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Georgia & Armenia Adventure
Georgia & Armenia
This trip supports
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Essential info
- Packing list
Grade:
Entry Level
Type:
Cultural
Duration:
9 Nights
4 - 12
Group size
Leaders
Tour Highlights
- Visit the birthplace of winemaking, meet with a winemaker and sample some of their creations
- Learn to make traditional 'dolmas' with a local family
- Visit the ancient capital and religious centre of Georgia (Mtskheta) and the 6th century Jvari Monastery
- Immerse yourself in Georgian and Armenian history, culture and art
Visit Georgia and Armenia on a small group tour
On this small group trip, you will spend time in the beautiful Georgian capital of Tbilisi before heading off into the countryside and then over the border into Armenia. You will learn to cook with local families, visit some of the Georgia's best wine regions learning about the traditional ways of producing Georgian wine, explore stunning churches and experience the history and culture of both Georgia and Armenia. This tour encompasses ancient historical architecture, beautiful landscapes, delicious food and warm hospitality.
(Available as a small group tour or tailor-made holiday)
The Kingdom of Armenia was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as its official religion under the rule of King Tiridates III of the Arsacid dynasty in the 4th Century. Armenian churches have very a very distinctive and elegant architectural design with pointed domes, reminiscent of the volcanic cone of Greater Ararat, a vertical emphasis of the whole structure, with the height often exceeding the length of a church, reinforcement of the verticality with tall, narrow windows beneath the carved stone vaulted ceilings, set in highly picturesque settings in the countryside.
Georgian medieval churches also have a distinct character related to Armenian and Byzantine architecture. They typically combine a conical dome raised high on a drum over a rectangular or cross-shaped lower structure. Some branches of the ancient Silk Roads passed through both Georgia and Armenia, promoting trade and spreading culture between the West and the East, with much of these cultural influences remaining today. The tour ends in Yerevan, capital city of Armenia and one of the world's most ancient cities, it is situated along the Hrazdan River, with history emanating from every stone as you explore its hidden secrets.
Day 1: 'Free Day': Arrival in Tbilisi, Georgia
Transfer
3 star hotel
With group members arriving throughout the afternoon, evening and night, today is a 'free' day for you to arrive, be transferred to the start hotel, and to shake off any travel fatigue and get your bearings. Your adventure starts in earnest, tomorrow, after breakfast - so please book flights / transportation that will get you to Tbilisi in time for Breakfast (on Day 2) at the latest!
If you are able to arrive earlier in the day, please feel free to ask us for guidance on how to spend this free day, where to eat and what to visit (or to try to save for the tour). We are on hand to help!
Day 2: Tbilisi
Breakfast
Dinner
3 star hotel
Welcome to Georgia!
After breakfast we will head out on a thorough tour of Tbilisi. Explore the winding narrow streets, admire colourful houses and patterned balconies, starting the tour from Metekhi Church built in the 13th century.
We will continue our tour from the skies, on a cable car up to the ancient Narikala Fortress. On the way up, admire panoramic views of the city below. With its cobbled streets and colourful houses, it’s a pretty city. From the fortress we will descend to the historical domed sulphur bath region which boasts a number of thermal baths which can be enjoyed. We will enjoy dinner with our guide, getting a first taste of some the delicious cuisine to be enjoyed on this journey we are about to embark on.
Day 3: A trip to one of Georgia's wine regions
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Guest house
Today, we travel to the Kakheti region famous for its wine making as well as its distinct cultural history and beautiful natural landscapes, including the snowy peaks of the Caucasus Mountains. First we will pay a visit to the tranquil, small fortified town of Sighnaghi where we can enjoy picturesque views of the Alazani valley and Great Caucasus mountains. Enjoy lunch with a local family and sample delicious homemade food. We will also participate in a cooking class where we learn how to make Churchkhela, a traditional dessert made with grape juice and walnuts as well as baking Georgian bread.
Our gastronomic adventure continues as we visit a traditional Georgian wine cellar and meet a local winemaker who demonstrates the traditional way of wine making using a Kvevri (clay vessel). Later we will drive to Telavi where dinner will be served at a family hotel.
