The Caucasus region is a mountain range lying between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, considered part of the natural boundary between Europe and Asia. Four countries, all part of the former Soviet Union, occupy this region: Russia in the Northern Caucasus, and Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia in the Southern Caucasus. These isolated and ancient lands are one of the world's most ethnically diverse regions, containing more than 60 languages from five distinct language families, giving the region an astounding cultural diversity.
This tour takes you to two of these countries: Armenia, an ancient and proud millennia-old civilization in a remote mountain landscape, the first state to adopt Christianity as an official religion; Georgia, the lush green heart of the Caucasus, followed not long after. With its fabulous cuisine and culture, diverse landscapes and a wealth of ancient churches, cathedrals, monasteries and cave cities, this is a part of the world truly like no other.
DAY 01 SINGAPORE / TBILISI
Fly Singapore/Doha QR639 0210/0455 – Daily (7 h 45 m)
Doha/Tbilisi QR974 0830/1445 – Tue, Thu, Fri (5 h 15 m)
Doha/Tbilisi QR976 1300/1915 – all other days (5 h 15 m)
Upon arrival, be met & transfer to your hotel to check-in.
(Dinner included)
DAY 02 TBILISI/MTSHKETA/ UPLISTSIKHE/GORI/TBILISI
This morning drive 45 minutes to Mtskheta, ancient capital of eastern Georgia. Georgia’s conversion to Christianity occurred in Mtskheta in 337AD. Visit its historical, fully-functioning churches including the beautiful 7th century Jvari Church perched on a cliff overlooking the city, the Sveti-Tskhoveli Cathedral, the first Christian church to be built in Georgia and its largest functioning cathedral, and the Samtavro monastery complex, with its shrine to St Nino, converter of Georgia.
Continue driving for another hour to the town of Gori, infamous as the birthplace of Josef Stalin, and have lunch before visiting the Stalin Museum. Then proceed just outside the town to visit Uplistsikhe cave town, developed to service the trade route from India to the west in the 1st millennium BC. The town is a complex of rock-cut streets, residences, churches, secret tunnels, water passages, markets and the oldest theatre in Georgia, all hewn out of the mountain side. Return to Tbilisi for dinner and overnight stay.
(Breakfast, lunch, dinner included)
DAY 03 TBILISI/DAVID GAREJA/TBILSI
Today’s excursion is to the haunting David Gareja monastery complex, set in the semi-desert on the border with Azerbaijan, 140 km or about 2 hours drive from Tbilisi. This complex of rock-cut cave monasteries and churches was founded in the 13th century by the Syrian Fathers, a group of monks from Assyria who came to Georgia to help with the establishment of Christianity. Many of the caves bear ancient frescoes. We have time for about 2 hours of hiking to visit two of the monasteries, enjoying a picnic lunch before returning to Tbilisi.
(Breakfast, lunch, dinner included)
DAY 04 TBILISI/ANANURI/GUDAURI/KAZBEGI/GUDAURI
Today we drive north along the Georgian Military Highway. Completed in 1817 to link Georgia with Russia this has long been an important military and economic route through the mountainous region. About 45 minutes out of Tbilisi, we stop to visit Ananuri, the beautifully sited 16th century fortress complex with its exquisitely carved churches; then continue into the Caucasus Mountains for another 1 hour to Gudauri, Georgia’s top ski resort. After a brief stop for lunch and to take in the mountain scenery, we continue for a 1½ drive through alpine meadows and mountain passes littered with medieval watch towers to Kazbegi. Here we take a hour and a half walk up to the Tsminda Sameba Church, perched in a beautiful, solitary spot high above the village of Kazbegi, one of Georgia’s iconic sights.
Return to Gudauri for dinner and overnight stay.
(Breakfast, lunch, dinner included)
DAY 05 GUDAURI/TBILISI/DZORAGET
After breakfast, check-out and drive a little more than 2 hours back to Tbilisi. From here it is an hour to the border crossing to Armenia at Sadakhlo; after the immigration formalities, meet your Armenian guide and driver. Drive another 30 minutes to Dzoraget, along the Debed River nestled among the forest-covered hills. Check-in to the Avan Dzoraget hotel, built in 2004 but designed to evoke the historical atmosphere of a medieval Armenian castle. Take the rest of the day to stretch, unwind and relax.
(Breakfast, lunch, dinner included)
DAY 06 DZORAGET/SANAHIN/HAGHPAT/YEREVAN
This morning we backtrack slightly to visit the 10th century monastic complexes of Sanahin and Haghpat, outstanding examples of medieval Armenian architecture and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Continue for a brief visit to Saghmosavank, a monastery in a breathtaking site in the deep canyon of Qasakh. Then drive 2 hours to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
(Breakfast, lunch, dinner included)
DAY 07 YEREVAN/ECHIAMIADZIN/YEREVAN
After breakfast start on a city tour, including a visit to the Memorial Park and the Museum of the Armenian Genocide. Then drive about 30 minutes to Echmiadzin, the seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Visit the ancient cathedral, on the site where St Gregory the Illuminator first built in 301-303 AD; also visit the Zvartnots ruins from the 7th century. Both Echmiadzin and Zvarnots are UNESCO World Heritages; return to Yerevan for dinner.
