Day 1 Departure from Finland to Armenia
Arrival at Yerevan Zvartnots Airport. Meet your guide and transfer to your hotel.

Day 2 Yerevan – Echmiadzin – Zvartnots – Yerevan ( about 120 km, 6-7 hour day)
Breakfast at the hotel. Around 09.00 am start the city tour of Yerevan. Drive to Echmiadzin Cathedral. St. Echmiadzin is the center of spirituality of all Armenia and one of the centers of Christianity in the world. Return to Yerevan, on the way stopping at the Temple of Zvartnots, a jewel of 600th century architecture, also on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Visit to Tsitsernakaberd and walk in the Memorial Park, and visit to the Museum of the Victims of Genocide. In the afternoon, a visit to Vernissage, a large open-air market where old and new worlds meet. Free time to enjoy refreshments on the terraces overlooking the city. Overnight in Yerevan. (A)

Day 3 Yerevan – Khor Virap – Noravank – Yerevan (about 250 km, 7-8 hour day)
Breakfast at hotel. The tour starts from the ancient Armenian cradle of Christianity in Khor Virap. Called the Armenian Apostle, Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned in Khor Virap by a cruel pagan king for 13 years. Khor Virap also offers a stunning view of the legendary Mount Ararat.
Drive to Noravank Monastery, a religious and cultural centre. The monastery is appreciated not only for its architecture and history, but also for its harmony with the magnificent surrounding nature. Overnight in Yerevan. (A)

Day 4 Yerevan – Lake Sevan – Garni – Geghard – Yerevan (about 250 km, 7-8 hour day)
Breakfast at hotel. Departure to the shores of Lake Sevan. Lake Sevan is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, situated at an altitude of almost 2,000 metres. The lake is also famous for its medieval church on its shores.
Next stop is the Garni Pagan Temple, Armenia’s only Hellenistic classical architecture restored to its original form. It was built in the 100s AD. The temple, built in 100 BC in honour of the god Mithra, is a very ancient temple in the city of Gandhi. After Armenia adopted Christianity as its state religion in 301, the Garni became the summer residence of kings with Roman-style baths. The temple was built according to the principles of sacral architecture, where the ratio 1/3 is important.
Drive to Geghard Monastery. The monastery, partly built into the rock, is also listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Some of the churches in the monastery complex have been completely excavated from the rock, while others are detailed buildings with architecturally complex exterior walls and rooms deep in the rock. Return to Yerevan with hotel accommodation (A).

Day 5 Transfer from Yerevan to Tbilisi
Today there is a transfer from Yerevan to Tbilisi without a guide. Arrival in Tbilisi, sightseeing tour in Tbilisi. During the sightseeing tour you will visit religious buildings – churches, synagogues and mosques. Walking tour in the oldest part of the city, which with its narrow alleys and leaning wooden beams reminds us of the Caucasus of the past. (A)

Day 6 Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Uplistsikhe – Gori – Tbilisi (about 210 km, 7-8 hour day)
Drive to Mtskheta, one of the oldest cities in Georgia. Exploring the city. Mtskheta has numerous attractions. The Cathedral of Svetiskhovel, built in the 1000s, dominates the cityscape. According to tradition, the robe of Christ is buried there and the first church in the country was built there in the 300s. King Vakhtang I replaced the earlier wooden church with a stone church in the 500s, and its remains still stand. The present church became the burial place of the kings of eastern Georgia. It was damaged by Timur Len’s troops in the late 1300s. After breakfast, departure for the Kakheti wine region of Georgia. Sighnaghi is the most charming small town in this region. Situated high on a hill, Signaghi offers stunning views down into the lush, vineyard-filled Alazan Valley.
Winemaking has been part of the history of the place for 6000 years before the dawn of time which makes their wine already 8000 years old. The ancient Georgian way of making wine in underground clay vats is unique and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lunch includes wine tasting in the small and charming wine museum.
Later, visit Bodbe Monastery. Return to Tbilisi in the evening (A, I).

Day 8 Free time in Tbilisi
Free time or optional excursions, breakfast only.Overnight in a Tbilisi hotel.

Day 9 Return home

Hotel in Armenia
Silachi Hotel Yerevan – standard
Ani Hotel Yerevan – comfort

Hotel in Georgia
Astoria Hotel Tbilisi- standard
Astoria Hotel Tbilisi – comfort

Day 1 Departure from Finland to Armenia
Arrival at Yerevan Zvartnots Airport. Meet your guide and transfer to your hotel.

