Georgia & Armenia Explorer

11 Days | Wineries, monasteries and natural landscapes that will blow you away (off the tourist trail)

Explorer
From
NZD $3,835
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With this eleven-day adventure, you’ll travel overland from Georgia to Armenia to experience off-the-beaten-track highlights, natural landscapes and welcoming, local people. Wander the streets of 3000-year-old Kutaisi, see some iconic monasteries like Khor Virap and Sevanavank and veer off the tourist trail to explore an old Soviet spa town, abandoned and atmospheric. Go on a hike in search of bezoar goats in a protected wildlife area, meet local wine makers with two wine tastings in both Georgia and Armenia and try your hand at Dolma making with a local cooking demonstration. With a night on the shores of gorgeous Lake Sevan and a range of diverse experiences and destinations, why not take an adventure that will surprise, delight and inspire?

Trip overview

Map of Georgia & Armenia Explorer including Armenia and Georgia
Start
Tbilisi, Georgia
Finish
Yerevan, Armenia
Theme
Explorer
Destinations
Georgia, Armenia
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
KFSE
This trip generates 50 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Visit the first café in Armenia to focus on the employment of people living with disabilities, stay by Lake Sevan with a local NGO committed to inclusivity and attend a cooking workshop founded by local women who aim to preserve Armenian culture.
  • Veer off the tourist track and explore the lesser visited Georgia – see the Soviet ghost town of Tskhaltubo to wander the abandoned sanatoriums, explore Vardzia’s Cave Town to learn about 12th-century history and walk to Borjomi’s natural mineral springs.
  • Hike with rangers in search of bezoar goats with the country’s first community-managed protected area – the locals here aim to preserve the environment and educate the community about the local flora and fauna.
  • Learn about Georgia’s proud wine traditions with a visit to a local family winery and sit down to a hearty home-cooked lunch with a paired wine tasting. Then, enjoy another wine tasting on a farm visit in Armenia.
  • Take in the stunning views of Khor Virap Monastery and Sevanavank Monastery – the ancient buildings set against the natural backdrops of mountains and blue lakes are just as impressive as the layered histories!

Is this trip right for you?
  • This trip has a couple of long travel days with a few stops along the way to break up the journey.
  • You’ll spend a night at a local lodge where the facilities maybe be humble and shared. Your support for the local NGO and the great location so close to Lake Sevan will more than make up for the lack of modern amenities and you’re sure to have a memorable stay.

Itinerary

Map of Georgia & Armenia Explorer including Armenia and Georgia

Inclusions

Meals

10 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner

Transport

Private vehicle, Public bus, Taxi, Train

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights), Guest House (1 night), Lake Cottage (1 night)

Activities
  • Kutaisi - Leader-led city walking tour
  • Kutaisi - Aerial Tramway
  • Tskhaltubo - Soviet sanatoriums visit
  • Kutaisi - Winery visit & home-cooked lunch
  • Borjomi - Leader-led walking tour
  • Vardzia - Cave Town Visit with Local Guide
  • Gyumri - Inclusive bakery visit
  • Yerevan - Dolma cooking demonstration & dinner
  • Yerevan - City Tour with Local Guide
  • Yerevan - Khor Virap Monastery
  • Areni Village - Winery visit & home-cooked lunch
  • Lake Sevan - Noravank Monastery
  • Arpa - Hiking with local ranger
  • Lake Sevan - Orbelian Caravanserai
  • Lake Sevan - Sevanavank Monastery
Add on activities
  • Kutaisi - Bagrati Cathedral & Gelati Monastery - Free
  • Kutaisi - State Historical Museum - GEL5
  • Kutaisi - Pub Crawl - GEL60
  • Akhalstikhe - Rabati Castle Entrance - GEL30
  • Akhalstikhe - Samtskhe-Javakheti History Museum - GEL18
  • Gyumri - Museum of National Architecture and Urban Life - AMD1000
  • Gyumri - The Gallery of Mariam and Eranuhi Aslamazyan Sisters - AMD1000
  • Yerevan - Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex - Free
  • Yerevan - Brandy Factory visit & Tasting - AMD4500
  • Yerevan - Museum of Armenian History - AMD2500

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is bookable for this trip, excluding Day 8&9, and is subject to availability. Please consult with your booking agent if you are interested.
2. Please be advised that due to current border crossing restrictions for different Caucasus nationalities, your Trip Leader may be from nearby region. Your leader will have in-depth knowledge and extensive travel experience throughout the Caucasus. Local guides from Georgia & Armenia are represented throughout the itinerary to ensure you receive a diverse and uniquely local range of perspectives.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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Georgia & Armenia Explorer
From
NZD $3,835