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Andrew Montgomery

Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan

This thrillingly mountainous, scenically spectacular and culturally diverse region is where Asia and Europe rub up against each other, with often unpredictable and fascinating results.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Heydar Aliyev Center

Vast and jaw-droppingly original, this Zaha Hadid building is a majestic statement of fluid 21st-century architecture forming abstract waves and peaks…

Gelati Monastery

Western Georgia

This Unesco World Heritage–listed monastery complex, on a wooded hillside 8km northeast of Kutaisi, is an outstanding example of Golden Age architecture…

Geghard Monastery

Garni & Geghard

Named after the lance that pierced Christ’s side at the crucifixion (a shard is now on display at the museum in Etchmiadzin), this World Heritage–listed…

Udabno Monastery

Davit Gareja

Less of a monastery than a series of cave-hewn chapels, Udabno runs along a steep escarpment looking down to grassy plains in Azerbaijan. While many caves…

The remarkable cave city of Vardzia is both a cultural symbol and a spectacular natural phenomenon with a special place in Georgian hearts. King Giorgi…

Armenian Genocide Memorial & Museum

Commemorating the massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1922, this institution uses photographs, documents, reports and films to…

Tsminda Sameba Church

Stepantsminda

This 14th-century church 2200m above Stepantsminda has become almost a symbol of Georgia for its incomparably photogenic hilltop setting with mighty Mt…

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

Southern Georgia

This extraordinary (and for its time, enormous) building dates from the 11th century, early in the golden age of Georgian church architecture. It has an…

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Two Weeks in the Caucasus: Travel Itinerary for Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan

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If you were going to spend two weeks in the Caucasus, what’s the best itinerary? I recently visited the Caucasus for the first time: first Azerbaijan, then Georgia, then Armenia.

First off — the Caucasus is such an interesting place that you could spend months there without seeing all the points of interest. But most people don’t have months to spend here. If all you have is two weeks, you can definitely make a sizable dent in the region’s highlights.

The Caucasus is home to incredible natural beauty, interesting cultural hotspots, and fantastic cuisine. Georgia is home to gorgeous mountains, outstanding wine, and a unique culture in the region of Svaneti. In Armenia you’ll find stunning monasteries built beautifully in canyons, almost as if they grew out of mountains. Azerbaijan has geothermic activity pushing flames from the earth. And the three capitals — Tbilisi, Yerevan, and Baku — are stunning and enthralling and incredibly different from each other.

Best of all? All three countries in the Caucasus are very affordable to travel.

I traveled in the Caucasus as a hosted guest of JayWay Travel . But this itinerary would work whether you’re on a trip with them or planning an independent journey of you own! I look forward to going back to the Caucasus for some solo journeys. Here’s how to spend two weeks in the Caucasus.

Table of Contents

Looking for an overview?

How to spend three days in baku, azerbaijan, why you should travel to georgia as soon as possible, what’s it like to travel in armenia today, all about the caucasus.

Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan are the countries that make up the Caucasus region.

Some people consider the Caucasus part of Europe; others claim it’s part of Asia. Culturally, Georgia and Armenia feel much more like Europe, while Azerbaijan feels more like the Middle East.

The Greater Caucasus mountains are in the far north of Georgia and just beyond the border into Russia. The Lesser Caucasus mountains range from southern Georgia into Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

You can visit the Caucasus year-round, but if you want to hike in the Caucasus mountains (especially Svaneti ), aim for June through August.

Traveling the Caucasus is often as safe as staying in your hometown. Crime is low. The one issue is that Georgians often drive recklessly. While some of the countries have conflicts with each other, there is no violence and travelers will not be affected.

Generally speaking, all three countries are quite inexpensive. Backpackers staying in hostels can live on $40 per day. You can have a meal with wine for under $20. Four-star hotels in the capital cities will usually run you $100-150. Prices are on par with much of Eastern Europe.

English is spoken in touristy areas in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The local languages are Georgian, Armenian, and Azeri. Many older locals speak Russian, as all three countries were once part of the Soviet Union. The Georgian and Armenian languages each have their own alphabet.

How much time do you need in the Caucasus?

If you want to visit all three countries — Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan — I recommend having a minimum of two weeks to travel. If you have less than two weeks, I would recommend axing Azerbaijan and just visiting Georgia and Armenia. See below for more on specific itineraries.

If you wanted, you might also enjoy spending two weeks in one country. If you’re looking to spend in-depth time in one country in particular, I would recommend Georgia — it has a lot of variety and you can pack a lot into two weeks without being bored.

Two-Week Caucasus Itinerary

I’ve taken my own personal itinerary and slightly finessed it into the perfect two-week Caucasus itinerary for Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

This itinerary is for fairly energetic travelers — you’re going to be seeing a lot in a fairly short amount of time. Here’s where you’ll be spending your days:

Days 1-3: Baku, Azerbaijan

Days 3-5: tbilisi, georgia.

• Day 6: Imeriti Wine Region and Kutaisi, Georgia

Days 7-9: Svaneti, Georgia

Days 10-12: yerevan, armenia, days 13-14: dilijan, armenia.

For your two weeks in the Caucasus, start in Azerbaijan . Why Azerbaijan first? I recommend Azerbaijan before visiting Armenia (see more on that below) and you can get direct flights to Baku from the US.

Spend your first day exploring the best of Baku: explore the UNESCO World-Heritage-listed Old City, stroll the streets and check out the cool cafes in the city; pose for photos at the modern, curvaceous Heydar Aliyev Center. At night, get dinner with a view at Panoramic Restaurant (tip: go in the afternoon and reserve their table that has the best view of the Flame Towers at night) or head to the edge of the Caspian Sea to dine on fish at Derya Fish House .

On your second day, explore the sights surrounding Baku. Be sure to head to Qobustan, where you can ride in a Soviet-era vehicle to see the gurgling mud volcanoes. Qobustan is also home to UNESCO World Heritage-listed petroglyphs and an accompanying museum. Back in Baku, visit Ateshgah, the Zoroastrian fire temple, and Yanar Dag, where the fire bursts from the earth. They’re interesting sites in a unique city.

Make sure to have some local tea and buy some local macadamia nuts before you go. Try to get a flight to Tbilisi on the afternoon or evening of Day Three.

Alternative option: If you’re up for an adventure, consider taking the overnight train from Baku to Tbilisi. It won’t save you money — the flight takes an hour and often costs around the same — but it can be a fun cultural experience.

Where to Stay in Baku: While I had a good stay at the mid-range Deniz Inn Boutique Hotel in the Old City, I recommend staying in the hopping neighborhood just east of the Old City instead — two top-rated places around here are Passage Boutique Hotel and The Merchant . Check out more Baku hotels here.

Tbilisi is one of the most beguiling cities I’ve visited in quite some time. The city is stacked in gorgeous layers — monasteries atop mountains, cable cars flying through the air, modern bridges of metal and glass, patterned ancient baths, rocky cliffs dropping into a turquoise river.

While in Tbilisi, dive into Georgia’s food scene — I recommend eating at two of my favorite restaurants, Shavi Lomi and Bina 37 . Spend an evening at Wine Factory, where you can order bottles of wine at cheap prices, and dive into khinkali. Check out the baths and walk through the Peace Bridge. And don’t forget a cable car ride to the top of the city! But most of the fun of Tbilisi is just wandering and see what you find.

Where to Stay in Tbilisi: I absolutely ADORED the Communal Sololaki hotel in Tbilisi. It’s has gorgeous, modern-but-warm design and one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever had in a hotel. This was my favorite hotel of 2019. Get the bathtub room if it’s available! Check out more Tbilisi hotels here.

Day 6: Imereti and Kutaisi, Georgia

Georgia is one of the oldest wine-producing nations in the world. Visiting a winery is one of the quintessential activities of Georgia, and the Imereti region is home to some up-and-coming wine producers.

Start your day by driving to Gori, the hometown of Stalin, and take a walk through his train car, which has been preserved as is outside the Stalin Museum. Next up, the Imereti Wine Region just south of Kutaisi is an up-and-coming international wine destination.

One winery that I recommend is Baia’s Vineyard , a woman-owned winery where she and her sister make qvevri wine in the ground. Their food is sensational, too! Call ahead and book a whole meal.

Once you’ve had your fill, finish the short drive to Kutaisi. Kutaisi is Georgia’s second city, home to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gelati Monastery. Kutaisi isn’t as exciting as Tbilisi, but it’s worth a few hours.

Tip: Khinkali, or Georgian dumplings, are a delicious (and dirt-cheap!) specialty — but don’t waste time ordering tons of them in nice restaurants. Instead, go to a casual restaurant that specializes in khinkali. One that I loved was El Depo in Kutaisi.

Where to Stay in Kutaisi: My top pick is the sumptuously comfortable Hotel Argo , just a short walk from the center of town. Check out more hotels in Kutaisi here.

Hidden high amongst the Caucasus mountains is Svaneti, a fascinating region unlike anywhere else in Georgia. Thanks to their geographic isolation, the Svans have maintained their own language and culture for centuries. Svaneti is home to stunning mountain scenery, world-famous stone towers, and villages so isolated that you feel accomplished just for surviving the trip there.

Get an early start on Day 7, driving from Kutaisi to Mestia via Zugdidi — the drive should take around 4.5 hours. Upon arrival, spend the rest of the day chilling out and exploring the mountain-surrounded resort town of Mestia, filled with mountain lodges, cafes, and bars with traditional music.

On the morning of Day 8 in Mestia, check out the Museum of Ethnography to learn about Svan culture. Next up, take the cable car to the top of Zuruldi Ridge, home to the highest restaurant in Georgia. Grab lunch here and enjoy your food with a view!

In the afternoon, set off on the epic two-hour drive to Ushguli.

Tip: the road to Ushguli is extremely rough and ABSOLUTELY MUST be driven by a local driver with experience on this specific road. Do not attempt driving this road on your own. We witnessed drivers who attempted it and had to turn around halfway through. There are plenty of regularly scheduled 4×4 journeys from Mestia.

Visiting Ushguli feels like reaching the end of the world. Just getting there is its own reward — but you don’t need much time there. Explore the villages (including UNESCO World Heritage-listed Chazhashi) and marvel at how the colors change in the valley depending on the time of day.

Have dinner at your guesthouse and spend the night in Ushguli, then get an early ride back to Mestia, stopping to see the famed Tower of Love en route.

Later on Day 9, if you’re able to, fly from Mestia to Tbilisi on Vanilla Sky Airlines, then fly from Tbilisi to Yerevan, Armenia. Keep in mind the Tbilisi flights will arrive and depart from two different airports.

Tip: Vanilla Sky Airlines flights cannot be booked online. You’ll need to call or have a local travel agent secure them for you. If you travel with JayWay Travel like I did, they’ll handle getting these tickets for you. Keep in mind that tickets are limited and sell out quickly — book as soon as possible.

If you have a few hours to kill in between flights in Tbilisi, visit Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia. This city is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Jvari Monastery, Svetitstkhoveli Cathedral, and Samtavro Monastery. This is a popular spot for Tbilisi residents to get married — if you’re lucky, you might spot a wedding!

If you can’t fly, drive instead, but know it takes a long time. The drive from Mestia to Tbilisi takes about eight hours; from there you could grab a flight to Yerevan from Tbilisi (one hour) or drive the rest of the way (five to six hours). You also have the option of breaking up the journey by overnighting in Kutaisi, Tbilisi, or even Mtskheta.

Where to Stay in Svaneti: In Mestia I highly recommend Chalet Mestia , a centrally located mid-range hotel with the comfiest beds and pillows I experienced in all of Georgia! In Ushguli I recommend Hotel Panorama , with basic ensuite rooms (and nice food). Know before you go that the internet is generally poor in Svaneti — hotels will have frustratingly slow internet or none at all.

Welcome to one of the coolest cities you know nothing about. Spend your arrival day acclimating to Yerevan and strolling around, enjoying the wide, clean streets; the fountains that light up at night; and the chic cafes.

Spend one full day exploring Yerevan. Don’t miss the Yerevan Cascade, Republic Square, the Vernissage, and the Armenian Genocide Memorial. If you drink, a visit to the Ararat Brandy Factory is a delicious and interesting experience!

One of the pleasures of Yerevan is exploring all the cafes and bars, especially in warmer weather. Two of my favorites are Temurnots , home to the absolute best bread I had in Armenia (don’t forget to stuff it with thick matsoni yogurt, cheese, and fresh herbs). Gouroo Club and Garden has a beautiful outdoor setting and terrific international food.

Armenia is a small country and you can see quite a bit of the country on day trips from Yerevan. I recommend reserving at least one day for day trips from Yerevan.

My top day trip recommendation is to visit Khor Virap monastery (don’t miss the view from the road with Mount Ararat in the background), Noravank Monastery, and the town of Areni, where you can stop for lunch and perhaps some wine tasting.

Where to Stay in Yerevan: I recommend the Tufenkian Historic Yerevan Hotel . It’s centrally located just off the Vernissage, the rooms are large and comfortable, and they offer a great breakfast. Check out more hotels in Yerevan here.

Wind down your trip in a chilled out town. Dilijan calls itself “the Switzerland of Armenia,” which I think is a bit overly laudatory, but it is a beautiful, quiet, peaceful region with mountains, lakes, and evergreen forests. If you’re visiting in the summer, it’s cooler here than most of Armenia.

On the way to Dilijan from Yerevan, you can stop at Lake Sevan and/or Geghard Monastery — both excellent spots for photos. In Dilijan, don’t miss Cafe Number Two (where they train teenagers to work in the hospitality industry!) and Papanino House .

Where to Stay in Dilijan: I enjoyed my stay at the Tufenkian Old Hotel Complex , located in one of the beautiful wooden buildings. It’s a central and comfortable place to stay, but do keep in mind it’s a popular Instagram spot and you might get crowds coming up to your balcony to pose. Check out more hotels in Dilijan here.

Alternative Two Week Caucasus Itineraries

If you’re not a fan of this two weeks in the Caucasus itinerary, that’s totally fine! Feel free to modify it to fit your needs. That’s the beauty of travel — we do what’s right for each our travel needs. I wouldn’t recommend reducing time in any of these locations, but you can absolutely strike certain locations altogether. Here are three suggested modifications:

Remove Baku from the itinerary and add more three more days in Georgia and/or Armenia. This would be my top suggestion — Azerbaijan was interesting, but Georgia and Armenia were more beautiful, more fun, cheaper, and had more variety to offer.

Replace Svaneti with Kazbegi. Traveling to Svaneti requires a lot of time on the road and I understand if you’d rather not do that. Instead, plan 2-3 days in Kazbegi, which also has spectacular mountain scenery and is a much easier three-hour drive from Tbilisi. Kazbegi is more developed than Svaneti and has a greater variety of accommodation options.

Skip Kutaisi and Imereti and fly from Tbilisi to Mestia and back. Be sure to book these flights on Vanilla Sky Airlines in advance, as seats are limited. This is another way to see the mountains without the long drive to Mestia.

Spend more time day-tripping from Tbilisi. If you axe either Baku or Svaneti, Tbilisi makes a great base for day-tripping around Georgia. You can add day trips to Mtskheta, the Kakheti wine region, or Davit Gareja monastery.

Add some beach time in Batumi. This resort town on Georgia’s Black Sea coast is spectacularly set among palm trees and mountains. It’s a popular party spot, especially in the summer.

One Week in the Caucasus

If you only have one week to spend in the Caucasus, spend it all in Georgia. You won’t regret it.

Tips for Visiting the Caucasus

Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan are developing countries with little tourism infrastructure. Traveling in these countries is much more challenging than traveling in Europe. You’ll find fewer tourists, limited travel resources and service tends to be at a lower standard. This is why I recommend with a company like JayWay Travel if you’re not used to traveling in countries like these.

The driving in Georgia is terrible. Georgians drive recklessly and the roads are often in poor condition. Be sure to always wear your seat belt. Don’t be afraid to tell your driver to slow down. I urge you not to drive in Georgia unless you are a highly skilled driver who thrives in rough, unpredictable conditions.

Cover up when visiting churches in Georgia and Armenia. Women must cover their heads and must wear long skirts (even if you’re wearing pants). Men must wear long pants. Many monasteries will provide a box of scarfs at the front for women — small ones for your head and large ones with ties to tie around your waist.

Azerbaijan requires a visa for most visitors and you must get it in advance. There are lots of imposter sites that charge you sky-high fees — get it direct from evisa.gov.az . The correct price is $20. If it’s more than that, you may be on an imposter site.

Read up on the Armenian Genocide before you visit. While it happened 100 years ago, the lingering effects affect so much of Armenian life today. I wrote about it in depth here.

Visit Azerbaijan Before Armenia

If you’re planning to visit both Azerbaijan and Armenia, I urge you to visit Azerbaijan first. The two countries do not get along at all, borders are closed, there are no flights between the countries, and each country will interrogate you about your visit to the other country.

One of their conflicts is over Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, a region of southwestern Azerbaijan that is currently occupied by Armenia.

You can absolutely visit both countries — it’s not like visiting Israel, where an Israeli passport stamp will deny you entry to several Muslim nations. But anecdotally speaking, I’ve heard that Azerbaijan tends to give you a harder time about visiting Armenia than the reverse.

Additionally, if you ever visit Nagorno-Karabakh, you will automatically denied entry to Azerbaijan, both on your visa form and at the border.

No matter whether you visit Azerbaijan or Armenia first, be prepared to answer a lot of questions about visiting the other country at immigration. The easiest way is to be truthful and simply say, “Tourism.”

How to Fly to the Caucasus from the United States

It’s not easy to fly to the Caucasus — another reason why it makes sense to plan to visit Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan all at once on the same trip. You may need two layovers.

As of press time, the only direct flight from the United States is from New York to Baku on Azerbaijan Airlines. I’ve taken this flight myself and while it’s nice to fly nonstop, it leaves at the early hour of 4:00 PM, which means you’ll struggle to get any sleep and arrive early in the morning.

Other popular flight routes from the US to Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are on Turkish Airlines via Istanbul (not to Armenia for obvious reasons) and via Kyiv on Ukrainian Airlines.

You may want to consider booking a flight to a European hub, then booking a cheap budget flight to Georgia or Armenia. WizzAir has cheap flights to Kutaisi, Georgia, from several European cities, and RyanAir is adding cheap flights to Yerevan and Gyumri in Armenia in 2020.

Travel the Caucasus with JayWay Travel

I traveled throughout the Caucasus as a guest of  JayWay Travel , a bespoke travel agency specializing in Central and Eastern Europe.  I’ve worked with JayWay Travel for trips to Ukraine in 2017 prior to this Caucasus trip in 2019. JayWay added all three Caucasus countries as destinations in 2018.

JayWay builds custom trips to destinations and organizes your trip in full, arranging hotels, transportation, special experiences, and guides along the way. They also give you a SIM card or even a cell phone so you can stay in touch easily.

Not all travelers need that amount of trip planning — but the best thing that JayWay does is make developing, low-infrastructure countries like Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan easier to handle.  For example, public transportation in Georgia is mainly by marshrutka, or shared minibus, but JayWay will arrange a private driver to take you from sight to sight.

JayWay also sets you up with excellent local guides throughout your trip, including a local contact who runs your trip. If you get to meet Gio in Georgia, you’ll love him!

The guides handle so much of the day-to-day in the Caucasus. They’re accustomed to what Americans expect for customer service — and standards here are very basic and not typically American.

Some of the other advantages of traveling to three different countries with JayWay: they handle things like adding in stopovers between destinations, making local recommendations, showing off the local food specialties, and handling any troubleshooting you need along the way.

Let me put it this way — someone like me can travel independently in the Caucasus, but most casual travelers I know would have a harder time.  I wouldn’t feel comfortable with someone new to traveling in developing countries, like my parents, traveling here independently, but I would feel very comfortable if they were traveling the Caucasus with JayWay.

Have you traveled the Caucasus? What would you suggest?

The Perfect Caucasus Travel Itinerary: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan

• Last Updated On: September 8, 2023

The Caucasus is a wonderful and relatively less discovered region of the world to travel. I spent over a month traveling the beautiful countries of Georgia, Armenia , and Azerbaijan which was just an amazing experience. From stunning mountains, to beautiful monasteries, delicious cuisine, and warm people, this area has everything to offer interested travelers.

The Caucasus is not a big region. The countries of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan combined are still smaller than the country of Turkey next door. This region also has one of the most fascinating and complex histories of any region in Eurasia. It was the gateway between east and west during ancient silk road times. In more modern history, these three countries were sandwiched between three historically powerful empires: Ottomans, Russians, and Persians.

If you’re planning a trip to these countries, or just one of these countries, this guide is definitely for you. I will go into detail how I planned my trip, what you need to know about the region, and how to plan your own Caucasus adventure!

A list of all my Caucasus Posts:

• Tbilisi City Guide
• Where to eat the best Khinkali in Tbilisi
• Guide to Mobile phones in Georgia
• Best Gyms in Tbilisi
• Georgia Travel Itinerary
• Yerevan, Armenia Travel Guide
• Baku, Azerbaijan Travel Guide

Where I went in the Caucasus

I spent almost four weeks in Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. I spent plenty of time in Tbilisi doing the digital nomad thing but I absolutely loved the rest of the country. I spent just under two weeks traveling through the country which I think was enough. I did my trip via rental car which is definitely the fastest way to see the country (and my preferred). The countryside of Georgia is absolutely stunning and worth a road trip.

These are some of the highlights of my trip to Georgia:

Katskhi Pillar

• Promethius Caves

Vardzia Caves

• Svaneti Region (Mestia and Ushguli)
• Kakheti Wine region
• Kazbegi Mountain Range (Gergeti Church, Stepantsminda town) via Georgian Military Road
• Khor Virab, Noravank, Zvartos Cathedrals
• Gobustan National Park

If these places sound like places you want to visit, then this is the itinerary for you! There are not many small cute towns to speak of in Georgia, Armenia, or Azerbaijan.. It’s not like other European countries where small villages tend to be surprising highlights. Aside from the main capital cities, you aren’t really going on this trip to visit cute villages.

What to know about the Caucasus

The Caucasus are a collection of small countries but they pack in so much. There is an incredible amount of diversity in the landscapes as well as the culture.

Food in Delicious

My oh my, the food in the area is fantastic. This is one of the main reasons I travel and you won’t go hungry in this part of the world.

Khinkali is the national dish of Georgia and it is essentially a soup dumpling. How soup dumplings made it to just this country in this part of the world is one of the fascinating things about history and culture. My theory is that it was brought over from China by the Mongol empire which controlled these lands centuries ago.

