30 Days | Get beneath the surface of Turkey and the Caucasus Mountains
Immerse yourself in four unforgettable countries wrapped up in stories on a 30-day Premium journey. Go deep into the ancient heart of fascinating Turkey, then continue to the vibrant green hillsides and majestic snow-capped mountains of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. Explore lands where the walls hold the weight of centuries of rich history and where ancient traditions mingle with modern influences. Journey through forests and past towering peaks to find medieval mosques and villages. Travel with expert local leaders, make local friends along the way and discover there’s so much more to each destination than what meets the eye.
Trip overview
- Start
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Finish
- Yerevan, Armenia
- Theme
- Explorer
- Destinations
- Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, 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
- Premium
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- ERPCC
Our best 4-star accommodation and the highest level of service
All must-see locations plus authentic experiences exclusive to Premium
Trips led by our most experienced and highest-rated local leaders
- Get to the heart of Turkey and the Caucasus’s with experienced local leaders – enjoy guided city tours, stroll the ancient streets of Ephesus, learn the secrets of Troy, marvel at Baku’s diverse architecture, explore Tbilisi’s winding narrow streets, and uncover the history of ancient Yerevan.
- Enjoy Feature Stays in Cappadocia, with elegantly decorated rooms carved from stone, and at an historic hotel which was home to the aristocratic Orbeliani family.
- Uncover the real Turkey during Exclusive Experiences, including a cooking class with a chef, visit to an empowering carpet weaving cooperative, cruise around the southern coast, and traditional dinner at a local’s home in Cappadocia
- Visit the Tserovani Refugee Settlement in Georgia during an Exclusive Experience, where you will visit a jewellery making workshop aimed at providing employment to displaced women within the camp, create a piece yourself and learn about the issues surrounding long-term displacement.
- Marvel at ancient wonders and otherworldly sights, from the Cotton Castle of Pamukkale and psychedelic rockscapes of Cappadocia to the open-air archaeological museum of Qobustan in Azerbaijan and the magnificent cave town of Vardzia in Georgia.
- There are some long drives on this trip which are necessary to fit in the incredible places these countries have to offer. These journeys are by private vehicle and although they may be a little tiring, they're a great chance to sit back and enjoy the passing scenery and chat to your fellow travellers.
- Some activities in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, are weather and road condition dependent. For example, the trip to the high Caucasus around Kazbegi. Your leader will keep you up to date on any necessary itinerary changes due to local conditions.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2023 - 31 December 2024
Inclusions
28 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners
Private vehicle, Boat, Plane
Comfortable hotel (22 nights), Feature Stay (6 nights)
- Arrival airport transfer
- Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
- Luggage transfer
- Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
- 24/7 on-ground support
- Istanbul - City Tour
- Istanbul - Blue Mosque Visit
- Istanbul - Welcome Dinner
- Complimentary Arrival Transfer
- Gallipoli - Anzac Cove, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair
- Troy - Archaeological site visit
- Selcuk - Leader-led orientation walk
- Ephesus - Archaeological site visit
- Sirince - Village visit and fruit wine tasting
- Selcuk - Cooking class
- Pamukkale - Hierapolis and Travertines National Park
- Kas - Leader-led orientation walk
- Kas - Sailing trip with seafood lunch
- Antalya - Leader-led orientation walk
- Antalya - Phaselis Ancient City
- Antalya - Antalya Museum
- Konya - Mevlana Museum
- Cappadocia - Leader-led orientation walk
- Cappadocia - Sunset drinks
- Cappadocia - Valley walk
- Cappadocia - Goreme Open Air Museum
- Cappadocia - Carpet weaving co-op
- Cappadocia - Pottery demonstration
- Cappadocia - Ozkonak Underground City
- Cappadocia - Kizilcukur Valley
- Cappadocia - Home-cooked dinner
- Baku - Welcome Dinner at Local Restaurant
- Baku - Palace of the Shirvanshahs
- Baku - Walking Tour with Local Guide
- Qobustan - Petroglyphs
- Qobustan - Half Day Trip
- Gobustan National Park Visit
- Sheki - Khan's Palace
- Sheki - Stained Glass Workshop Visit
- Shamakhi - Yeddi Gumbaz Mausoleum & Juma Mosque
- Kakheti - Lunch and Wine Tasting with a Local Family
- Kakheti - Georgian Polyphonic Singing
- Pankisi Valley tour and lunch
- Gremi Archangels' Complex visit
- Telavi - Market Tour with Tastings
- Tbilisi - Market Visit
- Tbilisi - Narikala Fortress & Cable Car
- Tserovani - Visit to Ikorta & Mtskheta-Mtianeti Regional Hub
- Meskheti - Khertvisi Fortress
- Vardzia - Cave Town Visit with Local Guide
- Gori - Stalin Museum
- Stepantsminda - Gergeti Trinity Church
- Haghpat - Haghpat Monastery
- Geghard - Geghard Monastery
- Lake Sevan - Sevanavank Monastery
- Garni - Temple Visit & Duduk Performance
- Yerevan - City Tour with Local Guide
- Yerevan - Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex
- Istanbul - Topkapi Palace Combined Ticket (Topkapi Palace + Hagia Irene + Harem) - TRY1700
- Istanbul - Hagia Sophia - EUR25
- Selcuk - Ephesus Archaeological Museum - EUR10
- Ephesus - Terrace Houses entry - EUR15
- Goreme - Whirling dervish performance - EUR30
- Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Regular Flight - EUR275
- Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Deluxe Flight - EUR325
- Baku - National Museum of History of Azerbaijan - AZN10
- Baku - National Carpet Museum - AZN10
- Baku - The Heydar Aliyev Centre - AZN15
- Tbilisi - Georgian National Museum - GEL30
- Tbilisi - The National Gallery - GEL25
- Tbilisi - Open Air Museum of Ethnography - GEL20
- Tbilisi - Thermal Bath House Visit - from - GEL70
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. There are a limited number of single supplements available per trip departure. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. Due to current border crossing restrictions for different Caucasus nationalities, your Trip Leader may be from nearby Ukraine or Russia. Your leader will have in-depth knowledge and extensive travel experience throughout the Caucasus. Local guides from Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia are represented throughout the itinerary to ensure you receive a diverse and uniquely local range of perspectives.
4. Upon arrival in Baku, please meet your driver in the Arrivals Hall. If you are delayed beyond one hour after your scheduled arrival time or can't locate the driver, please call our local office representative in Baku at +994 552 974 020
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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