Exeter Essential Caucasus 2021 Including Armenia, Georgia & Azerbaijan Featuring Extraordinary Experiences: Khachapuri Making Class Wine Tasting and Lunch Chateau Mukhrani Khridoli Performance Wine Tasting and Lunch at Winery Nobel House Champagne & Caviar Reception Itinerary at a glance: Day 1 Arrival in Yerevan, Armenia Day 2 Yerevan Sightseeing Day 3 Ararat Region Day trip Day 4 Yerevan – Kotayk Region – Dilijan Day 5 Dilijan – Tbilisi via Lori Day 6 Tbilisi Sightseeing Day 7 Tbilisi – Mtskheta & gori – Tbilisi Day 8 Tbilisi – Sighnaghi – Tbilisi Day 9 Tbilisi – Baku Day 10 Baku Sightseeing Day 11 Baku – Yanar Dag – Baku Day 12 Baku - Onward Please note: • The infrastructure in Armenia is still developing and roads can be rough. • Due to their age and location, many sights require visitors to walk from the parking area to the sight (often uphill). Why Exeter International? Our Experience At Exeter International we have been creating memories and crafting custom-designed journeys for 27 years. We are a team of specialists committed to providing the best travel experiences in our destinations. Each of our experts has either travelled extensively on reconnaissance trips, or has lived in their area of expertise, giving us unparalleled first-hand knowledge. Because we focus on specific parts of the globe, we return to the same destinations many times, honing our experience over the years. Knowledgeable Up-to-the-Minute Local Information We are best placed to give you advice about traveling to Europe and beyond; from logistics and new protocols in museums, hotels and restaurants in each country. We are here to expertly guide you through the new normal in travel. Original Custom Programs, Meticulously Planned Our experts speak your language both literally and culturally. Our advice and recommendations are impartial, honest, and always have the individual in mind. We save valuable time in pre-trip research and focus on developing experiences that enrich and enhance your experience. Once on your journey you will have complete peace of mind with our local 24-hour contact person who is on hand to coordinate any changes in your program or help you in the case of any emergency. Hand-Selected Guides We know that guides are one of the most important components of any travel experience. That is why we only use local experts who have a history of working with our guests and whom we know personally. We are extremely particular in selecting our guides and are confident that they will be one of the most memorable aspects of any of our trips. Flexible Deposit We prepay deposits for services so we can access the top guides, the best drivers and maintain preferred partnerships with our partner hotels. Our deposit to confirm services is 25% of the total trip cost. We want you to feel confident to book but also know that we are sensitive to current circumstances. Therefore, 15% of this deposit is refundable up to 31 days prior to departure if you are unable to travel for any reason. 10% of the deposit will be retained as a future travel credit for up to 3 years. Future travel will be priced at prevailing rates. If it is determined that you are unable to travel within 31 days of the start of services, all deposits paid will be converted to a future travel credit, less nonrefundable funds committed on your behalf and tickets such as train or theater tickets. This credit may also be applied to our sister travel companies: Almaz Journeys and Exeter Safari Company. Financial Stability We are proud to be recognized by Allianz Insurance on their list of covered travel suppliers to give you additional peace of mind. DAY 1 Arrival in Yerevan, Armenia Upon arrival in Yerevan today, you will be met by your driver and guide and transferred to your hotel. Yerevan, the capital, is one of the oldest cities in the world, with the earliest recorded settlement dating back to 782 BC. The city today has a vibrant café society, and a host of arts and crafts markets selling woodcarving, fine lace, and the hand-knotted carpets and kilims that are a Caucasus specialty. Obsidian and gold jewelry is a centuries-old Armenian tradition. Later today you will have a half-day overview walking tour of the Yerevan city center. You will start with an introductory tour that includes the Republic Square, Mashtots Avenue, the Opera House, and the Mother Armenia statue. Continue on to the State History Museum of Armenia. This museum represents an integral picture of the history and culture of Armenia from the prehistoric times until the present day. An old Armenian proverb says that “The guest is God’s messenger and he is welcome in our home.” Hospitality is at the core of who the Armenian people are. For almost its entire history, Armenia has been trampled by one empire after another: Parthian (Iranian), Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Mongol, Ottoman, Persian, Russian