Khatchapuri is another very popular dish in Georgia that you must try. Being the gateway between east and west meant you had all the influences of Middle Eastern civilizations which means you can expect delicious grilled meats. Soups, stews, and various other dishes mean you will not go hungry at any point in time.

In Armenia and Azerbaijan, it’s all about the grilled meats and kebabs. Lamb is the meat of choice in these countries and eating it with lavash and fresh herbs is one of my favorite things to do. The food is quite similar in the two countries with influences from Turkey, Iran, and Central Asia.

You need a E-Visa to enter Azerbaijan

For some reason, I just had blindly assumed I didn’t need a visa to enter any of the three countries. It wasn’t until just a few days before I was scheduled to enter Azerbaijan that I realized I needed a visa to enter! Yes you need to apply for an e-visa before arrival on their website. 

The process is quite easy but every Western country needs to apply and pay for this visa before arrival! The price is  $20  but you’ll need to apply about 1 week in advance to get this price. If you’re like me who waited until the last minute, you’ll need to pay an additional $30 for a total of $50!

Traveling between Armenia and Azerbaijan

This section can probably take up its own post but I will just sum it up in this section. Armenia and Azerbaijan have  no relations with each other. They’ve been in constant conflict over a disputed autonomous territory called Nagorno-Karabakh and just had an actual war in 2020. The war has since subsided but relations remain completely frozen. Unfortunately, this will probably be the case for the near and long term future. I write this post in 2022 but I guarantee in 2032, it will still be the same.

Travel through Georgia

So how do you travel Armenia and Azerbaijan? The only way to travel between these two countries is  through Georgia . Georgia is “friendly” with both countries and remains the only viable way to travel between these countries. Therefore, it does make more sense to start in Armenia or Azerbaijan and working your way through the Caucasus (Armenia to Georgia to Azerbaijan).

However, I started my trip in Georgia because that’s where they had cheap flights (into Tbilisi). After traveling through Georgia, I took an overnight train to Yerevan (more on that later). I then took a flight back to Tbilisi, spent the night in Tbilisi, and took a flight to Baku the following morning. There is also an overnight train from Tbilisi to Baku but the land borders were closed when I was there due to COVID.

Are passport stamps an issue?

Another commonly asked question is whether having a passport stamp of one of these two countries affects entry into the other. The simple answer is  no.  Having an Armenian stamp in your passport will not affect your ability to visit Azerbaijan and vice versa. This is like visiting Lebanon where if you have an Israeli stamp, you are banned no questions asked.

I have two passports and ended up using one passport to enter Armenia and the other to enter Azerbaijan which 100% reduced any suspicions. However, I met other travelers that only had one passport and they were able to enter both countries without issue. You might get more questions asked by immigration authorities but it is not against the rules in any way.

The one exception is if you’ve been to the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. If you’ve somehow been able to enter this territory, you cannot visit Azerbaijan  ever. You’re forever banned.

Planning a Caucasus Road Trip

Now that you know Georgia is a small country with incredible diversity of sights and sounds, it’s time to decide how you want to plan your trip. First thing is first, how much time do you have to allocate to this wonderful country?

If the answer is one to two weeks, then you’ll need to plan your attack accordingly.

Georgia is the bulk of this trip

The Caucasus is three countries I know but not all are created equally as far as sights go. I think most travelers would agree with me that Georgia is the country that offers the most as far as beautiful sights go. There is just a much wider array of landscapes, cities, and sights to see in Georgia. That’s why I spent most of my time in Georgia.

For this itinerary, I spent almost two weeks in Georgia (actually about 3.5 weeks since I stayed awhile in Tbilisi enjoying the digital nomad scene), and about 8 days between Armenia and Azerbaijan. I probably missed a lot of things in Armenia and Azerbaijan but unless you have over a month, you’ll have to make compromises anyhow!

Buy a mobile sim card

If you’re planning to spend some time in Georgia and/or doing a longer trip, I would highly recommend buying a sim card. I spent almost a month in Georgia and I experimented with all of the mobile providers in Georgia.

Magti and Beeline are the only ones you should bother considering. Magti is the best service and it is  incredibly cheap . Seriously for 1 week, I paid 5 GEL for unlimited data. That is not even $1.50 for a weeks worth of unlimited data. If you’re traveling for two weeks, you’re paying 10 GEL!

This will be incredibly hand for you especially when traveling to lesser developed parts in the mountains. The service in the country is generally quite good and the speeds are very fast.

I wrote about Georgian mobile sim providers in detail here.

Rent a car or travel by public transport?

The Caucasus is not a big area so it’s very easy and totally doable to do this trip entirely by public transportation. However, you’ll probably need more than three weeks to do everything on this list.

For my itinerary, I rented a car in Georgia and it is definitely the best way to explore the more remote parts of the country.

The cost of renting a car in Georgia is about $25-$30 a day with all insurance included. If you are a solo traveler or don’t want to spend this much, don’t worry, the country is well connected by buses as well as Marshrutka, group van transfers used by locals. I only took a Marshrutka one time which was for a day trip between Tbilisi and Mtshketa on my day trip.

I highly recommend  parent.ge  for your car rental. I had a great experience with them and they even delivered the car to my Airbnb the morning I wanted to leave.

In Armenia and Azerbaijan, I mostly stayed around Yerevan and Baku and just organized day trips to the surrounding sights.

How are the roads in Georgia?

The roads in Georgia are generally quite good. The main highways used to connect Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and Batumi on the Black Sea are good roads but nothing to write home about. Certainly nothing like the ultra modern roads I saw while traveling Kosovo . As you venture into more remote places like the Svaneti mountain region, the roads become smaller and generally less developed.

However, I’ve driven on much worse roads like those in Albania heading to North Macedonia . I think overall, the roads in Georgia are in good condition and perfect for a road trip.

Note that if you travel in the winter, snow can sometimes block entrance into the mountain towns like Mestia or Ushguli.

How much do things cost in Caucasus?

Georgia is one of the cheapest countries you’ll visit. It’s a western country with first world amenities at a fraction of the price. You can get high quality meals and wine here for a very fair price.

Khinkali are the national dish and one large khinkali dumpling is 1 GEL (~$0.30). My dinners always amounted to something between $10-15 which included wine, a large meal and maybe even a started. Accommodations are also quite affordable. Airbnbs and boutique hotels in Tbilisi can be easily had for under $50 a night, with prices even lower the further you’re out in the countryside.

Armenia is just as cheap as Georgia with prices for food, taxis, and accommodations very comparable. Azerbaijan is yet also very similar to the other two countries. Baku, however, looks more like Dubai than Tbilisi or Yerevan which makes it really flabbergasting how it can be so cheap. But it is!

Full Caucasus Travel Itinerary

The trip starts off in Tbilisi, the wonderful capital city of Georgia. Tbilisi has loads to offer from beautiful historical sights, bathhouses, museums, top quality restaurants and bars, and much more. It’s definitely a city you can spend an extended amount of time in.

From Tbilisi, I drive to Kutaisi which has various sights around the town (the town itself is nothing exceptional). From Kutaisi, I drove north to the Svaneti region which is famous for its incredible mountain landscapes. Mestia and Ushguli are the main towns you’ll want to visit here.

From the Svaneti region, I drove towards the coastal capital of Batumi. The contrast between Svaneti and Batumi is absolutely one of the wildest things I’ve ever seen in a day. Batumi is not for everyone but having visited in November during the off season, I actually liked my stay.

From Batumi, the next stop is to drive back east towards to the wine country of Kakheti. Georgian wines are famous worldwide and this is actually the birthplace of wine making. From the wine country, drive north to the Kazbegi mountain region which is another famous mountain region of Georgia. Kazbegi honestly reminds me more of Death Valley than any other mountain range.

From Kazbegi, drive back towards Tbilisi to end the Georgia portion of the trip. From Tbilisi, I took the overnight train to Yerevan, Armenia. You can also take a bus which is actually faster but I wanted the overnight train experience! Yerevan, Armenia’s vibrant capital is a fantastic city with so much to do. I actually liked it slightly better for a short stay vs Tbilisi. From Yerevan, I made day trips to the most famous sights nearby like Noravank, Khor Virab, and others. You don’t need to rent a car here.

From Yerevan, I took a flight back to Tbilisi but only because at the time of visiting, crossing the land border back to Georgia required a PCR test while arriving by airport did not. So it was relatively the same price but much faster by taking air. I spent a night in Tbilisi before flying to Baku the following day.

Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital is a city of complete contrast. Old, new, and very new are on full display in the city and it feels like you’re on a different planet compared with Georgia and Armenia. This is what happens when you discover mass oil wealth in such short time! From Baku, I took day trips to the famous Gobustan National Park famous for its petroglyphs and the mud volcanoes. All in all, I only spent 4 days in Azerbaijan.

Day 1-3: Tbilisi City

Tbilisi, Georgia’s vibrant capital city is where the trip starts. It’s easy to write off Tbilisi in favor of visiting Georgia’s wild country landscape but that is a mistake. There is so much to see and do in Tbilisi that you could easily spend way more than 3 days. I spent over a week in the capital city to do the digital nomad thing as it has quickly become the digital nomad hotspot in Europe.

It is also the culinary capital of Georgia. Whether you’re looking to try the best khinkali in Georgia , or eat delicious grilled meats, there is something for everyone in Tbilisi.

There’s a lot to see in Tbilisi. The capital city has seen numerous empires move through over the centuries leaving its mark. Tbilisi is not a “beautiful” city by European standards. You won’t see huge museums or cathedrals but I find it breathtaking for its views and history. I will touch on the highlights of Tbilisi, but make sure to read my detailed Tbilisi guide to understand everything the city has to offer including the best places to eat and drink!

Free Walking Tour

As with any city, I always love to do the free walking tour when I get in just so I’m familiar with what’s around me. The free walking tour in Tbilisi meets in the Freedom Square every day at noon.

The tour walks primarily around the old town with the guide giving you insider details on things you would never know about otherwise. The tour gave me a good base and understanding of the history of Tbilisi. Personally I found it very fascinating that the Georgian language is completely unrelated to any other family of languages and spoken by no one else. The alphabet looks like a cave painting and is also not utilized anywhere else in the world, not even Armenia to the south. This reminds me of my trip to the Baltic states where it was a similar situation with Lithuanian and Latvian.

We visited a variety of different sights around the old town ending in the sulfur baths area. I highly recommend this tour when you arrive.

Sulfur Baths

Sulfur baths are one of the must visit highlights of Tbilis. The legend tells that the baths are connected with the foundation of Tbilisi. According to the myth, in the second half of 5th century the king of Georgia found the thermal springs. He was impressed with the sulphur hot springs and ordered to build the baths and a city around them. The city was named Tbilisi that means “warm”.

The water in the baths comes from mineral sulphur springs which are hot, from 37 to 50 degrees. All the baths are situated below the ground level. The architecture of the houses is traditional Persian, each bathhouse has its own style and features.

I went to the Chreli Abano sulfur baths (there are numerous houses/companies) which is famous for its beautiful blue marble facade. I spent one hour in a room with a hot and cold bath. The smell of the sulfur is initially quite pungent but you get used to it quickly. The water is very refreshing and you can even feel how soft your skin is after a session.

I think one hour is plenty of time to experience it but two hours is better if you want to really relax and get into it. The cost for the specific room I booked was 150 GEL per hour. The smaller rooms are cheaper starting at 70 GEL. The rooms are entirely private and you can order drinks or tea to your room from the front desk.

Holy Trinity Church

Without a doubt, a visit to the Holy Trinity church of Tbilisi is a must. This Orthodox church is the biggest in Georgia and definitely one of the largest Orthodox churches I’ve ever seen. This church is actually one of the newest churches built of such statue.

The church started construction after the fall of the Soviet Union as a way for Georgia to commemorate their Christian traditions. It was only completed in 2004 and is now visible from almost everywhere in the city. The church is almost 100 meters high and upon first glance, it towers in comparison to the other many churches in the city.

Entrance inside is free and while enormous, it is not that impressive compared to say the church in Mtskheta. The detailing inside is not as pronounced which makes sense given that it is a new church. Nevertheless, it is a must visit attraction!

This is just a fraction of the things to see in Tbilisi. Make sure to read my Tbilisi city guide for the whole coverage!

Day 4-5: Kutaisi

From Tbilisi, the first stop on this trip is to towards Kutaisi, the second largest city in Georgia. This road is on the main highway of Georgia and the drive is 3 hours or so.

There are a few stops to make along the way before getting to Kutaisi which is perfect if you start this drive in the morning.

Gori Town, birthplace of Stalin

Since I already visited Mtksheta as a day trip from Tbilisi, the first stop is to the town of Gori, about 1.5h from Tbilisi. Gori is the birthplace of Joseph Stalin, the famous Communist dictator of the USSR. Yes that one! I never knew the guy was Georgian until this moment!

There isn’t much to do in Gori as it’s just a small local town. It’s not so pretty so you don’t need much time here. The only thing you do need to do here is to visit the Joseph Stalin museum.

This museum is essentially a shrine to the late ruler of the USSR. It talks about his early history in Georgia where he attended school in Tbilisi before venturing further into Russia.

I would recommend having lunch in Gori before venturing further. The next stop is the famous Katskhi pillar. This natural limestone column stands tall and alone overlooking the valley of Katskhura. The pillar was only first climed and surveyed by researchers in 1944 and then studied more closely only in the last few decades. The studies conculded that there was an early medieval hermitage dating from the 9th or 10th century BC.

This 40 meter column has a monastery on top that was only built in 2009. While it is active, it’s nowhere near as historic as the limestone columns of Meteora in Northern Greece . The Katskhi pillar reminds me a lot of the incredibly dramatic landscape of Meteora . However, you cannot visit the top of this pillar unlike the monasteries all throughout Meteora.

The Vardzia cave complex in south western Georgia is the largest and most impressive of the ancient cave towns in Georgia. Construction first began in the 12th century and continued to expand under Queen Tamar into one of the largest cave cities in the region. At its peak it was home to up to 50, 000 people within its 6000 rooms and for many years it was safe from impending Mongol attacks.

The caves are open every day from 10am to 7pm and costs 7 Lari for the entrance.

It takes roughly 4 hours driving from Kutaisi to reach the caves in the very south of the country. The roads are okay but very windy so you don’t cover much distance with your speeds. You only really need about 1-2 hours to see the caves themselves so you can feasibly complete the day trip without much trouble.

Leave around 8am, arrive at noon to the caves. Have lunch in the nearby cafes and then visit the caves for 1-2 hours. Drive back around 14:00 and then be back in Kutaisi for dinner.

For the most part, you are free to roam through the tunnels and in the caves. The Church is one of the places you’ll come across at the beginning and then you can make your way through the place at your leisure. At the other side of the complex, you’ll find a tunnel that leads to the bottom and loops back to the entrance and ticket office.

Day 6-8: Svaneti Mountain Range

From Kutaisi, your next destination is the famous Svaneti mountains. This was probably my favorite part of the entire trip. The Svan region of Georgia is famous for its natural beauty. The mountains, lush landscapes, and towns transport you back in time.

The drive is roughly 5 hours from Kutaisi to the town of Mestia which I chose as my base for exploring the nearby sights.

Prometheus Caves

Along the way to Mestia you’ll find the famous Prometheus Caves. These natural limestone caves were discovered in the 1980s and turned into a tourist attraction only recently. The caves are 11km long and 40 meters below sea level. 1.6km of caves are open to tourists.

They are quite impressive with some very unique formations. However, having just been to the Jaita Grotto in Lebanon a few months earlier, it was not as impressive. Nevertheless, the guided tour (done in English and Russian at the same time) was 25 Lari and worth a short stop to break up the drive to Mestia.

Svan Towers

The Svan towers are the symbol of the Svaneti region. These large rectangular brick structures can be seen everywhere in the region. These iconic stone structures were used in medieval times as defense structures against enemy invaders. Each family had at least one of these in their land as fighting and feuds between the tribes were incredibly common. They were also used sentry posts and fires would be lit to inform of impeding dangers.

These towers all look relatively the same. They are about 25m high and 5x5m around. Most of the surviving Svan towers are located around Mestia and Ushguli. They are no longer used for any purpose (even storage) but are kept to honor the history of the people. The youngest tower is over 200 years which makes the fact that they stand so proud after so long an impressive feat!

Drive slowly in the winter months!!!

The roads leading up to the Svan region are windy and ice down very easily during the colder months. Ice forms quite easily and there are not many ice crews working these roads to speak of.

Do not be like me who was driving too fast along a curve and ended up completely crashing my car into the side. I was unharmed but it was quite the scary experience.

Thankfully, the experience with the police and rental car was quite good and I was on my way towards my next destination within a few hours. Everyone that passed also stopped and helped me out even though no one spoke any English. It was quite endearing to see!

Mestia is the main town in the Svaneti region. Don’t expect a big place however. The main road is only 1-2km. Alternatively, don’t expect much in terms of a picturesque cute mountain village. The buildings are mostly built for functional puroses and nothing is too old.

Nevertheless, the town has a handful of restaurants and bars that will keep you entertained as you use it as a base to explore the Svan region. For restaurants, I recommend going to  Cafe Laila  and  Sunseti restaurant and bar. These restaurants serve traditional Georgian dishes as well as typical Svan dishes.

For Svan dishes, make sure to try the kubdari which is a pie stuffed with meat, onions, and spices. It’s quite tasty and immensely filling. One kubdari is probably enough for two people and you won’t have much appetite for anything else. Nevertheless, it is the national dish of the Svans so a must try.

Drive to Ushguli for the day

Ushguli is without a doubt the crown jewel of the Svaneti region. The famous pictures of the mountain town with the rolling hills and rocky mountain peaks in the distance is from Ushguli.

Most people come here as a day trip from Mestia. You can either join a day tour from Mestia, or catch a Mashruka from the town. The ride is about 2 hours one way through less than desirable roads.

If you’re driving a car, I would definitely recommend taking a 4×4, especially if you’re not traveling in the warm summer months. The roads are very bad especially the last 10km of the journey. In fact, there really is no paved road to speak of in the last 10km. Just take a look at these photos of the place!

Once you do get to the town however, you knew it was worth it. The views are nothing short of breathtaking. You feel like you’re on the edge of the world. The town of Ushguli feels like you’ve stepped back in time. There are no roads here like there are in Mestia and it makes you wonder how people survive here (especially in winter).

There is a lot of hiking to be done here including the hike to the famous Shkara Glacier. However, if you’ve seen any other glaciers in the world like in Patagonia, Iceland , or Canada, then this is not really worth it. There may have been a legit glacier here many years ago, but climate change has definitely changed it completely.

Make sure to have lunch at Cafe Koshki with their perfect views of the town and mountains. For even better views, go up to Queen Tamar Castle which has the most iconic views of the valley.

Day 8-9: Batumi and the Black Sea

The following day is a long drive from the Svaneti region to the Black Sea coast of Georgia. This drive is long and takes about 5h or so. You’re essentially backtracking your way through Zugdidi (which is a good lunch stop) before heading on to Batumi.

The contrasts in Georgia are never more stark

Before I talk about Batumi, I need to just say how  incredible  and how  stark the contrasts are on this day. Driving from Mestia to Batumi literally feels like you traversed countries, time, and planet in the same day. Literally having just been through the Svaneti region where people still live the old ways and paved roads are not a concept in many villages, Batumi couldn’t be any more different.

Batumi is   widely viewed as the  Las Vegas of the Caucusas.  As soon as you drive toward Batumi, you’ll see the incredible huge skyscrapers, the giant ferris wheel, and the unusual but futuristic looking buildings that dot the skyline. Batumi is ultra developed and you feel like you’ve stepped forward in time a century. If you arrive at night, you’ll notice even more of a contrast given how bright and lit up the city is.

Batumi is the main coastal city of Georgia

Batumi is not everyone’s cup of tea and that’s understandable. This place attracts huge crowds from around the Caucusus, Russia, and other former Soviet states. In the summer time, it gets very packed and everyone who wants to be seen does it up here. I’m talking old rich Russian dudes with the gold chain and the hot, young, model girlfriend. Then you have all the Instagram partygoers trying to influence their way to the top.

I visited Batumi in November where the temperatures were still warm, but nowhere near the summer vibes that it normally is known for. This also meant the crowds were a fraction of the summer which I liked. To be honest, I actually liked staying in Batumi for a few days. Having an sea escape is refreshing, even though I don’t find the Black Sea particularly beautiful. Knowing that the Bulgarian coast (which I spent a lot of time traveling) is on the other side is also quite cool.

To be honest, I just liked walking around the town soaking in the crazy contrast between these ultra futuristic and modern buildings, as well as old Gothic style architecture.

What to see in Batumi

There isn’t much to “See” in Batumi. To be honest, the city is quite new and was a big project that started during Soviet times to make this the Vegas of the Black Sea. While Batumi has a storied history that dates back centuries, most of the buildings in the city are built in the last few decades. Even the old and beautiful “European style” buildings are built new.

However, there are a few things to do in this city:

Visit the Batumi Tower: This tower is probably the most recognizable tower in the city. It’s the highest building and has a golden ferris wheel sticking out the side of it near the top of the building. Not a joke. It doesn’t run as far as I know.

Georgian Alphabet Building: This building is near to the Batumi Tower and is a giant skeletal style building with the Georgian alphabet written in huge letters encircling it.

Cha cha tower: Nearby as well is the chacha tower located in its own park. Chacha for those that don’t know is the local brandy spirit of Georgia, similar to that of Rakja in the Balkans. This building’s purpose was originally to provide for one hour every week a chacha water fountain serving chacha to everyone. No joke. Sadly, this never happened and now it’s just a strange monument in the center of the city.

Where to eat and drink in Batumi

Batumi is a big city so there is no shortage of places to eat and drink. There are plenty of high quality restaurants and the prices are still very affordable.

Batumi is the birthplace of the Ajarulian Khatchapuri.  Yes, if you’re a khatchapuri fan (how can one not be?), this is the homeland of the Ajarulian style which is by far the most well known style of khatchapuri around the world. The big boat like bread bowls with cheese with an egg on the top is the specialty in Batumi. Mix it all up and you have a delicious hot cheese and egg dip with the fluffiest bread straight out of the oven.

360 Sky Bar:  Amazing views and best place to watch the sunset.

Chacha time:  Great cocktail bar that specializes in cocktails from Chacha (and other stuff)

Fish Market:  Local fish market where you can buy fish straight from the market and bring it to a nearby restaurant for them to grill up.

