Day 1

Depart USA for Yerevan.

Day 2

In transit.

Day 3 ~ Yerevan

We will arrive early this morning at the Yerevan airport and following visa and custom formalities we will be met and transferred to our hotel. After some sleep and breakfast we will start our day with a visit of Echmiadzin Monastery, the religious center of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Echmiadzin has served as a residence of the Armenian Patriarchs since the 15th century. Then we will visit the ruins of the outstanding temple of Zvartnots with a majestic view of Mt. Ararat behind it. In Yerevan we will visit the open market of antiques and souvenirs, the Vernisazh, that is held 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 more.

We will continue our sightseeing tour of Yerevan following the major avenues such as Marshall Baghramian Poghota, where embassies, the presidential palace, national assembly and important city squares of the city are located. We will also visit Mother Armenia, a massive statue located in a splendid location overlooking the city, and Matenadaran, the ancient Armenian manuscripts library-museum with 17,000 manuscripts and 100,000 medieval and modern documents that describe the origins and development of the Armenian alphabet and language. We will also visit the National Folk Art museum of Armenia, the State museum of wood carving, and the colorful covered food market with its great variety of food products.

Day 4 ~ Yerevan

This morning we will head to Mt. Aragats to visit the Saghmosavank medieval monastery located dramatically in the village of Artashavan overlooking the Kasakh River gorge and facing Mt. Ararat in the distance. Our next stop will be the 11th century Amberd fortress which commands a position over the Ararat Plain at almost 7,000 feet above sea level.

Returning to Yerevan we will spend the afternoon visiting the History Museum of Armenia with its rich collection from antiquity to the present time, and the National Gallery of Armenia which holds a large collection of the works of European masters, including Russians and Armenians.

Day 5 ~ 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, and the Geghard cave monastery which is a fantastic sample of Armenian medieval architecture. In the afternoon we will visit the studio of Vahan Shiroyan Wood-Art, famous for making souvenirs made from the wood of plum, apricot, and walnut trees. A special treat today will be a tour of the Yerevan Brandy Factory Museum and 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 dress, needlepoint caps, hand-carved wooden spoons, and embroidered linen duvet covers.

Day 6 ~ Goris

This morning we will leave Yerevan and drive by Khor-Virap, one of the holiest sites in Armenia. Khor-Virap is the location of the underground pit where Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned before converting King Tiridat III to Christianity. Today our first stop will be the beautiful Noravank Monastery, situated in Noravank Canyon. The high rocks on both sides almost cover the sky until the picturesque view of this remarkable monastery suddenly appears.

We come next into the beautiful Tatev region where we will see the true Armenian heart and soul. The drive through the spectacular landscape of splendid gorges, rivers, water falls, caves and snowy mountain peaks brings us to the important 9th century Tatev Monastery, which provides a breathtaking view over the valleys, rivers and villages below.

We overnight in a charming nearby town.

Day 7 ~ Dilijan

Before leaving Goris we will stop at Khndzoresk to view dotted caves dug into volcanic sandstone going back to prehistoric times. Our drive then takes us through the magnificent landscape up to Selim Pass, known since the medieval ages as a site along the Silk Road. Here we explore the 14th century Selim caravanserai, located at an altitude of 7,200 feet above sea level, and its splendid view over the valley below with its small villages and animal herds.

Our next destination today is Lake Sevan - "the pearl of Armenia". This fresh-water lake of volcanic origin is situated at an altitude about 6.500 feet and is one of the largest high altitude lakes in the world. Here we will visit Sevan Monastery overlooking the lake and surrounded by snow-capped mountains, and watch the water change its colors. We continue to beautiful Dilijan for the night.

Day 8 ~ Tbilisi

We will spend the morning exploring Dilijan, the Armenian Switzerland, and the most charming little town in Armenia tucked in the valley surrounded by mountains. We will visit the local ethnographic museum with its rich collection of the area's ceramic, wood and metal carvings and textiles housed in a beautiful 19th century house. We will walk up on the old street among the typical local houses to visit the pottery, woodcarving, and other local craftsmen's shops.