and Soviet. Yet in spite of the country’s turbulent past, they have managed to maintain their own unique identity, their own alphabet and language. You may wish to visit the Vernissage open-air market this afternoon - here you can find souvenirs starting from Soviet times to the modern days - hand-made crafts of all themes and colors. Exeter Services Airport Transfer; Half-Day Guide Hotel Tufenkian Historic Yerevan DAY 2 Yerevan Begin with a visit to the Matenadaran, boasting the world’s largest collection of ancient manuscripts (over 16,000), including works by Aristotle and Eusebius. Before you leave the city, you will also have the opportunity to visit the famed Yerevan brandy factory (now under French ownership) for a tasting of the national drink! Here you can also tour the Ararat Museum to learn the history of the brandy and the modern-day production process. Afterwards you will visit the Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex, dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The stele rises 44 meters in the air, symbolizing the national rebirth of Armenians. After lunch (included in program), you will continue to Etchmiadzin – the holy city of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the country’s spiritual center. It is believed that St. Gregory the Illuminator saw a beam of light fall on this spot and built the original church – a basilica that was later reconstructed and enlarged several times. Nowadays, the Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the way back to Yerevan, you will visit the remains of the 7th Century Zvartnots Temple with its distinct circular architecture with fine pillars, carved column heads, and arches suggesting a Hellenistic style that was frequent in many early-Christian churches. Return to the city for an evening at your leisure. Exeter Services Full-Day Vehicle, Driver & Guide Hotel Tufenkian Historic Yerevan DAY 3 Ararat Region Day Trip This morning, your driver and guide will meet you for a day excursion in the Ararat Region, where you will see the biblical Mount Ararat and the Khor Virap Monastery. Khor Virap is a monastic complex and a pilgrimage site with a beautiful location at the foot of Mount Ararat. Per legend, it is here that Armenia’s patron saint, St. Gregory the Illuminator, was imprisoned for 12 years by the pagan king before curing him of a disease and converting him to Christianity. Later today, you will continue to the Vayots Dzor province where you will visit the Noravank Monastery. This masterpiece of Armenian medieval architecture is in a narrow gorge cut by the Gnishik River near the city of Yeghegnadzor. Exeter Services Full-Day Vehicle, Driver & Guide Hotel Tufenkian Historic Yerevan DAY 4 Yerevan - Dilijan This morning after check-out, meet your driver and guide for further exploration of the city and then on to the countryside. After, you will drive to the Kotayk region where you will first tour the 4th Century cave monastery of the Holy Lance in Geghard – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is considered by many to be superior to Petra. Continue to Garni village, where you will enjoy a late lunch at a local villager’s house. You will also bake your own lavash (traditional Armenian bread). After lunch (included in program), visit the Temple of the Sun, set on a cliff above the River Azat. The famous peristyle temple was constructed in the 1st Century in the Greco-Roman style by the Armenian King Tiridates I and was probably funded by the Roman Emperor Nero. The temple was dedicated to the ancient god Mithras and its roof was supported by 24 Ionic columns. The bathhouse nearby has a well-preserved hypocaust system and some original floor mosaics. On your way to Dilijan, you will stop at the Sevan Monastery, located on the peninsula of Sevan Lake, where you will enjoy beautiful panoramic views. After arriving at your charming and rustic hotel in Dilijan, the rest of your evening is at leisure. The Tufenkian Old Dilijan Hotel is a wonderful step back in time, set in the green mountain valley of Armenia’s mountainous region. Tonight you will have dinner reservations at the best fish restaurant in Armenia (dinner is included in the cost of your program). Exeter Services Full-Day Vehicle, Driver & Guide Hotel Tufenkian Old Dilijan DAY 5 Dilijan – Tbilisi via Lori This morning, after meeting with your guide, you will depart Dilijan, historically a spa town known as the “Armenian Switzerland”. Composers Shostakovich and Britten both spent their summers here, and it is in this area that you will visit the Haghartsin monastic complex, hidden in the forest. You will then drive to Lori and explore the UNESCO protected Haghpat monastery. Here you will also stop near the Sanahin bridge, which is one of the most famous engineering constructions of medieval Armenia.