Day 4: The ancient capital of Georgia: Mtskheta
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
3 star hotel
From Telavi we head to visit the ancient capital and religious centre of Georgia – Mtskheta, one of oldest cities in Georgia. Here we visit its historic Jvari Monastery built in the 6th century and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral built in the 11th century – both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Lunch will be served by a local family with delicious homemade food. Later, we will return back to Tbilisi for a bit of down time.
Day 5: Tsalka & Vardzia
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
Guest house
After breakfast we will drive to the village of Vardzia. On the way, we will stop in Tsalka and visit Paravani lake, a volcanic lake and the largest in Georgia in terms of area.We will also visit Phoka Monastery, connected to St. Nino, who preached Christianity in Georgia.
We continue to Vardzia and visit the spectacular 12th century cave town complex, which was built during the reign of Queen Tamara. The complex used to have 13 floors, carved in the mountain including a monastery, bakery and throne room. It is a truly iconic site and was built as a sanctuary during the Mongol takeover.
After your visit we will head to the local cottages in Vardzia which will be your home for the evening.
Day 6: Bavra & Gyumri
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
3 star hotel
After breakfast, drive to the Georgian-Armenian border, at check point Bavra. Here we will meet our local Armenian guide who will begin your adventure in Gyumri, the second largest city in Armenia. Being one of the most ancient settlements in Armenia with a history of 3000 years, Gyumri is a significant location to visit and admire. It is well-known for its particularly well-preserved old town.
Enjoy a city tour including a visit to the Museum of National Architecture and Urban Life. The famous house was built by a rich trader, Petros Dzitoghtsyan in 1872 and here we can see well-preserved furniture, artwork, carpets and handicraft from Gyumri, all items typical for a rich Gyumri family of the late 19th century.
We will also visit the Black Fortress, or `Sev Berd', which is one of the most famous historical buildings of Gyumri.
Day 7: Etchmiadzin, Zvartnots & Yerevan
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
3 star hotel
After breakfast we will head to Echmiadzin, the forth largest city in Armenia. It boasts the beautiful Etchmiadzin Cathedral, known as the centre of the Armenian Church and thought to be one of the world’s first Christian State churches. Legend has it that it was here that Jesus Christ descended from heaven to show where he wanted a church built.
After our visit we will head to a local house to enjoy a masterclass of making ‘Dolmas’, delicious stuffed vine leaves before enjoying them for lunch. We will continue our adventure towards Armenia’s capital, Yerevan with a stop along the way at the ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral.
Tonight we will stay in Yerevan where the remainder of the evening is free.
Day 8: Armenia's capital city: Yerevan
Breakfast
Dinner
3 star hotel
Today we will explore the capital. We start our tour from the Republic Square, the magnum opus of architect Alexander Tamanian. Continue to Cascade Complex, an open-air museum of modern art. The complex links the downtown with the residential area with massive stairways leading up to Victory Park providing wonderful views to the entire downtown. In the park you can find the monument to Mother Armenia carefully guarding the city from above. Next, we visit the Opera House, a remarkable example of urban architecture and a lively hub of the city. Stop by the famous Yerevan Brandy Factory founded in 1887. During the International Exhibition in Paris in 1900, the brandy received the GrandPrix and the legal right to be called `cognac`, not `brandy`. We will visit the museum and head to its dedicated bar and a tasting room where visitors can try out some of the most exquisite cognacs in the world. We will continue to Yerevan’s fruit market where you can taste Armenian delights such as dried fruits, sujukh, basturma, aromatic herbs and fresh produce.
Tonight enjoy dinner at a local restaurant where you will be able to listen to traditional folk music.
Day 9: Garni, Geghard, Lake Sevan
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
For our final day, we will visit the village of Garni. The citadel and pagan temple of Garni is a picturesque monument of the Hellenistic period and an impressive piece of ancient Armenian architecture. Lunch will be served at a local house in Garni where you will be able to participate in making Armenian national bread known as `lavash`, using an underground stove `tonir`.
