Road trip along the Greater Caucasus

Baku (arrival)

After your landing at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport, a driver is waiting for you at the arrival hall inside the airport holding a plate with your name on it.

The transfer to your accommodation in Baku takes around 30 minutes.



Accommodation options

Baku

This day is dedicated to Azerbaijan’s capital Baku. First, you get a general idea by viewing the city from above.

Highland Park is offering an exceptional perspective. You walk along the Martyrs' Alley, a cemetery dedicated to the people who were killed during «Black January» 1990 and in the Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988–1994), and visit the Shahidlar Monument with its eternal flame.



You walk down to the old town, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The oldest part of Baku is surrounded by walls and contains different remarkable treasures.



You visit the Palace of the Shirvanshahs (15th/16th centuries), the Bukhara Caravanserai and the Maiden Tower, whose history and purpose is still not clear despite numerous theories. The city tour takes about 5 hours.



Accommodation options

• $$ ART Gallery Boutique Hotel


• $ Diplomat Hotel

 

Baku, Gobustan National Park, Shamakhi, Lahic

60 km south-west of Baku we visit another UNESCO World Heritage Site: The Gobustan State Historical and Cultural Reserve.

In the Museum of Petroglyphs, we learn about the long history of this area rich in archeological monuments and more than 6,000 rock carvings on average dating back to 5,000 - 20,000 years. We have a walk in the park to discover carvings, cave paintings and bizarre geological formations.



The next highlights are the mud volcanoes, which we reach after a short 4x4 ride through the wild and dry nature. The scenery seems to be from a different world, where the silence is only interrupted by the gurgling and bubbling noises from the volcanoes with their small eruptions of cold mud.



Via Shamakhi, where we visit the Jummah Mosque, we drive to Lahic, which is famous for its cobblestone streets and its craftsmanship.



Accommodation options

Lahic, Sheki

From Lahic we drive westwards along the slopes of the Greater Caucasus range to Sheki, which is one of the larger cities in Azerbaijan (60,000 inhabitants).

Sheki went through a turbulent history and was invaded by the Persians, the Romans, the Parthians, the Arabs, the Mongols and other occupants, in a final step by the Soviets.



We visit the Old Town and the Palace of Shaki Khans which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage. And we immerse ourselves in the times of the Silk Road when we visit the two Caravansaries from the 18th century.



Sheki is known for its sweet Halva, whose recipes have been passed down from local families to their children for generations. In a masterclass, you will learn how to produce this specialty. Alternatively, you can learn the Shebeke craft in a masterclass. Shebeke are the stained glass windows that, among other buildings, adorn the Khan's Palace (Masterclasses only available for guided tour option).



Accommodation options

Sheki, Balakan, Georgian border, Akhalsopeli, Sighnaghi

From Sheki it’s a 2 hours journey to the border with Georgia, where we change the guide and the vehicle.

After crossing the border by foot, our Georgian guide awaits us on the other side. As Georgia is very famous for its food and wine tradition, we directly immerse ourselves in the perfumes of the Georgian culinary art.



At our friends’ vineyard in the village Akhalsopeli we have a cooking masterclass, where we learn to prepare traditional dishes such as Khinkali (dumplings) and Khachapuri (cheese bread). We taste local Kakhetian wine and Chacha and have a decent lunch in the beautiful garden, where we enjoy a lazy afternoon.



From there it’s just one hour to Sighnaghi, the city of love, where we spend the evening and where we have another wine tasting at one of the country’s best wineries for organic Qvevri wines.



Accommodation options

Sighnaghi, Bodbe, Gremi, Napareuli, Telavi

In the morning we get on the horses of our friends from Living Roots Ranch and ride through the beautiful landscape to visit the Bodbe Monastery.

Later we drive to Gremi and visit the architectural complex which includes the Archangels’ Church, a three-story castle, a bell tower and a wine cellar.



The next stop is Napareuli, where we visit the Twins Wine Cellar, where we learn a lot about the Georgian way of wine-making. In the restaurant, we have lunch and taste natural Kakhetian wines.



In the evening, which we spend in Kakheti’s capital Telavi, you can relax, have sightseeing or enjoy the deliciousness of the Kakhetian cuisine. On the way to Telavi we may (optional) visit the Alaverdi Monastery and taste the Georgian specialty Matsoni.



Accommodation options

Telavi, Ananuri, Gudauri, Truso Gorge, Sno, Stepantsminda

We leave Telavi and via Tianeti we head to the Zhinvali Reservoir, where we visit the Ananuri Fortress, whose oldest parts are from the 13th century.

On the Georgian Military Road, which connects Tbilisi and Vladikavkaz in Russia, we continue our journey more and more into the mountains of the Greater Caucasus.



After Gudauri, Georgia’s ski resort number one, we leave the main road for an instant, to have a short and easy hike in the beautiful and wild Truso Gorge. Another stopover is in Sno: This small town is famous for its mineral water which people drink in the whole country.



