Wander to Georgia and Armenia (Jul 2023)

July 2023
Wander to Georgia and Armenia (Jul 2023)

Overview

Ancient traditions and unbeatable hospitality in a gorgeous region of the world that has still yet to hit the main travel radar!

Situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, these two countries make for a rich and thrilling adventure. From the kindness of their people to truly excellent food and wine, from dramatic landscapes and UNESCO heritage sites to time-tested cultures and fascinating history, it won’t be long before Georgia and Armenia are on the bigger travel radar.

This tour takes you to a long list of stunning, intriguing sights, while also spending time with the local people that live in the intriguing cities, towns and villages that we’ll visit. Each day is filled with eye-opening experiences that ensure you see and do so much more than a standard tour. With your wonderful tour leader at the helm, you’ll get to go off-the-beaten-path, dine at places that only locals know about, visit awesome destinations that most travelers miss and interact with the wonderful people we know, all of whom will immediately treat you as friends.

If you want to go beyond the main trail for a deeper and more genuine understanding of these spectacular destinations, and to have such a super fun time doing so…

…let’s go to Georgia and Armenia!

Book with Confidence

To reserve your spot on a tour, a $500 deposit will be required. However, you can book with complete peace of mind as this deposit will be refundable – minus a 3% transaction fee – for 30 days. For our complete payment/refund policy, please READ HERE.

Additional-info

If you make a deposit for a tour within 90 days of the tour start date, the deposit is non-refundable.

Highlights

Highlight Taste incredible homemade food and award-winning local wines
Highlight Enjoy visits to the homes and communities of our local friends
Highlight Find yourself surrounded by spectacular nature in all directions
Highlight Embark on tours of fascinating Yerevan and Tbilisi, two of the most welcoming cities anywhere
Highlight Visit incredible UNESCO heritage sites that have stood the test of time
Highlight Explore vibrant markets selling traditional crafts and products
Highlight Partake in endless local activities and the most rewarding cultural experiences

Itinerary

Day
1

Yerevan

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Day 1

Date

Day 1

Arrival

Arrival day

Meal

Included: Dinner

Arriving in Yerevan, a private driver will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to our hotel in the city center. The remainder of the day will be yours to recover from jet lag and meet your fellow travelers. We'll then have a tour orientation in the evening followed by our welcome dinner.

Day
1

Yerevan

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Day 2

Date

Day 2

Arrival

Highlights: City tour of Yerevan, Zvartnots ruins, Genocide Memorial

Meal

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This tour will begin with a morning walk through this beautiful, relaxed city. We'll visit all of the highlights as we tour various neighborhoods, Republic Square and the Cascade Complex (with its views over the city). We'll also walk to the wonderful Vernissage market where all kinds of local goods and crafts are sold in a large centrally-located park. After lunch, we'll go to the outskirts of town to visit the impressive 7th century ruins of the Zvartnots cathedral, a UNESCO heritage site. We'll then stop at the Armenian Genocide Memorial before sitting down for dinner in the city center.

Day
1

Yerevan » Goris

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Day 3

Date

Day 3

Arrival

Highlights: Drive to Goris, wine-tasting, ancient monasteries, Areni cave

Meal

Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Today's drive will take us through the Armenian countryside where we will pass endless traditional villages. We'll also reach the fertile Areni wine region where we'll partake in some wine tasing at one of the most well-known Armenian wineries. We'll also stop at Khor Virap, an ancient monastery with sweeping views of magnificent Mount Ararat. Up next is the fascinating Areni cave, where the earliest known shoe, skirt, winery and human brain have been found by archeologists, dating back some 3900 years. We'll then get to see the 13th century Noravank Monastery set among the cliffs and mountains around a narrow gorge near the town of Yeghegnadzor. From here, we'll continue the rest of the way to the town of Goris where we'll settle into our guesthouse.

