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THE
CAUCASUS
A
cultural tour of Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia
This extraordinary tour takes us to an extremely complex and interesting part of the world. Persians, Khazars, Arabs, Huns, Turko-Mongols, and Russians have invaded and migrated into the Caucasus and have provided the region with its rich ethnic and linguistic complexity as well as its astounding architecture. As if this diversity were not enough, the Caucasus also offers a variety of pristine landscapes and stunning vistas just waiting to be discovered.
Day
1: Arrive Baku (AZERBAIJAN)
Xosh gälmìsän! Welcome to Baku, the capital
city of Azerbaijan. Baku is located on the west shore
of the Caspian Sea. We are driven through the city to
our hotel.
Overnight: Atropat Hotel, Baku (3 nights)
Day 2: Baku
This morning we tour the Gobustan and the mud volcanoes.
Our afternoon sightseeing tour of Baku highlights some
striking architectural monuments of the Islamic Medieval
period including the medieval walls of the Old Town, Shirvan
Shakh’s Palace, the Maiden Tower, the Carpet and
Applied Arts Museum. (B, D)
Day 3: Baku
Today’s day excursion to Absheron Peninsula includes
the Zoroastrian Temple of Fire Ateshgyah – fire
worshippers temple, which for centuries has been a center
of worship, the 14th century temple in Mardakan and Yanardag
Flaming Mountain, burning with an eternal flame fed by
the underground naphtha and gas. Afternoon we enjoy some
leisure time walking throughout the central part of the
city and exploring local shopping centers. Here is a perfect
opportunity to meet and mingle with the locals. (B,
D)
Day 4: Baku / Sheki
We begin this day with a scenic and relaxed drive for
Sheki. We will take advantage of the early arrival with
a tour of Sheki, which will include the Museum of Applied
Arts, "Shebeke" manufacturing workshops, and
the magnificent Sheki Khan's palace (view from the outside
only). Evening is free to enjoy and stroll around Sheki
town.
Overnight: Sheki Saray Hotel, Sheki (1 night)
(B, D)
Day 5: Sheki / Lagodekhi / Telavi (GEORGIA)
Morning we prepare for our departure from Azerbaijan as
we are driven to the border where we will meet with our
Georgian guide and transport for our transfer to Telavi.
As we drive to Telavi, we visit the Tsinandali Winery
and Park, Alavedri Cathedral and Shuamta Monastery in
the Kakheti province.
Overnight: Private homes, Telavi (1 night) (B,
D)
Day
6: Telavi / Tbilisi
Another interesting day ahead as we drive from Telavi
to the David Gareji Monastery in the Gareji semi-desert.
We also visit Lavra and walk up to Udabno cave Monastery.
Afternoon is a leisurely drive to the capital city of
Tbilisi.
Overnight: Sheraton Metechi Palace or Courtyard Marriott, Tbilisi (2
nights) (B, L, D)
Day 7: Tbilisi
Our full day sightseeing tour starts with the State Museum
of Georgia with its magnificent exhibition of gold work
dating back to the 3rd century BC, the Old Caravansary
Merchants oriental style building, the Metechi cross cupola
church (12th-13th century), areas of the Royal residential
complex, the Sulfur Bathhouses, the Carpet Collection,
Siony, the Main Cathedral of Tbilisi (7th-19th century),
and finally Rustaveli Avenue, the most beautiful street
of Tbilisi. Rustaveli is a popular street where both local
and foreigners gather to meet and spend time together.
This is also a popular shopping area and one can often
see roadside musicians displaying their talent. (B,
D)
Day 8: Tbilisi / Bakuriani
A scenic drive with some interesting sites being covered
today. We start off with a visit to Mtskheta where we
visit Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. We
then continue for Gori where we visit Uplistsikhe cave
town. Time permitting, we may visit the Joseph Stalin
Museum. Later we embark on our journey to Bakuriani ski
resort via Borjomi.
Overnight: Didveli Hotel, Bakuriani (2 nights)
(B, D)
Day 9: Bakuriani
An exciting day ahead as we drive to Samtskhe-Javakheti
Province where we will visit some exceptional sites. The
Khertvisi Fortress (11th century) that, according to legend,
was seen along with other Georgian fortresses by Alexander
of Macedonian in the 4th Century BC during his campaign
in the east. The Cave-town of Vardzia (12th -13th Century
frescos), is a striking complex hewn in rock, regarded
as the cultural and educational center of the time. (B,
L, D)
Day 10: Bakuriani / Tbilisi
On our return journey from Bakuriani to Tbilisi we take
a diversion and turn north along Georgian Military Highway
up to Zhinvali Lake. Here we visit the Ananauri architectural
complex. We arrive in time at Tbilisi to allow us with
some independent time to wander through the town and local
bazaars.
