Wine tour in Georgia and Armenia
10 days / 9 nights
Meeting in the Airport. Transfer to the hotel. O/N in Tbilisi.
Breakfast at the hotel. Tbilisi sightseeing tour includes the Old and New Towns: Metechi church and the statue of king Vakhtang Gorgasali (founder of Tbilisi -5th century); Abanotubani –the ancient district of Tbilisi, known for its sulfuric baths; Narikala fortress-one of the oldest fortifications in the city.
Afterwards visit to the Synagogue, Sioni Cathedral, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, commonly known as Sameba which is the main Georgian Orthodox Cathedral and it is listed among the largest Orthodox churches in the world, Open Air Museum of Ethnography – it is essentially a historic village populated by buildings moved there from all main territorial subdivisions of Georgia.
O/N in Tbilisi
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to "Sarajishvili" Brandy Factory which was named after David Sarajishvili who set up his first brandy production in Georgia using the classic technology, which was the first throughout the Russian Empire, round tour and brandy tasting; round tour in "Bagrationi" Wine Factory- the first enterprise specialized in the production of sparkling wines in Georgia.
Drive to Mtskheta - one of the oldest cities of the country of Georgia, was capital of the early Georgian kingdom of Iberia during the 3rd century BC - 5th century AD and it was the site of early Christian activity; visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century), round tour in "Chateau Mukhrani" wine factory.
Drive back to Tbilisi.
O/N in Tbilisi
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to eastern part of Georgia- Kakheti region, known almost exclusively for its vineyards and wineries. Visit to the house of "Pheasant’s Tears" company with wine tasting and interesting stories about wine making, located in Sighnaghi – one of the beautiful towns of the Kakheti region. Sighnaghi and its environs are home to several historical and cultural monuments. The town is walled with the remnants of 18th century fortifications. At the elevation of about 790 m above sea level, the town overlooks the Alazani valley and faces the Greater Caucasus Mountains.
Drive to Bodbe Monastery - originally built in the 9th century, it has been significantly remodeled in the 17th century. The monastery now functions as a nunnery and is one of the the major pilgrimage sites in Georgia. Round tour in "Kindzmarauli Marani" wine factory.
Drive to Gremi, the 16th century architectural monument, the royal citadel and the church of the archangels in Kakheti. Round tour in "Khareba Winery" factory. Drive to Telavi - the main city of Kakheti region.
O/N in Telavi.
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Marani (Telavi wine cellar) - founded in 1915; Tsinandali - a village in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia, noted for the estate and its historic winery which once belonged to the 19th-century aristocratic poet Alexander Chavchavadze; wine tasting.
Drive to "Shumi" wine factory which owns vineyards in unique micro-zones, famous for their geographical locations, climate conditions and history of wine-making and viticulture.
Drive to Ikalto- a village about 10 km west of the town Telavi in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia. It is mostly known for its monastery complex and the Ikalto Academy (12th century).
Drive to "Chateau Mere" wine factory; round tour and wine testing. Drive to Tbilisi.
O/N in Tbilisi
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the Georgia-Armenia border.
Drive to Dilijan which is well-known for its forests as well as with its mysterious flora and fauna. Visit to Haghartsin Monastery which is located in the secluded place of the forest. Appearing unexpectedly, out of the dense forests, in front of the visitors, the Monastery creates a magical impression of the lost world.
Drive to one of the wonders in Armenia - Sevan Lake. The blue lake is one of the greatest high mountainous freshwater lakes of Eurasia. Climb on peninsula and visit to Sevan Monastery (9th c.). Drive to Yerevan.
O/N in Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Yerevan sightseeing includes City center, Republic square, State University, City panorama, Cascade, Parliament, President’s Palace, Opera, Matenadaran (depository for ancient manuscripts); Sports & Concert Complex, visit to the Genocide Memorial, dedicated to the Victims of 1915, and the Genocide Museum. Visit to Armenian Brandy and Wine factory Noy where you will taste a range of famous Armenian brandy and will have possibility to buy them also.
O/N in Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the only remaining pagan temple in Armenia devoted to the God of Sun – Myrth, in Garni, built in 77 AD by King Trdat (Arshakid Dynasty). The temple is Greco-Roman style with characteristic pillars. It stands proudly on a rocky ridge with a deep canyon presenting a beautiful view. The temple was a summer residence for Arshakid dynasty. Visit to the ruins of Royal Palace and Royal bathhouse nearby.
Drive to the unique caved temple St. Geghard (12th -13th cc.), the name of which means “holy spear” in the honor of the long preserved spear, the same spear that pierced the body of crucified Christ. Geghard Monastery is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list (2000).
Have a family hosted lunch in village house with homemade vodka made from different fruits (apricot, grape, pitch, apple or mulberry) and homemade wine. Watch “Lavash” (Armenian traditional flat bread baked in stone-make oven) traditional making process.
Drive back to Yerevan.
O/N in Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Trip to Khor Virap Church – the place of imprisonment of St. Gregory the Illuminator, who stayed here in the small dungeon for 13 years without any food, accused by the Armenian King of preaching Christianity. Khor Virap Church was built on the dungeon and now people have a chance to go down into the dark pit themselves. Here is also the closest and most spectacular view of the gorgeous biblical mountain Ararat shining with its two white peaks.
After visiting Khor Virap drive through the spectacular canyon between the red rocks toward Noravank Monastery (13th c.).
Tour to "Areni" Winery for wine tasting. Here in Areni archaeologists found the earliest known wine press for stomping grapes, fermentation and storage vessels, drinking cups, etc. In the way back to Yerevan it is possible to stop in main road to taste or buy homemade wines and other alcoholic drinks directly from the villagers who are selling their product along the road. Drive back to Yerevan.
O/N in Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out from the hotel. Transfer to the airport.