If time permits, we have another short walk to the Gveleti Waterfalls located between Stepantsminda and the Russian border. The overnight stay is in Stepantsminda.



Accommodation options

Stepantsminda, Gudauri, Mtskheta, Jvari, Tbilisi

In the morning we visit the famous Gergeti Trinity Church on a hill above Stepantsminda.

If the weather is fine, there is a wonderful view of Mount Kazbek. On the Georgian Military Highway, we drive southwards and make a stopover to enjoy the breathtaking view from the Russian-Georgian Friendship Memorial.



We drive along the Zhinvali Reservoir and reach Mtskheta. The cozy city used to be the capital of the Georgian Kingdom of Iberia between the 3rd century BC and the 5th century AD. The city’s most impressive building and one of Georgia’s most sacred places is the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.



After lunch, we drive on top of the hill which is overlooking Mtskheta to visit the Jvari Monastery, from where you enjoy a breathtaking view.



Accommodation options

Tbilisi

We start our city walking tour in the old town, where we visit the Narikala Fortress, built in the 4th century by a Persian ethnarch.

The fortress is accessible both by foot and by cable car. From there we go down to the Abanotubani district with its sulfur baths – after Narikala the second eldest part of Tbilisi.



According to the Georgian Chronicles, Tbilisi was founded in the 5th century by King Vakhtang Gorgassali I, which was impressed by the hot springs in this area. These springs actually gave Tbilisi its name because in Georgian «tbili» means «warm».



We continue our tour and visit other highlights such as the Bridge of Peace, the Dry Bridge Flea Market as well as a ride with the funicular to Mtatsminda. For dinner, you’re invited to one of the best restaurants in Tbilisi (only for the guided tour option).



Accommodation options

Tbilisi, Uplistsikhe, Khidistavi, Zeda Sazano

Today’s first stop is the cave town Uplistsikhe, which is one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia.

Besides various accessible caves, one of the highlights is the Christian basilica from the 9th/10th century, which is located at the summit of the complex. From the top, you can enjoy a gorgeous view.



From Uplistsikhe we drive to a small village called Khidistavi, where we’re invited to our friend’s country house. You can taste different home-made wines (all organic and produced according to Georgia’s unique and ancient wine-making method). And of course, there will be a decent lunch as well.



Next, we drive westwards. About 50 km before Kutaisi we visit an outstanding Imeretian winemaker and taste his wines. On his vineyard, we also learn how to bake the traditional Georgian bread. Dinner and overnight at the winery in Zeda Sazano.



Accommodation options

Kutaisi, Tsqaltubo, Martvili, Kumistavi, Kutaisi

In the nearby city of Kutaisi, we stroll through the farmers’ market, which is one of the most beautiful in the whole country.

Afterward we visit the Bagrati Cathedral, built in the 11th century, and then drive to Tsqaltubo, which was one of the most popular health resorts in the country during the Soviet era.



Stalin and his entourage also sought rest there. Today Tsqaltubo is somewhere between decay, reconstruction, melancholy and hope – definitely one of the most interesting places in Georgia. Among other things, we visit an old, abandoned sanatorium.



We enjoy lunch and various wines at a family-owned winery in Martvili. Afterward, we explore the Prometheus Caves by boat. The cave system was discovered in the 1980s and is 11 km long. After some sightseeing in Kutaisi, we drive back to the Sazano Winery.



Accommodation options

Kutaisi, Sestaponi, Katskhi, Chiatura, Chardakhi, Tbilisi

Today we leave Kutaisi and drive back to Tbilisi. Therefore we use the less known and less frequented Upper Imereti Road.

This route comes up with two very interesting sights. Right after the village of Katskhi, we visit the Katskhi Pillar, a natural limestone monolith which overlooks the small river valley of Katskhura. It is approximately 40 m (131 ft) high.



The day’s main highlight is the manganese mining town of Chiatura, which is neither touristy nor beautiful – but very interesting. Due to its location in a valley and surrounded by steep hills, it was not easy to transport the workers to the mines and the material back from the mines. This is why the Soviets built more than 70 different cable cars. Today still 18 are in use, thereof 11 for passenger transport.



From Chiatura we drive back to your accommodation in Tbilisi, where you can enjoy your free evening. Another wine tasting on the way in Chardakhi (only for guided tour option).



Accommodation options

Tbilisi

At the end of your trip, you enjoy a free day in Tbilisi. We’re glad to provide you with sightseeing and restaurant tips if desired.

In the evening you’re invited to a friend’s place to have a traditional Georgian barbecue with Mtsvadi (Shashlik), Khachapuri and Georgian wine and Chacha. Our friends from the folk music ensemble Quartet Droni will join us and entertain us with traditional Georgian polyphonic music.



Accommodation options

Tbilisi (departure)

Goodbye Tbilisi, goodbye Georgia!

We pick you up in front of your accommodation in Tbilisi and take you to the airport, which will take approximately half an hour.