Day
1

Goris

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Day 4

Date

Day 4

Arrival

Highlights: Tatev monastery by cable car, city walk, Zorats Karer

Meal

Included: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, we'll take the cable car up to the 9th century, stunningly located Tatev monastery. We'll visit the monastery and admire the spectacular landscapes surrounding it. Our day will continue with a visit to the nearby Devil's Bridge and mineral springs where you can take a quick dip in the warm mineral pools. In the afternoon, we'll take a city walk through Goris, visiting the ancient walls and the Zorats Karer ancient observatory at sunset.

Day
1

Goris » Dilijan

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Day 5

Date

Day 5

Arrival

Highlights: Drive to Dilijan, Orbelian's Caravanserai, local homestay

Meal

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Departing Goris in the morning, our destination will be the spa town of Dilijan, known as the Switzerland of Armenia due to its truly beautiful surroundings and quaint feel. Along the way we'll stop for a picnic lunch at Obelian's Caravanserai, dating back to the 1300s and sitting at an altitude of 2400 meters. After our lunch in this spectacular setting, we'll continue the journey, visiting the Khachkar cemetery and Sevanavank monastery as well. We'll arrive in Dilijan in the afternoon and check into our friendly local homestay.

Day
1

Dilijan

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Day 6

Date

Day 6

Arrival

Highlights: Optional activities among the gorgeous nature, cooking with local family

Meal

Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Today will be a relaxed day for you to enjoy this gorgeous, historic town that is known for its spas and local crafts. Options will include a spa experience, a hike through the forests of the nearby national park, heading to the interesting Geological Museum or visiting Goshvank Monastery outside of town. In the late afternoon we'll join our homestay hosts for a family dining experience full of local specialties!

Day
1

Dilijan » Tbilisi

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Day 7

Date

Day 7

Arrival

Highlights: Border crossing into Georgia, arrival in Tbilisi

Meal

Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Today is the day we cross from Armenia to Georgia. The drive itself takes approximately 4.5 hours but with immigration, a lunch break and stopping along the way to admire the various villages and scenery we pass through, we'll arrive in Georgia's capital city in the middle of the afternoon. Upon arrival, we'll check into our hotel and head out for a nice walk along the main boulevard to stretch our legs. Our first dinner in Georgia will consist of the country's most famous dishes...and of course its famous wine!

Day
1

Tbilisi

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Day 8

Date

Day 8

Arrival

Highlights: Ancient city of Mtskheta, full city tour of Tbilisi

Meal

Included: Breakfast, Lunch

We'll begin with a morning trip to the ancient capital of Mtskheta, located approximately 40 minutes away from Tbilisi. Continuously inhabited for over 1000 years, this old trading post is full of charm, with its narrow streets, beautiful cathedrals and craft workshops. It feels more like a village and we'll have a chance to wander through the center of this community. After our visit, we'll return to Tbilisi for lunch before starting our afternoon city tour. As a pedestrian friendly destination, we'll head out by foot with our guide to check out the historic old city, underground bathhouses, quaint neighborhoods, the river area and more. In the evening, we'll enjoy an evening out on the town, experiencing some of the city's super fun night time vibes!

Day
1

Tbilisi » Gori

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Day 9

Date

Day 9

Arrival

Highlights: Drive to Gori, Stalin Museum, local homestay

Meal

Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Tbilisi behind for now, our destination today is the small city of Gori, situated by two main rivers. As the birthplace of Joseph Stalin, we'll pay a visit to the Soviet-era and understandably controversial Stalin Museum upon arrival. We'll then check in to our wonderful homestay and meet our local hosts. The day will also include a tour of the excellent old town architecture, the Gori fortress and the bustling local market, before sitting down for a great dinner.

Day
1

Gori » Kutaisi

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Day 10

Date

Day 10

Arrival

Highlights: Borjomi National Park, arrival in Kutaisi

Meal

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

As we depart Gori, we'll drive a short distance to the Borjomi National Park where we'll have a chance to admire the gorgeous scenery of one of Georgia's most picturesque regions. We'll visit some of the small villages in the area, enjoy a picnic lunch among the mountains and soak up the fresh air of this picture perfect location. After lunch, we'll continue to Kutaisi, arriving in the afternoon. After checking into our hotel, we'll head out for an orientation walk through the relaxed streets as we learn about the unique traditional culture of Western Georgia. We'll also sample the local cuisine with dinner in the heart of the city.