Stay at the Kartuli Boutique Hotel

There are endless places to stay in Batumi. From the ultra luxury to the most budget hostel. I decided to stay in the Kartuli Boutique Hotel which is located on the 37th and 38th floor of a modern highrise building. This hotel, especially for the price was absolutely amazing. Every room has a balcony and views of the ocean. The common space is very industrial chic and there’s plenty of coworking space for those that value this.

They even provided me with a free e-scooter to explore the city! This is only available in the winter months but it was a great way to see everything.

Day 10-12: Kakheti Wine Region

Next up after Batumi is the beautiful and famous wine region of Georgia. The drive is a long one from Batumi to Kakheti (roughly 7 hours) so you’ll want to start this drive early.

I could spend much more than 2-3 days in the wine region of Georgia but this was unfortunately all the time I had. It’s not stupid beautiful like the wine regions of Tuscany or Cape Town , but Georgia’s wine region is unique in its own way.

Georgia is the birthplace of wine

The area in the Caucasus including Georgia and Armenia is in fact the birthplace of wine. There are records showing wine was made in these parts some 8000 years ago. I had always heard from the countless wine regions I’ve been to that they were the oldest, but in fact it is the Caucasus region that holds the crown.

Wine is a way of life in Georgia and you can’t go to any restaurants without seeing delicious reds made with saparavi grapes.

Learn how Qvevri wine is made

Traditional Georgian wine is made in a Qvevri. This is an egg shaped vessel meant for storing, aging, and making the wine. This process dates back thousands of years and it is still a common method to make wine in villages today.

Wine Tasting and Cellar Tour

No matter the various options and things to do in Kakheti, you simply cannot leave without going on a wine tasting and cellar tour.

Crushed grapes with skin and seeds are fermented underground in an earthen vessel for 5 to 6 months before the wine is ready to drink.

Day one in Kakheti surely has to be spent sampling wine and learning about the traditional winemaking process which is passed on by generations and is a vital part of Georgia’s history (and now their economy).

Day Trip to Sighnaghi

A gem of the Kakheti region is the lovely city of love – Sighnaghi. With its cobbled paths and pastel-colored houses perched on a hill, Sighnaghi attracts a lot of day tourists.

There are many things to do in Sighnaghi. You can visit the Bobde monastery, eat at Pheasant’s tears, walk on/ along the city walks, check out the cathedrals, and more. Sighnaghi is definitely the most picturesque village in Georgia. I thought there would be a lot of historic and picturesque villages in Georgia but that is not the case. I didn’t see any village that I thought was pretty until I came to Signaghi. This is where you can get your fix of Georgian architecture at its finest!

Day 12-13: Kazbegi Mountain Range

The Kazbegi mountain range is the last and final stop in the road trip through Georgia. From the Kakheti wine region, it is a roughly 4 hour drive to your last destination in the town of Stepantsminda.

The road along the “Georgian Military Highway” is quite scenic and with a few stops you’ll wan tto see along the way.

Gergeti Holy Trinity

One of the most iconic sights of Georgia is without a doubt the Gergeti Monastery. Perched up high in the Kazbegi mountains, this old monastery from the 14th century stands stunningly alone. It offers views of the nearby mountains and the towns of Gergeti and Stepantsminda down below.

This monastery stopped having church services during Soviet times but always remained a popular tourist attraction because of its natural beauty. From the town of Stepantsminda, there are endless taxis willing to take you up to the church for a price. Otherwise, if you’re driving, it is an easy road up. During the winter months, the roads can be very icy so drive carefully!

The church absolutely photographs beautifully and I particularly loved photographing it from the parking lot getting the mountains in the background. It’s just an amazing place.

Stay at the Rooms Kazbegi Hotel

The best hotel in all of Kazbegi is without a doubt at the Rooms Kazbegi Hotel. This upscale hotel has many comfortable hotel rooms with balconies facing the mountains and the Gergeti monastery. The hotel itself offers a huge outdoor terrace, large swimming pool, sauna, gym, and the likes.

The hotel always has an amazing restaruant that serves a killer breakfast. I visited in November and most of all the restaurants in town were closed so I ended up eating here the entire time. I absoluteyl loved the food and had no troubles eating all my meals here.

Day 14: Overnight train from Tbilisi to Yerevan

At long last, the itinerary for Georgia is completely. From Stepantsminda, the drive back to the Tbilisi airport is about 3.5 hours. There isn’t much to see along the way that you haven’t already seen. I had lunch back in Tbilisi and waited it out at a cafe before my night train to Yerevan at 20:20.

What to know about the Tbilisi to Yerevan Train

I took the overnight train to Yerevan from Tbilisi city. This train ride was highly talked upon and I really enjoyed it. The trains have actually been upgraded in recent years and is nothing like the former soviet trains that ran here. It’s certainly nothing like my train experience from Belgrade to Bar Montenegro .

The trains leave every day at 20:20 from the Tbilisi train station. It arrives in Yerevan at around 7am in the morning. There is  no food or water sold on this train whatsoever so make sure to buy everything before hand.

There are three classes you can book: private rooms (for two people), 2nd class (4 people to a room), and economy which is bunk beds shared with more people. I booked a first class private room and there was no one else in the room with me which was great. I paid 170 GEL one way for this ticket. The economy ticket was much cheaper at 100 GEL.

Note, that you can  only book tickets at the train station . You cannot book tickets online for international train travel unfortunately. You can either book the ticket at the Tbilisi train station beforehand, or at the Batumi train station beforehand.

Day 15-18: Yerevan and surrounding sights

Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia is often overshadowed by the more touristy Georgian capital of Tbilisi to the north. However, after spending a week in Tbilisi, I must say that I really loved Yerevan. Yerevan is totally underrated as a city and there is so much energy and vibe in this town.

It’s a very historic city being one of the oldest continually inhabited cities of the world. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country. Yerevan saw huge development and expansion in the 20th century as Armenia came under Soviet rule. Nowadays, it is a vibrant city with plenty of restaurants, bars, nightlife and more.

I will list a few of the highlights of the city but make sure to read my detailed Yerevan city guide to get the full picture like a list of all the restaurants I went to. I found Armenian food to be even better than Georgia!

Cascade Monument

The Cascade monument is without a doubt the most popular and well known tourist attraction in Yerevan. It’s located near the northern edge of the city center and you can’t miss it.

It is a huge pyramid like structure with almost 600 steps that is adorned with numerous modern art sculptures. The monument was built during Soviet times as a way to commemorate the Armenian allegiance to the Soviet Union. The monument never finished due to corruption as the stairs were supposed to extend all the way up to the victory monument.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, more money and work was put into completing the monument as it was such a integral part of the Yerevan skyline. Numerous art galleries, sculptures, and gardens were added to the mix. Nowadays, it’s an incredibly popular attraction in Yerevan with tourists and locals walking its steps soaking in the views.

During nice days, you can see Yerevan with Mount Ararat in the background. I think this would be absolutely stunning but sadly, I couldn’t see the mountains due to intense smog when I visited.

Free walking Tour

The free walking tours in cities are some of my favorite activities. I love to do these tours when I arrive just so I can get acquainted with the city. Then I can plan where I want to return to as I have a better understanding of the city.

The free walking tour in Yerevan is every day at 2pm and meets at the Republic Square. The guide was quite informative talking about the history of the Yerevan. He also went into detail about the modern day conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as the lack of relations between Turkey. I found the modern day things much more interesting as it relates to how we live our lives now and totally more relatable.

Visit the Armenian Genocide Museum

The Armenian genocide museum is one of those things that you have to visit no matter what you like doing. Similar to the genocide memorial in Kigali , this museum is dedicated to the Armenian genocide at the hands of the Ottoman empire.

The Armenian genocide is probably one of the least known genocides in rent history. Nationalist movements in the Balkans saw them successfully overthrow the Ottomans at the turn of the 20th century. This led to the Ottomans fearing the Armenians would have a similar uprising as the Ottoman empire was pretty much near its end. Before anything could actually happen, the Turks forced millions of Armenian women and children to walk through the Syrian desert without food or water ensuring their deaths. 1.5m Armenians were massacred in 1915 at the hands of the Ottoman empire.

Nowadays, Turkey and Azerbaijan still vehemently deny this genocide attributing it to just standard conflicts of that era. 30+ countries around the world recognize it as a genocide with the rest of the world just taking a neutral stance.

The memorial itself is very impressive. As you enter, you’ll see there is a pine tree forest. Each tree was planted by dignitaries of countries that recognized the genocide. The larger trees mean they were planted many years ago with the smaller trees indicating it was recently planted (and hence more recently acknowledged).

April 24 is national genocide day. If you’re in Yerevan around this period, definitely consider visiting the memorial and paying tribute to the lives lost.

Otherwise, the memorial is open 365 days of the year and open to the public. The museum itself is open Tuesday to Sunday and admission is free. You can hire an English speaking guide for 5000 AMD.

Noravank Monastery

The next stop on the day trip to Armenia’s countryside is the famous Noravank monastery. This is probably the most stunning and beautiful church in the entire country. It is in fact, one of the most beautiful monasteries I’ve seen anywhere in the world.

It’s located high up in the mountains enclosed by red rock cliffs. The setting is absolutely stunning reminding me of the American southwest.

This monastery was built in the 13th century and became one of the largest religious institutes in Armenia. There are two churches here, the first being built in 1216 named St John the Baptist. The second church was built in 1275 and named Surb Grigor Church.

You can take some amazing photos both in front of the churches and from afar. I especially loved the Grigor chuch which has these narrow steps leading up to the chapel.

Day 19: Tbilisi in Transit

This day is entirely dedicated for transit. I took a flight back from Yerevan to Tbilisi since crossing land borders into Gerogia required a PCR test when I visited.

Flight from Yerevan to Tbilisi

The flights from Yerevan to Tbilisi run every day on Armenia Aircompany and cost around $85 one way. This flight is less than 1 hour and you might even get a very amazing view of Mount Ararat. The price was reasonable especially after factoring in the price of a PCR test to go by land.

Upon landing, I took a taxi straight to my boutique hotel in Tbilisi to have dinner and sleep before my flight the following day to Azerbaijan. 

Flight from Tbilisi to Baku

The following day, I took the flight from Tbilisi to Baku on Buta Airways. This flight was more expensive at roughly $120. However, there was no other way to get there as the land borders were completely closed during my visit.

Normally, there are night trains from Tbilisi to Baku just like the one from Tbilisi to Yerevan. So if you don’t want to spend this money, then definitely book the night train. It is much longer than the Yerevan train as the distance traveled is greater (roughly 12-13 hours).

Day 20-24: Baku, Azerbaijan and surrounding sights

I think the best way to describe Baku is that it is the ultimate city of juxtapositions. It’s the city with the ultimate contrast between old and new, one I’ve never seen before. It’s the perfect example of what discovering massive oil wealth can do for a country.

Azerbaijan discovered oil at the end of the 19th century and quickly became one of the most influential countries of its time. In fact, near the turn of the century, Azerbaijan produced 50% of the world’s oil. Yes 50%! Nowadays, it accounts for under 1% but it goes to show just how revolutionary it was when Azerbaijan discovered oil.

With this newfound wealth, the country rapidly expanded outside the old city walls. They built magnificent parks, buildings, monuments, hotels all in the traditional European style. They literally had oil barons that would vacation in countries like Italy or France, see something they liked, and then proceed to replicate it back at home.

As you walk around Baku, you can’t help but be mesmerized by the fact that this city which had nothing 100+ years ago, all of a sudden looks like it could Vienna or Rome. It literally went from 0 to 100 in the span of a few years. Nowadays, as you walk through the streets of Baku, you’ll notice how impeccable and immaculate the conditions of the roads are. It is super clean to the point that it just looks almost fake.

It’s like Dubai which was also built in the last few decades but with a much larger emphasis on the traditional European architecture (and a fraction of the cost of things in Dubai).

Having just visited Yerevan, Armenia and Tbilisi in Georgia which were “normal” capital cities filled with big city grit, post soviet charm (if you can even call it that), Baku really just blew my mind. I couldn’t stop asking myself how this Caucasus country bordering Armenia and Georgia looks like it is from a different world. But that’s what oil wealth does for you!

Take the free walking tour

The free walking tour is definitely a great way to familiarize yourself with the city. The tour meets just outside the old city walls every day in the summer (and on demand during off season months). I really enjoyed the tour as the guide explained a lot about this city that is so perplexing especially having visited Tbilisi and Yerevan prior.

I particularly liked getting the guide’s views on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict as I had gotten a very biased version days before with my guide in Yerevan. The tour takes roughly 3 hours and mostly centers around the old city.

Visit the Heyder Aliyev Cultural center

Designed by the noted architect Zaha Hadid, the building is firm and stunning and one of the signature attractions in Baku. The outer area and park offers a beautiful view of the city. It is recommended to visit the centre before sunset so you can experience both the pre- and post-sunset view of the building.

Walk along the waterfront and enjoy views of the flame tower

Visit the Baku Old City

Designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the ancient city dates back to the 12th century. Within its confines are enough touristy gems, such as the Maiden Tower, Juma Mosque, Hamam Mehellesi public baths and the Palace of Shirvanshahs.

The old city is incredibly well preserved and you’ll find beautiful displays of the traditional architectural styles of Azerbaijan. You’ll find iconic narrow streets that meander from one beautiful view to another. It’s crazy to think that most of Baku was just within the confines of the old city walls just 100 years ago.

I particularly liked the pictures where I could see old town architecture with the flame tower in the background. It just goes to show how unique and how different the city of Baku is. The combination of old and new doesn’t exist like it does in Baku.

Visit the Yanar Dag Flaming Mountain

A must visit sight in Baku is a short drive to the Yanar Dag Flaming Mountain. It’s located about 25km outside of Baku to the northeast. Yanar Dag Flaming Mountain is literally just that, a hill that is on fire . Because of the incredible amount of natural gas and oil in the country, there are some areas of the country that have have fires for decades or even centuries.

Yanar Dag in particular has had their fire burning for 50+ years now. The oil reserves in this part of the mountain mean the fire will burn continuously rain or shine. It’s not as big as I thought it would be but it was still very impressive to see.

Come here right around night time to see the full effect of the fires. Do not book a tour to visit Yanar Dag but simply use Bolt to come here. I paid about 10 Manat one way for the Bolt to Yanar Dag and told him to wait for me. It only takes about 20 minutes to see everything and the drivers are usually happy to wait for you to collect the return fare.

Day By Day Caucasus Itinerary

Here is a day by day breakdown of my trip through the Caucasus. Again, this is simply just how I structured the trip with a rental car. If I didn’t rent a car in Georgia, I would add another 3-4 days to the itinerary for taking the public Mashrutkas. Similarly, I wouldn’t have minded an extra day or two in Armenia!

Day 1: Land in Tbilisi, explore Tbilisi Day 2: Full day in Tbilisi Day 3: Full day in Tbilisi, day trip to Mtskheta Day 4: Drive to Kutaisi, stop at the Katskhi Pillar Day 5: Full day to Vardzia Caves Day 6: Drive to Svaneti region (overnight in Mestia), stop in the Prometheus caves Day 7: Full day to Ushguli and exploring Svaneti region Day 8: Svaneti to Batumi drive, lunch stop in Zugdidi Day 9: Full day in Batumi Day 10: Batumi to Khaketi (Long day of driving) Day 11:  Full day in Khaketi Day 12: Khaketi to Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) Day 13: Full day in Kazbegi Day 14: Return to Tbilisi, overnight train to Yerevan Day 15: Arrive in Yerevan, explore the city Day 16: Full day in Yerevan Day 17: Full day day trip to Noravank and Khor Virab Day 18: Full day in Yerevan Day 19: Fly back to Tbilisi Day 20: Flight to Baku Day 21: Full day in Baku Day 22: Full day in Baku Day 23: Day trip to Gobustan Day 24: Fly home from Baku

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The Ultimate Armenia Itinerary: 5 to 7 Days (or More!)

Last Updated on February 16, 2024

by Maggie Turansky

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our privacy policy.

As one of the least-visited countries in Europe, Armenia can be viewed as an exotic destination that only the most intrepid of travellers would choose to visit. Because of this, there isn’t a lot of information about this South Caucasus nation available online and it can make planning the perfect Armenia itinerary a difficult task.

Because so many of those who do visit Armenia do it by organised tour, it can be very tricky to find the right information for those who want to visit this underrated country independently. Planning a trip to Armenia is one of the best decisions you could make, especially if you’re combining it with a trip through the other Caucasus countries of Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Table of Contents

Best Time to Visit Armenia

Despite its relatively southern geographic location, Armenia very much experiences four proper seasons and, therefore, there are some times of year to visit this Caucasian nation that are better than others.

Winters in Armenia can be very cold, with high temperatures between the months of December-February barely clocking in above freezing. Luckily, however, the cold weather doesn’t tend to last too long as it will usually begin to warm up in the month of March and temperatures will fall into the low 20s Celcius (70s Fahrenheit) by April.

Because of this, travelling in the springtime is one of the best times of year to plan a trip to Armenia. Besides the tendency for a bit more rain, the temperatures will be mild and pleasant with it rarely getting too hot or too cold.

The Autumn seasons between September-November also see similar temperatures to Spring albeit with less rain, making that the absolute optimal time to visit Armenia.

Summers in Armenia are sunny and hot, with daily high temperatures often clocking in over 40 degrees Celcius (102 degrees Fahrenheit). Though many hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants will be air-conditioned, this becomes less likely the further from big cities or tourist hotspots you venture.

It is also worth noting that public transport (like buses and marshrutkas) rarely are air-conditioned so it can get unbearably hot to travel from point A to B in the summer.

All in all, the best times to visit Armenia would likely be in the shoulder seasons of March-May and September-November.

How Many Days in Armenia?

If you’re wondering how many days in Armenia is sufficient to get a good feel for the country but you’re strapped for time, we would recommend spending five days in this southern Caucasian nation. This will give you time to explore the lively capital of Yerevan, take a day trip into the surrounding area, and spend a couple of nights in a smaller city as well.

Spending 5 days in Armenia will allow you to get beyond the capital and experience the culture of this underrated travel destination without being too exhausting or taking too much time.

If you have longer, spending one week in Armenia is ideal to get a really good grasp of the country and a more well-rounded view of the culture and history of this beautiful nation.

With 7 days, you have time not only to explore the capital city, but you can head quite off the beaten path and take in the city of Gyumri and enjoy some of the beautiful nature that Armenia has to offer.

Getting Around Armenia

Armenia isn’t that highly-visited of a country and those who do venture to this underappreciated nation tend to do so on an organised tour, which means that figuring out how to get around independently can be a confusing and albeit daunting task for tourists.

Luckily, locals in Armenia tend to be extremely helpful and eager to lend a hand to confused visitors, so it is likely that you wouldn’t be stranded for too long if you couldn’t figure something out.

If you only plan to visit Yerevan while you explore Armenia, getting around the city is incredibly easy and manageable as the majority of the city’s main sites can be reached on foot and the city centre is compact and easy to navigate. Anything else that is not within walking distance is easy to get to with either the metro or an affordable taxi ride.

Taxi rides are accessible for most travellers in Yerevan and it can actually be the easiest way to get to some more out-of-the-way attractions within the city. It is worth knowing, however, that taxis throughout Armenia (and the Caucasus in general) don’t tend to have meters, so it is essential to negotiate a price before you get in.

Finding a cab through the Yandex taxi app or the Bolt app is a great option. This operates much in the same way as Uber and will quote you the exact price of the journey before you get in the cab, leaving out any need for stressful negotiations.

If you’re travelling outside of the capital — for example, from Yerevan to Dilijan , Gyumri, or Goris — there are a few options available for independent travellers. The easiest and most common option for inter-city travel in Armenia is by marshrutka, or minibus.

Depending on the popularity of your destination, marshrutkas have a vague schedule and generally depart when full or mostly full.

The destination of the bus will be posted in the front window and it will generally be in the Latin or Cyrillic alphabet if they are popular routes amongst tourists. If you can’t already, it can be helpful to learn the Cyrillic alphabet or learn what your destinations look like printed both in Cyrillic and in the Armenian alphabet.

You can find the most up-to-date bus timetables from tourist information centres or from your guesthouse, hostel, or hotel staff. Often, you might need to book a spot on the bus if there are only a finite number that leave per day. The tourist info centre or your accommodation can call and book these for you as well.

Generally speaking, you pay the driver for the ride, however, there are some routes where you buy a ticket at a counter instead. Don’t worry, they will let you know for your specific route.

Train travel does exist in Armenia, however, it isn’t all that well-developed and not every route is available. While the trains are not the most comfortable mode of transportation in Armenia, they tend to be more comfortable than a marshrutka and can be preferable if there an option for your route. Ticket prices vary, but they are quite affordable.

Another easy way to get around Armenia, especially if you’re on a tight schedule and not travelling on a tight budget, is to rent a car. Though the road quality may not be the best in some areas of the country, having your own car makes it easy to travel independently and to see some out-of-the-way attractions without having to rely on organised tours or being beholden to erratic bus schedules.

If you want to find great prices on car hire, you can rent private cars directly from locals through Local Rent .

5 to 7-Day Armenia Itinerary

Day 1 – yerevan.

Armenia’s dynamic capital city has been continuously inhabited for more than 2,800 years, however, it retains a modern and hip edge that cements itself firmly in the 21st century. With an easy-to-navigate city centre and a streetside cafe culture to rival Paris, Yerevan is one of the most logical places to begin your itinerary for Armenia.

Because it doesn’t have as much information written about as neighbouring capitals like Tbilisi or Baku , many people will ask themselves “is Yerevan worth visiting?” And the answer to this is a resounding “yes,” especially if you are planning a larger Caucasus itinerary and want to see how all three capitals differ.

If you trying to figure out how many days in Yerevan is best to get to know the city, then we would say three. Spend your first day in Yerevan in the city centre, enjoying the main sites and getting the lay of the land.

The current centre of Yerevan was designed in the 1920s by Armenian architect Alexander Tamanian and, as a planned city, it is much easier to navigate than the other two Caucasus capitals, with wide avenues and a logical setup to the streets.

Begin your morning at the impressive Cascade complex , a series of steps spanning seven floors where, from the top on a clear day, you can see spectacular views of Yerevan and Mount Ararat in the distance.

If the 572 steps of the complex seem daunting to you, there are a series of escalators inside that you can take to the top instead. These are free to use and are open every day. There are also some interesting art exhibitions inside to enjoy while you’re riding up. No doubt that visiting the Cascade complex is one of the best things to do in Armenia.