Day 2 Yerevan – Echmiadzin – Zvartnots – Yerevan ( about 120 km, 6-7 hour day)
Breakfast at the hotel. Around 09.00 am start the city tour of Yerevan. Drive to Echmiadzin Cathedral. St. Echmiadzin is the center of spirituality of all Armenia and one of the centers of Christianity in the world. Return to Yerevan, on the way stopping at the Temple of Zvartnots, a jewel of 600th century architecture, also on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Visit to Tsitsernakaberd and walk in the Memorial Park, and visit to the Museum of the Victims of Genocide. In the afternoon, a visit to Vernissage, a large open-air market where old and new worlds meet. Free time to enjoy refreshments on the terraces overlooking the city. Overnight in Yerevan. (A)

Day 3 Yerevan – Gyumri – Yerevan (approx. 20 km, 6-7 hour trekking day)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today is an excursion by train from Yerevan to Gyumri. The town was called Aleksandropol 1840-1924, then Leninakan 1924-1990. There are many old churches in Gyumri, many of which have been restored. Arrival in Yerevan at the end of the evening. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 4 Yerevan – Khor Virap – Noravank – Yerevan (about 250 km, 7-8 hour day)
Breakfast at hotel. The tour starts from the ancient Armenian cradle of Christianity in Khor Virap. Called the Armenian Apostle, Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned in Khor Virap by a brutal pagan king for 13 years. Khor Virap also offers a stunning view of the legendary Mount Ararat.
Drive to Noravank Monastery, a religious and cultural centre. The monastery is appreciated not only for its architecture and history, but also for its harmony with the magnificent surrounding nature. Overnight in Yerevan. (A)

Day 5 Yerevan – Lake Sevan – Garni – Geghard – Yerevan (about 250 km, 7-8 hour day)
Breakfast at hotel. Departure to the shores of Lake Sevan. Lake Sevan is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, situated at an altitude of almost 2,000 metres. The lake is also famous for its medieval church on its shores.
Next stop is the Garni Pagan Temple, Armenia’s only Hellenistic classical architecture restored to its original form. It was built in the 100s AD. The temple, built in 100 BC in honour of the god Mithra, is a very ancient temple in the city of Gandhi. After Armenia adopted Christianity as its state religion in 301, the Garni became the summer residence of kings with Roman-style baths. The temple was built according to the principles of sacral architecture, where the ratio 1/3 is important.
Drive to Geghard Monastery. The monastery, partly built into the rock, is also listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Some of the churches in the monastery complex have been completely excavated from the rock, while others are detailed buildings with architecturally complex exterior walls and rooms deep in the rock. Return to Yerevan with hotel accommodation (A).

Day 6 Transfer from Yerevan to Tbilisi (Approximately 300 km)
Today there is a transfer from Yerevan to Tbilisi without a guide. Arrival in Tbilisi, sightseeing tour in Tbilisi. During the sightseeing tour visit religious buildings – churches, synagogues and mosques. Walking tour in the oldest part of the city, which with its narrow alleys and leaning wooden beams reminds us of the Caucasus of the past. (A)

Day 7 Tbilisi – Tsinandali – Kvareli – Gremi – Alaverdi – Tbilisi (Approximately 300 km)
After breakfast, departure for the Kakheti wine region of Georgia. First drive to Tsinandali village. It is known for its mansion and historic winery, which belonged to the 19th century noble poet Aleksandre Chavchavadze (1786-1846).
In the town of Kvareli, a chance to taste Georgian wines. Later, drive and visit Alaverdi Monastery. The monastery was built in the 500s and has also served as the burial place of the kings of Kakheti.
Later visit to the fortress of Gremi. In the 1500s and 1600s it was the capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti and a trading town on the Silk Road. The Persians razed Gremi to the ground in 1615, and the capital was moved to Telavi. The Church of the Archangels and parts of the fortress overlooking the Alazan valley remain in old Grem.
Wine making has been part of the history of the place since 6000 years before the dawn of time which makes their wine already 8000 years old. The ancient Georgian way of making wine is unique and has been part of the UNESCO Intangible World Heritage List since 2013. In the Kakheti region in particular, vineyards dominate the landscape. In the evening, return to Tbilisi. (A)

Day 8 Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Uplistsikhe – Gori – Gudauri (270 km, 7-8 hours)
After breakfast, drive to Mtskheta, one of the oldest cities in Georgia. Exploring the city. Mtskheta has numerous attractions. The Cathedral of Svetiskhovel, built in the 1000’s, dominates the cityscape. According to tradition, the robe of Christ is buried there and the first church in the country was built there in the 300s. King Vakhtang I replaced the earlier wooden church with a stone church in the 500s, and its remains still stand. The present church became the burial place of the kings of eastern Georgia. It was damaged by Timur Lenin’s troops in the late 1300s.
Drive towards Gori, the hometown of the Soviet leader known as Joseph Stalin. In his honour, a museum named after him has been erected in the town. Stop and visit the museum garden (not the museum). Before returning to Tbilisi, visit the ancient city of Uplistsikhe, carved into the rock, and the 600-century Atenis Zion Church, located near the city of Gor. The Silk Road passed through Uplistikhe. Drive to Gudauri, the largest and most modern ski resort in Georgia. Accommodation in Gudauri.

Day 9 Gudauri – Kazbegi – Ananuri – Tbilisi (Approximately 190 km, 7-8 hour day)
After breakfast, drive to Stepantsminda village. Cross Pass (2 395 metres above sea level). We will make a light hike of about 1,5 hours, visit the In the Guerget monastery. Once you have fully enjoyed the beauty of the Greater Caucasus, return to Tbilisi. On the way, stop and visit the Ananur Fortress complex. Arrival and overnight in Tbilisi. (A)

Day 10 Return home

Hotels in Armenia
Ani Central – standard
Ani Plaza Yerevan – comfort

Hotels in Georgia
Cherry Garden Tbilisi – standard
Gudauri Inn – standard
Brosse Garden Tbilisi – comfort
Best Western Gudauri – comfort