Magnificent tour to Georgia and Azerbaijan together.
Visit and see excellent culture and beautiful scenery of Georgia and Azerbajan 08. – 16.05.2013.
Good food, wine tasting and best sightseeing places. Genious combination of two different countries in one tour.
Jewels of the Georgia and Azerbaijan are people, tasteful food, scenery, and unique cultural heritage.
Day 1
08.05.
Meeting at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport at 21.45. Flight Helsinki-Riga. Arrival in Riga 22.50. Connection flight to Tbilisi at 23.55.
Day 2.
09.05. Tbilisi (A, I)
Arrival early in the morning and transfer to the hotel.
After late breakfast Tbilisi sightseeing Tour. During the tour we will take you to the places that will show you a real old city. You will be able to take a glance to the history of the city from early centuries to nowadays by walking in narrow streets of the city and exploring the religious and secular architecture. Here you will find different religious buildings – churches, synagogues, mosques, as well as famous 19th century houses with wooden multi – colored balconies. You will visit the sulfur bath which made an unforgettable impression on Pushkin, Lermontov, Dumas. During the tour you will be able to enjoy the superb panoramic view of the Old city. This marks the end of the Old Town. Afterwards we will take a stroll along Rustaveli Avenue – the main street in Tbilisi. Dinner at traditional restaurant and overnight at the hotel.
(B/–/D)
Day 3.
10.05. Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Gori – Tbilisi (A, I)
We’ll drive to visit the ancient capital and religious centre of Georgia – Mtskheta (3000 years old) and see its historical places: Jvari Church (6th century) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century) where the Robe of Christ is buried. Both Jvari and Svetitskhoveli are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Then continue to drive to the town of Gori – the heart of Kartli Region and its historical places. Uplistikhe is the place where the Great Silk Road used to pass. This is an old an interesting complex with dwelling quarters, wine cellars, bakeries, a three – nave basilica church hewn out in rock and even an antic theatre. In the evening return to Tbilisi. Dinner at traditional restaurant and overnight at the hotel.
(B/–/D)
Day 4.
11.05. Tbilisi – Viiniretki – Telavi (A, L, I)
In the morning drive to the wine-growing region Kakheti to find out the traditional methods of wine making and taste Georgian wine. First we will visit the fortified town of Sighnaghi that is situated on a hill overlooking the Alazani valley. The defensive walls and 23 towers were built by King Erekle II in the 18th century against the Lezgian invasion. Little has changed here for the last 200 years. The town preserved its original image and now offers visitors stunning views of the surrounding Caucasus Mountains. Afterwards we’ll drive to the village to a farmer’s house. We’ll visit a local wine cellar and taste wine of the clay jars. Then have a lunch with home-made dishes and wine. Continue to visit a local Duke’s estate garden and the house-museum. Later continue to drive to Telavi. Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse in Telavi (rooms with sharing facilities).
(B/L/D)
Day 5.
12.05. Telavi – Gremi – Georgian – Azerbaijanin raja (Lagodekhi) – Shaki (A, I)
After breakfast we’ll lead to Gremi Complex. Then we’ll drive to Azerbaijan border. Meeting at the border. After customs formalities transfer to Sheki, 150 km. Visit Sheki Khans Palace; local Shebeke vitrages workshops. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Sheki.
(B/–/D)
Day 6.
13.05. Shaki – Shemakha – Baku (A, I)
After breakfast we drive to Baku, 350 km. En-route visits to Seven Tombs in Shemakha, Diri Baba mausoleum In Maraza, mud volcanoes by the highway. Arrival in Baku. Dinner and overnight.
(B/–/D)
Day 7.
14.05. Baku (A, I)
Our morning city tour includes visit Martyrs’ Alley with excellent panorama view, the State Art Museum, which is housed in two mansions, the fascinating Palace of the Shirvan Shahs, Maiden’s Tower, and the superb Carpet Museum. Afternoon we’ll visit the old town and its ancient walled city, World Heritage site. You’ll have time to wander the cobble-stoned back streets of intriguing old Baku. Then travel 60 km south to another World Heritage site Qobustan the site of thousands of Stone Age petroglyphs and bubbling mud volcanoes. At the local museum we’ll learn about the cave dwelling hunter-gathers who inhabited this region 12,000 years ago. Dinner & overnight in Baku.
(B/–/D)
Day 8.
15.05 Baku
Breakfast at hotel. Absheron Peninsula tour: Ateshgah Fire Worshippers Temple, Mardakan medieval fortress, Gala ethnographical museum, mosque in Surakhani, old oil fields (without a visit to the field) Yanardagh fire mountain. On the way back to the hotel visit Nobel brothers’ house. Dinner & overnight in Baku.
(B/–/D)
Day 9.
16.05.
Breakfast in a hotel restaurant. After breakfast transfer to the Tbilisi airport and flight via Riga to Helsinki.
Baku – Riga at 07.20 – 09.30.
Riga – Helsinki 10.15 – 11.25.
Price: EUR 1790 / person in a shared double room. Those booking alone must pay single room surcharge EUR 320
Price is including:
- international flight tickets
- accommodation as per programme
- transfers, meals and tours as stated ina programme
- local tour guide services
- Finnish speaking tour leader services along the tour
Price is not including:
- Azerbajan visa (about EUR140)
- insurance
- tips and gratuities
- alcohol drinks, telephone calls