After enjoying the Cascade, walk a few hundred metres to see the imposing Armenian Opera building, also designed by Alexander Tamanian. While the building isn’t as impressive as the one you might find in Tbilisi, it is still a great example of Armenian neoclassical architecture.

The building consists of two concert halls: the Alexander Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet National Theatre and the Aram Khachaturian concert hall which is home to the Armenian Philharmonic.

You can purchase tickets to the opera, ballet, and symphony from ticket offices nearby for very affordable prices and it is a great way to support the arts and culture of Yerevan. Michael and I were able to get very good seats for the ballet for 6000 AMD (about $14 USD) per person.

Armenia is an incredibly Christian nation and it is an important part of the country’s identity, however, one of the most beautiful sites to see is the Blue Mosque , which isn’t a far walk from the Opera building. This Shia mosque is the only functioning mosque in the city and the courtyard and colourful dome are very much worth seeing.

After admiring the mosque, head to Republic Square , the main square in Yerevan. There is a beautiful fountain situated in front of the Armenian History Museum that, during summer evenings, is lit in different colours. The square is also surrounded by beautiful examples of Armenian neoclassical buildings in Yerevan’s iconic rose-hued stone, making it obvious as to why it is known as the “pink city.”

Now wander over to the Vernissage Market , a large open-air souvenir market that is the perfect place to find something unique to bring home to your friends and family.

Contrary to what you might find in tacky souvenir shops full of mass-produced magnets and pomegranate tchotchkes, here you can get local handicrafts like beautiful chess and backgammon boards, intricate silver jewellery, and much more. You will also be supporting local artisans by keeping traditional practices alive.

Your last stop for your first day in Yerevan should be at the St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral . Opened in 2001 to mark the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia (which is believed to be the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion), this is the largest Armenian Apostolic church in the world and is truly spectacular to see.

Round out your sightseeing at Yerevan’s GUM Market , the central market hall of the Armenian capital. Though it isn’t as lively and chaotic as, say, the Green Bazaar in Kutaisi, Georgia , it is still a great way to see what locals eat and to sample some regionally sourced and produced treats while staying away from multinational supermarket chains.

End your first day in one of the great restaurants, cafes, or wine bars on Saryan Street. In Vino is a good choice if you want to choose from an extensive list of both local and international vintages paired with local meats and cheeses.

If you want something a bit more substantial, Tapastan is a great Armenian fusion restaurant. Alternatively, head over to the Cascade and enjoy some surprisingly delicious Thai food from Wine Republic , which was one of our favourite haunts in Yerevan.

If you want to explore more of the capital’s food scene, consider this food tour of Yerevan .

Where to Stay in Yerevan

Skyline Hotel Yerevan – If you’re looking for a well-located hotel to stay at in Yerevan, then this is a good option for you. This locally-run hotel has a range of clean and comfortable rooms available, is located within walking distance of most of Yerevan’s top attractions, and there is an option to add breakfast to your nightly rate.

Avenue ApartHotel – This aparthotel is an excellent option if you want your own place to stay in Yerevan while still having all of the nice amenities of a hotel. They have a range of both suites and rooms on offer along with plenty of perks to make your stay a great one.

Envoy Hostel – This hostel is one of the best places to stay in Yerevan for backpackers, budget and solo travellers alike. They have a range of dorm beds and private rooms available, helpful staff, clean facilities, and good common areas. They also provide day tours to other areas in Armenia at a discounted rate to their hostel guests.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse other options in Yerevan!

Day 2 – Yerevan

Your second day in Yerevan may be a bit more sombre and not quite as busy as the first, but will still give you a great insight into the history of the city and Armenia as a whole.

Begin your day by hopping in a taxi to the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum, which is located a bit outside of the city centre. It will take about 10-15 minutes to get there.

The memorial and museum are free to enter and it is extremely well-curated and an incredibly powerful place to visit. When visiting Armenia, it is important to learn about the darkest part of its history where up to 1.5 million people were murdered.

There is also a garden in front of the museum with a tree planted for each foreign official who has officially recognised the atrocities carried out by the Ottomans in 1915-1923 as a genocide. There is also a plaque honouring the countries and the European Union that have officially recognised the Armenian Genocide.

After visiting the memorial and museum, it is likely you will need a drink and it isn’t an easy place to spend time in. Therefore, take a taxi to Dargett Brewpub , a microbrewery which serves up some fantastic craft beers along with some fantastic western-style bar food.

If you can’t decide which kind of beer to order, we recommend ordering a tasting flight. Our favourites included the American Pale Ale, the Vertigo IPA, and the Belgian Tripel.

Those who aren’t beer drinkers may, instead, be interested in a tour and tasting of Ararat Brandy . This is Armenia’s answer to cognac and it is very delicious.

After a beer and some lunch, head to the History Museum of Armenia at Republic Square. Though, as of May 2019, parts of this museum are under construction, it is still a great place to stop by to learn more about the history of Armenia beyond that genocide.

The museum is famous for being home to the world’s oldest shoe, which was found in a cave in the south of the country called Areni-2, or the “bird’s cave.”

After the history museum, if you’re keen to learn more about Yerevan from a local’s perspective, we recommend going on the Yerevan Free Walking Tour , which meets every day at 4 PM in front of the museum.

The tour is about 3 hours long and advance booking is required, however, it is an excellent way to learn about Yerevan’s history and culture from a friendly and knowledgeable local. There is also this paid walking tour if this schedule suits you better.

Finish your day with dinner at one of the restaurants recommended on Day 1.

Day 3 – Yerevan

On your third day, it is time to get out of Yerevan and see some of the surrounding area. There are a number of day trip options from Yerevan that are all fairly easy to organise, whether independently or via organised tour.

Two of the most popular day trips from Yerevan include heading to the nearby town of Garni , home to the ancient Garni Temple – the only surviving pagan temple in the country that’s datesw ot pre-Christian times.

You can also view the bizarre rock formations known as the Symphony of Stones and the beautiful Geghard Monastery – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nature lovers will also love seeing the Garni Gorge.

It takes about 30 minutes to get there via marshrutka. You can also visit these places on this day tour or this day tour .

The city of Etchmiadzin (Vagharshapat) is also an easy-to-do independent day trip from Yerevan. This town is known as the “Vatican of Armenia” and is the home of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which is a separate church from the Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican churches.

It is also home to the Etchmiadzin Cathedral, which is believed to be the oldest cathedral not just in Armenia, but in the entire world. You can also view the ruins of the Zvartnots Cathedral here.

Bus 203 from the Central Bus Station will get you there and back with limited expense and hassle. Those who would rather visit with a guide will like this guided day tour .

If you’re keen to explore more of Armenia beyond just the areas near to Yerevan, then the easiest way to do this is by organised tour. Some popular places to visit in Armenia as day trips from Yerevan include the Khor Virap Monastery , the Noravank Monastery , the Hin Areni Winery , or even Tatev Monastery .

We were altogether happy with our full-day tour to Khor Virap, Noravank, Areni, and the Bird’s Cave. Different tours depart on different days, so make sure to shop around and see what suits your schedule and what you want to see in Armenia if you’re keen to take a tour.

Day 4 – Dilijan

After spending a busy three days in Yerevan, it’s time to head to the next destination on your Armenia itinerary: Dilijan.

Known as the “Switzerland of Armenia,” Dilijan is located just a 90-minute marshrutka ride from Yerevan, however, it feels like a different world. Dilijan is a great escape from the city and a fantastic place to spend a couple of days enjoying the laid-back mountain atmosphere, going for a few hikes, or taking a trip to some nearby monasteries.

While there aren’t a lot of traditional sites to see or things to do in Dilijan, it is still a great place to visit to see a different side to Armenia and to enjoy the pastoral side of the country. The town itself is delightful, with a lovely lake and plenty of great restaurants and cafes to enjoy.

Plan to spend an hour or two exploring the town itself and then take the rest of your day to go for a hike in Dilijan National Park. The tourist information centre in the town outlines several hiking trails of varying difficulties where you can really get out and enjoy the pristine nature of Armenia regardless of your general fitness level.

If you’d rather stay in Yerevan but still experience the highlights of the next two days of this itinerary, then this day tour and this guided tour will take you from the capital to both Dilijan and Lake Sevan.

Where to Stay in Dilijan

Green Dilijan B&B – This family-run guesthouse is an excellent choice for budget travellers. They have a few rooms available, a cosy common area for guests, and a lovely balcony with views of the mountains. It is kept very clean and the extremely friendly and helpful owners also offer an excellent breakfast for an additional charge.

Chalet Dilijan Hotel – This hotel is a great option if your budget accounts for a bit more than a family-run guesthouse. They have a number of clean and comfortable rooms available for all types of travellers and breakfast is also included in the nightly rate.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse other places in Dilijan!

Day 5 – Lake Sevan

Using Dilijan as a base, use the fifth day of your time in Armenia to head to beautiful Lake Sevan. As one of the largest alpine lakes in the entirety of the Eurasian continent and certainly the largest in the region, Lake Sevan is a gorgeous place to visit that is steeped in history.

It’s only a little bit over 30 minutes to reach Sevan town from Dilijan – if you don’t have your own car, you can organise an affordable taxi to reach the area. Your accommodation can often arrange this for you.

One of the highlights of visiting this area is the beautiful Sevanavank Monastery, located on a small peninsula just north of the town. Sevan is also a popular resort area for Armenians to holiday in and there are several beaches along the shore of the lake where you can take a dip in the water.

Another thing you must do is try the famed Sevan trout – an Armenian delicacy. There is a lot of trout fished from the lake and lots of restaurants feature the fish prominently on their menus.

If you’re only spending five days exploring Armenia, then you can easily end your time by heading back to Yerevan and flying out or continuing onward to Tbilisi if you’re interested in exploring neighbouring Georgia.

Day 6 – Dilijan to Gyumri

Your sixth day exploring Armenia is going to be a bit of a travel day as you make your way from Dilijan to Armenia’s second-largest city of Gyumri.

There are no direct bus connections between these two towns so you have a couple of options. From Dilijan, hop on a marshurtka to the town of Vanadzor or Spitak and catch a connecting mini bus to Gyumri. Alternatively, you can travel south back to Yerevan and then either grab a marshrutka or, our preference, a train to Gyumri.

The train from Yerevan to Gyumri is especially fun for fans of old Soviet transport as they haven’t been updated in decades and can offer quite an insight into the past. The scenery you will pass is also simply delightful as you travel through the Armenian countryside.

Once you arrive in Gyumri, no matter how you’ve arrived, spend your evening simply getting your bearings and exploring a bit of the city centre before finding a great place for dinner.

Where to Stay in Gyumri

Lind Hostel & Guesthouse – This family-run guesthouse is one of the best places to stay in Gyumri if you’re travelling on a budget. They have a range of comfortable rooms available, a fully equipped kitchen for guests to use, and impeccably clean facilities. It is located an easy walk from the city centre and breakfast is available and an affordable additional cost. The owners are also incredibly friendly and ready to help.

Tomu’s Hotel – If you’re looking for a more traditional hotel rather than a guesthouse, then this is an excellent option for you. Centrally located, this hotel has a range of rooms available, helpful staff with 24-hour reception, and a restaurant and bar on site.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse other options in Gyumri!

Day 7 – Gyumri

In the past, Gyumri has been known as both Alexandropol (when it was part of the Russian Empire) and Leninakan (during Soviet times) and was once the largest city in Armenia — at its peak being home to over 500,000 people. However, the city was absolutely devastated by the Spitak Earthquake in 1988, which killed at least 25,000 people.

More than 30 years later, Gyumri is still recovering and rebuilding from the devastation and can seem a bit “rough around the edges,” meaning it isn’t the most popular tourist attraction in Armenia. However, if you want to see how people live in Armenia and venture where few tourists tend to go, Gyumri is an excellent addition to your Armenia itinerary.

Though it is lacking in traditional tourist sites, it is still worth strolling to the Black Fortress , through the Central Park , and enjoying one of the wonderful cafes on Pushkin Street (we recommend Herbs & Honey ).

Depending on if you’re only visiting Armenia or if you’re travelling onwards, you may want to return to Yerevan to fly out of the country. Alternatively, there is a marshrutka that can take you from Gyumri to Tbilisi if you’re heading to Georga or elsewhere in the Caucasus.

Alternatively, if you weren’t able to see some of the sites in the Armenian countryside, you could take this transfer tour from Yerevan to Tbilisi which includes several great stops along the way.

Have More Time?

If you have more than five or seven days in Armenia, there are numerous places that you could add to your itinerary. For one, if you’re keen to spend maybe 10 days in Armenia, it is logical to add the town of Goris and Tatev Monastery to your itinerary.

At Tatev, you can embark on one of the world’s longest cable car journeys and take in some truly gorgeous natural scenery.

You could also opt to spend longer in Yerevan, explore more of the city or go on a couple more day trips or tours from there. If you want to do more hiking in Armenia, then spending longer will allow you to do that as well without sacrificing any of the cultural and historical sites on this itinerary as well.

As an independent traveller, planning a trip to Armenia doesn’t have to be a difficult task. With enough prior research and planning, you are sure to piece together the optimal itinerary for your own travel style!

Are you spending some time in Armenia? Have any questions about this itinerary? Let us know in the comments!

Related Posts:

The Perfect Georgia-Armenia-Azerbaijan Itinerary

How to Get From Yerevan to Dilijan & Things To Do In Dilijan

Georgia vs Armenia vs Azerbaijan: Which Country to Visit?

About Maggie Turansky

Maggie is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from the US, she has lived in five different countries and has travelled to dozens more, both solo and with her partner, Michael. She particularly loves exploring Spain and spending time in the Caucasus and the Baltics. Read more about Maggie

Excellent and explained in simple language. Thanks

hi, thank you for this informative piece, im also planning on visiting Georgia, would u happen to have any knowledge of Georgia too tia

Hi Daniel! Yes, we’ve spent quite a bit of time in Georgia and have a lot of information written. You can find everything here: https://www.theworldwasherefirst.com/georgia-travel-guide/

brilliant thank you very much indeed

Hi Maggie, Nice article written on Armenia… I am on my vacation with my family to Georgia in May. Planning 7 days in Georgia and and 5 days in Armrnia.. Is it possible to cover the nb best of Armenia

Thanks for your comment! Yes, you can definitely see some highlights in Armenia in just 5 days 🙂

Hello Maggie, thanks for this post. I am heading to Armenia and Georgia late September/early October. I already have a plan for Georgia, but for Armenia not so much. In particular, there are 4 free days after spending the weekend in Yerevan that I am not sure how best to plan for. I would like to visit Tatev, so really that limits me to the south. What would you recommend? I’m probably going to stick with public transport, renting a car is a possibility but I’m a bit nervous about that when I’m traveling on my own.

Hey David, thanks for your comment! If you want to visit Tatev and you have 4 days to play around with, then I think it could be worth it to head down to Goris. It isn’t necessary to hire a car as Goris is accessible by public transit, it can just be tricky to find up-to-date information online. I would recommend heading to a tourist info centre or asking your accommodation about transit options if you don’t want to self-drive, often they can call and book you a seat as well. Hope this helps and you have a great trip!

Thanks Maggie for the swift reply. I was wondering what else you would recommend between Goris and Yerevan , in that 4 day timeframe? What would be realistic, if only using public transport? At the end of the 4th day I’d need to be back in Yerevan, for a tour that takes me through to Georgia that starts the following day (with Envoy Hostel).

Realistically, if you’re relying on only public transport, I would recommend staying one extra day in Yerevan and doing a day tour to some attractions in Southern Armenia (Khor Virap, Noravank, Areni, etc) and then taking three days for your Goris/Tatev leg. It can be really hard to visit those attractions independently if you don’t have your own vehicle and it’s also not very easy to break up the journey between Yerevan and Goris.

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The Ultimate Georgia Armenia Azerbaijan Itinerary

Planning a trip to the Caucasus? Are you looking for the ultimate Georgia Armenia Azerbaijan itinerary? Then this is the perfect blog for you.

If you have two and a half weeks to see all three countries in the Caucasus then simply follow this itinerary to see the highlights.

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If you have three or four weeks, you can travel slowly and enjoy this beautiful part of the world.

I would suggest spending a little bit more time in Georgia , which is undoubtedly the gem of this region. 

This Georgia Armenia Azerbaijan itinerary is helpful for any first-time visitor as these countries are relatively unknown to many. Perhaps it’s due to their location?

Located in between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, it’s harder to include them in regional travels, and international travellers have discovered them only recently.

But don’t expect not to see tourists – there are plenty of them, especially in Georgia. 

Table of Contents

What you need to know before you go to Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan

What are the countries in the Caucasus?

Firstly, there are three countries known as the Caucasus: Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Secondly, there are also three disputed territories in the Caucasus: Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh. 

The borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan are completely closed and it is impossible to travel between the two. Therefore it makes sense to follow this itinerary and do it in reverse.

When is the best time to visit Georgia Armenia Azerbaijan?

The best time to visit is during the warmest months of summer (July & August) and the shoulder season of May, June and September.

On the other hand, if you love wine you can visit for  rtveli  – an annual grape harvest held in September in Georgia.

How much does it cost to travel to the Caucasus?

All three countries, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, are affordable. For example, we spent around 30 euros per person per day staying in guesthouses or apartments (we used Booking.com) and primarily used public transport.

In a nutshell, we found Armenia to be the cheapest and Azerbaijan more expensive, mainly due to the higher accommodation cost.

What language do they speak in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan?

Each country has its local language: Georgian, Armenian, and Azeri. Armenian and Georgian languages have their alphabet.

But most young people do speak English, especially in Georgia. Older locals speak Russian, as all three countries were once part of the Soviet Union. 

What currency do they use?

The three countries use different currencies. In Georgia, they use the Lari; in Armenia the Dram; and in Azerbaijan, they use the Manat.

There are plenty of ATMs, and it’s helpful to have some euros in cash, sometimes, you can get a better exchange rate on the ground.

Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan – do I need a visa?

Most nationals travelling to Georgia or Armenia as tourists do not require a visa. Currently, British and EU citizens enjoy a visa-free regime.

However, you will need a visa for Azerbaijan. Visit the Evisa page to get more info:  https://evisa.gov.az/en/

What else should I know about travels in the Caucasus?

Cover up when visiting orthodox churches in Georgia and Armenia. Women must cover their heads and must wear long skirts (even if you’re wearing pants). Please note that men must wear long pants. 

Many monasteries will provide a box of scarves for women to borrow during your visit, but it’s better to bring or buy your own . The large scarves provided are to be tied around your waist. 

The Perfect Itinerary for Azerbaijan Georgia and Armenia: Day 1 – 17

Day 1: baku, azerbaijan.

• Day 2: A day trip to Qobustan

Day 3: Baku, Azerbaijan and depart for Georgia

Day 4: tbilisi, georgia , day 5: day trip from tbilisi to the wine region kakheti, day 6: day trip from tbilisi to kazbegi .

• Day 7: A full free day in Tbilisi or visit Mtskheta 

Day 8: Svaneti region

Day 9: svaneti region, day 10: svaneti to kutaisi.

• Day 11: Kutaisi to Tbilisi 

Day 12. Tbilisi to Yerevan

• Day 13: Yerevan, Armenia

Day 14: Yerevan to Dilijan

Day 15: yerevan to geghard monastery, day 16: yerevan to noravank monastery, day 17: fly out of yerevan .

Arrive in Baku, Azerbaijan. A few flights connect Baku internationally. For instance,  Qatar Airways  & Etihad flights are usually the best for intercontinental travellers.

And  Wizzair  offers low-cost flights to Budapest, Europe.

Check-in and head out to the UNESCO World-Heritage-listed Old City. The main highlights of the city centre are the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, the Maiden Tower, Baku Boulevard, and Fountain Square. 

The Flame Towers are a symbol of Baku and for the best views, you can enjoy a drink or meal in the Fairmount Hotel restaurant. 

Day 2: A day trip to Qobustan ( also known as Gobustan)

Set out early to visit Qobustan. You could certainly try to negotiate a taxi to drive you there and back as public transport can be challenging. But, to save you a lot of hassle, we recommend you book this day trip on Viator . It will provide you with much in-depth experience. 

Qobustan is home to UNESCO World Heritage-listed petroglyphs, and it has a small museum.

It’s located 67km away from Baku along the Caspian Coast. Therefore organising a day trip instead of public transport might be a great idea.

On your final day in Baku – visit places in the old town you missed on your first one. Enjoy cafes and shopping.

You can either book a flight with Skyscanner from Baku to Tbilisi in Georgia with Azerbaijan Airlines ( around 140 USD) or choose the overnight train!

There are three types of train tickets. I recommend the first class, which is a private compartment with two beds for two people. It costs around 35 USD.

If that is not available, book the second-class sleeper, which consists of a private compartment with four beds for four people. We shared this with a teacher from Dagestan. Train travel is a fantastic way to see the countryside and to meet locals. 

Train 38 leaves Baku every day at 20:40, arriving in Tbilisi at 08:55. You can easily buy a ticket from Baku to Tbilisi at  https://ticket.ady.az  – select  English  top right and book from Baku-Pass to Tbilisi-Pass.

You must collect your ticket at least 1 hour before departure. Or buy the ticket a day before. 

Where to stay in Baku? View ALL Accommodation Options here .

*You might arrive the night before if taking the flight instead of the overnight train 

You will fall in love with the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. The old town is full of amazing eateries, bars, and cafes, and people are smiley and welcoming. In other words, it is a city that will get under your skin. 

Next, find the famous clock tower. Then try the local khinkali and more of the fantastic Georgian cuisine. You can find some great recommendations for Georgian meals to try in our posts about what to eat in Georgia .

Spend the day exploring the old town, walk across the Peace Bridge and then head up to Narikala Fortress which offers excellent views of the city. 

Where to stay in Tbilisi:

• Budget : Fabrika Hostel & Suites  (from $10/night). Dorms or private rooms. The perfect stay for a short trip to Baku, conveniently located in historical Marjanishvili, one of the most attractive neighbourhoods in Tbilisi.
• Mid-Range : Royal Plaza Hotel (from $33/night). Prime location, clean & comfortable.
• Boutique : City Inn Tbilisi (from $48/night). Clean, comfortable rooms and a great breakfast included. This hotel is in a great location, close to many main attractions.
• Luxury: Hilton Garden Inn Tbilisi Chavchavadze – (from $120/night).

9 Best Cafes in Tbilisi

Where to Stay in Tbilisi, Georgia

Georgia is known for amazing wine, and it is considered the birthplace of today’s winemaking. Georgian wines are named according to the source region, village, or district just like in France.

