Day 1 ~

Depart USA on your flight to Tbilisi.

Day 2 ~

In transit.

Day 3 ~ Tbilisi
Arrive very early this morning.You will be met at the airport on arrival in Tbilisi and transferred to your hotel for the night.

Day 4 ~ Tbilisi
We will begin our exploration of this attractive city, spread along the banks of the Mtkvari River, with a walk through the charming Old Town. There are many interesting churches here, including the 6-7th century Sioni Cathedral (the center of the Georgian Church); and the Anchiskhati (the oldest church in Tbilisi, built in the 6th century).  We will also visit the Metkhi Church, which was the first built here; the State Museum of Georgia with its incredible display of gold artifacts and jewelry; and the Museum of Georgian Folk Architecture, an innovative open-air museum featuring reconstructed Georgian houses from different regions and centuries. A highlight of the day will be a visit to the sulphur baths, where famous writers such as Dumas, Chekhov, and Tolstoy used to spend many pleasant hours.  In the afternoon we will visit the Georgian Textile Group, where we will see modern textile art based on ancient traditions.

Day 5 ~ Kutaisi
Today we will visit the Imereti province with its cool springs, green fields, and delicate, manicured gardens. Here is the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Colchis - Kutaisi, now the second city of Georgia. The people of Imereti are renowned for their sense of humor, politeness, and a special kind of 'khachapuri' -  the cheese bread unique to Georgia. The first stop of the day will be in sacred Mtskheta, the ancient capital of eastern Georgia, where we will visit several of its most historic monuments including the beautiful 6-7th century Jvari Church , perched on a cliff overlooking the city, and the 11th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. In the village of Shrosha we will tour a workshop of pottery makers and visit a jar maker’s shop.  

Day 6 ~ Kutaisi
Kutaisi is Georgia’s second largest city, famous as the intended destination of Jason and the Argonauts in their search for the famous golden fleece. One of the main attractions is the magnificent Bagrati Cathedral, whose ruins perch on a hill above the Rioni River and afford a splendid view.  Than we will  tour the Motsameta Monastery, a small church with a beautiful location and interesting history; and the Gelati Academy, the oldest building in a complex built by King David which combined a church and school. 

 

Day 7 ~ Tbilisi
We return to Tbilisi now for several more days of exploring.  En route, our first stop will be to visit the 9th century Church of Ubisi, which is famous for its mural paintings.  In the village of Boriti, we will attend a basket maker’s workshop and the Samtavisi Cathedral before continuing to Tbilisi, where we will visit an artist’s studio to view works in progress.

Day 8 ~ Tbilisi

This morning we will visit the Narikala Fortress, an ancient relic of Tbilisi’s defensive strategy and a dominant presence of the city today. The fortress also contains the Church of St. Nicholas, which has been impressively restored. Next we will tour the Museum of Musical Instruments, followed by a visit to the Museum celebrating the art of the famous Georgian painter Helene Akhvlediani which is located in the house where she lived and worked. Her beautiful paintings reflect life and landscapes of Georgia, and are considered a national treasure. 

Day 9 ~ Telavi

Today we will drive along the Kakhetian wine route, a wonderful landscape dotted with vineyards and wine-producing villages. We will stop at Tsinandali, the estate of the 19th century poet, public figure and Kakhetian prince, Alexander Chavchavadze, and be treated to a wine tasting in the cellar of the Tshavtshvadze family.  Then we will continue to the village of Alvani, stopping en route to visit the Alaverdi Cathedral, an elegant 11th century church surrounded by impressive walls that is a great source of pride and devotion for the locals.  Alvani is famous for its felt production, and we will see examples of local felt, weaving, and embroidery. 

Day 10 ~ Yerevan 

This morning we will explore the fortified church complex of Gremi.  A former capital of the region, the citadel encloses a church, a tower, and the king’s chamber.  Then we will cross the border into Armenia.  Our first stop will be the Sanahin Monastery complex, an intriguing structure packed with ancient graves, chapels, and medieval classrooms, followed by a visit to the Haghpat Monastery with its magnificent views of the canyon on whose top it is perched.  Both these monasteries were important centers of learning and religious architecture, and are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.  

Day 11 ~ Yerevan

We’ll begin our day with a sightseeing tour of Yerevan, following the major avenues and squares of the city. Along the way we will visit the most popular public buildings, and tour the Erebouni Museum, a city-fortress built by Argishtie I in 782 BC which has been turned into an outdoor museum; and the Matenadaran Museum. The latter is one of the richest book depositories in the world. Its collection of about 17,000 manuscripts includes almost all the areas of ancient and medieval Armenian culture and sciences as well as manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, Greek, Syrian, Latin, Ethiopian, Indian, Japanese, and others. Since 1998 Matenadaran has been included in the register of UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” program.  

