The impressive 14th century Tsminda Sameba Trinity Church This is a journey of exploration to the Caucasus and more specifically to three small nations: Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. Located between the Black and Caspian Seas, they were former Soviet Republics. Since winning their independence in 1991, they have prospered and joined the world. The Silk Road, connecting Asia and Europe, crossed through these lands, providing them with a long and storied history as well as a sense of belonging. Being at the crossroads, they are neither European nor Asian, but something uniquely different. Why visit the Caucasus? This journey offers insights of a very different world, one with magnificent mountain scenery and a long religious and trading history. Christianity was brought here during the 1st century AD by the Apostles. Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity as their national religion in the 4th century. Everywhere we go, we will find religious relics: Pagan, Zoroastrian, Christian and Islamic. It is small wonder then that their respective histories developed with this strong faith and their monuments to the past take the form of religious stone buildings and statues. Virtually every important sight and beautiful landscape is marked by an historic structure. This journey will take us to the major centres such as Baku, Tbilisi and Yerevan, where we will find very comfortable accommodations and services. We will also venture into the countryside to experience life as it is today, and where our accommodations while still very comfortable, will be a little more rustic. Group size is strictly limited and we anticipate that the group will fill Aragvi and Mtkvari Rivers - Credit Roslyn Craig quickly. Be sure to reserve your places now. Balanced itinerary with 5 nights each in Yerevan and Return economy group airfare from Canada to the Tbilisi plus 3 nights in Baku Caucasus with Lufthansa Airlines Dinners with entertainment in Baku, Tbilisi and Yerevan 16 nights in comfortable, first class and deluxe hotels Meals and meetings with local families in Georgia and as indicated or similar Armenia Travel by modern climate controlled motor coaches Visit Gobustan Historic site in Baku, Azerbaijan 42 meals included as noted (B - 17 breakfasts, L - 15 Explore the wine region of Kakheti, Georgia Lunches, D - 10 dinners) Discover the Old Town of Tbilisi, Georgia All entrance fees for included visits Drive the Georgian Military Highway to the Alpine Baggage handling of one suitcase per person (where regions of Kazbegi possible) Khor Virap Monastery, a pilgrimage site for Armenians All gratuities, taxes and fees for included services Cruise the Lake Sevan, the largest freshwater lake in Airport transfers in Canada or equivalent value with central Asia purchase of group airfare Visit several UNESCO World Heritage designated sites Services of our Canadian tour leaders plus national guides in each country May 5, Sunday Depart Canada Tour members gather in Toronto for the overnight flights to Baku, Azerbaijan. May 6, Monday Baku, Azerbaijan Escorting this upcoming Caucasus adventure will be Nick Connecting in Europe we continue to Azerbaijan’s capital, and Pam Cannon. Nick and Pam, who are inveterate arriving in the evening. Park Inn Baku (3 nights) travellers, have journeyed through the United Kingdom, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean. As two of May 7, Tuesday Baku our most popular leaders, they have escorted both cruise Our morning begins with a visit to Mountain Park and the and tour groups in the last few Martyrs’ Alley Memorial with its panoramic view over Baku. years to a wide variety of Continue to the walled medieval Old Town (UNESCO) for a destinations including Panama, walking excursion. Highlights include the Gyz Galasi or Alaska, South Africa, Europe and Maiden Tower (the oldest building in Baku), ancient South America. Their warm and mosques, the Market Square and Shirvanshahs’ Palace caring personalities and love of (UNESCO – dates from the 15th century). Following lunch travel will be sure to enhance and some free time in the old quarter, we will visit your travel experience. Atashgah, the recreated temple dedicated to the Land of Fires, based on ancient Zorastrian and Hindu beliefs. Enjoy a welcome dinner in the Caravanserai Restaurant with a lively folklore show. BLD Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Armenia - Credit Butcher May 8, Wednesday Gobustan / Baku This morning we will venture to Gobustan National Historical - Artist Preserve (UNESCO), an open-air museum littered with Neolithic rock drawings, an outstanding collection of more than 6,000 engravings dating back some 40,000 years which is noted for its amazing landscapes. After lunch by the Caspian, we will visit the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, with exquisite examples dating back to the 16th Century. Balance of day at leisure to explore the city. BL May 9, Thursday Baku / Shamakhi / Sheki Drive into the foothills of the Greater Caucasus crossing Muganly Pass and follow the old Silk Road route. At Svetitsikhoveli Cathedral, Georgia’s largest and the burial Shamakhi we visit the historic Mosque Juma (Friday) and place of royalty. Drive over the Jvari Pass (2,395 m), Yeddi Gumbez (Seven Domes) Royal Mausoleum, burial stopping near Gudauri, the highest village on the road place of the Shirvan Khanate. Sheki, one of the oldest before arriving in Kazbegi (1,700 m), a picturesque village Azerbaijan towns, has a medieval fortress, Sheki Khans’ overshadowed by Mount Kazbek (5,047 m). Continue in Palace, and a local handicrafts workshop. In the village of 4x4s to the 14th century Tsminda Sameba Trinity Church, Kish, founded around 3000BC, we visit the historic church for fine views of the snow-capped mountains. and the caravanserai (or inn) from earlier times. Porta Caucasia (1 night) BLD Sheki Saray Hotel (1 night) BLD May 14, Tuesday Gori / Uplistsikhe / Tbilisi May 10, Friday Kakheti / Kvareli, Georgia Enjoy the mountain scenery en route Ananuri Fortress, This morning we cross into Georgia and enter the Kakheti overlooking the Aragvi Valley and Zhinvali Reservoir. region, Georgia’s famous wine district and a picturesque Uplistsikhe, or ‘the Lord's Citadel’, is a cave town hewn into land dotted with fine mature vineyards. Visit Khareba the living rock. Dating from the 7th century BC, the centre Winery, with a wine cellar carved into the rock, to sample was a strategic point on the ancient Silk Road. We will see some wine. Explore the fortified 16th century Gremi a large central hall for pagan rituals, living rooms and a Complex, including the Church of the Archangels, a three- 9th century church. Continue to Gori, the birthplace of story castle, a bell tower museum and a wine cellar. Visit Stalin (1879). Visit Stalin’s Museum, which includes the the Tsinandali Estate before we arrive at our hotel, which original wooden hut, Stalin’s birthplace, and Stalin’s private overlooks Ilia Lake and two rivers. railway car. Later we continue back into Tbilisi. Royal Batoni Hotel (1 night) BLD Courtyard by Marriott (1 night) BL May 11, Saturday Nekresi / Signagi / Tbilisi May 15, Wednesday Tbilisi / Yerevan, Armenia Historic Nekresi Monastery was founded by a Syrian monk Departing early, we make our way to the Armenian border in the 6th century. Enjoy a special treat; visit a local family where we meet our Armenian Guide and coach. Set on a and enjoy a traditional home-cooked meal, complete with high plateau surrounded steep forest-grown slopes, is the Georgian wines and ‘chacha’, the Georgian version of monastery of Hagh Pat (UNESCO site), Following lunch, Grappa. In the royal hill-town of Signagi, walk through the we continue through the heart of Armenia to the nation’s old quarter, noted for its narrow cobbled streets and typical capital and largest city, Yerevan. Modern Yerevan was houses with wooden balconies and shuttered windows. redesigned and rebuilt in the early part of the 20th Century Weather permitting there are fine views of the Kakheti area with a tremendous amount of development since the end of and eastern Caucasus summits. Visit the 9th century the Soviet era. This “pink city” was constructed using a Bodbe monastery which is now a convent and an important pink tufa stone, quarried locally. Pilgrimage site for Georgians. This afternoon we continue Hyatt Place Hotel (5 nights) BLD to Tbilisi, the capital and largest city in Georgia. Courtyard by Marriott (2 nights) BLD May 16, Thursday Yerevan This morning we will discover the city, both ancient and May 12, Sunday Tbilisi modern as we tour Republic Square, the Park Cascade Our day begins in the Old Town, with its winding roads, (with its amazing sculptures), the remarkable Matenadaran alleys and wooden balconies. Highlights include Metekhi Library (with over 17000 rare manuscripts) and the moving Church (overlooking the river), the Sulphur Baths Genocide Memorial. Following lunch at a selected (Abanotubani), the cable car ride to the Narikala restaurant, we will visit the State History Museum (noted Fortress (impressive ruins overlooking the Old Town and for its relics from the Stone Age to recent times) and one of the Mtkvari River), Sioni Cathedral, the heart of Georgian the producers of the local Ararat brandy and wine. Other Orthodoxy, and the Anchiskhati Church (ancient style of highlights include busy Mashtoc Avenue and the House of Georgian church). After lunch, we ride the Funicular for Opera and Ballet. BL spectacular views of the city. The balance of the day will be free with time to explore the Old Quarter and Rustaveli, the May 17, Friday Etchmiadzin / Zvartnots / Yerevan main street which is the heart of the city, lined with elegant Etchmiadzin dates from 117AD and was once the capital of Renaissance and neoclassical buildings. BL Armenia. It was here that St Gregory the Illuminator had a vision of Christ descending to earth.