Depart for Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.  

Proceed for city tour on arrival in Baku. Start with a tour of the “Old City of Baku” (Icherisheher). Several historical-architectural monuments like the Shirvanshakhs Palace, the symbol of Baku City, The Maiden Tower, Karavansaray are concentrated in the Icherisheher – where 1300 families are still living. It is an ancient city in a modern city. Visit the medieval market square and carpet workshop-art studio.

In the evening, walk along Baku Boulevard which is the second largest boulevard in the world with boat tour included.

After breakfast, enjoy an excursion to the historical sites in Absheron Peninsula. Visit the Gobustan Reserve – an open air museum littered with Neolithic rock drawings. Just 65km south of Baku, Gobustan has some 4000 inscriptions that date back to 12,000 years ago. Visit Ateshgah – the Fire Worshippers’ Temple located in Surakhany village. Visit Yanar Dag – a visually stunning natural gas fire which blazes continuously on a hillside. Flames shoot into the air 10 feet from a thin porous sandstone layer.

Visit Diri Baba Mosque in Maraza Village. Continue to Shemakha to visit the historical Juma Mosque.
Sheki is one of the most famous and ancient places of Azerbaijan. Situated 700m (2297ft) above sea level surrounded by the mountains and forests of oak trees, this ancient city was long famed as a silk centre and an important stop on the Great Silk Route. Our Sheki tour will visit the 18th century Khan’s Summer Palace with magnificent frescos and exquisite stained glass work. This also includes the Sheki History Museum with artifacts from several periods, especially for pieces relating to silk manufacturing and trade.

We then drive to the Azerbaijan – Georgia border. After border formalities, we cross the Georgian border to Signagi. Signagi is a fortified royal town surrounded by a defence wall with 23 towers built by King Erekle II in the 18^th century. The town had many gates through which Georgia was connected to Europe and Asia by various trade routes. Stroll through tiny and cozy streets of Signagi and enjoy amazing view of the Alazani Valley. Visit a local winery and taste Georgian traditional wine.

Continue on to Bodbe Monastery Complexes which holds the tomb of St Nino, the Cappadocian maiden who converted the Georgian people to Christianity.
Continue to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Tiblisi is one of the ancient capitals of the world, situated in the valley of the river Mtkvari.

Full day city tour of Tbilisi. Known as the capital of Georgia from the 5^th century, this city is extraordinary for its turbulent history, elegant and remarkable architecture, destroyed and restored through centuries, but still keeping the entire style of Georgian orthodox religion and traditions.

Walk through the old city. Visit to Metekhi Church which dates back to the 13^th century. Use the cable car to visit Narikala Fortress from the 4^th century and Statue of Mother of Georgia. Visit to Abanotubani Bath District and Sioni Cathedral (one of the most famous and oldest temple in Georgia).
Enjoy a traditional Georgian city restaurant with folk performance.

After breakfast, you will drive towards Mtskheta, situated about 20km from Tbilisi. It was here that the Georgians embraced Christianity in the beginning of the 4th century. Today, the town and its architectural monuments are included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.

Our journey will continue along the Georgian Military Highway to Kazbegi. We will make a halt at the Ananuri Architectural Complex, which was the residence of the Eristavi (the rulers) of Aragvi. The complex comprises various buildings that were used for worship, fighting and household purpose in the past. The main church of the Holy Virgin is the focal point of the fortress. The facade of the church is decorated with exquisite relief and ornaments. A picturesque lake opens up from the base of the Ananuri fortress.

Then, we continue our way through the mountainous landscape up the valley. We will drive across the “Cross” Pass (2395 m) and arrive in Kazbegi, which is located at 1700 meters above sea level.

We visit the Gergeti Trinity Church, located at a height of 2127m above the village of Stephantsminda. The beautiful road will take you through the forest and up to the vast plateau where the glorious church stands tall at the very end of the cliff. Upon your approach, admire the incredible views of the mighty Mount Kazbeg (5047m) and the fabulous Kazbegi Valley. This is also considered to be the very mountain that was mentioned in Greek mythology as the eternal prison of demi-god Prometheus that was chained to the mountain in Caucasus as a punishment for stealing fire and gifting it to human kind.
We then drive back to Tbilisi.

Transfer to the Georgian – Armenian border at Sadakhlo.

Visit Khor Virap Monastery (4-17 cc) with its fascinating view of Mount Ararat. The monastery has always been a place of pilgrimage for Armenians. Visit holy Etchmiadxin with the Mother cathedral and its surroundings. Excursion to Garni, the only pagan temple in Armenia and the incredible Christian Monastery of Geghart, partly carved out of solid rock between the 11-13^th century.