Our drive through the twisting gorges of Lori province and visit to Haghpat Monastery, a UNESCO site surrounded by breathtaking scenery, are truly unforgettable experiences.

We transfer to the Armenian-Georgian border where we change our guide and vehicle and make a 90-minute drive that brings us to Tbilisi for the night.

Day 9 ~ Tbilisi

If you haven't yet visited Prague, Budapest or Vienna, Tbilisi is the city you want see in a most pleasant, relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. We will begin our exploration of this attractive city, spread along the banks of the Mtkvari River, with its Metkhi Church from where we have a superb view over the Narikala Fortress, Kartlis Deda (Mother Georgis), the Old Town and the Mtkari River below. There are many interesting churches here, including the 6-7th century Sioni Cathedral, the center of the Georgian Church, a Synagogue; and the Anchiskhati, the oldest church in Tbilisi, built in the 6th century. We also will visit the stunning treasures of the Georgian National Art Museum with its incredible display of gold artifacts and jewelry; and the Museum of Georgian Folk Art and Applied Art and its collection of Georgian folk dress and textiles and a fine arts workshop. Highlights of the day will be a visit to the sulphur baths, where famous writers such as Dumas, Chekhov, and Tolstoy spent many pleasant hours and a stroll through the famous Rustaveli Avenue with its many government and civic buildings, shops, and main squares. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 10 ~ Tbilisi

Today we will drive along the Kakhetian wine route, a wonderful landscape dotted with vineyards and wine-producing villages. Our first visit will be the David Gareja monastery, founded in the 6th century, and probably the most remarkable ancient site in all Georgia. We continue our visit in the fortified charming town of Sighnaghi with its museum of the famous Georgian painter Pirosmani, and then continue our way to visit a farmer's house to see a unique 300 year-old wine-cellar. We learn about the Georgian way of wine-making, which is quite different from the European one. Here we visit the 200 year-old Tsinandali garden and have a wine tasting. Next 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 famous for its felt production, where we will see examples of local felt, weaving, and embroidery. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 11 ~ Gudauri

We will drive up to the High Caucasus Mountain, the Kazbegi region and a most spectacular vista over the mountains, valleys, and rivers in Georgia, for if any one who misses this part of the country would not have seen the true heart and soul of Georgia.

Our first stop will be the UNESCO site of Mtskheta, the ancient capital and religious center of Georgia, followed by a stop at the picturesque Ananuri Complex before climbing the mountains.

We will stop in the village Kazbegi to walk up to the Gergeti church on the slope of Kazbegi, which is the highest Caucasus peak in Georgia at over 15,000 feet. The location of the church is stunning, and the view from there over the surrounding mountains and Kazbegi village-and valley below is awesome and unforgettable! Overnight in Gudauri.

Day 12 ~ Akhaltsike

We will leave the Kazbegi region and drive towards the Black Sea with a short stop in Gori, the birth place of Stalin, to visit the complex where his home, museum, and the train in which he traveled and held his conferences are located. From here we will drive south through the beautiful landscape to visit the impressive and picturesque Georgian Fortress called Khertvisi, and a dramatically located 12th century cave city associated with the famous Georgian Queen Tamara and Shota Rustaveli, author of the legendary poem "The Knight in the Panther Skin". Overnight in Akhaltsike.

Day 13 ~ Kutaisi

On the way to Kutaisi we will visit the workshop of pottery makers in the village of Shrosha.

Kutaisi is Georgia's second largest city and the ancient capital Aia of the kingdom Colchis that we know from the legend of Jason and the Golden Fleece. This is also the city where the ancient River Phazisi, now Rioni, still flows and that the Argonauts used to navigate in their quest for the Golden Fleece. One of the main attractions is the magnificent UNESCO site of Bagrati Cathedral, whose ruins perch on a hill above the Rioni River and affords a splendid view over the city. There is another UNESCO site here; the Gelati Academy, the oldest building in a complex built by King David which combined a church and school. We will also visit the museum of History and Ethnography which has rich collections of artifacts of the Imereti region, a colorful local market, and take a pleasant walk through the old town. Overnight in Kutaisi.