We recommend this private day tour of the Kakheti wine region from Tbilisi. This is the most popular region to visit from the capital.

If you have some extra time, you could also spend a day or two here in the beautiful cobblestoned village of Sighnaghi. 

You can reach Kakheti by shared or private taxi from ISANI Metro Station – pay 40 GEL for a private car or 10 GEL per seat. You won’t wait longer than 30-40 minutes.

If you’re on a budget and have more time you could get there on a minibus or local Mashrtuka for just 6 GEL. They depart from Samgori Metro station every 2 hours and usually take up to 2.5 hours. 

While you could easily spend another day (or a week) in Tbilisi, you should consider another day trip to Kazbegi. 

You have probably seen a picture of the Gergeti Trinity Church before – it might have been a reason you put Georgia on your bucket list. 

To get to Kazbegi you will need to take a Marshrutka to the town of Stepantsminda. Marshrutkas leave every 4 hours from the outside of Didube Metro station and take about 3 hours.

Due to the time getting up and down and possibly trekking to the Gergeti Trinity Church (which takes around 4 hours as a round trip if walking, but hiring a taxi would be faster), an overnight in Kazbegi is required – we stayed at this wonderful guesthouse . 

You could  visit Kazbegi on a day trip  and return to Tbilisi the same day.

Day 7: A full free day in Tbilisi or visit Mtskheta

You could spend the full day in Tbilisi, but for a nearby experience, visit the former capital and UNESCO-listed Mtskheta.

Getting there on local transport is easy and cheap, or hire a taxi (40 minutes). While you’re there, check out the sixth-century Georgian Orthodox Jvari Monastery. If you head there early, you will have the afternoon-evening back in the capital – for more delicious food.

Here are the  Top 9 best cafes in Tbilisi.

Alternatively, you could also visit Davit Gareja Monastery.

Viator is one of our favourite sites for booking food tours, day tours, and attraction tickets. It’s so easy to just browse the tours on Viator , pay online, and immediately receive your tour voucher.

You would return from Kazbegi or Mtshekta the day before and overnight in Tbilisi. Now it’s time to head up to the famous Svaneti region and the town of Mestia. Known for the famous stone towers and villages isolated from the rest of Georgia and the world.

The Svaneti region is so unique its people have their own Svan language. 

Getting here takes all day or nine hours by marshrutka from Tbilisi Station Square. However, there are some epic views en route, and you will stop for lunch. 

Alternatively, you could choose to fly up here with Vanilla Sky Airlines (Which can be booked via a local agent only), or you could break the journey in Kutaisi, but I suggest doing that on the way back.

It is up to you how you spend the free day. You could hike up to the Mestia Cross, explore the small town of Mestia and check out the Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography. You could trek to Chaladi Glacier.

Or, ideally, head to the picturesque town of Ushguli – the highest settlement in Europe at an elevation of 2,200m above sea level.  

We have spent five days in Svaneti, so trust me, there is plenty to do, but even two nights will give you a taste of this region. 

Where to stay in Svaneti: Set in Mestia, Mestia House is an excellent place to stay—clean, spacious rooms with comfortable beds and a great breakfast.

View more hotels/guesthouses in Mestia

Travelling to a country with a different currency? Avoid ATM transaction fees and pay in local currency with a Wise Card . We love this card; it has saved us so much in fees.

Take a marshrutka from Mestia to Kutaisi, it takes about 5 hours. Spend the afternoon exploring the town. Check out the Kutaisi Green Bazaar and the old town. You could add two nights here and visit Imareti – another wine region on a free day.

Where to Stay in Kutaisi:  My top pick is the comfortable  Old Kutaisi Bed & Breakfast , just a short walk from the centre of town and fantastic breakfast included in the room rate, from $15/night.

Check out more accommodations in Kutaisi

Day 11: Kutaisi to Tbilisi 

Continue the journey to Tbilisi on local marshrutka. This will take you about 4 hours. Then spend the afternoon at your leisure.

However, this is a great opportunity to check out some of the best cafes in Tbilisi  or explore different neighbourhoods.

If you were trying to make up some time you could head to Yerevan the same day – please note it takes 6 hours so it would be a full day of travel.

Start your day early and say goodbye to Georgia. Take the minivan (marshrutka) from Metro Station Avlabari . The journey will take about 5 or 6 hours. 

Where to stay in Yerevan:

• Budget : Santorini Guesthouse (from $7/night). Dorms or private rooms. Great value for money.
• Mid-Range : Inter Boutique Hotel  (from $27/night). It has a great location, comfortable rooms, and great breakfast included.
• Boutique : Arève Résidence Boutique Hotel (from $50/night). Great location, with superb reviews.
• Luxury:   Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan (from $140/night). 

Day 13: Yerevan – a full day to explore

Yerevan feels very different to Baku or Tbilisi. It is a huge city; there are cafes, cool wine/jazz bars and some epic squares. Furthermore, the food is also incredible, and the capital has a few fantastic places to eat. 

Don’t miss the Yerevan Cascade, the Vernissage, the Armenian Genocide Memorial and the Republican Square. Also, if you want to try something very Armenian – try Ararat brandy.

Or let a local guide take you around to see the city’s highlights in a classic car on this  Yerevan City Tour .

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• 🎟 Book your tickets online: We use Viator and GetYourGuide
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If you were short on time you could fly out today after spending 2 weeks in the Caucasus making the perfect Georgia Armenia Azerbaijan itinerary. 

But I do hope you have more time to see more of Armenia because it’s worth it.

Today, head out to Dilijan – known as the Switzerland of Armenia. You want to leave on the first mashrutka so you can return on the last one, which goes around 4 pm. The journey takes about 1.5 hours.

Dilijan is home to a few Armenian cultural sites like the Haghartsin Monastery or Goshavank Monastery.

But I suggest you go to Parz Lake first – a popular spot for locals during summer. This is the largest body of water in Armenia. Also, you can rent a boat or enjoy the scenery.

Tell the driver in Yerevan that you want to go to Lake Sevan. He will charge you a little bit more to drop you off, but it will save you the hassle of getting another bus from Dilijan.

On the other hand, you could also visit Garni, Gegard and Lake Sevan on a day trip.

After the lake, head into Dilijan town. You can spend some time in the spa town or, if you are keen – Visit Haghartsin Monastery, which is about 30 minutes away.

After that, return to Yerevan in the late afternoon.

Enjoy having Yerevan as a base. Next up, head to the World Heritage Site carved out of the rock face at the Azat River Gorge – the famous Geghard Monastery.

The monastery is incredible, but you will probably be one of the few visitors there. The monastery was built in the 13th century; you can visit its grounds. 

If you are taking public transport, you must pay for a taxi from the town of Goght, but it was no problem for us.

I would understand if you prefer to spend an extra day in Yerevan.

But if you wish to get out there again and see another fantastic monastery, this time with amazing landscape views, then Noravank is perfect.

There are  day trips you can choose here to make it easier, or head out here on public transport. Come early (depart at 8 am), and you will have the place to yourself.

Consisting of different tower-like churches, Noravank is different to Geghard. 

To get here, catch a marshrutka from the Arshakunyats Bus Station heading to Yeghednadzor – it will take 2 hours.

During the trip, tell the driver that you are going to the monastery. As a result, he will drop you off outside Edem Restaurant.

Then, you can catch a taxi, hitchhike, or walk the 6 km to the monastery.

The time has come to leave. However, with some great cheap flights with Wizzair (always find the best deals on  Skyscanner ), you can get to Europe for a fraction of the cost!

If you are flying internationally, you can fly with  Qatar Airways  via Doha and virtually anywhere. 

Get Connected with eSIM

Get connected easily on your travels—buy an eSIM! It works like an app: buy it, download it, and get connected in minutes! It’s easy, affordable, and convenient. Keep your original phone number, too!

Use our code: RACHEL5045  to get $3 off your first purchase!

How to create your own Georgia Armenia Azerbaijan Itinerary

Planning the perfect Georgia-Armenia-Azerbaijan itinerary can seem overwhelming at first – but if you fly into Baku and follow this itinerary, you’ll be able to visit the highlights.

If you have less time, then I recommend flying in and spending your time between Georgia and Armenia. If I had to choose a week, I would stick to Georgia – you could base yourself in the capital and do day trips.

Don’t be afraid to choose fabulous day trips with Viator or Get Your Guide if you are not keen on travelling independently.

In short, these will make your travels effortless. Firstly you’ll learn a lot from your guides, and secondly, you will meet other visitors too.

Since many tours are very reasonably priced, it’s worth considering them while here.

Join a Group Tour

We recommend  G Adventures .  This  small-group adventure in Georgia & Armenia  is ideal.

Alternatively, search Tourradar for the best tour suited to your travel style!

Make sure you get Travel Insurance before hitting the road. We recommend Heymondo & SafetyWing

Click here and get 5% off Heymondo from us!

This region of the world has some incredible cuisine. Check out our detailed post about  what to eat in Georgia – a food lover’s guide .

We’ve found the  9 best cafes in Tbilisi , and we explain  where to stay in Tbilisi  and some fantastic areas to choose from.

And when you’re visiting Azerbaijan, I recommend you visit Nakhchivan, the fascinating exclave of Azerbaijan.  

The cuisine in Azerbaijan is fantastic! Don’t miss these  10 most popular dishes.  

Travel Tips for Asia

We have many travel guides and tips for Asia— a fascinating continent!

Delicious cuisine can be enjoyed across Asia, and our food map of Asia will inspire your food journey.

These top 5 best street foods in Asia are unmissable! We explain Central Asian food, including seven popular foods in this region.

Our Southeast Asia packing list will be helpful if you’re travelling here.

Furthermore, if you plan to travel long-term (or at least until the money runs out), these 21 cheapest countries to visit will help you make your hard-earned dollars stretch a bit further.

Not surprisingly, our top 10 best countries for food lovers include a few Asian countries.

You’ll need to stay connected while travelling in Asia. We recommend eSIM. It’s easy, reliable and affordable. View eSIMs for individual Asian countries , or consider a regional eSIM for Asia (which covers 18 countries).

If your travels in Asia are part of a much larger global adventure, then a Global eSIM may be the answer. It connects you in 124 countries , offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text eSIM . The Global eSIM has been a game-changer; we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.

If you want to travel with like-minded travellers, consider joining a group tour. View the best deals on group tours in Asia .

Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.

Travel Planning Resources

✈️ Flights : We use Skyscanner to book cheap flights worldwide.

🏨 Accommodation :  Booking.com is our preferred platform for booking hotels and accommodation. We use Vrbo to book apartments and long-term stays.

🏥 Travel Insurance : We recommend Heymondo ( Get 5% off Heymondo)  & SafetyWing

🚌 Transportation : Trainline is the best website to reserve trains. We use Omio to book transport worldwide. For travel in Asia, we use 12Go.  

🚘 Car Rental : We use DiscoverCars to book rental cars worldwide.

👫 Group Tours :  G Adventures OR compare multi-day tours worldwide with Tourradar .

📸 Day Tours & Trips :  GetYourGuide  & Viator are the only two platforms you need.

📚 Lonely Planet: The Best Range of Travel Guides & Ebooks , and FREE Shipping! (use code RACHELDAVEY10 for a 10% discount)

🎒 Luggage :  Osprey Farpoint 40L Backpack  or  Samsonite Luggage Range.

🛄 What to Pack:  Don’t forget your Universal charger and a good  power bank .  To help you pack the essentials, here is our ULTIMATE Packing List for all Travellers .

🐶 Become a House Sitter:  Join Trusted Housesitters and enjoy FREE accommodation worldwide. Use our invite to receive 25% off your new membership.

💰 Send Money Anywhere: WISE  &  Revolut  are the best online accounts that let you send money, get paid, and spend money internationally. Both are so easy to use and way cheaper than any bank transfer.

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✅ Check out our Travel Gear  and  Travel Resources for more valuable tips to save you money!

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Armenia or Georgia? Where to go in the Caucasus?

Armenia or Georgia? Which Caucasus country should be your next travel destination? Both nations were absolutely forgotten by international tourism, particularly by Western tourists, but now they are trending, and becoming more and more popular!

We will explore and compare everything you need to know about each country and help you figure out if you should travel to Armenia or Georgia.

Both countries have a wide array of things to do and see, but they are mostly known for the mountains, monasteries, cheap prices, delicious food, and above all, nature! So, we will use these topics to compare Armenia and Georgia .

• Natural beauty;
• Tourist attractions;
• Outdoor activities;
• Culture and heritage;
• The people;
• Food scene;
• Travel infrastructure;
• Travel safety;
• Tourist index;

Note, if you are looking for complete guides to Georgia and Armenia, have a look at ours:

• Everything you need to know before traveling to Georgia
• Everything you need to know before traveling to Armenia

Page Contents

Armenia or Georgia – Travel Edition

Natural beauty of armenia vs georgia.

The first thing to examine in this comparison is how beautiful each country is – think of it like this if you randomly look out of the car window, how beautiful would the landscape be?

Armenia has some excellent areas, the scenery around Tatev monastery is beautiful, and the Dilijan National Park is also very pleasant, but in general, it has very rocky areas, and it’s very yellow and dry during summer. Don’t get us wrong, it’s lovely and pleasant to look at, but only a few areas are really exciting.

The northern side of Georgia is absolutely astonishing – this region of the Caucasus is out of this world regarding beauty. Southern Georgia is more on the same level as Armenia. It’s nice, with so areas more beautiful than others, but doesn’t come close to Svaneti, Kazbeghi, or Tusheti regions in Georgia.

Georgia has to win this topic. We have visited quite a few mountain regions in the world, and only a few can compete with the Georgian Caucasus.

Tourist attractions and Landmarks

We thought Georgia would win easily when we first thought about this topic. However, it’s a little more complex than that.

Georgia is surely more diverse when it comes to landmarks and attractions. It has mountains, beaches, caves, waterfalls, hikes, fortresses, churches, monasteries, and so on… It’s truly a wonderful country with activities and things to do for everyone. You only need to remember that one of the main attractions in Gori is the Stalin Museum… 🙂

Armenia, on the other side, is clearly less diverse. Most of its famous attractions are churches or Monasteries, however, together with them usually come some extraordinary views. For example, the Tatev monastery is excellent, but do you know what’s greater? The wings of Tatev and the views you get there! And this happens quite a few times in Armenia.

So, Georgia still wins this section because of the diversity and quantity of activities, but don’t disdain Armenia and its many monasteries.

If you want to explore more about the monuments of Armenia or Georgia, have a look at:

• Things to do in Georgia
• Famous Landmarks in Armenia

Outdoor Activities in Georgia vs Armenia

Both Georgia and Armenia are mountainous countries, with plenty of outdoor activities, particularly hiking. If you are into hiking, you’ll find opportunities in each country. Though, again, Georgia seems to be a little better. There are short hikes, long trails, and lots of multi-day treks through the Georgian Caucasus.

Georgia also has a few ski resorts, like Gudauri (the most famous), Mestia, Goderdzi, and Bakuriani, while Armenia only really has Tsakhkadzor. Both countries offer opportunities for paragliding, white water rafting, and a few other more adventurous outdoor activities. Paragliding in Gudauri (Georgia) seemed to us really inviting, but we didn’t dare.

So, Georgia also takes this.

Beaches of Georgia vs Armenia

This is the most obvious one. Armenia doesn’t have any coastline, while Georgia has about 300km, though more than 2/3 are in Abkhazia (which you probably won’t visit). Despite not being too long, the coastal city of Batumi is one of the most popular in de Black Sea!

Armenia doesn’t have a sea, but it has the lake Sevan. People sometimes go there to the beach, but honestly, it really isn’t worth it as a beach destination, if you are only staying in Armenia for a few days.

So, once again, Georgia wins but almost by default this time.

Culture and Heritage

Regarding culture and heritage, things become a little more interesting. Both Georgia and Armenia have distinct cultures – not only from each other but also from the rest of the world. They have their own religion, language, alphabet, cuisine, and many other things.

Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianism, though Georgia soon followed. You can actually visit the “oldest cathedral in the world” – Etchmiadzin Cathedral, close to Yerevan. As we said earlier, you won’t lack monasteries and churches in Armenia, but you’ll also find enough religious sites (churches, cathedrals, and monasteries) in Georgia to visit.

Curiously, each country only has 3 UNESCO Heritage sites. We say “only” because we felt it has much more to offer than only those sites. It’s probably a question of time before a few more are inscribed.

For all the above reasons, we feel that this should be a tie. They are both interesting enough for anyone who likes history and culture to dive in and have a great time.

The People of Georgia vs Armenia

The interactions with the locals may turn a trip into a memory to cherish forever or something we want to forget. Luckily, both nations tend to be populated with nice locals who enjoy receiving tourists.

Despite being very friendly, you should note that neither of them speaks much English. And if we talking about the older generation, then it’s quite rare. You may have to communicate with gestures and learn a few Russian or Georgian, and Armenian words. We found this challenge more fun than an actual problem.

Georgian hospitality is usually very very highly rated among travelers, and you will probably see many internet posts saying that they are the most friendly locals on the planet. Well, we don’t necessarily agree with this. Yes, they are friendly, but people tend to exaggerate a little on that matter. We actually found the Armenians even more friendly and pleasant to engage with. We suppose it depends on how lucky you are on your stay.

So, as we had a better time with Armenians than Georgians, we will give Armenia the win here. But note that this is a very tight win, and you’ll need to be very unlucky to have bad experiences in either Georgia or Armenia.

Nightlife in Armenia and Georgia

In this series of articles, we usually compare the nightlife of each destination, but honestly, we haven’t really tried them.

As far as we could see, both Tbilisi and Yerevan had a few bars and restaurants, and Yerevan, in particular, has an interesting coffee culture. Though, we don’t really feel we know enough about it to be comfortable to advise you on this.

Shopping in Georgia and Armenia

Neither Georgia nor Armenia are shopping destinations, despite being cheap ones. You may find the occasional shopping street in Yerevan, Tbilisi, and maybe Batumi, but going there to shop would be weird. Georgia, as a famous wine country, is a great place to buy good wine at nice prices. Both Armenia and Georgia have nice handcrafts that would make a good souvenir or travel gift.

We will give this one a tie, though if shopping is an essential part of your trip, you should probably skip them both!

Georgia or Armenia – who has the best cuisine?

The food… now things get more interesting again…. the food in the Caucasus is surprisingly good! To be honest, we hadn’t really paid much attention to either of them before planning our trips to Armenia and Georgia. Though, we had a great time trying new things.

Georgian and Armenian cuisines share some characteristics, like the love for bread and the use of fresh produce. Due to their locations, they also suffered influences from both Europe, Levantine, and Central Asian cuisines. Between the two, we preferred Georgian cuisine. It’s just too good!

Some of the best dishes you should try in Georgia include:

• The several types of Khachapuri, but mainly the Adjarian.
• Shkmeruli – roast chicken in garlic sauce
• Khinkali – the Georgian dumplings. Absolutely amazing!
• The cheeses – particularly Sulguni.
• Mtavadi – the Georgian skewer of meat;

In Armenia, some of the dishes you should try are:

• Dolma – Minced meat mixed with rice wrapped in grape leaves
• Khorovats – meat barbecue, usually in a skewer;
• Lavash – thin and soft flatbread;
• Manti – dumplings served with tomato sauce and yogurt

These dishes are generally delicious, and you’ll have a great time trying them. But the Khachapuri and the Khikali take Georgian cuisine to the next level. They are some of the best dishes we have ever tried. So, Georgia wins this.

Travel infrastructure – Armenia vs Georgia

Georgia is clearly more developed than Armenia, and it’s easily better prepared to receive tourism. It has been investing hard in its infrastructure and tourist attractions. The roads in Georgia aren’t that great, but they are so much better than in Armenia…

There are more travel agents, better public transportation, more hotels and guest houses, and tour providers. Even the tourist attractions are better prepared to receive the tourists.

Though you should note that it’s not Georgia, that’s very well developed; it’s just Armenia that has a very undeveloped tourism sector. So, Georgia has to win this topic. If you are looking for a more tourist-ready country, then Georgia should be your choice.

Tourism index

The tourism index compares the number of tourists you’ll see and how touristy a destination is.

Neither Georgia or Armenia is very touristy when compared with Europe, the US, Southeast Asia, and so on! That being said, Georgia is becoming increasingly popular among backpackers, and in our opinion, their popularity will continue to grow.

Armenia’s tourism is also growing but at a much slower pace. While in Armenia, it’s still possible to have a destination almost for ourselves, that’s much more difficult in Georgia. Unless you are incredibly unlucky, you won’t have hundreds of other travelers with you, but you won’t be alone either.

You should also note that Georgia is also popular among Eastern Europeans, mainly Russian tourists. You’ll likely find many Russian families traveling in Georgia.

So, if you want to have the least amount of tourists, choose Armenia. If you prefer to go to a more developed tourist destination with other tourists, then Georgia should be your choice.

Which is safer? Georgia or Armenia

In terms of safety, there are safer countries than Georgia and Armenia, particularly when it comes to petty theft and that kind of criminality. Violent crimes are somehow rare, and you would need to be very unlucky to witness them.

Between Georgia and Armenia, we feel that Georgia is safer. It’s richer and more developed, with fewer people resorting to scams and crime to survive.

The one thing we felt that it’s actually dangerous is road safety. Both Georgians and Armenians are bad drivers and put themselves and other people in danger. Keep this in mind if you are planning to drive, though if you are an experienced driver, you probably won’t have any problem.

Which is cheaper? Georgia or Armenia?

Finally, we get to the costs… the things that can make it or break it, in a destination! Luckily for you, neither Armenia or Georgia are expensive destinations.

In fact, they are as cheap as it can be. You can easily have a nice trip for less than 25 USD per day. The prices in each country are quite similar, but Georgia tends to be cheaper in about everything. The fact that some of the best Georgian food is basically fast food, easy to buy and eat on the go, and just makes it even cheaper.

Depending on the location, usually, you can find basic accommodation for a couple less than 20 USD and a dorm for about half of that. Liquor also tends to be cheap in both countries, and public transportation is obviously very, very cheap. Renting a car isn’t too expensive either, but we found it cheaper in Georgia.

Overall, Georgia tends to be a little cheaper than Armenia – in our calculations, about 2-3 USD per person per day cheaper. So, Georgia wins this one too.

