Specialities • Georgian dish with cheese City and the Flame Towers. Start walking cellar and enjoy wines testing. Thereafter, • Traditional meal with folk music tour to visit Baku’s UNESCO-listed Old City enjoy lunch with local family with including the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, homemade dishes and wine. Then head Maiden Tower, Multani Caravanserai and east to Sighnaghi, one of the most unique market square. After dinner, head to hotel cities in Georgia. This city is surrounded 4 HOTELS and retire for the night. by an amazing defensive wall that offers AZERBAIJAN Baku Holiday Inn breathtaking views of Alazani Valley. AZERBAIJAN Sheki Saray DAY 3 Continue to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia for GEORGIA Tbilisi Holiday Inn BAKU → SHAMAKHI → SHEKI an overnight stay. ARMENIA Yeravan Opera Suite Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner In the morning depart to Sheki, en DAY 5 *Note: Hotels subject to final confirmation. Should there be changes, customers will be offered similar route make a quick stop at the Diri Baba TBILISI → STEPANTSMINDA → accommodations as stated in this list. Mausoleum at Maraza Village. Arrive at TBILISI Shamakhi and visit the historical Juma Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Mosque (also known Friday Mosque). Today you’ll start journey to the awesome Continue your journey through the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range. Your
EU Holidays | Exotic 15 11D8N GREAT CAUCASUS Yerevan. Next, explore one of world’s richest depositories of ancient books and manuscripts at the Matenadaran Museum (closed on Sun, Mon & Public Holiday). Afterwards, stroll through Vernissage, Yerevan’s popular open-air flea market, as well as the Gum Market, which offers a variety of fresh and dry fruits, spices, nuts, and teas.
DAY 9 YEREVAN → KHOR VIRAP → ETCHMIADZIN → ZVARTNOTS → YEREVAN Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Today, visit the Khor Virap Monastery, which sits on a spur above the Ararat Valley and offers spectacular views of the majestic Mount Ararat (5,163 metres). Tuck into a hearty lunch in a local art school before heading to the Echmiadzin TBILISI_OLD TOWN, VIEW FROM CABLE Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. CAR TO NARIKALA FORTRESS Visit the 7th century ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral, which was built at a time when first stop will be at theAnanuri Fortress, a DAY 7 much of Armenia was under the Byzantine large complex consisting of two castles TBILISI → SADAKHLO BORDER empire. Afterwards, see the Ararat factory connected by a curtain wall, situated in an (ARMENIA) → HAGHPAT → SEVAN → and enjoy a taste of authentic Armenian extraordinarily beautiful site overlooking the YERAVAN brandy. In the evening, enjoy a farewell broad Aragvi River. Journey continues to Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner evening meal and be entertained by an Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) the administrative Have an early breakfast before heading to Armenian Folk show. center of Khevi province. Here you will the Sadakhlo border to cross into Armenia. switch to 4WD vehicle and drive up to the Start your acquaintance with Armenia visit DAY 10 beautiful Gergeti Mountain where the 14th to Haghpat Monastery located on a hillside YEREVAN → HOME century Gergeti Trinity Church sits at an looking down on the Debed River and across Breakfast, Meal on board elevation of 2,170 metres right under Mount to a 2,500-metre peak, it is also inscribed After breakfast, free at own leisure. You may Kazbegi. Head back to Tbilisi, where you in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. take optional day tour to Ashtarak before will enjoy delicious Georgian cuisine and Then head to Sevan, visit the Sevanavank transfer to the airport for your flight home. be entertained by national folk dance and Monastery, consisting of two rough-hewn musical shows at the local restaurant. churches built on a peninsula overlooking DAY 11 Lake Sevan which is one of the largest lakes HOME SWEET HOME DAY 6 in the world. It stands out with its sweet We hope you enjoyed your trip with our TBILISI → MTSKHETA → TBILISI and astonishingly blue water. Continue to company and we look forward to seeing you Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Yerevan - the capital of Armenia, for dinner again for your next trip. Commence the morning by driving to and an overnight stay. Mtskheta, cultural and religious centres Additional activities that complement your holidays of Georgia. Discover the UNESCO World DAY 8 will be at your own discretion and is entirely optional. Heritage Sites including the 6th century YEREVAN → GARNI → GEGHARD → *minimum group size may apply. Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli YEREVAN • Garni Gorge by 4WD: USD15 Cathedral. Then, head back to Tbilisi and Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Ashtarak Tour with local house lunch: USD65 take an aerial cable car up to Narikala Head east to Garni, see the extraordinary Fortress (if weather permitting) and enjoy Pagan Temple built in the 1st century AD. Tipping Guideline: (based on 11D8N) the breathtaking panoramic views of the Then continue to visit Geghard, one of • USD88 per person Tbilisi city. Then, spend 2-3 hours walking medieval monastery being partially carved through the historic centre of the city, out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded Remarks: which has been Georgia’s capital for the by cliffs. It is listed as a UNESCO World • A minimum group size of 15 passengers is required greater part of 1500 years. During this Heritage Site. Enjoy your lunch at a local for a confirmed departure. walking tour, visit the 13th century Metekhi house where you get the chance to see • The sequence of the itinerary, flight schedules and Church and Sioni Cathedral. You also view the preparation of the Armenian national hotels are subject to change without prior notice in (exterior only) 19th century caravanserais, bread “lavash”. Thereafter, back to Yerevan the event of unforeseen circumstances. the blue-tiled Orbeliani Baths and the Old and make a quick photo stop at Cascade, • Visa is required to enter Azerbaijan & Armenia. Town’s mosque and Synagogue. a giant stairway made of limestone in
16 Exotic | EU Holidays FEATURE
Gregeti Trinity Church overview Mt Kazbegi Khor Virap Monastery overview Mt Ararak Caucasus: Discover This Lesser- Known Region Through Its Timeless Sites Be captivated by this region’s diverse offerings.
ocated between the Black Sea to Etchmiadzin Cathedral walled city of Baku. The Maiden Tower the west and the Caspian Sea to Situated in the city of Vagharshapat, the also houses a museum, which exhibits Lthe east, Caucasus is occupied by Etchmiadzin Cathedral is one of the most the history of Baku City. Southern Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and visited pilgrimage sites in Armenia. It was Armenia. Besides housing these places, perceived as a holy place of worship long Georgia the mountainous area is home to Mount before Christianity was adopted. The Gergeti Trinity Church Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak. Thanks to its church itself was constructed in the 4th There are no words capable of historical highlights and its cultural insights, century and is believed to be the oldest encapsulating the beauty of the Gergeti Caucasus has faced a steady growth of Christian cathedral in existence. The Trinity Church. The architectural gem, tourism in recent years. building was rebuilt in the 6th and 7th which is situated in the village of Gergeti centuries, which consisted of more recent at an elevation of 2170 meters, is one Armenia additions in 1654 and 1868. The church of Georgia’s most iconic sights. As the Khor Virap Monastery also has a number of notable relics, seasons change, so does the view of this As a renowned tourist destination in including a lance that pierced the side magnificent site. Positioned on top of a Armenia, the Khor Virap Monastery is best of Jesus Christ and a wood, dating as far mountain, the church looks tiny against known for being Grigor Luisavorich’s (St. back as 6000 years old, from Noah’s Arc. the imposing Mt. Kazbegi, but what it Gregory the Illuminator) prison for 13 years. lacks in size, it makes up for in history – The prisoner turned saint played a key Azerbaijan specifically 14 centuries of it. role in Armenia’s history - it’s believed that Maiden Tower he was sainted after he cured the ruler, Also known as Giz Galasi, the Maiden Svetitskhoveli Cathedral King Tradt III of his illness. This act in turn Tower is considered the Eiffel tower of the Built in the 11th century, this grand caused Armenia to become the first official Old City, Baku. The symbolic landmark cathedral is the perfect example of Christian nation in the world. To this day, his is much loved in the city of Azerbaijan. Georgian architecture. Both its interior actions still echo through time as many visit Erected at the coast of Caspian Sea, it was and exterior are adorned with beautiful this holy site to pay homage to the saint. included in the UNESCO World Heritage and intricate stone carvings that will Besides its interesting history, the site is also List in 2001. The cylindrical shaped tower charm any art enthusiast. Besides its steeped in natural beauty. Set against the stands at 29 metres tall offering rooftop visually pleasing ornamentation, the stunning snow-capped Mount Ararat, the views of Baku Bay, the Old City, the Baku building is believed to be final resting monastery accentuates the beauty of the Boulevard and the De Gaulle house. It was place of Georgian Kings, and is also said rugged mountainous terrain surrounding it. built in the 12th century, as part of the to house Christ’s robe.
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