manager@geomandarin.com +995 596 164 000 
TBILISI - KAKHETIA - KAZBEGI - DILIJAN - SEVAN - YEREVAN - ARARAT PLANT - KHOR-VIRAP - ARENI - NOURANK - GARNI
Tour Date: Every Saturday
Meeting at the Airport (plate GEOMANDARIN), transfer to the hotel.
Breakfast.
Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia, which has absorbed so many epochs and cultures that even the locals do not know all the mysteries and secrets that keep the mazes of this warm and beautiful city. Beautiful carved balconies, unique front doors, famous Tbilisi courtyards, this is all what the city is famous for.
We invite you to the author's tour of the city!
During the walking tour with a professional guide, we will climb the Narikala Fortress, see Tbilisi from a bird's-eye view, visit the fig gorge and the complex of famous sulfur baths, walk along the alleys of the famous Sharden district.
At the end of the tour we will have a tasting of famous Georgian wines in one of the city’s marani.
Breakfast.
Kakheti, how many things are there in this word! A few years ago, the whole world recognized that Georgia is the birthplace of wine.
We will begin our tour with a visit to the KTW Corporation winery, one of the largest wine producers, where they will tell us the secret of the Georgian wine-making technology.
We will make the next stop in the once famous and highly developed city of Gremi, which was completely destroyed by the brutal Iranian Shah Abbas. The Archangelsk temple and bell tower survived to this day, and this is what the complex is now called the “Gremi Castle”
Next, we will invite you to lunch with the peasant family, where you will be served a traditional table from the Kakhetian mistress (extra charge).
The last point of our tour will be Signagi - the city of Love. Sighnaghi is a small town in eastern Georgia, on the mountainside, in the historical region of Kakheti. The center of the historical and geographical area of Kiziki, is located on terraces, connecting winding steep streets.
Breakfast.
So much has been said and written about the famous Georgian military road that every day it attracts more and more travelers from around the world.
"Better than mountains, there can only be mountains in which you have not yet been" - the familiar words of Vysotsky. Today we go to the mountains and feel the spirit of freedom.
Our first stop will be in Ananuri, a fortress that served as the main stronghold for the Aragvi Eristaves, the rulers of this region. The fortress arose in the 16th century and over the next two centuries served as the northern outpost of the Transcaucasian defense, blocking the road leading from the Darial Gorge.
Next, we will stop at the "Arch of Friendship", which was built as an observation deck in honor of the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of St. George.
The last point of our trip will be Gergeti, located at an altitude of 2,170 m at the foot of Kazbek along the Georgian Military Highway in the Georgian village of Gergeti, just above the village of Stepantsminda. Built in the 14th century, the shrine is the only cross-domed temple in the Hevi region. Near the temple is preserved medieval bell tower.
Breakfast. Transfer to the border with Armenia. Meeting at the border. Drive to the mountain resort Dilijan. It is located high in the mountains (1200-1500m), covered with virgin pine forests. Walk through the old district of Dilijan. The architecture of Dilijan is interesting for its lighter and airy style using wood in the structures and facades of houses. Of interest is Sharambeyan Street, located in the historic district of the old Dilijan with a lot of restored workshops of local artisans, which recreates the spirit of the old city of the XIX century. Inspection of the monastery complex Haghartsin (XIII century). Haghartsin - the most secluded and cut off from the outside world monastery, including a group of monastic buildings, closely adjacent to each other. The monastery unexpectedly appearing among the thick trees creates a fabulous impression of a lost world.
A trip to the mountain lake Sevan - one of the wonders of Armenia. This dazzling blue lake is located high in the mountains. Cold and majestic, it harbors inexplicable beauty. Not without reason many artists choose Sevan as an object of their art. Next transfer to Yerevan. Accommodation at the hotel and free time to spend the evening in Yerevan.
A sightseeing tour of Yerevan, ancient (29 years older than Rome) and at the same time a modern beautiful city with a unique flavor against the backdrop of the majestic biblical Mount Ararat, sparkling with its snow-capped peaks. Excursion to the ruins of the Erebuni fortress, founded by the Urartu king Argishti I in 782 BC. er and a visit to the Erebuni Museum (1968) with exhibits from the Urartu era. The fortress played an important role in the life of the Armenian state. From the name of the fortress comes the name of the city - Yerevan. Visit the local market. Then visit the carpet factory, where many of the many traditions of Armenians ’carpet are preserved, production demonstration - dyeing threads with the help of vegetable dyes, weaving, cutting and finish It provides a unique opportunity to participate in the process of hand weaving a carpet. A small sightseeing tour of Yerevan, which includes an acquaintance with the city center and its sights: the buildings of the Opera and Ballet, the Parliament and the Residence of the President of the Republic of Armenia, Republic Square, Swan Lake, Cascade. A visit to the world famous Yerevan Brandy Factory “Ararat”, which has been keeping the tradition of producing the legendary brandy since 1887. For 1 hour, visitors are given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the cognac manufacturing process, with the factory museum, taste different cognac sorts of varying degrees of aging, and also purchase real Armenian cognac in the store directly at the factory.