The verdict of our Georgia vs Armenia travel comparison

Overall, we got a very uneven result, with an 8-2 for Georgia. This is a result that’s somehow misleading. With such a difference in the result, you could think that Armenia has few things to offer, but it’s not that. Armenia is excellent, it’s only Georgia that’s a little (sometimes a lot) better in almost everything.

So, in general, we believe that Georgia is a better tourist destination, with a wider variety of things to explore, from culture to natural beauty. Yet, some people will probably enjoy more Armenia than Georgia. Let’s recap!

You should go to Armenia if:

• You want to set up a base and do day trips from Yerevan. Yerevan is very well located, and you can do the whole country on day trips. (sometimes really long);
• you want a destination with very few tourists;
• you are really into monasteries and churches. The monasteries in Armenia are located in the most unbelievable locations.
• Enjoy exploring untouristy places with very little travel infrastructure;

On the other hand, you should travel to Georgia if:

• You want to have a wide range of things to see and do;
• you don’t mind a few tourists, particularly backpackers and non-western tourists;
• enjoy hiking through mountains;
• Try new and delicious food with a few extraordinary dishes;
• one of the cheapest and value-for-money destinations available;
• you need to have beaches on your trip;
• And ultimately, you want to visit the more beautiful two countries. As much as we like Armenia and the Armenians, Georgia is just prettier 🙂

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10 must visit spots in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan

Are Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan (known together as Caucasus region ) on your 2023 Travel Wishlist? If the answer is “yes” then most probably you have already heard how versatile and amazing Caucasus is.

Three relatively small countries are nested between Caspian and Black seas on the East and the West, picturesque Caucasus mountain range on the North, and Biblical Ararat mountain on the South. The area boasts one of the largest natural diversity in the world. With gorgeous mountains, miles of vine valleys, magnificent rivers, mythical semi-deserts, and more, Caucasus is the place for repeat exploration.

Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan each are gaining momentum of tourism growth. Georgia is becoming a hot spot for both classic tourism and responsible travelers alike. Armenia strikes with one-of-a-kind architecture. Whilst Azerbaijan is almost like a world-apart within the three. However, be ready to experience unique hospitality, fairytale-like nature, amazing cuisine, and fascinating journey overall – in each of them.

So, if you’re just starting to plan your tour to Caucasus, these places will steer you in the right path:

Baku (Azerbaijan) – Where the East meets the West

Capital of Azerbaijan has been rapidly developing its skyline with some of the worlds most spectacular new architecture. Which counterpoints with Baku’s medieval UNESCO World heritage list members within magnificent Old City – Icheri Sheher. Dedicate a full day tour for Baku, and don’t forget to include “Shekhidler hiyabani”, Rasul-Zade street, Fountain square, Icheri Sheher, Heydar Aliev cultural centre, and an evening walk along Caspian seafront boulevard.

Gobustan (Azerbaijan) – Petroglyphs and mud volcanoes

Gobustan National park, otherwise known as Qobustan Petroglyphs Reserve is a home to UNESCO protected ancient stone engravings dating back to 10 thousand years BC. It is also believed that almost half of the World’s mud volcanoes are in Gobustan. The destination is arguably the most popular day trip from Baku. Being only 60 km away from Azerbaijani capital it takes its visitors to a completely different setting. Gobustan’s landscape and views over Caspian sea are an amazing added bonus to the journey.

Lagich (Azerbaijan) – Medieval atmosphere of a highland village

Lagich mounatain village is a settlement established in the 5 th century. It allows travelers to dive deep into the regions history and medieval atmosphere with narrow stone walkways of its main street. Huseynov street is unevenly paved with smooth river-stones, and follows between houses constructed traditionally with interchanging timber and stone layers. Most of the houses have wooden balconies.

Sighnaghi (Georgia) – City of Love

Sighnaghi is one of the most popular town among tourists in Georgia. It has been recently labeled as ‘City of love’, mostly for the fact that one can register a marriage there 24/7. Previously a Royal residence, Sighnaghi still surrounded by ancient city walls. Cozzy and pretty this small town is definitely a stop to make after arriving in Georgia from Azerbaijan.

Tbilisi (Georgia) – Vibe of the Caucasus  

Georgian capital city Tbilisi for many centuries of its existence was a place where people of all faiths, cultural and national backgrounds used to live together. The fact that made Tbilisi a contemporary metropolis filled with history and atmosphere of rich and great past. Whatever your travel habits, Tbilisi absolutely has anything to offer. One day in Georgian capital is surely not enough, but it will give you an impressions of the entire region – it’s hospitality, people, its past and future.  

Uplistsikhe (Georgia) – Lord’s Fortress

Uplistsikhe is an amazing and formerly large-scale cave town that located almost 100 km away from Tbilisi, Georgian capital, and about 10 km from the town of Gori. From the early years of its existence (approximately 6 th century BC) and up until 1 st century AD Uplistsikhe was one of the main administrative and political centers of Georgia, or Kartli (Iberia) at that time, with worship temples dedicated to Pagan beliefs. Being quite an important location on busy trade routes between Asia and Europe Uplistsikhe cave city was populated by more than 20 thousand people at its most prosperous period.

Zegaani (Georgia) – The gem of the valley

According to Orthodox Christian teaching, dense forest symbolizes serenity, peace of mind and solitude. Zegaani Monastery, deep in the woods near the village of Zegaani is a calm, fairy-tale-like place, where ancient churches beautifully blend into nature. The first building constructed at the monastery, St. Marina’s Church, dates to the 5th century. Thus, it is one of the first Christian buildings in Georgia. Visit to Zegaani monastery will surely be one of a lifetime memories.

Lake Sevan (Armenia) – 50 shades of blue

Being the largest in the Caucasus, with its great blue waters expanded over 80 kilometres, Sevan lake is also one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in the World. Water colours change with the season and weather from a dazzling azure to dark blue with hundreds of shades through the process. Lake Sevan is surrounded by a number of significant Armenian monasteries, with Sevan monastery holding a prime position among others. Visiting this lake is definitely must-do in the region.

Yerevan (Armenia) – Place to amaze and awe

Capital of Armenia is arguably one of the most famous in the world comparing to other two. As noted in popular guidebook Yerevan is full of contradictions. Old-fashioned traditional teahouses are located next to chic bars and modern cafes. Street fashion ranges from young hipsters to old ‘babushkas’ with amazingly beautiful varieties in between. Yerevan has a distinguished colour in its main architecture – its pink. Proudly standing municipal, government and museum buildings coloured in pink – are something to amuse any traveller.

Garni (Armenia) – Hellenic Caucasus

Garni temple is a picturesque Parthenon-like structure built by Armenian King Trdat I in the first century AD. Features monumental columns, beautiful staircase, 7 th century church and remains of Roman-era bathhouse. Latest archaeological findings indicate that the surrounding area was inhabited as far back in history as Neolithic times. The site is completely different from what you’ve already seen in the Caucasus.       

All of the above are featured in our 15-day small group tour of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan . Traveling in a group has many benefits. Apart from obvious economic reasons, when you save on many shared expenses, small group journeys are a great opportunity to connect with likeminded explorers from other countries. And, what’s most important to us, small group tours are a way to travel responsibly .        

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12 Things You Should Know Before Travelling to the Caucasus

Planning to travel to the Caucasus? This list of 12 useful Caucasus travel tips covers everything from money to border crossings.

When I first travelled to t he Trans-Caucasus countries (Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan), the region was still relatively unknown to tourists outside Eastern Europe. Ninety percent of people I spoke to couldn’t pinpoint Georgia on a map, let alone shed light on what it’s like to travel or live there.

• Also read: 23 practical travel tips for Georgia: Food, money, transport & accommodation

In the last few years, the Caucasus travel has become extremely popular – thanks in no small part to Georgia and Armenia being featured on many a must-do travel list (Lonely Planet, Forbes, AFAR… The list goes on). Budget flights to Tbilisi , Kutaisi and now Gyumri and Yerevan have made the region more accessible than ever before.

I certainly knew very little about the Caucasus before we decided to go (up until a few years ago, I would have had no hope of locating it on a map either). Honestly, my ignorance was a big part of the reason I wanted to travel there in the first place . It was challenging at times, but overall it was hugely rewarding to go in with very few expectations and figure things out as we went along.

I don’t want to spoil any surprises or deprive you of that same sense of discovery—but I do think it helps to have a few pointers. To help you on your way, I’ve put together this list based on some of the common questions readers and friends ask me about travelling in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Here are 12 things I think you should know before visiting the Caucasus.

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.

1. The region is incredibly diverse

It’s tempting to lump Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan together, but the three countries are very distinct. For starters, each one has its own language, culture and religion.

There’s a certain amount of overlap between Georgia and Armenia because the two countries share a long history and similar belief systems. Azerbaijan has a fascinating landscape and culture all of its own , and in my opinion is more distinct from its neighbours.

Travelling to all three countries as part of the one trip (like we did) makes sense logistically – and I’d go as far as to say that you really need to experience all three in order to get a balanced overview of the region. Don’t make the mistake of skipping Yerevan ‘because you’ve already seen Tbilisi’ – it doesn’t work like that.

There’s a huge amount of variety within each country, too. Azerbaijan, for example, supports nine out of the world’s 11 climatic zones and has an incredibly diverse landscape.

The Caucasus is second only to Papua New Guinea in terms of its linguistic diversity. One of the best things you can do is visit and learn about the ancient tribes and clans of the Northern Caucasus mountains , who know no state borders.

2. It feels a lot more like Europe than Asia

The Caucasus has always been defined by its mix of cultural influences due to its position at the crossroads of East and West. After the collapse of the Soviet Union , all three countries moved to distance themselves from Russia and fixed their gaze firmly on the West.

This is especially true of Georgia, which is currently pushing for membership in the EU.

Is Armenia in Europe? Is Georgia in Asia? Whether the Caucasus is part of the European or Asian continent seems to be a point of ongoing contention. All three countries are technically in Asia; but overall, the region feels a lot more European, especially in the cities.

All three capitals – Tbilisi , Yerevan and Baku – are characterised by classical architecture, parks, fountains and boulevards. To me, it definitely felt like I was travelling in Europe, albeit a slightly grungier version.

3. Just because two countries are neighbours doesn’t mean they’re friends

I was surprised to learn that there are still a number of active conflicts going on in the Caucasus. I think it’s important to understand a little bit about diplomatic relations between bordering countries – at the very least, it could have practical implications for your itinerary.

The most severe conflict is probably the one between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It centres on the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) region, a breakaway territory sandwiched between the two republics, which has been a site of skirmish since the 1980s. The war in Nagorno-Karabakh officially ended in 1994, but landmines and gun snipers are still a part of the everyday reality there.

It’s possible to travel to Nagorno-Karabakh, but only from the Armenian side of the border. And if you do, you forfeit your chance to travel to Azerbaijan – Azeri immigration won’t permit you to enter the country if they find any evidence that you’ve been to the disputed zone. The border between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains closed, so it’s necessary to pass back through Georgia if you’re travelling between the two countries overland.

Armenia has a tumultuous history with neighbouring Turkey, so the Armenian/Turkish border is also impassable.

Relations between Armenia and Iran, by contrast, are blossoming – the two neighbours recently established a visa-free travel agreement for their citizens. (You’ll see a lot of Iranian tourists in Yerevan – our tour guide there went as far as to suggest that one in three people you see on the street at any given time is Iranian.)

Muslim-majority Azerbaijan is closer with Turkey than any of its other neighbours. Although the two states no longer share a land border, many aspects of their culture and language overlap.

In the midst of all this, Georgia is sort of a ‘neutral’ state. Its borders with Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia are all open.

Georgia shares a long history with Armenia (much of Tbilisi’s old town was historically Armenian ), and today the two countries have something of a friendly sibling rivalry (both claim to be the birthplace of viticulture and the inventor of the churchkhela ). Georgians have much more in common with Armenians, while Azerbaijan is sort of viewed as the ‘outsider’ of the group.

Russia’s most recent forceful encroachment onto Georgian territory is still fresh in the memory of people as young as me. This has fostered an anti-Russian sentiment in the minds of many Georgians.

4. The history will break your heart

Ongoing border disputes are evidence of the fact that Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are all young republics with a long, often troubling, history. This is something to be aware of, but I strongly believe that learning about events like the Armenian Genocide is best saved until you arrive in-country.

One of the most confronting things for me was the fact that I had never really heard of the Armenian Genocide before I set foot in Yerevan.

Be respectful, but don’t shy away from the history of the Caucasus. One of the best ways to immerse yourself and deepen your knowledge is simply by speaking to people.

5. Poverty is a big issue

One thing all three Caucasus countries share is a common legacy of Sovietism. Coming from the West, I had a lot of preconceptions about the Soviet Union, which I generally consider to be a period of oppression and misery.

But talking to people on the ground (especially older generations), I was surprised to learn that not everyone looks back on Soviet times as ‘dark days’. For some, life was easier under the Soviet Union because they had everything they needed.

Georgia and Armenia both suffered huge economic losses after the Union dissolved; Azerbaijan survived on its oil money.

This all unfolded in the 1990s, which really wasn’t that long ago, and you still see a lot of poverty in all three countries today as a result. Armenia has one of the highest rates of migration in the world; young people especially are leaving in droves to escape the flagging economy.

Even for the young and well-educated in Georgia, jobs are scarce and wages in some sectors (including hospitality) are extremely low . As tourists, I believe we all have a responsibility to support local and small businesses , and visit less touristy areas to spread the love around (when possible).

Having travelled extensively in Southeast Asia, I’m used to seeing poverty. If you’re not so familiar with it, you best brace yourself for some pretty confronting scenes, especially in rural areas. You should also be prepared to deal with professional beggars in the bigger cities, especially in Tbilisi.

6. The cities are incredibly safe

OK – so there is a certain degree of ongoing political conflict and urban poverty is definitely an issue in the Caucasus, but for the average tourist, it’s still an incredibly safe place to visit .

By some measures, Georgia is one of the safest countries in the world (the 2018 Global Law and Order report from Gallup ranked Georgia 17th among 142 countries for security—ahead of the UK, US, and Germany).

One of the coolest things about Tbilisi is how the city cares for its stray animals—most street dogs are tagged and vaccinated by the state, and they are relatively friendly (the same does not go for dogs in rural areas, especially Caucasian mountain dogs).

Armenia is trying hard to shake off its reputation for corruption by putting anti-bribery measures in place at border crossings. I know this is a sweeping generalisation, but in my experience, people in the Caucasus are generally very trustworthy and community-minded.

Pick-pocketing and petty crime are rare in all three cities, and we certainly didn’t experience trouble of any kind.

7. Public transport is the best way to get around

I’m a huge advocate of road trips, but I really wouldn’t bother with hiring or buying a car in the Caucasus. All three countries have top-notch inter-city transport networks, including trains and buses. Inter-country travel is also straightforward and affordable if you travel by overnight train .

Tbilisi, Baku and Yerevan all have metro systems (in the Soviet Union, any city with a population of one million people automatically qualified for a line), public buses and ride-sharing services. (The first time I ever used Uber was for a Lada ride to the bus station in Baku.) In my experience, public transport in the cities is cheap and generally reliable – plus, you can buy a local sim card and use Google Maps for route planning.

Trust me, you will learn to love the humble marshrutka ! These ubiquitous minivans are the best way to get around the Caucasus – I think we had more than 30 marshrutka rides in total. For a full break down of the public transport we used on our trip (including travel times and prices), check out our full itinerary .

If you’re thinking about driving, check out my tips for driving in Georgia and this helpful post about renting a car in Baku .

8. The food (and wine) will redefine your idea of ‘delicious’

I knew I was going to like Georgian food, but I wasn’t expecting there to be quite so much variety (or to be honest, so much flavour). After a year in Cambodia, all I wanted to do was pig out on cheese, bread and wine. I certainly did that – but I also got to eat some of the tastiest, freshest, healthiest meals I’ve ever eaten in my life.

I can confidently say that Georgian cooking changed what ‘delicious’ means to me – and what food should taste like in general. I’ve previously written about Georgian food in Tbilisi and in Kutaisi. (The food in Armenia and Azerbaijan was also good, but Georgia definitely wins in the culinary stakes.)

I would be remiss not to add a little something about wine. Viticulture was pioneered in present-day Georgia and Armenia, and both countries (especially Georgia) now produce incredible vino. Kakheti is Georgia’s wine-producing region and well worth a visit.

9. English is widely spoken

Since learning Russian in school is no longer compulsory, many young people in the Caucasus now choose to learn English instead. Like anywhere else these days, English is viewed as an essential skill for the new economy.

It’s always handy to know a few phrases (and a good habit to absorb as much of the local language as possible), but you certainly won’t have any trouble getting around if you only speak English.

Of the three countries, Azerbaijan had the least spoken English – but it all balanced out. Unlike the Georgian and Armenian alphabets which are beautiful but undecipherable, the Azeri alphabet is based on Turkic characters, which are easy enough to read.

10. Religion is critical

Did you know that Armenia was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as its state religion? I didn’t. But after spending Easter Sunday in Yerevan, I got a taste for how deeply-rooted Armenian Orthodoxy is in the country.

Georgia, too, is a very religious country. And it’s not going out of fashion, either. Quite the opposite. According to 2018 research by Pew , Georgia is one of only two countries globally where youth are more religious than elders (on average, of course).

It’s not uncommon to see people on the bus or in cars cross themselves as they pass by a church (I know this happens in other Orthodox countries, too). Both Georgia and Armenia are famous for their impressive cave monasteries, churches and cathedrals.

Azerbaijan – ever the odd one out – is 99 percent Muslim, with most believers adhering to an orthodox Ithna Ashari school of Shi’a Islam. From what I’ve read and experienced, Muslim identity in Azerbaijan is more about culture and ethnicity than religious belief.

It’s kind of miraculous that all three countries held onto such strong belief systems throughout Soviet times. There’s no doubt that religion is part of the fabric of all three nations; but overall, I would say that personal ideas of devotion are mixed.

I wouldn’t particularly describe any of these countries as conservative, either – we only saw a handful of women wearing the hijab in Azerbaijan, for example. Contrary to some other travellers’ reports, public buses and trains in the country are no longer sex-segregated.

It goes without saying that as a tourist, you’ll be expected to dress and behave in certain ways when you’re inside a place of worship. Head scarves and wrap-around skirts are available for women to borrow at all Orthodox churches.

11. The kindness of strangers will restore your faith in humanity

Hospitality and tolerance is a huge part of Caucasian culture, and in my experience, people will honestly do just about anything they can to make you feel welcome. Georgians in particular are infamous for their stony exterior; but underneath the brusqueness, we found so much warmth.

I’ve written a whole post about the small gestures of kindness that shaped my overwhelmingly positive view of the Caucasus. It contains a few anecdotes which you might enjoy reading before you visit the country.

This isn’t to say that Georgia (nor Azerbaijan nor Armenia – nor any other country on earth) doesn’t have its fair share of social issues.

This 2018 report from Human Rights Watch provides an easy-to-digest overview of Georgian policy and politics, including hot-button issues such as media freedom, drug policy and same-sex marriage.

12. The Caucasus is already a popular destination

Just because you haven’t heard much about the Caucasus doesn’t mean it’s not a popular tourist destination. We travelled during shoulder season (March to May) and didn’t encounter too many crowds. But I can only think of one or two occasions when we were the only tourists around.

If you’re travelling during the high season (summer, June to August), I would recommend booking at least some of your accommodation and transportation in advance.

Armenia, as I mentioned, is a popular spot for Iranian tourists, and Georgia too is gaining a reputation among travellers from the region (largely thanks to cheap Wizz Air flights that now service Kutaisi). Most of the other travellers we met on the road in Georgia were Ukrainian or Polish.

On one hand, this is a good things, because tourist infrastructure is already pretty well developed to cater to local markets. At the same time, you still feel like you’re somewhat off the mainstream tourist track—especially if you’re from Australia (we’re still a bit of a novelty in these parts).

One of the best things about travelling in the Caucasus is the chance to connect with tourists from countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In my opinion, it’s way more interesting to meet a traveller from Kazakhstan than to share a bus ride with a hoard of American tourists.

I’ve no doubt that the Caucasus region will one day earn the recognition it deserves among tourists of all stripes. And I sincerely hope that tourism will be a positive force in the lives of the people who live there.

Have you travelled in Georgia, Armenia or Azerbaijan? Or maybe you’re planning your own trip ? If you have any tips for fellow travellers, please leave them here in the comments!

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86 Comments

I visited friends in Tbilisi for two weeks in late September 2023. I can vouch for everything I’ve seen in Emily’s great guide. I just wish I’d known about it and read it all before I visited! And now I’m reading it to refresh my memories. The one thing I have not (yet) seen mentioned is the unbelievably horrible traffic in Tbilisi. Gridlock seems to be the normal thing in this city, which means that — just as Emily says — you must allow LOTS of time for traveling around Tbilisi. (Fortunately, taxis are very cheap.) For trips outside the city my friends hired a professional tour guide who was terrific and very reasonable. He took us to a set of historic monasteries & fortresses in Mtckheta, Dmanisi, Stepantsminda, Jvari, and Ujarma (5 different day trips). Some of the drives were long (3-4 hrs or more) but the scenery was wonderful and every destination was worth it — I only wish we had had more time at each one. One site I’d especially recommend is the huge monastery Davidgareja, built into a cliff right on the border with Azerbaijan. On the days between day trips we visited the National Museum (twice), bazaar, the huge monumental Chronicle of Georgia, the riverfront (don’t miss the boat ride), and especially the Ethnographic Museum (which has a display of actual wooden homes from the 19th century, furnished!). I agree with everything Emily describes — food, weather, hospitality, amazingly cheap prices, spectacular scenery, historical interest (especially Dmanisi’s incredible archaelogical site and discoveries). My first three days I stayed at a downtown hotel, Platforma Design, which I would recommend strongly — quiet, modern, comfortable, friendly, conveniently located, and amazingly cheap. To summarize: I’d go back to Georgia tomorrow if it weren’t the dead of winter — and hope to return soon!

Thanks so much Frank for the trip report! I’m so glad you enjoyed your first visit to Georgia and are planning to return!

Helloo Emily, Thank you for an informative topic Caucause. I live in Norway, I want to visist my brother who studying in Turkey to travel around (Georgia-Azeirbarjan- Armenia, or just Georgia- Azeirbajan). In first week of juni 2023. My quations; how cheeply can we travel from Turkey to Georgia and Azeibaijan. Which country its best to start with Azeirbajan rog Georgia. Its better to travel buy train, bus or airplan? You did not write abou the budsjet? how much do we need for 15 days. We can live in hostel?

