Complete Caucasus Tour: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia

Wednesday 9th June – Baku, Azerbaijan

• Arrive at your own leisure into Baku – the capital city of Azerbaijan is well connected with many European and Asian countries. Self-transfer to our centrally located hotel.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 6:00pm to discuss the tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• We’ll head out to explore Baku – the largest and capital city in the Caucasus region. The city has been influenced by the Persian and Russian empires before the discovery of oil influenced its architectural appearance as a modern city.
• Dinner at a local restaurant – we recommend trying plov, a traditional rice dish, or Kufta Bozbash, a delicious meatball broth dish.
• For those inclined, we’ll head out for drinks. We recommend trying Xirdalan beer or Azeri wine. Despite being a nation of Shia Muslims, the Russians have left their mark with their love of alcohol.
• Overnight stay in Baku.

Thursday 10th June – Baku – Absheron – Baku

Morning

• Early morning start with breakfast at the hotel before we explore and discover Baku cultural heritage.
• We’ll begin our tour starting off with Baku Old City, locally known as the Inner City. The fortified, historical centre is an UNESCO world heritage site and was often featured in Soviet era movies including Diamond hand, Amphibian man and Aybolit-66. We’ll see the ancient landmarks of the medieval caravanserai, Palace of the Shirvanshah and Maiden Tower.
• You’ll have some time to explore the Old Town, perfect for photo opportunities and to pick Soviet relics.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a local restaurant – we recommend trying the popular local dish Azeri Dolma, grape leaf stuffed filling of meat and rice.
• We’ll continue to the land of fire, a burning mountain! We’ll ascend into the hills around Baku to Yanar Dag. Similar to the Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan, this is a natural gas fire which burns continuously on a hill near the Caspian Sea. The flames steadily burn 3 metres into the air feeding off natural gas under the rock. Legend has it that the blaze was ignited by a shepherd discarding a cigarette in the 1950’s and it continues to burn to this day.
• Next, we’ll head to the Absheron Peninsula and visit the Fire Temple, a castle-like religious temple used as a Hindu, Sikh, and Zoroastrian place of worship. The site is heavily used by worshippers who pilgrim from North India.
• At Heydar Aliyev Centre, designed by the famous Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, you’ll have some time to take advantage of the viewpoint, where you can admire the Baku skyline.
• After a busy day, we’ll head back to the hotel to relax and freshen up before heading out for dinner at a local restaurant followed by drinks.
• Overnight stay in Baku.

Friday 11th June – Baku – Ivanovka – Shaki

Morning

• Early morning start with Breakfast, today we’ll discover how oil influenced the largest and capital city of Azerbaijan.
• The Baku skyline is clearly dominated by the Flame Towers, which honours Zoroastrianism and their ancient devotion to fire. You’ll have the opportunity to admire the beautiful scenery and take pictures.
• Martyrs’ Lane, locally known as Alley of Martyrs, is a cemetery and memorial complex for the victims of Black January – a violent and brutal crackdown on Azerbaijani nationalism and anti-Soviet sentiment ordered by Mikhail Gorbachev.
• We’ll take the scenic route to Ivanovka which has the last kolkhoz (collective farm) and also the only village populated by ethnic Russians in Azerbaijan.

Afternoon

• You’ll have a genuine Soviet experience and join the local villagers for lunch at kolkhoz canteen. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions about life during the Soviet Union and after it collapsed.
• Our journey will continue towards the Greater Caucasus mountain range to Shaki, a vital trading centre during the Silk Road.
• In Shaki, we’ll visit the Palace of Shaki Khans, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll get to appreciate the architectural beauty and learn about its fascinating history. We’ll also visit the medieval fortress, and the artisans’ house. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the beautiful city and interact with the friendly locals.
• Check into our hotel freshen up before heading out for dinner. We’ll visit a local restaurant, we recommend trying the shashlik alongside Azeri wine.
• Overnight stay in Shaki.

Saturday 12th June – Shaki – Sighnaghi, Georgia – Dedoplistkaro

Morning

• After breakfast, we’ll have a last stroll of Shaki to capture some pictures and purchase gifts, we’ll head towards the Georgian border taking the beautiful scenic mountainous route. We’ll make rest stops along the way.
• On arrival to the Azerbaijan–Georgia border, your guides will assist with border formalities – you’ll have the chance to exchange leftover Azerbaijani Manat into Georgian Lari.
• After crossing the border, you’ll get your first glimpse of Georgian life in Lagodekhi – renowned for its natural beauty. We’ll also pass some controversial brutalist architecture which has changed very little from the Soviet era.
• Sighnaghi, locally referred to as Signagi, will be our main stop. Although one of Georgia’s smallest towns, it’s located in the centre of the wine growing regions.
• For lunch, we’ll take advantage of the picturesque backdrop while wine tasting alongside lunch.

