Armenia-Georgia Wine & Gourmet Tour

Welcome to Yerevan, folks! Welcome to the oldest city in the entire world, which will amaze us with its mind-blowing beauty, architecture and kindest people. In order to start our discovering tour correctly, Mother Armenia will be the first monument to pay a particular visit. The largest statues in the capital not only will surprise with its relevance and symbolism with Armenia, but also with a stunning bird’s eye view over the pink city crowned with Mount Ararat. Later after admiring the city and Cascade Complex with its modern and stylish cafes and restaurants, the museum of Folk Arts is waiting for us. The museum showcases the works of famous artists. The foundation has 4 permanent exhibition halls with over 2000 exhibits, including woodwork, metalwork, stone art, ceramics, 350 carpets and rugs etc.  Later we will have an amazing chance which is not given to everyone actually, to make Armenian traditional dish, Ghapama, and taste some of our traditional dishes and have a relaxing evening away from city noise.

Included Activities:

• Yerevan Walking tour
• The museum of Folk Art visit
• Ghapama cooking class

 Hotel in Yerevan
 Lunch
8 hours

Visiting Armenia and not seeing the Holy Church of Ejmiatsin is like visiting Rome and not visiting Vatican. Ejmiatsin is the holy centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the first Christian church in the whole world. Most interestingly, here we will also see some of the most important relics of the Christian world, such as a piece from Noah’s ark, or the spear by which the body of Christ was pierced. .  Later on we will visit Machanents House, where we will have armenian  traditional cookie master classs and enjoy our lunch afterwards. On our way to Yerevan, the ruins of the 7th century cathedral Zvartnots waits for us. The cathedral is famous for its architectural professionalism that was advanced during those times. Due to its sizes, Zvartnots is considered  to be the largest and oldest aisled tetraconch church in Armenia. In Yerevan, we will visit Ararat brandy  with its amazing museum and factory.

Included Activities:

• Ejmiatsin Cathedral and museum visit
• Traditional Cookie Master class at Machanents House
• Zvartnots Cathedral visit
• Brandy tasting at Ararat brandy

 Hotel in Yerevan
 breakfast, lunch
9 hours

Starting from the third day, we will get to start to explore the ancient culture and history outside of the capital. The first stop will surely be at Khor Virap Monastery where the adoption of Christianity has set its roots. This is also the best location to admire Biblical Mount Ararat on clear days. Later on, the tour will take us to a place where the grape fields are the soldiers. The town is called Yeghegnadzor, where we will have lunch and taste local wines and fruit vodka. However, this is not the end. The day is going to surprise all of us. We are now heading to Areni 1 cave where 6100 years old wine production traces, grape seeds and clay pots are found. The archeological excavation let Armenia to carry the oldest caves of the world in its mountains. Our interesting day’s final destination is the 13th century Noravank Monastery standing amidst the red rocks, an excellent choice not only to admire the ancient architecture but also its surroundings.

Included Activities:   

• Khor Virap visit
• Wine and Vodka tasting in Yeghegnadzor
• Areni 1 Cave visit
• Noravank Monastery visit

 Hotel in Yeghegnadzor
  Breakfast, lunch
8 hours

If we are talking about Armenia, then we cannot avoid the breathtaking views created due to its high mountain terrain. By being located at altitude of 2410 metres above sea level and the top of mountain pass, Selim Caravanserai provides a bird’s eye view of the Armenian Highlands. Once this caravanserai hosted the Silk Road traders and it still stands unchanged from the 13th century. In Noratus, we will be guests of local cheese makers, who make unique cheeses aged in wine and brandy. Later on in compliance with Armenia’s blue queen – Lake Sevan – we will explore the 9th century Hayravank monastery. This day’s dinner will be served in Tsaghkunq village where we will have a traditional cooking master class.

Included Activities:   

• Selim Caravanserai pass
• Cheese tasting in a family farm
• Drive along Lake Sevan
• Hayravank Monastery visit
• Traditional cooking master class

 Hotel in Tsaghkunq
  Breakfast, dinner
9 hours

This is the morning to say ciao to those who continue wine touring in Armenia and move to another country with rich wine traditions – Georgia. A vehicle from Yerevan will arrive to take us to the border point with Georgia. On the border pass we will change the car to Georgian one and continue driving. In  approximately 5 hours we will arrive in Tbilisi, and check in at our hotel. We are free for the rest of the day to relax and not to be overloaded .