Hi Abdo – Azerbaijan’s land borders will remain closed until the end of June at least. I would fly to Baku then make your way into Georgia from there (you can safely cross into Georgia, just not the other way around). Have a great trip!

Hello there,

Curious if you know about the Turkey/Georgia border crossing – is traveling into Georgia by land open at the moment? Grateful for any response!

Hello Kelly!

The land border situation is a bit confusing – land borders are still closed to tourists (i.e. anyone eligible to enter Georgia with proof of vaccination or a negative PCR), but you can come in through Sarpi if you are holding a business visa or Remotely From Georgia permit. I expect land borders will open in the coming weeks but I’m not 100% sure.

I hope this helps!

Hey I’m planning on flying into tbsili and staying there for a few weeks. Then, I plan to go to armenia. Is there an overnight train to gyumri or Yerevan? Or would I need to take a bus or fly?

Hi Zain, there is an overnight train to Yerevan leaving Tbilisi every evening at 10.45pm during summer. It just started up again on June 15.

Safe travels!

Hi from a fellow Aussie! I’ve really enjoyed reading your posts on visiting the Caucasus; so well-written and clear. We’ve just started planning our trip (for some point when Covid finally goes away, obvs) and can’t wait – and these tips will be invaluable.

Hey Leonie! So glad to hear that, thank you for taking the time to leave a note 🙂 Please let me know when you’re in Tbilisi – I’ll likely still be here and would love to buy you a glass of wine.

Happy planning, and don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything I can help with!

Cheers from Brazil

what AMAZING article! I hope 1 day i will convice my wife to visit this region, also Central Asia. Bye

Thank you Gustavo! Hope you make it here!

Hey, thanks for the nice article! One correction from a Georgian: the fact that historically there were many Armenians and they felt like home in Tbilisi (at one point they even outnumbered ethnic Georgians) doesn’t mean ”much of Tbilisi’s old town was historically Armenian” as you write, coz Tbilisi (meaning ”place of warmth” in Georgian) evolved particularly as a Georgian capital and main political thoroughfare through centuries, despite its multi-ethnic character. Much like the old Persian influence on Tbilisi’s culture and architecture doesn’t make it ”historically Persian” either.

Thanks for clarifying, Lasha. No doubt that Tbilisi is Georgian through and through 🙂 The mix of different influences (especially in the Old Town architecture) is one of the things I love most about the city!

My daughter and I are leaving for our first trip to Armenia in the summer of 2020. I read your blog and look forward to my trip! Thank you, now I know more about Armenia! Nice photos!

Thank you Tori! Have a wonderful trip!

Hi Emily! Thank you for all you have done! Your job is amazing! Even it helped me a lot l have difficulties apling for online visa for Georgia as my foto can not upload few times. Even l took foto 3 times from the foto studio they foloow the dimension still can not. Any advise? Or someone’s experience like this? Thank you 🌷🙏

Hi Cvetanka, Sorry to hear you’re having difficulties. I would recommend contacting the consulate/visa office through the website, they should be able to help. Good luck and happy travels!

Hi! Interesting reading! We are some Swedes planning to drive to Georgia and Armenia next summer – and spend about 3-4 weeks driving around and experiencing these apparently super exciting countries. Do you have any special suggestions when it comes to driving? Places hard to reach otherwise, places worth visiting out of the way from normal tourists who don’t travel by car, things to think about, etc.

There are hidden gems everywhere! Open up Google Maps and take your pic. You can’t go wrong 🙂

Our family traveled to Armenia in May 2018. For intercity travel, we hired a driver instead of renting a car. We were so glad that we did! The cost was very reasonable and Davit, our driver was excellent. If you rent a car be aware that some of the roads look like a war zone. There are huge potholes that are beyond description. Make sure that you have insurance for damage to your rental beyond collision. Also, most Armenians use natural gas instead of gasoline for fuel as the former is much less expensive. Armenia is exquisitely beautiful and the people extraordinarily hospitable. Enjoy!

Emily: hi like everyone else I think your posts are brilliant, keep it up, they have helped me every so much in organizing my trip this sept/oct. my query is entering Azerbaijan. I have the visa all done and dusted but had to put down the day day I am entering. I have the 30 day visa and have 90 days for it my question is do I have to enter there on the day I mentioned or can I go later, can’t find any info on it. thanks for any help you or your followers can give.

Thanks for the kind words. Glad to hear that!

From the wording on the e-visa website, I do believe the visa is valid for 90 days from the date of issue (see point 5: https://evisa.gov.az/en/conditions ), meaning you can enter and activate the visa any date within that 90 day period.

You could try contacting the e-visa people or a consulate for clarification. There’s a form on the website I linked above. They are usually pretty responsive.

I hope this helps. Have a great trip!

Thanks so much for your article, it was a great read. I’m just wondering if you had a suggested travel plan between the three countries, given the fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan. I already will be in Georgia, so will I need to go to one place first like Azerbaijan and then travel back to Georgia and then on to Armenia? Any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated, thanks 😊

Thanks for the kind words. I have a Caucasus itinerary post which you will hopefully find helpful: https://wander-lush.org/caucasus-travel-georgia-armenia-azerbaijan-itinerary/

I also have a Georgia Azerbaijan transport post which runs through the overland (long way) and overnight train (short version) options for getting between the two countries: https://wander-lush.org/baku-to-tbilisi-bus-travel-azerbaijan/

To answer your question: Yes, the border is closed, so you need to transit through Georgia (or another neighbouring country such as Iran (not Turkey)).

Happy travels!

Having travelled to Georgia twice and Azerbaijan once, I totally agree! I would caution though about hearing about conflicts from one side. For Azerbaijanis for example, Armenians committed genocide in 1918 and ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis in Karabakh as recently as the 90s.in a land recognized as Azerbaijani but occupied by Armenia in the 90s. I heard about the Armenian genocide but did not know it was a war between Armenia and Turkey and both sides committed the same atrocities. I hope conflicts are resolved in this beautiful part of the world.

Your report is concise and very useful. It definitely increased my interest in traveling to the area. Thank you very much.

George ,/ Brazil.

Glad to hear it, George!

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. We have always loved travelling to place less traveled by the Western world but our next trip (one month) is our first with our 7 month old baby. My Husband is really keen to explore the Caucasus region and, while I would LOVE to visit there, I’m unsure of the ease and health services there (should something go wrong). What are your thoughts

As a guide to my comfort levels – We traveled Iran, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan and Israel last year and I would be comfortable doing Iran, Jordan or Israel that with a bub, but not Kyrgyzstan (hard to find bottled water and health services – took us two days to find someone to remove my husbands stitches that he had needed when we were in Iran).

Is the Caucasus similar? Would we be confined to main cities?

Really appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks a lot for the comment. I know it’s a totally different story travelling with a baby, but I have a little bit of experience with this—my partner got sick in Azerbaijan and we ended up visiting a bunch of clinics in both AZ and Armenia (for blood work, IV drips and medication). I was really impressed with the quality of healthcare in Yerevan. Rural parts of the Caucasus would be a bit trickier, yes, but my overall impression is that the quality of healthcare is pretty good and very affordable.

Can you reach out to your travel insurance provider for some advice? We always contact them first for a list of recommended healthcare providers, just to put us at ease.

The other thing to remember is that Armenia and Georgia in particular are pretty compact, so you’re never more than a few hours away from a big city.

I’m so sorry to hear your partner was sick and needed medical treatment, but your experience does put my mind at ease.

Thank you so much for replying, this is a huge help. I’ll definitely reach out to our travel insurance provider.

My pleasure, Trish! All the best, and don’t hesitate to email if there’s anything else I can help with.

Thanks for this blog, Emily. Planning to tick off this tri-country trip this year. I’m a Philippine passport holder and a GCC resident. They say it’s visa-free in Georgia for GCC residents. I’m planning to travel from Dubai to Baku, then Baku to Tbilisi by train after a few days. Will that be okay in terms of immigration procedure? Will there be a difference since my entry will not be in Tbilisi Airport? Many thanks!

Hi Angela! Glad to hear that—I’m sure you’ll love it!

I can’t give specific visa advice, but as far as I know, immigration/visa requirements are the same no matter which port you’re entering through, unless it was specified differently when you applied. You should double check with the consulate/visa office to be safe.

Thanks for all the extensive info in this region, exactly what I was looking for! I am looking about 5 weeks to do all 3 three countries, but I think this probably is not enough time, is it? Do you have any recommendations on must-see things, the order of the country visits or any hikes to do? Many thanks!!!

I think that’s a good amount of time, Ella! Did you see my Caucasus itinerary post? That will answer your questions 🙂

Im flying to Causasus region next May. Read that u stayed in an airbnb in Tbilis that u enjoyed a lot. Could u tell me the link, pls? I m from Brazil and I ll be w a friend from Ireland.

Tks a lote !!

Happy to share the link for Pikria and Nino’s place: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/14030862

If that’s not available, we also stayed at (and recommend) Lasha’s place: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/18279935

Have a wonderful trip to Tbilisi!

We are heading to all three countries in June July and Aug this year from Australia. I really enjoyed this article and would love some must visits. We like to be away from cities where possible

Sounds great, Gill! Check out my Georgia-Armenia-Azerbaijan itinerary post. Everything you need is in there.

Have a wonderful trip!

Nice article but not so subtle American bashing. You could have simply wrote that meeting a traveler from Kazakhstan is interesting. I’ve met bus loads of tourists of many nationalities (including Australian) that aren’t my cup of tea but I just move on and focus on the positive instead of complaining.

No complaints here! Many of my friends are from the US and I travel with them regularly. It’s nice to meet someone from a culture that’s very different to my own, and I experienced that often as I was travelling around the Caucasus. Bus loads of tourists of any nationality are not really really my cup of tea. I simply meant that the Caucasus is a great part of the world to break away from the group tours and large cohorts of people (well, for now at least!).

Happy travels, Emily

I’ve been appreciating your content and perspectives on travel, but as an American it was kind of jarring to see you describe American tourists as hordes. I know we don’t have the best reputation as travelers, but I doubt the fanny-pack stereotypes are coming to the Caucasus en masse.

Certainly not – it was intended as more of a comparison to my other travel experiences elsewhere in the world. No offence intended.

Thanks for these great tips! We are looking at making this trip this year with our little boy who will be 3 years old.

I have recently started a blog about his travels and hope to add our experience in the Caucasus – I have detailed my link below in case you’d like a little read 🙂

A question please – do you know if you can make a day trip to Yerevan from Tblisi? Happy to take private car due to the attention span of a toddler!!

Many thanks in advance Karis

Thanks so much for your comment! Your trip sounds great! To answer your question: Yes you can visit as a day trip. I saw plenty of tourism providers offering this as a package day tour deal in Tbilisi (and vice-versa in Yerevan). Of course I would recommend spending longer in Yerevan if you can.

Happy travels! Emily

Hi, Emily, Thank you so much for sharing your experiences in the Caucasus. There are indeed not many information available, let alone in such detail. It will be so useful for me and my partner as we will be going on a two-week trip to this region coming February. Really appreciate your posts.

Hi Kathryn,

I’m glad you’re finding my blog helpful! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s something else I can help with.

Enjoy your trip—it’s a wonderful part of the world!

Best, Emily

thanks Emily. I have visited Georgia twice in the past, always in October (2016/2017). recently I found informations that the road up to Kazbegi is paved now, and Mestia to Ushguli will be done as well and providing an easy access to even very remote regions. I hope they develope carefully. in 2 weeks time, for xmas and new year I am planning to visit Armenia in the snow.

Hi Ralph, thanks for your comment! We’re hoping to visit the region again in summer 2019. The Mestia-Ushguli road was underway when we were last there. I agree—better roads are definitely needed, but I hope development is done carefully and with local input.

Enjoy Armenia!

Thanks for sharing your post it’s very amazing and informative too..Keep writing.

I liked the post… I have thought to go sightseeing again in the regions of Azerbaijan this month! One of the things I like most about this region are the rich places for sightseeing and entertainment and besides these buildings and houses reminds me of many movies… really is a wonderful place to visit in the summer season. I’ve met some regions of this country, and actually cooking has left me with water in my mouth. The city has restaurants with very tasty menus and also has great places for family outing. Thank you for sharing your experience with us about this country.

Thanks for your thoughts, Cleber! Azerbaijan is a great place to visit!

What a wonderful post! Thanks for writing it. Are there decent vegetarian (egg/cheese ok, but no meat/seafood) options while traveling in these countries?

Thanks, MC! Yes for sure—lots of vegetarian options, and some of the best salads I’ve eaten in my life.

Hi.. thanks for this detailed blog.. i wanted to know how did you travel in between countries? If by train then are we supposw to buy visa again while coming back to tbilisi from baku and yerevan from tbilisi.?

Yes that’s right, we travelled by train from Tbilisi to Baku, then from Tbilisi to Yerevan. Visa requirements will depend on your nationality—you should check with your nearest embassy or consulate.

Thanks for sharing your experience very beautiful post.

I love your blog about the Caucasus. Once i started i couldn’t stop reading. We are currently planning our honeymoon travels to Georgia and Armenia. It’s great to read a blog which focuses so much on the culture and the ‘real life’ caucasus. We have done a lot of travelling and always try to experience the cultures and try to live like the locals, so your information and experience has been inspiring.

I’m always asked this question about our travels. What was your most memorable experience?

Best wishes Ollie & Nemi

Hi Ollie & Nemi,

Thanks so much for your thoughtful message and the kind words. I’m so excited for you—you’re going to have an amazing time! What a place to travel for your honeymoon.

My most memorable experience was undoubtedly the lunches and afternoon teas we had with our Airbnb hosts in Tbilisi. We were so lucky to be welcomed into their home, and spent hours and hours chatting about Georgian history, culture and politics. I can’t tell you how warm and generous they were to us. We’re so excited to be going back to Georgia next year and catching up with them again!

If you are invited into someone’s home for a meal in Georgia, say yes.

Enjoy planning your trip, and please don’t hesitate to email me if there’s anything at all I might be able to help with.

Kindest, Emily

Hi Emily, I am planning on going to Azerbaijan in March 2019 as a female on my own. Do you think I will be safe?

Thanks for your comment. I’m glad to hear you’re travelling to AZ!

It depends a bit on where you’re travelling to and the sorts of things you’ll be doing. We stuck to the tourist trail (Baku, Quba, Sheki) and never felt unsafe. I think generally, it’s a pretty safe country with a big police presence. Personally, I wouldn’t have any hesitation travelling there as a solo female.

I’m working on a post at the moment about safety in the Caucasus. Hopefully you’ll find it useful!

Such an insightful post – thank you for sharing this!

I also loved reading your Tbilisi guide. We are headed to Georgia next week, and I’ll be using a lot of the stuff you’ve shared here.

Thank you, Chaitali! I hope you love Tbilisi and Georgia as much as we did!

This is wonderful stuff, so much excellent information and right up-to-date. We ( a couple in their 70s) spent two weeks travelling from Baku to Yerevan back in 2016, and were so taken with the region we’re going back next month, for a month, and taking 10 friends with us. I’ve had the best time planning it and am so looking forward to introducing our friends to the delights of travelling in these countries.

Hi Leyle! That’s fantastic. It will be interesting to see how much things have changed since 2016. I feel like most people want to return once they’ve been to the Caucasus once… We will be back in Georgia next year, hopefully.

Thanks for your kind words and I hope you have a wonderful trip!

Great post! I’m one of these Polish tourists who benefit from cheap Wizzair flights to Georgia. But this year I’m bringing my boyfriend there who’s from another country and doesn’t know much about Caucasus get 🙂

Ohh, one of the lucky ones! We met so many Polish tourists on our trip—I actually hadn’t ever heard of Wizzair before I went to Georgia.

How special that you’ll get to show him around! I hope you have a great trip!

Just by the pictures alone, I already feel like going there!

I know what you mean, Hank! It’s an incredible beautiful part of the world.

Hope you make it!

Such a helpful post, thanks! I’m planning a (vague) trip with a friend and all of the research we’ve done totally failed to mention the impassable borders and international relations. We only have a very short time – do you think we’d manage to sample both Tbilisi and the Caucasus in a week, or we’d be better choosing one or the other?

Thanks so much for the feedback, Cat! I’m really glad you found it helpful. I am putting together a few sample Caucasus itineraries now and hope to have a post published by the end of the month.

How much time do you have? You could spend a decent amount of time in Tbilisi and still see a bit of Georgia (Kazbegi, Kakheti, Gori—all good for a day/overnight trip). With the overnight trains, you could pretty easily add Yerevan or Baku without losing much time, then travel overland back to Tbilisi and see a bit more of Armenia and/or Georgia.

Shoot me an email and maybe we can discuss your options more!

Excellent post. I had read it’s history before I went to Caucasus. But it still caught me by surprise. One does not imagine how can such a beautiful place can have a history with so much misery and tragedy.

Thank you, James. It took me by surprise, too. And it wasn’t very long ago that the region was facing tough times. The courage and warmth of the people I met in the Caucasus was overwhelming.

I’m actually in Georgia Tiflis right now. This place took me by surprise and amazed me to a point I ‘ve seldom experienced. If you are planning to come and visit the incredible museum offer don’t do it during good friday week. The museums ALL close for an extended religious holiday that will last not until easter sunday but until the next tuesday of the upcoming week. It felt like my sponge cake suddenly deflated when somebody accidentally open the oven.

Oh no! Sorry to hear that. I was in Yerevan for Orthodox Easter last year and nothing really seemed to close down. That’s a great tip for other travellers. There are lots of free things to do while the museums are closed—I have a post called ‘Awesome Things to do in Tbilisi’ that you might find helpful.

Glad to hear that Tbilisi has amazed you!

Very helpful blog. Thank you for that. 🙂

I was wondering… me and my friends are planning a 2 weeks trip from Tbilisi to Baku. What are in your opinion the most inportant stops we should take during this 2 weeks. I would be very glad for your answer.

Thank yoooouuu:))

Hi Beata! Thanks a lot! You can check out my itinerary post for my recommendations in Georgia and Azerbaijan 🙂

https://wander-lush.org/8-weeks-2-months-caucasus-georgia-armenia-azerbaijan-itinerary/

Please let me know if there’s anything else I can help with! Enjoy your trip!

Seems amazing trip and experience 🙂 Thanks for sharing! So what is the order in which you visited the three countries? Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Armenia?

Hi Danai, thanks a lot!

We went from Georgia to Azerbaijan to Armenia (via Georgia, because the Armenia/Azerbaijan border is closed) back to Georgia. You can see our itinerary here: https://wander-lush.org/8-weeks-2-months-caucasus-georgia-armenia-azerbaijan-itinerary/

Thank you for sharing this! I am currently obsessed with reading everything I can about the cuisine from The Caucasus. I hope to travel there in the next year to taste everything I possibly can.

Do you have any restaurant recommendations, in the chance I do indeed make it there this year?

Thanks so much.

Hi Elisabeth! The food is outstanding! I have a post about my favourite dishes and restaurants in Tbilisi ( http://wander-lush.org/tbilisi-georgia-food-best-restaurants-cafes-guide/ ), and you can find restaurant and cafe recommendations in my posts for Batumi and Kakheti.

After reading this, can‘t wait to start my journey in June to Georgia and explore all the beautiful sights and regions – especially our planend hikes through the caucasus region Svanetien.

Hi Rosi! You lucky thing—that sounds amazing! So glad you liked the post. Have a wonderful trip!

Thank you so much for all this valuable information! I currently live in Kazakhstan and we are planning a December trip to the Caucasus region. After reading all your wonderful blogs, we’ve decided to give each country the time it deserves to fully embrace their beauty and uniqueness. I can’t wait to explore the region!

Edith, I’m so happy to hear that! You are going to love the Caucasus! Enjoy your trip planning and please feel free to contact me if there’s anything I can help with. Thanks so much for reading!

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Best of Georgia & Armenia

8 days, yerevan to tbilisi.

• Full itinerary
• Tour details

Georgia and Armenia may sound like unconventional destinations, but trust us, they ought to top your list of places to visit. Our eight-day trip is a wonderful showcase of the cultural and natural highlights the Caucasus Region has to offer, with a huge helping of beautiful architecture and delicious cuisine to boot. Stroll the narrow streets of Tbilisi, tour ancient monasteries, stare down massive mountain ranges, visit with friendly locals, and soak up all the exotic culture of this underexplored region.

Yerevan to Tbilisi

Special offers, is this tour for me, travel style: classic.

All of the highlights, culture, access, and I-can’t-believe-we-did-that moments, all at a great price.

Service Level: Standard

Comfortable tourist-class accommodations with character; mix of public and private transport.

Physical Rating: 2 - Light

Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.

Trip Type: Small Group

Small group experience; Max 16, avg 12.

Age requirement: 12+

All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

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Trees planted for this trip: 8

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Ripple Score for this trip: 99

Places visited

Day 1 yerevan.

Arrive at any time.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Day 2 yerevan/echmiadzin.

Drive to Echmiadzin to visit its famous cathedral. Later, enjoy a city tour of Yerevan, followed by a visit to the Genocide Memorial. Take some free time to explore the city of Yerevan.

Meals included:

Day 3 yerevan/khor virap/garni.

Explore Khor Virap and visit its monastery with fantastic views of Mt Ararat. Continue to the Roman temple of Garni. Enjoy lunch in a local home and watch how traditional lavash bread is made. Return to Yerevan with time to visit the main market or stroll the cafe-lined streets of the city.

Day 4 Yerevan/Haghpat

Drive to the largest lake in the Caucasus region, Lake Sevan, and stop into charming monasteries along the way. Continue to Haghpat via Molokan-minority villages, stopping to enjoy traditional afternoon tea in a Molokan village. Overnight in Haghpat surrounded by breathtaking views of the Debet canyon.

Day 5 Haghpat/Telavi

Visit Haghpat Monestary and UNESCO-listed monastic complex of Sanahin. Cross into Georgia to be welcomed and greeted by your Georgian CEO before transferring to Telavi, located on the foothills of the Tsiv-Gombori Range. This afternoon, sample traditional Georgian wines.

Day 6 Telavi/Kakheti Province/Tbilisi

Travel through Kakheti Province, dotted with churches and vineyards. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Kizikhi area and Sighnaghi. Stop for lunch at a local village house. Head to Tbilisi and enjoy a guided tour of the city.

Day 7 Tbilisi/Uplistsikhe

Drive the famous Georgian Military Road to Mtskheta, ancient capital of Georgia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Continue to Uplistsikhe cave town and on through the dramatic Aragvi River Valley. Return to Tbilisi in the evening.