Afternoon

• We’ll walk around Sighnaghi, the City of Love, before visiting the “Peace” monument created by Nugzar Manjaparashvili. This is one the finest examples of Soviet era modernist art, something that is slowly disappearing – we’ll take an epic group photo here!
• From Signagi we’ll drive to Shiraki to visit the long-abandoned Soviet-era airfield. There are 53 aircraft hangers dotted around the landscape along with derelict aircraft and military structures.
• Overnight stay in Dedoplistkaro

Sunday 13th June – Dedoplistkaro – Tbilisi

Morning

• Following breakfast, we’ll transfer to Tbilisi
• Today we’ll visit the largest and capital city of Georgia. Due to its strategic location, it’s been on the crossroads between Europe and Asia which is heavily reflected in its architecture.
• Group B members – meet your group and YPT guide in the hotel lobby at 10:30am.
• We’ll have a full day dedicated to exploring Tbilisi’s Soviet and Urbex locations. Starting at the Underground Printing House which was a secret printing operation used by Bolshevik and Menshevik revolutionaries in the early 20^th century to produce political literature and pamphlets. A young Joseph Stalin, then aged in his early twenties was involved.
• Next, we’ll venture to Tbilisi Auto Museum to admire their collection of Soviet produced cars and trucks. Look out for rare vehicles including the GAZ-M1 and the GAZ-4 truck, only a few survive worldwide.
• We’ll continue to Liberty Square for a Soviet style lunch at a stolovaya. Try khachapuri or pelmeni.

Afternoon

• After lunch, we’ll explore some of Tbilisi’s most striking brutalist architecture in its outer suburbs. We’ll also visit Tbilisi Expo centre which showcase Soviet-era pavilions and gardens with colourful murals.
• Following the Expo centre we’ll take in two highlights of Tbilisi, The Saint Nino Monument, dedicated to Saint Nino, one of the most revered figures in Georgian history who first brought Christianity to Georgia in the 4^th century.
• Our last stop on our brutalist architecture tour will be at the Chronicle of Georgia, dubbed the Georgian ‘Stonehenge’ for its massive pillars around 30 metres high.
• Overnight stay in Tbilisi.

Monday 14th June – Tbilisi – Chiatura – Tskaltubo

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel then we’ll check out and drive to Tskaltubo via Gori and Chiatura.
• Our first stop will be at Gori, birthplace of Joseph Stalin. We’ll visit a museum dedicated to his life from relative obscurity to one of the world’s most feared men. Also on the grounds of museum is the private train carriage Stalin frequently rode in.
• From Gori we’ll continue to Chiatura, a mining town which became prosperous during the Soviet-era. That legacy survives in the form of cable cars which were once used to transport minerals and have now been refurbished to transport people to the hills above the town.

Afternoon

• For lunch, we’ll visit a local bakery then eat in the stands of an abandoned football stadium.
• Following lunch, we’ll hike up the steps to the 12^th century Mgvimevi monastery which hugs the cliff faces overlooking Chiatura.
• Leaving Chiatura we’ll stop briefly to admire the Katskhi pillar, a towering 40 metre high monolith first ascended by Christian ascetics in the 6^th century who built a small church and wine cellar at its summit. It remained virtually untouched for the next 1400 years until it was restored in the 1990’s.
• We’ll continue to Tskaltubo, check in to our hotel then head out for dinner by the riverfront.
• Overnight stay in Tskaltubo.

Tuesday 15th June – Tskaltubo – Tbilisi

Morning

• Before leaving Tskaltubo, we’ll take in in the Old Town on a short walking tour visiting the colourful markets, the Royal Quarter and the White Bridge.
• Tskaltubo has long been known for its sanatoriums, constructed in Soviet times around thermal radon-mineral springs. We’ll visit a few of these sanatoriums including the once impressive but now crumbling Medea and Metallurgist spa resorts.

Afternoon

• Following lunch, we’ll drive around four hours back to Tbilisi and check into our hotel.
• Overnight stay in Tbilisi.