After, we continue ascending higher up the gorge of the Azat river, where there is a magnificent monument of medieval Armenian architecture - Geghard Monastery inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list and partly carved out of a mountain. The meaning `the Monastery of the Spear`, originates from the spear which had wounded Jesus during his crucifixion, allegedly brought to Armenia by Apostle Thaddeus, and stored amongst many other relics.
We will continue to Lake Sevan, the emerald of Armenia and the second largest alpine lake in the world. Admire the picturesque views of one of the highest bodies of water in the world before returning to Yerevan. Our farewell dinner will be in a unique place, the house of the famous Armenian contemporary painter and ethnographer, Lusik Aguletsi. You will get to taste national dishes in her house which is also a museum and a cosy Art-cafe. Entering her house is like entering an ancient Armenian house.
Day 10: Departure day from Yerevan, Armenia
Transfer
Breakfast
Today your Georgia and Armenia adventure comes to an end as you fly out from Yerevan. It's time to return home, rejuvenated!
Adventure Optional Extras
Single Room Supplement
Single rooms are available on a first come, first served basis. We will charge on a pro-rata basis if a single room is only available for part of the trip.
Plant an additional 15 trees for your adventure
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world
Plant an additional 15 trees for your adventure
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
Contents
Accommodation
We fully believe in, and practice, Responsible Tourism, using hotels run by locals. The accommodation on this adventure is comfortable and welcoming hotel accommodation offering rooms with ensuite facilities. We put time and effort into building our relationship with accommodation suppliers to ensure you have a great trip.
We choose accommodation based on cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra travel) and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us. Wherever we can we will choose smaller, more characterful, individual hotels, but in areas where tourism is still developing, or in remote areas (like the mountains), we may not have a wide range of options. An aspect of our adventures is to escape the ‘trappings’ of modern Western lifestyles and to experience new things with are exciting and memorable and reflects the countries we are visiting.
Facilities
Unless you have booked a single room (where they are available) and paid the single room supplement for those nights, you will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender).
Guiding & Your Group
Supporting you on your holiday will be a local, English-speaking, qualified guide who knows the area like the back of their hand, as well as the history & heritage of the area!
We work jointly with our Georgian and Armenian Tour Operator partners both before and during your adventure to ensure that they understand your needs and the standard that YellowWood Adventures expects. We believe that it is a very important positive aspect of Responsible Tourism, to employ the expertise of reliable and suitably qualified local suppliers, as well as offering you a much more informative and authentic experience.
Your Group
Your group will be any number from our minimum group size of 4, up to a maximum of 12 fellow travellers. This number works really well with the ratio of guides, and ensures the optimum level of service to you during your adventure.
We get clients booking alone, as couples and in small groups of friends. If you have a group of friends or family who are interested in having their own customised trip, then please let us know and we can cost it for you.
Travel
Your YellowWood adventure starts in Tbilisi. We understand that arriving into an unfamiliar airport can be daunting, so we aim to give you as much information here as possible to help you prepare.
Finding flights
Flights are not included in the cost of your holiday, and whilst we are happy to help advise you, responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you. We recommend that you use a comparison tool when searching for flights, such as skyscanner or www.momondo.co.uk.
Foreign Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. As the situation in our destination countries can change, please do ensure you check regularly before your adventure.
We also receive notifications direct from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) so we are always aware of the ‘status’ in our destination countries.
Arrival
Tbilisi Airport is a fully functioning, international airport welcoming domestic flights and those from Europe. Airport services include Duty Free, ATMs and Currency Exchange. On arrival at the airport you will go through passport control to baggage reclaim and onwards to Arrivals where you will be met by a driver / guide with a YellowWood Adventures sign.
All group specific, final details on where to meet your guide will be sent to you prior to the start of your adventure.
Insurance
Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend sorting your insurance when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered, particularly in the light of effects that the pandemic has had on travel.
Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24hr emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
Your insurance needs to cover you for moderate hiking with the following fairly standard inclusions:
- Medical Expenses
- Coronavirus linked expenses (these may be country specific, so please ensure you know what the requirements are relating to the country you are visiting)
- Repatriation
- Helicopter rescue & Air ambulance
We would also recommend that you have cover for the following optional items:
- Cancellation
- Loss or damage to property
General information on Georgia and Armenia
For general information on Georgia, such as climate, weather, language, social norms, food & drink etc, please have a head to our Country Specific Page packed full of information about Georgia and Armenia.
Please take into consideration the time of year when you are travelling before making your final packing decisions.
Please bring a full first aid kit and any prescription medication with you. Consult your doctor regarding advice around inoculations and the prevention of disease contraction.
Towels and other basic amenities are provided.
Compulsory
- Passport & insurance documents
- Appropriate Visa
- US$ or £GB to exchange for local currency
- Credit / Debit card for ATMs in town
- Phone & charging cables / plugs / adaptors
- Day bag
- Money belt
- Prescription medication
- First aid kit: paracetamol, rehydration sachets, antihistamine cream, ibuprofen cream, thermometer & blister kit (eg plasters & zinc oxide tape). anti-diarrhoea tables - we recommend getting hold of some Ciprofloxacin (a quinolone antibiotic) ahead of the trip. It’s great for traveller's diarrhoea
- Washbag & usual contents
- If applicable, feminine hygiene products
- Insect repellent
- Sun cream
- Hand gel
- Fully charged power pack and cables
Clothing
- Waterproof jacket - GoreTex or similar quality
- Warm jacket & fleece - even in the summer temperatures can be low in the evenings. Down or synthetic insulated jacket & light fleece recommended - they pack small too!
- Walking trousers for trekking. Soft shell fabric is ideal
- Shorts for warmer days
- Sandals or trainers - worn in please!
- General socks / underwear
- Suitable clothes/pjs for sleeping in
- Some “smarter” outfits / evening wear
- Warm hat & gloves
Optional
- Sunglasses
- Sun hat or baseball cap
- Buff or neck gaiter for cold weather / sun protection
- For women: Light scarf useful for covering neck & shoulders in respect of religious spaces
- Flask, if you enjoy hot drinks on the go
- Camera & charging cables / plug
- Purification tablets as alternative to Water Purification Bottle
- Spare ziplock bags for dirty clothes, waterproofing phones, rubbish & general organising
- Clothing hand-washing product - biodegradable please!
- Ear plugs (in case sharing with a snorer!)
This trip supports
Need a little help?
All adventures can be tailored as private bespoke trips.
Please contact us for more information:
+44 207 846 0197
Related Adventures
Booking Process
Select dates & add any extras or 'Add on' adventures. Complete our Booking Form
Check out our Covid-19 friendly booking conditions & check the box to agree to our Terms & Conditions.
'Make Booking': You will be redirected to secure WorldPay to make your deposit (£300/$400/person) payment (receipted), if booking >56 days before your adventure or full payment if 56 or <56 days before your adventure. Your monies are held securely by the Travel Trust Association.
Your booking will show as 'pending' in your YellowWood online account.
Enter booking information for all guests in your party.
We will be in touch as soon as we are able, to confirm your booking or discuss any availability limitations. Do not book transport/flights until we have emailed you to confirm your booking (receipt of your booking form is not confirmation). We will change the status of your final invoice from 'Pending Approval' to 'Outstanding', when it becomes payable online.
This payment is due 56 days before departure date (we send reminders).
Contact us with any questions about your adventure or booking.
+44 207 846 0197
Grading
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
Grade 1-3: Entry Level
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
Grades 4-6: Intermediate
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
Grades 7-9: Challenging
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
Enquiry Process
Get in touch via our Enquiry form to check our availability, discuss the adventure and check we can meet your needs.
Complete our Enquiry Form; contact details, additional requirements (eg diet or health requirements) & questions you may have. Include as much information as you are able to, so we can help you with the detail you are looking for
Click on 'Send Enquiry' (receipted).
We will be in touch as soon as we are able, to answer your questions and help you plan your adventure.
+44 207 846 0197