Highlights of Armenia & Georgia

Start your adventure in the capital of Armenia, one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. As some flights arrive very early tomorrow morning, we have our welcome briefing at 11am on Day 2, allowing you time today to settle into the trip and embark on some solo exploration if you have time. Want more time in Yerevan? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Ease into the adventure, beginning at 11am with our welcome briefing, a chance to get to know each a little better and ask any questions you may have. Around midday, we embark on an exploration of the city highlights led by our tour leader. We visit Republic Square, the Opera and Ballet Theatre, and the Cascade complex, where wide terraces open to city views and Mount Ararat, said to be the resting place of Noah’s Ark. We then visit the History Museum of Armenia, whose collections trace the country’s story from the Stone Age to today. Later, we enjoy a private visit with a local duduk master, who introduces Armenia’s iconic woodwind instrument through music, craftsmanship and conversation. This evening, we gather for a welcome dinner in a traditional restaurant, enjoying our first taste of local flavours and hospitality.

Begin with a transfer (50 minutes) to the medieval Geghard Monastery, where we explore the UNESCO-listed complex partly carved into the rock. We then drive (20 minutes) to the first-century Garni Temple, the only standing pagan temple in the Caucasus, set above Azat Gorge. Lunch is with a local family, where we also make lavash, a traditional flatbread. A 15-minute transfer takes us to the Symphony of Stones, a striking wall of basalt columns reached by an easy walk, before returning (one hour) to Yerevan.

We drive (one hour) to the monastery of Khor Virap. Closely tied to the birth of Christianity in Armenia, it is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the country, while also offering spectacular views of Mount Ararat. Next, we continue (1hr 45min) into the Vayots Dzor region to visit Areni-1 Cave, where archaeologists uncovered one of the oldest known wineries in the world – around 6,100 years old. At a nearby family-run winery, we enjoy a tasting and a chance to learn about the long winemaking traditions of the region, before transferring (30 minutes) to Noravank, a 13th-century monastery set among dramatic red cliffs. We then continue (three hours) to the town of Goris and settle into our hotel.

Begin with a short hike in Khndzoresk village, a former cave settlement linked by a long swinging bridge with grand gorge views. We then continue (35 minutes) to Halidzor, where we ride the Wings of Tatev cable car above the Vorotan Gorge to the ninth-century Tatev Monastery, once a major spiritual and cultural centre. After returning to Goris, the afternoon brings a choice: prepare zhingyalov hats with a local family or visit a carpet-weaving workshop in Verishen, where local women are helping keep this traditional craft alive.

Travelling north today, we stop at Karahunj, a mysterious stone site often called the Armenian Stonehenge; though at 7,500 years old, it’s much older than England’s Stonehenge. We then cross the iconic Selim Pass to the Selim Caravanserai, a reminder of Armenia’s Silk Road past. In Noratus Cemetery, we see the country’s largest collection of khachkars (stone crosses) and join a local family to make gata (a traditional pastry). After, we visit the ninth-century Sevanavank Monastery on Lake Sevan, where broad views stretch across one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world. Finally, we continue to the town of Dilijan, known for its forested landscapes and artisan traditions, where we walk through the Old Town, before continuing to the nearby village of Gosh for the night.

We drive (1hr 30min) to the city of Vanadzor to visit a sculptor’s workshop for a khachkar-carving lesson, offering a hands-on introduction to one of Armenia’s most distinctive art forms. We then continue (1hr 15min) to Haghpat Monastery, a UNESCO-listed masterpiece above the Debed Gorge. For lunch, we join a khorovats (kebab) masterclass – preparing the traditional dish and enjoying it together – before driving (1hr 45min) to the Sadakhlo border. After crossing into Georgia, we meet our Georgian tour leader and driver and continue (1hr 15min) to the capital, Tbilisi. This evening, we celebrate our arrival with dinner and a folk show.