Day
1

Kutaisi

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Day 11

Date

Day 11

Arrival

Highlights: Full city tour of Kutaisi, evening out in the town

Meal

Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Markets, museums, monasteries and the 11th century Bagrati cathedral! This tour of Kutaisi will take you all over this relaxed destination as you also soak up the amazing nature, Soviet architecture and delicious local food. Despite being the country's second-largest city, it still maintains its small town feel and is especially known for its genuine hospitality. Once our city tour is complete, we'll check out the town during the evening as locals congregate in the streets, the wine bars open and the local food is served!

Day
1

Kutaisi » Tbilisi

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Day 12

Date

Day 12

Arrival

Highlights: Okatse Canyon, Uplistsikhe Caves, return to Tbilisi

Meal

Included: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, we'll fill the morning with a visit to the stunning Okatse Canyon outside of the town. From here, we'll begin the 4.5 hour drive back Tbilisi but we'll stop for lunch and some time at the Uplistsikhe Caves en route. The incredible caves are part of a rock-hewn ancient town that dates all the way back to the Iron Age. We'll then arrive back in Tbilisi in the evening and check in to our hotel.

Day
1

Tbilisi

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Day 13

Date

Day 13

Arrival

Highlights: Free day to enjoy Tbilisi as you wish, farewell dinner

Meal

Included: Breakfast, Dinner

With a full day to spend in vibrant Tbilisi, your tour leader will be on hand to assist, recommend and invite you to join her as she heads out to some of her favorite, lesser-known areas. You could spend time getting scrubbed and massaged at a traditional hammam, relax in one of the beautiful parks, bounce from wine bar to wine bar or simply see where the day takes you. Your tour leader will be ready to make this an extremely special final day of this trip! In the evening, the group will gather again and enjoy one final group dinner at one of the city's best restaurants.

Day
1

Tbilisi

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Day 14

Date

Day 14

Arrival

Departure day

Meal

Included: Breakfast

You will be picked up at the hotel for your airport transfer according to your flight time.

Included / Not Included

Included Wandering Earl Tours leader throughout
Included Small group (maximum 12 participants)
Included Accommodation (13 nights – 3* hotels and guesthouses)
Included Transportation within Armenia and Georgia (deluxe van)
Included Local guides in each destination
Included All mentioned activities and entrance fees
Included Breakfast every day, 7 lunches and 9 dinners
Included Water throughout the trip
Included Gratuities at hotels/included meals
Not Included Flights to/from Armenia/Georgia
Not Included Passport/visa fees
Not Included Meals and activities not mentioned
Not Included Travel insurance (mandatory)
Not Included Other gratuities

Map

Essentials

Physical Level: Medium

While the tour itself is not very strenuous, please note that it can involve the following: somewhat long days, walking tours in the cities, being outside in potentially warm and cool temperatures, a couple of long journeys, early morning wake-ups and other similar scenarios.

Accommodation

From 3* hotels in the cities to family run guesthouses in the countryside, you can always expect comfortable accommodation on this trip. Prices are based on twin-share rooms. There are 6 single rooms available at an extra charge. For twin share, solo travelers of the same sex will be placed together in a room with two beds.

Transport

During the trip, we'll travel in comfort with our deluxe van. Our van offers comfortable seats and plenty of space. By not using buses, we will have access to areas that larger vehicles simply can't go.

Meals

Breakfast every day, 7 lunches and 9 dinners are included. With included meals, some will be served family style and other times you will be able to order anything you wish from the menu. All dietary restrictions can be accommodated.

Sustainability

As with all of our trips, we aim to offer as sustainable an experience as we can. Trash is recycled where possible and we avoid mass tourism activities that cause harm to the environment and/or do not benefit local communities.

Small Groups

This tour requires a minimum of 8 participants and has a maximum of 12 participants in order to ensure the best small group tour experience. With such a small group, you'll be able to enjoy unique, rewarding activities that would not be accessible with more people. That's the kind of trip we love to offer!

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