Itinerary

• DAY 1:

  USA

  Depart for our overnight flight to Armenia.

• DAY 2:

  YEREVAN

  Upon arrival in Yerevan your Homeric Tours representative will meet you and transfer by private air-condition and motorcoach to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner and overnight.
  Dinner included

• DAY 3:

  YEREVAN / GARNI / GEGHARD / YEREVAN

  Today we take a short drive to the village of Garni to walk the hills around the temple of Garni. Continue to Geghard monastery (another UNESCO site) to see caves that house monastic cells. Return to Yerevan. Dinner at hotel then stroll the thriving café culture of Yerevan.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 4:

  YEREVAN

  Morning visit to the Genocide Memorial dedicated to the massacre of 1.5 million victims in 1915. Visit the Matenadaran, Armenia’s ancient manu-scripts library and the Yerevan’s Synagogue before the short drive to the Holy Site of Echmiadzin and the 7th Century ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral. In the gardens there are many fine khatchkars (carved cross stones) and bell towers. Return to Yerevan for dinner and overnight.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 5:

  YEREVAN / ARENI / NORAVANK / GORIS

  Early this morning, we visit the monastery of Khor Virap, one of the holiest sites in Armenia. Visit Areni village and stop at its winery. Continue to Noravank where the 13th c. monastery is dramatically located in the canyon. Then visit Tatev Monastery, perched on the edge of the Vorotan Canyon. Our final destination of the day is Goris. Dinner and overnight.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 6:

  GORIS / NORADUZ / SEVAN

  Follow the ancient Silk Road with its well-preserved stone ruins of the 14th Century Selim caravanserai. From here we continue to the top of the pass, before descending to Lake Sevan, brief stop at Noraduz to see the ‘forest’ of khachkars (cross stones which incorporate both Pagan and Christian symbols). Lunch on the shores of Lake Sevan (on your own). This afternoon, visit Sevanavank monastery. Dinner and overnight.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 7:

  SEVAN / LORI / DILIJANS / DZORAGET

  Onto Lori - the alpine region of Armenia. Here, nestled on the mountainside lies the 12th Century Haghartsin Monastery. We then visit Dilijan, a small town known for its arts and crafts. On the way to Dzoraget, we pass Molokan villages. Molokans (Milk Drinkers) are a sect of Russian Old Believers who broke away from the Russian Orthodox Church in the 16th Century.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 8:

  DZORAGET / ALAVERDI / GEORGIA / TBILISI

  Today we head to Alaverdi to visit Haghpat monastery, an impressive UNESCO site. We then cross the border into Georgia and to Tbilisi. Our hotel is centrally located in the old town and it’s a short walk to the cafes and restaurants in the restored Tbilisi streets.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 9:

  TBILISI

  Much of Tbilisi will be visited on foot and in the morning we explore the old town to see the ancient sulphur baths and Sioni Cathedral, which dates from 7th Century. We also visit a beautifully decorated synagogue, Rustaveli Ave, the main artery of Tbilisi and the Treasury of the State Museum. Afternoon at leisure to explore art galleries, handicraft markets and the enormous new Holy Trinity Cathedral. Overnight.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 10:

  TBILISI / STEPANTSMINDA / GERGETI / GUDAURI

  This morning we drive to the town of Stepantsminda (formerly Kazbek) and walk up through the village of Gergeti to the landmark Holy Trinity church (approx. 2-3 hours walk; local jeeps may also be rented). Drive to the ski resort of Gudauri, for dinner and overnight in a cozy alpine hut style hotel.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 11:

  GUDAURI / GORI / UPLISTSIKHE / KUTAISI

  Today we visit Gori, Stalin’s birthplace and visit Stalin Square and its museum. Visit Uplistsikhe, once an enormous cave city dating from pre-Christian times with large underground tunnels, ancient temples and theaters. Continue to Kutaisi for night at a local guesthouse with genuine Georgian hospitality.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 12:

  KUTAISI / BORJOMI / KHARAGAULI / BAKURIANI

  Visit the ruins of the 11th Century Bagrati Cathedral and the Gelati Academy and Monastery - founded by King David the Builder in the 12th Century. Both sites are on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Continue to Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park and then to the small ski village of Bakuriani for dinner and night in an alpine hut style hotel.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 13:

  BAKURIANI / MTSKHETA / TELAVI

  Today we head to the wine growing region of Kakheti. We stop at Mtskheta, the former capital of Georgia to see the 11th Century Sveti-Tskhoveli Cathedral, the largest in Georgia. Visit Mtskheta to see Jvari church, built in the 6th Century on the spot where St. Nino (Nina) set up her cross in the 4th Century; converting the town from paganism. Continue to Telavi to our comfortable guesthouse for dinner in the wine cellar.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 14:

  TELAVI / KAKHETI / GREMI / SIGNAG / TBILISI

  Today we visit the 11th Century Alaverdi Cathedral - the main spiritual centre in Kakheti. From here we continue to the citadel of Gremi on the banks of the Intsoba river to visit the renovated royal town of Signag. Return to Tbilisi for last minute shopping. Dinner and overnight.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 15:

  TBILISI / USA

  After breakfast depart for the airport for our flight home.