Day 12 ~ Yerevan

Today we will explore some of the outlying areas of Yerevan, including a visit to Ashtarak, an interesting town with several charming churches and a rural, farming atmosphere. We will also wander through Amberd, a fortress complex with a church built on the slopes of Mt. Aragats at 2,300 meters above sea level; and the monastery complex of Hovhanavank. Situated in the village of the same name, this monument perches on the edge of the precipitous gorge of the Kasakh River. Its silhouette, set against the background of the mountains crowned by Mt. Aragats, dominates the adjacent village. Returning to Yerevan, we will tour the Sharan Crafts Center, which produces hand-knitted clothing and embroidery. We will admire the delicate, hand-knit baby sweaters and booties, cloth dolls in traditional village attire, needlepoint caps, hand-carved wooden spoons, and embroidered linen duvet covers.

 

Day 13 ~ Yerevan

Our agenda today includes a visit to the Haghartsin Monastery, situated in an impressive forest of oak trees.  Lavishly decorated with carved stone, the complex is close to the city of Dilijan, which is famous for its sanatoriums and forested mountains. About 60 km from Yerevan is Lake Sevan, called “The Blue Pearl” by Armenians. This fresh water lake of volcanic origin is like a mirror, reflecting the sky and changing color several times daily. While in Sevan, we will visit the Sevanavank Monastery with its commanding view of the lake. On the way back to Yerevan we will visit the House of Davidian, where you will see Armenian carpet weaving at its finest. This production site has over 60 looms, and you will watch with fascination the carding and spinning of raw wool into thread and witness how skilled hands turn the tying of knots into beautiful works of art. 

 

Day 14 ~ Yerevan

This morning we will go on an excursion to Khor-Virap, one of the holiest sites in Armenia. Khor-Virap is home to the underground pit where Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned before converting King Tiridat III to Christianity. The monastery has a spectacular view of the biblical Mt. Ararat.  We will also visit Noravank, a unique monastery situated in Noravank Canyon, near the town of Yeghegnadzor. The road to the Noravank Monastery is an adventure itself. The high rocks on both sides of the path almost cover the sky above until the picturesque view of one of the most remarkable monastery complexes in Armenia opens. Noravank Canyon is famous for its deep caves, some of which go as deep as several kilometers. We will have a picnic lunch next to the entrance of one of the caves. On our return trip to Yerevan we will make a stop at the village of Areni to taste the legendary Areni wine and visit the factory.

 

Day 15 ~ Yerevan

Today we will visit Garni, the Hellenistic temple which was built in the 1st century AD and served as a summer residence for Armenian kings. It is the only pagan temple in modern Armenia; others were destroyed after the adoption of Christianity. The view of the temple on calm summer evenings under the moonlight is breathtaking.  We will also explore Geghard, which was initially known simply as Ayrivank (Cave Monastery). The present buildings, which are carved right into the solid rock, date back to the 10th-13th centuries AD, at which time it was renamed Geghard, which means “lance” in Armenian. The name refers to the biblical lance used by a Roman soldier to pierce Christ’s body. The lance was kept in Geghard for a long time before being moved to the museum of the Echmiadzin Cathedral.  In the afternoon we will visit the studio of Vahan Shiroyan Wood-Art.  Here you can find souvenirs made from the wood of plum, apricot, and walnut trees. For the Armenian craftsperson, wood is not merely seen as an inanimate and utilitarian building material, but as a blank canvas on which these artists can realize the creations in their mind’s eye. A special treat today will be a tour of the Yerevan Brandy Factory Museum. Armenia is a country with a long-standing grape growing tradition. Archaeological evidence suggested the existence of irrigated vineyards in Armenia at least 3000 years ago. Yerevan Brandy Factory, established in 1887, was the first industrial wine making plant in Armenia, and over time brandy making became the most important activity at the plant. Today Yerevan Brandy Factory Museum offers a rich collection of brandy dating back to the factory’s establishment.  

 

Day 16 ~ Yerevan

Our itinerary today includes a visit to the Echmiadzin Monastery, the religious center of the Armenian Apostolic Church. In the city of Echmiadzin, which served as a residence of the Armenian Patriarchs since the 15th century, we will also visit the Hripsime and Gayane churches. On the way back to Yerevan we will visit the ruins of the outstanding temple of Zvartnots, built between 642-662 AD. This temple stood for 300 years before being destroyed in a disastrous earthquake, but the ruins of this luxurious building speak of its majestic beauty and richness. In Yerevan we can visit the open market of antiques and souvenirs, the Vernisazh, that is organized every Saturday and Sunday in the center of the city. Here you can find all kinds of national crafts, including jewelry, carpets, woodwork, ceramics, canvases, paintings, and many other works of art. The diversity, richness, artistic quality and fascinating juxtaposition of historic national tradition with contemporary taste are wonderful enticements to shoppers, art-lovers, or those who wish to simply take in the colorful sights.

 

Day 17 ~

Depart for the USA.