Overnight: Sheraton Metechi Palace or Courtyard Marriott, Tbilisi (B,
D)
Day 11: Tbilisi / Yerevan (ARMENIA)
After breakfast we head for Sadakhlo on the Georgian-Armenian
border. Bidding farewell to our Georgian friends we are
met by our Aremenian friends and warmly welcomed and transferred
to Yerevan. En-route our journey to the Armenian capital,
we visit the Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, touted
as the best architectural examples of Armenian religious
art between the 10th and 13th Centuries.
Overnight: Golden Tulip Hotel,
Yerevan (4 nights) (B, D)
Day
12: Yerevan
We start the day with a sightseeing tour of the city of
Yerevan with visits to the National Museum of Armenian
History and the Matenadaran, followed by an excursion
to the Echmiadzin Church and Museum, and the Hripsime
and Zvartnots Cathedrals. Evening is free to stroll on
your own. (B, D)
Day 13: Yerevan
Today is our excursion to Garni and Geghard, followed
by an afternoon visit to the empty beaches and white sands
of Lake Sevan. This mountainous lake covers approximately
5% of Armenia’s surface area and is 2000 meters/2187
yards above sea level. Maxim Gorky said about the waters,
that they were like a piece of the sky that had descended
to earth among the mountains. It will be an interesting
countryside day. (B, D)
Day 14: Yerevan
Full day excursion south to Khor Virap, one of the romantically
sited monasteries in Armenia with views across vast planes
of Turkey and the twin peaks of Mount Ararat. Here, in
the atmosphere of historical environment and vivid imagination
one notices Noah’s Ark in the snows of Ararat. Humankind
was reborn here, and Noah is considered to be the first
tourist in the world. The theatrical ceremonies and festivals
performing on a Noah’s-Ark-shaped stage in the immediate
vicinity of the monastery and against the majestic Mount
Ararat will take you back to the Noah’s ages. Free
time for people to enjoy Yerevan including visiting the
hole where Gregory the Illuminator was jailed for disseminating
Christianity in Armenia. The tour culminates with a visit
to the 12th century monastery of Noravank set in a canyon
rich with rare flora. (B, D)
Day 15: Depart Yerevan
Today we depart the Caucasus filled with memories and
unforgettable experiences of a land that has been traveled
often in the past but little explored. (B)
Departure
Dates |
| 2012
English Speaking Departures
May 15, Jun 26 & Sep 04 |
Inclusions |
| Tour
Price Includes |
Tour
Price Does Not Include |
Hotel Accommodation as mentioned or similar including hotel taxes |
International Airfare/Departure Taxes |
Meals as indicated (B= Breakfast, L = Lunch,
D= Dinner) |
Insurance / Visa Fees |
All transfers and sightseeing with services of local English speaking driver/guide. |
Tips/Gratuities to Drivers & Guides |
Entrance fees to museums and sites |
|
Visa Support as required |
|
Please Note: The visa fees are approximately $60.00 per visa (to be issued locally with 2 photos required per country. |
|
Tour
Price |
|
| We
accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA
$ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for
clients outside North America).
Bestway
Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection.
Once full payment has been received, and no modification
has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour
that rate.
For
complete payment procedures, please download  Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf
Note: to read this file you must have Adobe
Acrobat. |
| Departure |
Double
Occupancy |
Single
Room Supplement |
| 2012 |
US
$ 5995 |
US
$ 1195 |
|
Estimated
International Airfare - International
airfare is NOT included in this tour |
| Canada
- West Coast |
US
$ 1300 |
USA
- West Coast |
US
$ 1100 |
| Canada
- East Coast |
US
$ 1100 |
USA
- East Coast |
US
$ 900 |
|
Participants |
| This
tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of
10 participants. |
Notes
|
Customised
Itinerary
If you would like to have a tour on dates other
than the above ones or with a customised itinerary,
please contact us and we will be happy to work out
an exclusive program for you.
Foreign Language Departures
Please contact us for information on French,
German,
Italian and Spanish
speaking departures.
You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com
or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of
U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844. |
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