2020 Autumn Holiday & Azerbaijan

Join us for another adventure to two very different countries. Both were influenced by and benefited from Silk Road trade and both were part of the for almost a century. Since their independence in 1991 they have developed very differently and we will explore these differences through their history, art, architecture and food, and discover the influences of Eastern Orthodoxy and Islam.

We will have guides in both countries. This holiday will be more challenging than usual, so in the interests of safety and the enjoyment of all participants, it will be necessary to have the strength and agility to cope with the physical conditions, as well as being able to cope with different circumstances and be able to travel light and lift and carry your own luggage without assistance, particularly when crossing the 600m (656 yards) border between Georgia and Azerbaijan.

The Itinerary The itinerary, dates and prices cannot be finalised until hotels are confirmed and the airline schedules published but it is likely we will depart 30th September, returning on 11th October 2020. Costs are likely to be about £2 450 per person double occupancy and about £3 060 per person single.

In the event the holiday is over-subscribed, or the committee considers members not able to meet the challenges, the committee reserves the right to allocate places by way of a ballot and / or if necessary to ask applicants, who in their view will find the conditions beyond their capacity to cope safely and reliably and without complaint, to reconsider.

Day 1 We will depart on the evening of 30th September, most probably from Heathrow, arriving in early morning. We will drive directly to Kazbegi stopping en route at Mtskheta which lies in a lush valley at the confluence of two rivers where we will visit the simple of Jvari (6th c.) and Svetitsikhoveli Cathedral (11th c.) which has an extraordinary interior combining paintings, frescoes and a domed chapel. They are both UNESCO sites. Driving along the Georgian Military Highway, following dramatic Aragvi River Valley we will continue over the Jvari Pass (2395m) and down into Kazbegi / Stepantsminda via Gudauri.

Surrounded by gigantic mountains, Kazbegi is a picturesque settlement overlooked by one of the highest peaks of all - Mount Kazbek (5047m) - one of the six 5000 metre peaks of the . We will stay at Rooms hotel.

Day 2 After a leisurely start we will visit Sameba (Trinity) Church at Gergeti, then head south to Tbilisi stopping at Fortress (16th – 17th cc.), which sits in a green valley overlooking the Aragvi Valley and Zhinvali Reservoir.

Day 3 and 4 Will be spent in Tbilisi, staying at the Ibis hotel. We will have a city tour wandering through the narrow streets of the Old Town, visit the National Art Gallery, Church standing proudly above the river on a cliff-top; Narikala Fortress – impressive ruins located above the Old Town, a landmark of the city and excellent for views of the river Mtkvari and the Old Town; Sioni Cathedral, the beating-heart of Georgian Orthodoxy; Anchiskhati Church, an even more ancient style of Georgian church; the State Museum of Georgia which houses an extraordinary collection of gold filigree work dating from the 6th century BC among other items of repoussé work and jewellery. Walk along Rustaveli Avenue with its Renaissance and Neo- classical buildings, the Parliament and Opera House.

Day 5 Drive to Georgia’s largest wine growing region - . We will stop at the which dates back to the 9th century and is now a convent, one of the major pilgrimage sites in Georgia. Next to the old town of overlooking the eastern Caucasus summits with narrow cobbled streets, with typical houses complete with wooden balconies and shuttered windows. We will visit the Tsinandali Estate, which once belonged to the 19th century aristocratic poet Alexander Chavchavadze. Explore the museum and grounds and then stay at Schuchman’s Wine Chateau where we will have a tasting and dinner.

Day 6 Set out for to explore the fortified 16th century Gremi Architectural Complex consisting of the Church of the Archangels, a three-story castle, a bell tower with a museum, and a wine cellar. Afterwards, visit the , founded by a Syrian monk who came to Georgia in the 6th century. Lunch with a local family for traditional home-cooked meal & Georgian wines. Then, continue on to the unique wine cellar ‘gvirabi’ (tunnel) of the Khareba Winery carved into the rock where we will enjoy a tasting. These several kilometers of tunnels were opened in 1962 to host the World Wine Congress. Then on to the Azeri border via Lagodekhi. We will meet our Azeri coach & guide & drive on to Sheki.

Day 7 We will explore Sheki, visiting the medieval fortress, Sheki Khans’ Palace (18th c.), the Caravanserai & artisans’ workshops and arts and crafts shops. Visit Kish village and the first Albanian church in the Caucasus dating back to the 1st century AD. Lunch in Qabala. Drive on to Baku. En route visit Shamakhi, the medieval capital city and see the historical Juma Mosque, Yeddi Gumbez Mausoleum - the Shirvan Shah's family graveyard and on to Baku where we will spend 3 days at the Boutique 19 hotel.

Day 8, 9 and 10 Our stay will begin with a sightseeing tour of Baku visiting the old & new. We will visit Shehidler Khiyabany (Memory Alley) which has a memorial to British Soldiers who died defending Baku against Russian invasion at the end of WWII, the Carpet Museum, Fountain Square, the National Art Gallery, the Nobel Brothers’ museum, hopefully experience a concert at the Symphony Hall and perhaps an opera or ballet at the State Opera. Continue touring new Baku and exploring architecture from 19th – 20th centuries, particularly Heydar Aliyev Centre, the masterpiece of Zaha Hadid. The old walled city, Icheri Sheher, has much to enchant visitors: Maiden Tower, Shirvan Shahs’ Palace, Caravanserai, the old Turkish baths, numerous beautiful mosques and we hope a performance at the Marionette Theatre and a scrub & massage at the hammam.

Outside of Baku, we will visit the Bibi Heybat mosque and, time permitting, we may visit Gobustan National

Park to see the mud Volcanoes and the Petroglyphs Museum and explore petroglyphs dating back to 10,000 BC.

Day 11 Return to Heathrow.

Please note the cost is estimated and cannot be finalised until flights & hotels are confirmed. Hotel tariffs include breakfast and 16 dinners or lunches are included. Theatres cannot be booked until 1 month beforehand so these costs are not included.