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Ararat valley to Khor Virap church. From here a unique panorama of the biblical Mount Ararat glittering with snow-white peaks opens. There is a sacred place deep under the church: here Gregory the Illuminator spent 13 years in a dungeon imprisoned on the orders of King Trdat for spreading Christianity in Armenia. After his release in 301, Gregory the Illuminator sanctified the Armenian people, and Christianity was adopted in Armenia as the state religion. At the place of imprisonment of Gregory the Illuminator, the church of Khor Virap was built, which became a holy place for the entire Christian world, and Gregory the Illuminator was elevated to the face of the saints and is considered the founder of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The church has an entrance to the dungeon, so it is possible to go down the stairs and inspect the place of imprisonment. Not far from the church are the ruins of the ancient capital of Armenia Artashat, which is one of the few ancient cities built according to a special project. The author of the city plan was the commander of ancient Carthage, Hannibal, who fled to Armenia after he lost the war with Rome. A trip to the village of Areni - the cradle of winemaking. Visit to Areni Cave. This cave belongs to the class of clasto-karst caves, as it was formed in limestone conglomerates. Since 2007, archaeological excavations have been carried out here. As a result, materials dating from 4200-3500 BC were found: plant remains, dishes, grape and apricot stones, woven reed cloth, women's jewelry, part of the body of a mummified goat, and more. The oldest shoe in the world was found during the archaeological excavations carried out in the village of Areni, Vayots Dzor region. Green shoes are for the right foot; Shoe is small enough; According to European standards, it complies with the current 37 size. He was discovered by the head of a group of archaeologists, a specialist at the University of Ireland Cork Ron Pinhasi. In his opinion, greens were needed to support the shape of the shoe. Laboratory tests have determined that the oldest shoe has a history of 5637-5387 years. A few years ago, a place adapted for wine production was discovered in the Cave of the Birds. This is the oldest winery in the world has a 5000-5500-year history. A trip to the monastery complex Noravank (XIII-XV centuries), which is an outstanding monument of medieval architecture and a major religious and cultural center. Located among the bizarre sheer red rocks on the ledge of a winding gorge, it is an extraordinary spectacle in its beauty. The oldest monument of Noravank is the Surb Karapet church (IX-X c.). To the north of it in the XIII century. the main temple of the monastery was erected, also dedicated to this saint. The sculptor and architect of it was the famous talented architect Momik. To the north of the main temple is the tomb of the Orbelyan family. The temple is decorated with images of the Virgin and Child, God - the father, the crucifixion of Christ, as well as a large number of cross-stones of openwork. Surb Astvatsatsin (Our Lady) Church located nearby is a highly artistic monument of memorial significance. The first floor served as a tomb, the second - a memorial temple. The western facade of the building is especially beautiful, it is decorated with console stairs leading to the second floor. Return to Yerevan.
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to the extraordinarily beautiful pagan temple of the Sun (I century AD) in the village of Garni. Built in the Greek style with a characteristic colonnade on all sides and located on the top of a hill divided by a deep gorge from the mountain range, it is an extraordinary spectacle in its beauty, which sometimes seems unreal. The fortress of Garni served as the summer residence of the Arshakid royal court. Destroyed by a strong earthquake in 1679, later in 1969-1974. the temple was restored. A part of the wall of the fortress that surrounded the temple, as well as the ruins of the royal palace and baths have been preserved. Interesting is the mosaic floor of the waiting room and the inscription on it: "They worked without getting anything." Inscriptions in Greek have been preserved, from which it follows that the temple was built in 77d. n er Tsar Trdat I (Arshakid dynasty). The passage to the rarest temple in the rock of St. Geghard (XII-XIII centuries), which means “holy spear” in honor of the spear kept for a long time, which interrupted Christ’s torments on the cross (now it is in the Museum of Echmiadzin). The temple is located high in the mountains in the picturesque gorge of the Azat River. This is a masterpiece of Armenian medieval architecture. It is a complex consisting of the main church, two cave churches, and also a shrine. In the first cave temple of the cliff beats a cold spring, which to this day is the object of worship. It is believed that his holy water heals diseases, rejuvenates, gives beauty. Geghard Monastery is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List (2000).
Demonstration of a unique process of baking Armenian bread - pita bread in a tank in a rural house.
Return to Yerevan. Transfer to the airport and departure.
Package price per person when staying in a DBL / TWIN:
in the hotel 3 * - $ 595;
in the hotel 4 * - $ 780;
in the hotel 5 * - $ 1020;
Package price per person when staying in a SNGL room:
in the hotel 3 * - $ 805;
in the hotel 4 * - $ 1065;
in the hotel 5 * - $ 1525;
Package price includes:
• Hotel accommodation;
• Breakfast;
• Wine tasting in Tbilisi, in Kakheti, in Areni
• Excursion to the legendary Ararat factory with tasting, a master class on cooking Pita;
• Comfortable transport and jeeps on Gergeti;
• Services of English-speaking guide;
• All entrance fees
• Great mood
Additional charge:
• Air flight
• Early check-in / late check-out to / from the hotel
• Organization of additional food
• Additional excursion program
• SIM cards of local mobile operators (issued on request upon arrival at Tbilisi airport)
