Azerbaijan & Georgia Experience

Salam! Welcome to Azerbaijan. Your adventure begins in Baku with a welcome meeting at 6 pm this evening. If you arrive early, maybe walk along Baku Boulevard, a promenade that stretches along the Caspian Sea – the world’s largest inland body of water. After the meeting, join your leader for an evening walk around Azerbaijan’s capital, where they’ll point out the best spots for dinner. Maybe get your group together for some traditional Azerbaijani dishes, like plov (spiced rice with meat, chestnuts and dried fruits, cooked in layers) or dolma (vine leaves stuffed with rice and vegetables).

This morning, drive to Qobustan – also known as Gobustan National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage site that’s famous for its ancient rock carvings and mud volcanoes. Make a stop along the way to check out these geological formations as they spew mud and gas. Azerbaijan has more mud volcanoes than anywhere else in the world, so you’re in the right place for spotting them! The rock carvings in Qobustan date back to the Stone Age, giving humans today an insight into daily life all those years ago. With more than 6000 petroglyphs on display, Qobustan is often referred to as one of the largest open-air museums in the world. Return to Baku in the afternoon and visit the walled Old Town with your leader, who’ll bring its legends and history to life. Enjoy a free evening to explore the city at your own pace. Maybe eat at a restaurant on Nizami Street – a busy boulevard with lots of authentic Azerbaijani cuisine.

Leave Baku this morning and enjoy the change of scenery as the dry landscape gives way to densely forested mountains. Stop in Shamakhi and check out one of the oldest mosques in Azerbaijan – Juma (Friday) Mosque. Continue to your final destination for today – the traditional village of Lahij, home to the Tat people. Explore the cobbled streets and stone houses, visit a coppersmith workshop and get to know some local folk over a cup of tea. Then, try your hand at making yogurt the traditional way – an important part of Azerbaijani cuisine.

After breakfast, head to Sheki and stop on the way to visit Kish village. When you arrive, you’ll see the pointed spires of the 12th-century Church of Kish, a stunning monument to the ancient state of Caucasian Albania, Then continue to Sheki and visit the Palace of Sheki Khans. The walls of the palace are painted with scenes of hunting and war and feature impressive stained glass. After, check out a workshop where shebeke – stained-glass windows made with no glue or nails – are produced by local masters with skills passed down through generations. Settle into your hotel afterwards and enjoy a relaxed evening.

After breakfast, take a walk with your leader through the Sheki market. This is a great opportunity to stock up on snacks for the journey ahead, so maybe grab some halva, nuts and dried fruit. Continue to the town of Lagodekhi, located on the Azerbaijan-Georgia border. Travel through the beautiful green valleys of the Kakheti region to Gremi – a complex that includes a castle and church from the 16th century. Spend some time here before hitting the road again, stopping at a traditional Georgian wine producer that still employs the ancient, UNESCO-listed qvevri method. Enjoy lunch here and then travel on to Telavi, where you’ll stay in a local hotel for the evening.

Spend this morning wandering through the vibrant local farmers market in Telavi, where butchers carve up fresh meat and vendors offload piles of spices. Then, visit Tsinandali – a historic estate and winery once owned by Georgian poet Alexander Chavchavadze. In 1814, aristocrat Chavchavadze was the first to bottle wine produced using the qvevri method. Tour the complex, which consists of a memorial house, European-style landscaped garden, a traditional winery, wine cellar, hotel and cafe. Continue to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Alaverdi Monastery, which dates back to the 6th century. After, drive into the mountains up the renowned Georgian Military Highway. Tonight, have dinner with your group and spend the night in lofty Gudauri.

Follow the Tergi River on a drive to Stepantsminda, formerly known as Kazbegi. Explore this mountain village, then hike through beautiful valleys and woodlands to the iconic Gergeti Trinity Church. This 14th-century church sits at the base of the second-highest volcanic summit in the Caucasus – Mt Kazbegi – which you might catch a glimpse of if weather permits. The view of the pointed spires of the isolated church against the mountains is truly striking and is a great place for a photo. Drive back to Gudauri for dinner with your group.

Leave for Tbilisi today, the capital of Georgia. Stop first at Ananuri Fortress Complex. This fortress complex dates back to the 17th century and was originally the seat of the Dukes of Aragvi. Overlooking the Aragvi River, it has survived many battles in the history. Then before reaching Tbilisi, stop to visit the magnificent sculpture on Keeni Hill near the Tbilisi Sea - The Chronicles of Georgia. Sculpted in the Soviet Era, this monument was never finished but now has become one of the most popular spots near Tbilisi. Arrive in Tbilisi mid-afternoon, and follow your leader on a short orientation walk. Maybe regroup in the evening and head out for dinner with your fellow travellers and leader. This is a good chance to sample some khinkali (Georgia’s famous soup-filled dumplings). Make sure to ask your leader about the polite way to eat them – it involves sipping the broth and leaving the pinched bit of dough where the edges of the delicious parcel have joined on the plate.

After breakfast, head out on a sightseeing walking tour of Tbilisi. Explore the Old Town and pass by the Baratashvili Bridge, Gabriadze Leaning Tower, the Peace Bridge and the Sioni Cathedral. After your tour, you have free time to further explore the capital city at your own pace. Maybe visit the Narikala Fortress or the Sulphur Baths or learn about Tbilisi's lively theater scene at the Tbilisi Opera or take a visit to the Open Air Museum of Ethnography. In the evening, why not find a local restaurant and head out to dinner with your group to celebrate the last night of your trip.

Today is a free day to explore Tbilisi until your next welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight, where you’ll meet your new local leader. Maybe visit the Georgian National Museum and learn about the country’s history or walk through the Dry Bridge Flea Market and browse the various artworks and handicrafts for sale. Tonight, maybe celebrate the beginning of a new adventure over dinner with your group, trying classic dishes like khachapuri (cheese bread) or khinkali (dumplings).

This morning you’ll travel to Georgia's former capital city, Mtskheta. When you arrive, visit the medieval Jvari Monastery and the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Then, continue to the Tserovani Refugee Settlement – a neighbourhood built for over 8000 people displaced by the 2008 Russo-Georgian War. Continue to the Ikorta enamel jewellery workshop – a social enterprise supporting women and youth. Here, you’ll meet the artists, hear their stories over a coffee with some snacks. Then, drive to the historic city of Kutaisi. When you arrive, take a walking tour to see City Hall, the Opera House, Mon Plaisir Arch, Golden Marquee Palace and Mtsvane Bazari Market. Later, you’ll have some free time to continue exploring the city. Maybe visit the Gelati Cathedral or the Bagrati palace ruins or find a local restaurant for dinner – your leader will have the best recommendations.