 Hotel in Tbilisi
  Not included
6 hours

By being the capital of Georgia since the 5th century and located on the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Tbilisi presents a wonderful mix of cultures. Old Tbilisi, the oldest part of the city, is the main tourist attraction centre of the city and that is where we are heading to. The list opens up with the 13th century Metekhi Temple standing on the edge of a rocky gorge near the river Kura. Later continues by passing the river with a visit to Persian-style baths of Abanotubani with naturally hot waters and Narikala Fortress with Georgians’ heroic past.  The glass bridge connecting the two parts of the city – “Bridge of Peace” opens an unforgettable view over the surroundings. Whereas the 6th century Anchiskhati basilica with its partially displaced blocks and hardly survived frescoes get us closer to the roots of Christianity in the country. The visit to the golden duet of Freedom Square and Rustaveli Avenue with their eye-catching harmonic architecture will fill the gaps between past and present. At the very end, a cable train tour with a panoramic view over the brightly sparkling city will stick in our minds for the rest of the life. 

Included Activities:   

• Old Tbilisi walking tour
• Metekhi Temple visit
• Abanotubani visit
• Narikala Fortress visit
• Anchiskhati basilica visit
• Freedom Square and Rustaveli Avenue visit

 Hotel in Tbilisi
  Breakfast
8 hours

Without forgetting the main purpose of our tour, we are moving to the nation’s foremost wine-producing region – Kakheti. The region is responsible for the three-quarter of the country’s wine production with its land that has been the centre of viticulture for thousands of years. First we visit Sighnaghi – probably the best known part of the region. An Italian-style hill-town engraved among green hills not only provides the vibe of being in Italy with its brownish and neutral-coloured blocks of houses and baths but also gives an exceptional panoramic view over the Alazan Valley and the Eastern Caucasus Mountains. What splendour! Though Sighnaghi is an admiration centre, we go on to the Tsinandali Estate. With its romantic style and harmonically mixing colours the 19th century estate is a cultural, educational and historical centre with its surrounding vineyards, garden, exhibition centres and monuments. We finally end our extensively loaded day in the centre of the region – Telavi. The latter is not less famous for its award-winning wineries, grape varieties and locals’ hospitality. What does this mean? With a good portion of wine we end the day.  

Included Activities:   

• Wine tasting in Sighnaghi
• Tsinandali Estate visit
• Wine tasting in Telavi

 Hotel in Telavi
  Breakfast
8 hours

Our 4th day in Georgia starts with a visit to the Gremi architectural complex dating back to the 16th century. The only surviving example of Kakheti’s long history proudly stands on the edge of a hill surrounded by sky-reaching mountains with their ever-changing shades of colours. A short visit to one of the local wineries with their wine-making master-classes will make us feel like real wine-professionals. Later on let’s dig into the religious history of Georgia by visiting Alaverdi Cathedral of the 11th century. The lunch break at the spot will be followed by a drive back to Tbilisi via Gomhoria forested  mountains. If time permits, we may also visit another monastery of Shuamta. The capital is welcoming us for the overnight stay at the hotel. 

Included Activities:   

• Gremi architectural complex visit
• Wine tasting and master-class in Kakheti
• Alaverdi Cathedral visit
• Gomhoria forested mountains pass
• Shuamta monastery visit

 Hotel in Tbilisi
  Breakfast, lunch
10 hours

In addition to having a vast variety of grapes, and millennia-old wine traditions, Georgia also takes pride with its cultural sites, also known as “UNESCO World Heritage”. Full of sites of cultural and historical significance, the former capital of Georgia, Mtskheta, opens its gates in front of us. The city is listed as a World Heritage Site where it collects some of the most iconic monuments and buildings of Georgian lifelong history. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, the main patriarchal cathedral of Georgian Church where a number of kings, nobles, heroes and saints are buried, will amaze with elongated cross plan and beautiful stone carvings outside and inside of the church. Whereas the Jvari monastery will only add to the emotions with its enormous sizes, panoramic view over two rivers flowing the region, and historically damaged but still preserved frescoes, mosaics and architecture. The day would be meaningless without visiting Chateau Mukhrani, known for the famous residence and winery of Prince Mukran Bagrationi, where we have the opportunity to taste some of the wines and enjoy some local snacks for lunch. The final day in Georgia ends in the capital, where at our leisure time some recommendations can be done.

Included Activities:   

• Mtskheta visit
• Svetitskhoveli cathedral visit
• Jvari monastery visitChateau Mukhrani 
• Wine tasting at Prince Mukran Bagrationi

 Hotel in Tbilisi
  Breakfast, lunch
7 hours

This is the last day of “Georgia-Armenia wine and Gourmet tour” when we will be transferred to the airport. Thank you very much for choosing Armenia and Georgia as your wine destinations. Looking forward to another meeting.

  Breakfast