(Breakfast, lunch, dinner included)
DAY 08 YEREVAN/KHOR VIRAP/GARNI/GEGHARD/YEREVAN
Excursion to Khor Virap, in the Ararat Valley about 40 minutes drive from Yerevan. Set against the stunning view of Biblical Mt Ararat, this large 17th century monastery is built over the 4th century site of St Gregory’s imprisonment in a pit for 12 years. Then drive about 1 hour to Garni, a pagan Hellenistic temple in a picturesque setting. Have lunch at a local house, before a visit to the close by UNESCO World Heritage Geghard monastery, rock-cut from caves, producing some beautiful acoustics. Return to Yerevan for dinner.
(Breakfast, lunch, dinner included)
DAY 09 YEREVAN/LAKE SEVAN/TBILISI
This morning, check-out and drive 1 hour to high Lake Sevan, the biggest lake in the Caucasus, occupying a full 5% of the area of this small country. Visit the 8th century Sevanak monastery, built on the hill of what was once an island, turned peninsular as the lake level fell. The view over the lake and surrounding mountains is marvelous, and well worth the windy climb up the steps. Then drive 30 minutes to Dilijan, Armenia’s mountain resort area for lunch, before continuing another 2 hours to the border to cross back to Georgia. Meet your Georgian guide and car again and drive 1 hour to Tbilisi for dinner.
(Breakfast, lunch, dinner included)
DAY 10 TBILISI/SINGAPORE
Today we explore Tbilisi, capital of Georgia for over 1500 years. Destroyed and rebuilt nearly 30 times, it is today one of the most lively and cosmopolitan cities in the Caucasus. Walk through the narrow streets and inner courtyards, and stroll down Rustaveli Avenue, the main thoroughfare. Visit Metekhi Church of the Virgin, which was rebuilt in the 12th and 13th centuries after the 6th century original was destroyed by the Mongols. Drive to Sioni Cathedral in the town center, the main cathedral of Tbilisi and seat of the Catholicos of the Georgian Orthodox Church. In addition, see the synagogue and bath houses, a herbal medicinal shop and the history museum.
Later transfer to the airport for check-in to your departure flight.
Fly Tbilisi/Doha QR975 1545/1945 – Tue, Thu, Fri (5 h 15 min)
Tbilisi/Doha QR977 2015/0015 – All other days (5 h 15 min)
Doha/Singapore QR642 0055/1330 – Daily (7 h 45 m)
(Breakfast, lunch included)
Arrive Singapore on Day 11.
3 DAYS AZERBAIJAN EXTENSION
Azerbaijan differs from its neighbors Georgia and Armenia in two important ways: it is majority Muslim; and it has huge oil reserves. The wealth has changed the capital, Baku, in ways which are not always interesting to the visitors; nevertheless, the historic Old Town is well conserved and is designated a UNESCO World Heritage, and a day trip to Gobustan and Ateshgah is richly rewarding. Because the Qatar Airways flight from Tbilisi to Doha stops in Baku, a stopover here can be arranged as an extension of one of the other Caucasus tours.
DAY 11 TBLISI / BAKU
Transfer to the airport for flight.
Fly Tblisi/Baku QR975 1545/1700 – Daily (1 h 15 m)
Upon arrival, be met and transfer to your hotel.
(Dinner included)
DAY 12 BAKU
Meet your guide after breakfast and visit the historic Old Town of Baku with its maze of narrow alleys and ancient buildings contrasting sharply with the relentless modernity of the new city. Start with a visit to Icheri Sheher, the fortress of Old Baku dating to the 15th century, and continue to Maiden Tower, the Shirvan Shahs’ Palace Complex, medieval market square and caravanserai. The Synyk Kala Minaret, completed in 1093, is the city’s oldest building.
After lunch, visit the historical part of downtown; this is the original boom town erected after the initial discovery of oil here in the late 19th century. Visit the State Carpet Museum, and have a panoramic view of Baku city and the Caspian Sea.
(Breakfast, lunch, dinner included)
DAY 13 BAKU / DOHA
After breakfast, proceed outside the city to Gobustan, famous for its archeological monuments with more than 4,000 rock drawings from the Neolithic period. Continue to the Absheron Peninsula, which has the oldest oil fields in Azerbaijan, and stop at the pink salt lake of Masazir Golu. Visit the Zoroastrian Fire Temple at Ateshgyakh, from the 18th century, and return for lunch.
Later transfer to the airport for departure flight.
Fly Baku/Doha QR975 1800/1945 – Tue, Thu, Fri (2 h 45 m)
Doha/Singapore QR642 0055/1330 – Daily (7 h 45 m)
(Breakfast, lunch included)
Arrive Singapore on Day 14.
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