Day 8 Tbilisi

Depart at any time.

What's Included

• Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
• Your Foodie Moment: Local Lunch and Traditional Cooking Demonstration, Geghard
• Your Foodie Moment: Georgian Wine Tasting, Telavi
• Your Foodie Moment: Lunch With A Local Family, Kakheti
• Echmiadzin visit
• Khor Virap visit
• Garni Roman temple and gorge visit
• Lake Sevan stop with visit to monasteries
• Sanahin Monastery Complex visit
• City tour of Tbilisi
• Georgian Military Road drive
• Mtskheta's UNESCO-listed churches visit
• Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral visit
• Hike to Uplistsikhe Cave
• All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodations

Standard hotels (7 nts).

7 breakfasts, 3 lunches Allow USD310-405 for meals not included.

Transportation

Private van, walking.

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CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.

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Georgia & Armenia Adventure

11 days | check out the caucasus neighbours of armenia and georgia.

Head deep in the Caucasus on an 11-day extravaganza around the sights of Georgia and Armenia. Discover the religious significance of Yerevan and the ancient stone-carved monasteries dotted around the countryside, visit the historic and cultural hub of Tbilisi, head to the highlands in Gudauri, dabble in Georgia’s acclaimed wine scene in Telavi and learn how to make traditional cuisine. With home-cooked meals, local guided walks and free time aplenty, you’d be hard pressed to find a pair of countries so rich with things to see, yet so far from the usual tourist map.

Trip overview

• Check out the amazing religious monuments of Armenia, including the rock-hewn Geghard Monastery, the Hellenistic Garni Temple, and the medieval Sevanavank Monastery.
• Take a hike in the striking Caucasus mountains to perhaps one of the best positioned churches in Europe – Gergeti Trinity Church.
• Learn how to make one of Georgia’s favourite dishes, khinkali, with a local family in their home, then enjoy the delicious dumplings for lunch.
• Visit the village of Fioletovo, home to the Molokan religious sect. Join a Molokan family for lunch to learn about their traditions and taste their Russian-influenced cuisine.
• Explore Kond, one of Yerevan’s oldest neighbourhoods, with a local guide, then join a family for a traditional Armenian lunch in their 300-year-old home.
• By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Mtskheta-Mtianeti Regional Hub. Donations help them improve their services and training hub to connect people, who’ve fled their homes due to war or political instability, with their new community in Georgia.
• This trip involves a reasonable amount of walking so be sure to bring sturdy walking shoes and comfortable clothes. To make the most of the trip, it's best if you have at least a moderate level of fitness. There is an included hike on Day 8, at an altitude of 2170m. Please refer to the itinerary for more details.
• The diversity of the seasons here makes for incredible scenery, but the weather in this region can be unpredictable. It’s best to wear layers at all times of the year in case conditions change. There may occasionally be itinerary changes due to road closures.
• This trip covers a lot of ground so there are some long travel days. Some of the roads in Armenia and Georgia, particularly when visiting villages, can be a little rough. This may mean that some of the journeys could take a little longer than expected. Please review the itinerary for details.

Barheev! Welcome to Armenia. This evening, there will be an important welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you’ll meet your group leader and fellow travellers. After the meeting, why not ask your leader where you can find some traditional Armenian food, like khoravat (Armenian barbecue) or basturma (cured beef).

• Hotel (1 night)

There are no meals included on this day.

• Complimentary airport arrival transfer

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

The arrival transfer is only valid if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Intrepid. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a request made within 14 days of travel.

Today, join a local guide for an insightful city tour of Yerevan. Armenia’s vibrant capital has a great mix of ancient culture and tradition with a contemporary feel. Begin at Republic Square, and then head to the Cafesjian Center – an open-air museum of modern art. Continue on to Freedom Square – a lively city hub with its ornate Opera House sitting at the centre. You’ll have lunch at a traditional museum-café built by Lusik Aguleci – a lover of Armenian antiques and all things local and handmade. Here you’ll have the chance to try some local favourites, like tomatoes with goats cheese and gata (Armenian coffee cake). Take a look around to see exhibits of national costumes, carpets and rugs and other traditional Armenian wares, then enjoy an afternoon at leisure. You may like to head out for a local brandy tasting – ask your leader for recommendations.

• Yerevan - City Tour with Local Guide
• Yerevan - Ethnographic House Tour with Lunch
• Yerevan - Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex - Free
• Yerevan - Museum of Armenian History - AMD2500
• Yerevan - Brandy Factory visit & Tasting - AMD4500
• Yerevan - Sergei Parajanov Museum - AMD2500

After breakfast, meet a local guide for a tour of the Kond neighbourhood, one of the oldest quarters of Yerevan. Kond is often overlooked by tourists, but offers up a wealth of history and character. Explore the labyrinth of narrow alleys as your local guide shares the stories of the neighbourhood. Lunch today is extra special – be welcomed into the home of a local family, living in a 300-year-old house, making it one of the oldest in Yerevan. As you dine with the family you’ll hear how they’ve lived in Kond for three generations, and try some of Armenia’s famous lavash bread. After lunch, check out a handmade rug factory – the designs are beautifully intricate. The rest of the day is free for your own discoveries. You may like to pay a visit to the Khor Virap and Zvartnots religious sites.

• Yerevan - Carpet Educational
• Yerevan - Kond walking tour with a local guide
• Private half-day tour to Zvartnots Temple - USD70
• Private half-day tour to Khor Virap Monastery - USD70

This morning, head to the Geghard Monastery, a magnificent and unique structure partially carved out of rock. Interestingly, Armenia was the first to adopt Christianity as a state religion, and these medieval churches and monasteries have stood the test of time to show the country’s deep religious history. Today, you will also visit the Hellenistic Garni Temple and the medieval Sevanavank Monastery, set on the banks of the pristine Lake Sevan. From here, travel to Fioletovo, a village that’s home to the Molokan religious sect. Join a Molokan family for lunch to learn about their beliefs and traditions and taste their Russian-influenced cuisine, including borscht, pirozhki (pie) and tea from a samovar. Then, travel to the picturesque town of Dilijan, where you will be spending the night. On arrival, join your leader for an orientation walk to take in the town’s charming buildings and traditional craft workshops. Your accommodation tonight is a restored 19th century building filled with antique furniture and original architecture.

• Garni - Temple of Garni
• Lake Sevan - Sevanavank Monastery
• Geghard - Geghard Monastery
• Fioletovo - Molokan Village

Today’s total travel time is approximately 4.5 hours.

Say goodbye to Armenia this morning as you board a public bus to Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia. On arrival, you’ll have time for your own discoveries of this vibrant city. You may like to wander the old districts, which are structured like terraces, take a walk along the river, visit the Tbilisi Concert Hall and Public Service Hall, or grab a great coffee and check out the artist pop ups at Fabrika.

Our preference is to buy tickets for the morning bus, but if they are unavailable we will purchase tickets for the afternoon bus, which arrives into Tbilisi in the evening. Delays can occur if there is heavy traffic at the border crossing.

Stock up on brekky and embark on a sightseeing tour of Tbilisi with a local guide. Tbilisi is a city of colour, of old and new, and your tour this morning will give you a glance at its history from the early centuries AD to now, through its sites and diverse architecture. You’ll also pass by the renowned 19th century houses of multicoloured balconies, synonymous with the Tbilisian skyline. Take a panoramic cable car ride from Rike Park up to the Narikala Fortress, then wander down to the sulfur baths, which are set on the thermal springs that give the Georgian capital its name. After your guided tour, have a free afternoon to relax, perhaps with a spa treatment!

• Tbilisi - Old Town Walking Tour with Local Guide
• Tbilisi - Aerial Cable Car
• Tbilisi - Open Air Museum of Ethnography - GEL20
• Tbilisi - Georgian National Museum - GEL30
• Tbilisi - The National Gallery - GEL25
• Tbilisi - Thermal Bath House Visit - from - GEL70

This morning, pay a visit to the ancient capital and religious centre of Mtskheta. Here you’ll be joined by a local guide to explore Mtskheta’s historical sites, including the sixth century Jvari Monastery 11th-century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Continue on to the town of Gori in the heart of Kartli region. With your local guide by your side, visit the ancient Uplistsikhe Cave Town – a rock-hewn dwelling where the Great Silk Road used to pass. Afterwards travel by Georgia's most scenic road - Military Highway to reach Stepantsminda, more commonly known to locals as Kazbegi. Enjoy the views of the Greater Caucasus range and get ready for some hiking tomorrow.

• Mtskheta - Jvari Church & Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
• Uplistsikhe - Cave Complex Visit with Local Guide
• Gori - Museum of Stalin - GEL15

Today’s total travel time is approximately 5 hours.

After breakfast you’ll take a two-hour hike through the beautiful valleys and woodlands to the Gergeti Trinity Church. Depending on the weather, you may even catch a glimpse of one of the highest glaciers in the Caucasus – Mt Kazbegi. Back in town you’ll enjoy a cooking class with a local family, learning to make khinkali, a popular Georgian dumpling. Enjoy a night to relax and catch up with your travel friends with an included dinner.

• Stepantsminda - Gergeti Trinity Church Hike
• Stepantsminda - Khinkali home-cooking class
• Stepantsminda – 4WD to Gergeti Cathedral – from (per car) - GEL60

Today’s total travel time is approximately 1.5 hours.

While today’s hike isn’t long, being at an altitude of 2170m does make it more challenging. If you’d prefer not to hike, it’s possible to hire a 4WD to drive you up to Gergeti Trinity Church. Your leader can arrange this for you, with the additional cost paid locally.

Travel on to the Kakheti region, renowned for its wine-making and welcoming hospitality. Your drive today is quite scenic, so soak up all of the Georgian countryside and its myriad of greens, reds and browns. Arrive in the regional centre of Telavi, where you’ll take a visit to the historic Tsinandali – an old estate and vineyard-turned-museum welcoming guests to walk in the gardens and see the quaint house. Afterwards, it's time to sample some of the local drops - visit a small private winery where our host will tell you all about the Georgian wine-making process and you'll be able to sample their best wines. Tonight, you’ll stay nearby in a hotel run by another wine-making family. Enjoy a delicious traditional dinner at the hotel.

• Kakheti - Tsinandali Estate Visit
• Kakheti - Wine tasting
• Telavi – Batonis Castle - GEL2
• Telavi - Telavi Historical Museum - GEL5

Today’s total travel time is approximately 4 hours.

This morning, meet up with a local guide who will join you for the day’s explorations. Check out the local farmers market in Telavi before driving to the hilltop fortified town of Sighnaghi, which has been preserved to its original image and now offers visitors stunning views of the surrounding Caucasus Mountains. Visit the fourth century Bodbe Monastery, before making your way back to Tbilisi for some free time this afternoon. As you didn’t have much time previously, perhaps you’d like to book yourself in for a visit to the sulfur baths in town and learn what all the fuss is about with this ancient ritual. Tonight, why not get your travel crew together for a celebratory dinner – your group leader will know of some good spots to head to.

• Kakheti - Telavi Fresh Produce Market
• Kakheti - Sighnaghi Walking Tour
• Kakheti - Bodbe Monastery

Today’s total travel time is approximately 3.5 hours.

With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave the accommodation at any time.

10 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners

Private vehicle, Public bus, Taxi

Hotel (10 nights)

Dates and availability

Important notes.

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. 2. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel. 3. Due to current border crossing restrictions for different Caucasus nationalities, your Trip Leader may be from a nearby country. Your leader will have in-depth knowledge and extensive travel experience throughout the Caucasus. Local guides from Georgia and Armenia are represented throughout the itinerary to ensure you receive a diverse and uniquely local range of perspectives.

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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Day 1: Arival

Arrive in Yerevan and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: Yerevan - Garni - Geghard - Yerevan

Early in the morning arrive in Yerevan, meet with the guide and transfer for the hotel. After breakfast, we start the cognitive day and get acquainted with the famous sights of Armenia.

In the morning we take the road to the village of Garni. After a short drive, we find ourselves in a village built on a rocky promontory. We visit the temple of Garni, which dates back to the first century AD. The Garni Temple, built of large basalt stones, is the only pagan temple in Armenia.

The temple was rebuilt from ruins during the Soviet period. Then we visit Geghard Monastery. There are large rocks around the monastery, which is why it is partly carved into the rock. Founded in the 4th century, the Geghard Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the afternoon we will return to Yerevan. We may spend a free evening in the centre of the city, near Republic Square. Republic Square is the largest square in Yerevan, surrounded by various government buildings.

Here we will find many interesting restaurants where we can taste traditional dishes. Late in the evening, we can attend the Fountain Show, which is held every evening at Republic Square.

Day 3: Yerevan - Khor Virap - Yerevan

In the first half of the day, we visit Khor-Virap Monastery , which is an hour’s drive from Yerevan. Khor-Virap is the nearest place near the glorious Biblical Ararat. Ararat is a sacred mountain, a place of salvation for mankind, where Christian pilgrims from all over the world regularly visit.

We also stop for a photo of a special shot of the fusion of Biblical Ararat and the ancient monastery. Then, in the afternoon, we will return to Yerevan and devote ourselves to the important sights of the capital. We will start touring Yerevan at the Cascade.

This is a grand staircase in Yerevan. In addition to the cascading exterior steps, there are several levels on which fountains and statues are placed. The staircase helps pedestrians to see central Yerevan and Mount Ararat. We also stop by at the Yerevan Opera and Ballet Theater, the Soviet monument “Mother of Armenia”.

Day 4: Yerevan - Echmiadzin - Gyumri

On the fourth day of the tour, we continue to visit important religious monuments. In the morning we will drive to the town of Vagharshapat near Yerevan, formerly called Echmiadzin and the old capital of Armenia. Today this city is the religious centre of the country.

We will see the Echmiadzin complex. The monastery complex includes the Echmiadzin Cathedral , the Hripsime Church, and the Gayane Church. The complex also includes a museum with an interesting collection of medieval decorative art.

Built-in the 4th century, this ancient complex is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In the afternoon we will leave for Gyumri, which is the second-largest city in Armenia.

Day 5: Gyumri - Bavra (Border) - Akhaltsikhe

Our trip to Armenia ends this morning. After breakfast, we take the road to Georgia. After crossing the border we find ourselves in one of the most beautiful parts of Georgia, Samtskhe-Javakheti. We visit the Vardzia Monastery Complex, which is the largest rock-cut city in Georgia and can be easily seen from afar.

The monument of Georgian artistic culture of the twelfth-thirteenth century is located in thirteen tiers. The Church of the Assumption, refectories, sanctuaries, tunnels, a large number of cellars, and amphorae. Today Vardzia is a historical-architectural museum reserve and one of the most important tourist attractions.

We continue our journey to Akhaltsikhe, which is the administrative center of the region. During the trip, we will see the Khertvisi fortress. Let’s take a photo of this medieval defensive structure. After arriving in Akhaltsikhe, we visit one of the most distinguished monuments in the region, Rabat Fortress.

It was the most important defensive structure, its walls remember many difficult battles. This medieval fortress complex is currently being rehabilitated. The modern part of the restored Rabat Fortress is very impressive. The first day of the trip to Georgia ends in Akhaltsikhe.

Day 6: Akhaltsikhe - Kutaisi

It is time to travel to western Georgia. We continue the road to Kutaisi, which is one of the oldest cities in the world. Its centuries-old past attracts visitors to discover famous or unknown places.

Today Kutaisi is the third-largest city in Georgia and one of the most popular tourist destinations. We visit Gelati Monastery. Gelati is a Georgian architectural ensemble, which was the most important centre of medieval Georgia.

The centuries-old monastery with its beautiful paintings is deservedly included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We also see the Bagrati Cathedral, which is a symbol of Georgia’s strength in terms of cultural load and architectural solution.

In the evening we walk in the central streets of Kutaisi, where the charm of the old city is especially felt. This day of travel ends in ancient Kutaisi.

Day 7: Kutaisi - Gori - Uplistsikhe - Gudauri

Our short visit to Kutaisi ends this morning. We say goodbye to historical Kutaisi and continue our way to Kartli. We will visit the Stalin Museum in Gori. Few people know that the leader of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, was born in Gori.

The museum complex includes the memorial house where Stalin was born and spent his childhood, the exhibition building, and the private carriage with which he traveled to Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam. In the afternoon we will visit the cave town, Uplistsikhe.

Uplistsikhe was connected with the Silk Road, which passed here. It was one of the oldest settlements and urban centers in the Caucasus. In the ancient city, there is a three-nave Byzantine-style basilica named after St. George, sacrificial amphorae outside the church, Queen Tamar Hall, a secret tunnel that leads to the river Mtkvari.

The once glorious castle-town is now an open-air museum and deservedly considered one of the most important tourist monuments in the country. Then we will follow the military road to Gudauri, which is one of the most spectacular routes in Georgia.

On the way, we stop at the colorful Zhinvali Reservoir and visit the beautiful Ananuri complex. While traveling in the Caucasus Mountains we will enjoy the beautiful panoramic views of the region. During the trip, we can see flocks of sheep on green slopes. In the evening we will stay in Gudauri ski resort.

Day 8: Gudauri - Stepantsminda - Mtskheta - Tbilisi

In the morning we will leave for Stepantsminda, famous for the Great Caucasus. We will stop at the “Peace Monument” near Gudauri to take a photo of the beautiful mountains of the Caucasus. The renovated building is one of the most interesting examples of Soviet modernism and is constantly in the spotlight due to its special location.

The view is amazingly large and impressive. After arriving in Stepantsminda we will visit Gergeti Trinity Church . Today, Gergeti Trinity is the most popular tourist destination in Georgia. With its special location and centuries-old history, it really represents the face of Georgia.

The green slopes decorated with mountain flowers and the Great Caucasus leave an unforgettable impression on the visitor. The snow-covered glacier gives a special charm to this place. In the afternoon we will visit Mtskheta. Mtskheta is the ancient capital and religious center of Georgia.

The historical monuments of Mtskheta are distinguished examples of Georgian architecture of the medieval era. They emphasise the high level of culture and religious figures of the ancient Georgian kingdom. In Mtskheta we will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Jvari Monastery built in the 6th century and the beautiful Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.

The Jvari Monastery offers an amazing panoramic view of the city at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi river. Later we will visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral , which is the largest historical building in Georgia among the survivors and leaves a great impression on the visitor.

Day 9: Tbilisi

After a late breakfast, we start our Tbilisi sightseeing tour to get acquainted with the city. Walking through the historical part of the city and enjoying the unique combination of cultures. Meandering through the narrow streets of the city we will come-across various religious buildings: Churches, Synagogues, Mosques, Wooden houses built in the 19th century with colourful balconies, sulphur baths, the Narikala fortress.

Next, we take in the Georgian National Museum, where a great many intricate Georgian treasures are preserved. To finish up this introduction to the city we peruse Rustaveli Avenue which is the main central boulevard.

The rest of the day is left for exploring Tbilisi further, tasting wine in one of the many wine-bars, and getting acquainted with Georgian cuisine in one of the many great restaurants in the city centre.

Day 10: Tbilisi - Sighnaghi - Tsinandali - Telavi

In the morning we take the road to the Kakheti region. This side of Georgia is considered the homeland of wine. However, apart from winemaking , Kakheti is distinguished by monuments of different periods and diverse nature.

Here we will visit the fortified town Sighnaghi, which leaves a special impression with its beautiful streets and distinctive natural location. We will walk along the cobbled streets with colourful houses and balconies, enjoy the amazing view of the snow-capped Caucasus Mountains and the vast valley of Alazani.

Today we take lunch in one of the modern wineries, where we will be treated to traditional Georgian dishes and selected wines.

Then we visit the Tsinandali Museum Complex. The complex includes a house-museum built in the 19th century, a beautiful garden and a unique wine cellar. 

Then we will visit a small family cellar and taste the natural and unique wines placed in a pitcher by the traditional method. The Georgian traditional method of making qvevri wine has the status of a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Site. 

Pleasantly obscured by wine, we continue our way to the historic city of Telavi.

Day 11: Telavi - Lagodekhi(border ) - Sheki

In the morning we will visit Telavi agricultural market. Various products are placed on the open shelves: seasonal ripe fruits, healthy vegetables, colourful spices, a variety of cheeses, fresh meats, beaded nuts, or walnuts.

Then we will visit Nekresi Monastery. The monastery complex is the most important heritage of Orthodox Georgia.

A visit to Kakheti is incomplete without a local family dinner. The kindness of the hosts, the immediacy, the taste of homemade dishes and wine create special emotions around the table.

After an hour-long drive, we will cross the border into Azerbaijan and continue our journey to the historic Sheki.

Day 12: Sheki - Shemakha - Baku

The first morning of the trip to Azerbaijan is dedicated to one of the oldest cities in the country – Sheki. The main attraction of the city is the Khan Palace , which was built in the 18th century.

The historic center of Sheki and Khan Palace has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In the afternoon we will move in the direction of Shemakha. Shemakha is one of the oldest cities in Azerbaijan.

Here we will visit the famous Juma Mosque. This mosque impresses the visitor with its size.

In the evening we arrive to Baku, which immediately demands our attention with its beauty.

Day 13: Baku - Gobustan - Baku

After an hour-long drive from modern Baku, we will find ourselves in an ancient rock-carved city. Gobustan State Historical-Ethnographic Reserve is one of the sights of the country today.

Gobustan rock painting is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

In the afternoon we will give a tour of Baku. We walk to the historical center of old Baku, where the important sights of the city are gathered: Maiden Tower, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, the Shemakha Gate, the Caravanserai.

The oldest part of Baku, which includes the Shirvanshah Palace and Maidan Tower, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

At the end, we stop at the three-flame tower, which has become a symbol of modern Baku. 

After the study tour, we can spend a pleasant evening on the boulevard of Baku or take a walk on the busiest Nizami Street in the city, which is full of souvenir shops and cafes.

Day 14: Departure

Transfer to the airport and departure.

An impression of this tour

Multi country tour – Armenia and Georgia

In this multi country trip you will discover two one of the first Christian countries Georgia and Armenia. In addition to religious antiquity, our trip will be made unforgettable by the snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus, amazing panoramas, authentic gastronomy, and very warm people.

Multi country tour – Georgia and Azerbajian

This multi country tour offers you to discover the Caspian Sea country of Azerbaijan and the Black Sea country of Georgia. Azerbaijan fascinates us with its oriental architecture, Flame Towers, or other modern buildings. Georgia travels to the past with centuries-old temples ancient history of winemaking and untouched, wildlife.

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