Wednesday 16th June – Tbilisi – Zhinvali – Pasanauri – Tbilisi

Morning

• Early morning start with breakfast at the hotel before you’ll embark on one the most picturesque journeys in the Caucuses – The Georgian Military Highway.
• We’ll head towards Zhinvali. On arrival we’ll take a rest stop here. You’ll see a formidable monument dedicated to the Three Hundred Aragvians – a potent symbol of Georgian history. The monument was erected over the graves of the soldiers who perished in 1795.

Afternoon

• We’ll have lunch in Pasanauri, a small town which was a popular tourist destination during the Soviet era. Unfortunately, like many places in the former soviet republics, it’s now less frequented. We recommend trying khinkali here as it’s regarded as the best in Georgia.
• Your journey continues along the Georgian Military Highway to the Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument. Overlooking the Devil’s Valley, the circular concrete structures display large tile murals of Georgian and Russian history. Nowadays it’s met with heavy controversy.  
• Our final stop of the day will be the isolated 14th century Gergeti Trinity Church, the iconic church nestled at the base of the legendary Mount Kazbegi where we’ll enjoy the beautiful views.
• After a busy day filled with breath-taking scenery, we’ll head back to Tbilisi go out for dinner and enjoy the amazing Georgian hospitality.
• Overnight stay in Tbilisi.

Thursday 17th June – Tbilisi – Lake Seven, Armenia – Yerevan

Morning

• We’ll have an early morning start with breakfast at our hotel.
• Group A members: tour concludes – YPT is able to arrange post-tour accommodation or advice for outgoing flights.
• Your journey continues to the Georgian-Armenian border. We’ll take advantage of the route we’re taking to explore forgotten Soviet monuments along the way. At the border, you can exchange leftover Georgian Lari. Your guides will assist you with the usual border formalities.

Afternoon

• After entering our third and final country of the Caucuses, we’ll grab a much-deserved lunch. Those wanting can try some Ararat, Armenian brandy.
• We’ll visit a seldom but powerful Soviet era monument, Mother Armenia, created by Mehrabyan.
• In Dilijan, a charming town surrounded by nature, we’ll learn about its cultural importance before checking another forgotten Soviet monument: the 50th anniversary of Soviet Armenia.
• Your road trip continues to Lake Sevan, the largest lake in the Caucuses. We’ll spend some time here enjoying the natural beauty. Those who wish to go for a swim are free to do so.
• On arrival in Yerevan, we’ll check into the hotel before heading straight out to enjoy some Armenian cuisine and drinks!
• Overnight stay in Yerevan.

Friday 18th June – Yerevan

Morning

• Breakfast before our visit to Yerevan will start with the Mother Armenia monument – a powerful symbol of Armenia representing peace through strength. However during the Soviet era, a statue of Stalin once stood here.
• Our walking tour will also cover important sites including the Cascade Complex, the National Opera and Ballet Theatre, the National Assembly and many more buildings which were constructed during the Soviet Union.
• You’ll have some time to explore and capture some pictures along the walking tour. There are many Soviet and Armenian architecture wonders here, or you simply grab a coffee and enjoy the capital city.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a local restaurant, we recommend trying tjvjik consisting of lamb or beef liver with additional offal – a popular Soviet Armenian film was centred around this dish.
• At the Armenian Genocide Memorial complex, locally known as Tsitsernakaberd, you’ll learn about the massacres and forced deportations of Armenians. This is very much a delicate and sensitive subject: even today countries deny that there was a genocide.
• We’ll continue our tour of Yerevan before heading to the hotel to relax and freshen up.
• As it’s our final night as a group embarking on the Caucuses tour, in true YPT fashion, we’ll head to our favourite restaurant which serves amazing khorovats alongside some local beer and Ararat!
• Overnight stay in Yerevan.

Saturday 19th June – Yerevan

Morning

• Early morning start with breakfast to make the most of our time in Yerevan.
• No trip to Armenia would be complete without visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Geghard, locally referred to as Ayrivank, meaning “the Monastery of the Cave”. The medieval monastery was founded in the 4th century and was carved out of the surrounding mountain cliffs.
• Garni Temple is our last visit. This is the only surviving Colonnaded Greco-Roman temple found in the former Soviet Union. Its origins are still unclear however the Armenian deity, Mihr the god of Sun, was worshipped here.
• We’ll continue past Garni Gorge witnessing the “symphony of stones” before visiting a large open-air market, a perfect place for a final purchase of Soviet antiques, before we transfer back to Yerevan.

Afternoon

• After an epic adventure through the Caucasus, we’ll have a farewell lunch and a few drinks to celebrate!
• Tour concludes at 4:00pm. YPT can arrange additional nights in Yerevan and provide advice for ongoing flights.