Day 14 ~ Artvin (Turkey)

This morning we drive to Batumi, a beautiful resort on Black Sea coast with its inviting beaches, cafes, restaurants, wide boulevards and attractive museums. We will visit the Adjara Fine Arts Museum and the Ethnographic Museum before having lunch. After a short drive that takes us to the Sarpi border crossing into Turkey and then along the Turkish Black Sea coast, we will come to the small charming city of Hopa from where we climb to the Kackar Mountains. The scenic drive through the tea growing country of Turkey takes us to Artvin, a unique town nestling in the mountain overlooking the river below. Overnight in Artvin.

Day 15 ~ Erzurum

Today we leave the Black Sea region and enter into high Anatolian plateau in Eastern Turkey and travel through the famous Georgian Valleys along the Coruh River. The entire region was part of the medieval kingdom of the Georgia crown with many churches and monasteries. We will visit two of the most interesting churches, Ishan church or church of the Mother of God in a very scenic mountain location, and Haho church in Bagbasi village, which is used today as a mosque.

Day 16 ~ Kars

Erzurum, the largest city on the high plateau of Eastern Turkey is the capital of Erzurum province. Before we leave Erzurum we will visit Rusted Pasha Caravansary; the old city quarter with its interesting shops; and the famous Selcuk Cifte-Minare monastery and Ethnographic museum (Yakutiye Medrese) which has a rich collection from national costumes and jewelries. In Erzurum there are excellent remains from the many civilizations that survived here, including Byzantine, Mongol, Selcuk, and Ottoman.

We head to Kars, a typical eastern Turkish town with a magnificent fortress. The high plateau here creates excellent conditions for the production of yogurt, milk, cheese, honey, and meat. There are also carpets and kilims known for their special color combinations and unique designs.

Day 17 ~ Kars

This morning we will visit Ani, the legendary ancient capital of Armenia, which in the 10th century surpassed Constantinople. It is the most extensive and exiting ancient site in Eastern Turkey, and many of the ruins of its close to 1,000 churches and mosques can still be seen. Beyond the city walls is a deep gorge separating Turkey from Armenia.

In afternoon we will visit the Kars museum and the Armenian church of Holy Apostles.

Day 18 ~ Van

In the morning we will drive through the Ararat Valley to Dogubeyazit for a breathtaking view of Mt. Ararat, the highest mountain in Turkey at 18,000 feet. Covered in snow and ice, it is thought to be the final resting place of Noah's Ark. In Dogubeyazit we will visit the impressive Palace of Ishak Pasa, a great mixture of Ottoman, Seljuk, Persian, Georgian, and Armenian architectural styles. Before arriving in Van we will stop at the refreshing waterfall at Muradiye.

Day 19 ~ Van

We take a boat across Lake Van, the largest lake in Turkey, to visit Akdamar Island, where we will visit the beautiful 10th century Church of the Holy Cross with its wonderful relief carvings of Bible stories, birds, and animals that decorate the walls. Then we will continue on to Van, an important city in Eastern Turkey that is known for its many agricultural products and its horses. Van dates to the time of the Great Flood and is purported to be the site of the Garden of Eden. It is also famous for its cats with two different colored eyes. We will also visit Cavustepe (ancient Tushba) to see the remains of the first ancient capital of the Urartian Kingdom. Here there are some good examples of cuneiform inscriptions on the temple ruins and a well preserved cistern dating from 700 BC. You will be impressed by Hosap Castle which was located on the old Silk Road, a very photogenic landmark that dates from 1643. We will also visit the Van Castle, which has many tombs and fortifications, and the interesting Archaeological Museum, which displays artifacts from Patmos and Toprakkale as well as Urartian artifacts.

Day 20 ~ Istanbul

This morning we will take a short flight to Istanbul and have a free afternoon at leisure to explore the old city or visit the Grand Bazaar.

Day 21 ~ Depart for home

You will be transferred to the airport for home.