Tour Georgia & Azerbaijan

DAY 1: Arrival – Baku City Tour – Cultural Dinner Arrival at Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Meeting with the guide and transport to the hotel for check in. Starting of tour after check in and accommodation. Begin a full exploration of Baku, a city known as the “Paris of the Caucasus” due to its mix of European-style boulevards and Middle Eastern heritage. Visit Icherisheher, the UNESCO-listed Old City surrounded by ancient defensive walls. This historic settlement dates back over 1,000 years and features narrow cobbled streets, traditional hammams, caravanserais that once hosted Silk Road traders, and preserved medieval architecture. Explore: Maiden Tower – a mysterious cylindrical structure dating back to the 12th century. Its exact purpose remains debated (observatory, fire temple, or defensive tower), and it offers panoramic views over the Old City and Caspian Sea. Palace of the Shirvanshahs – a 15th-century royal residence complex showcasing the Shirvan dynasty’s architecture, including royal mausoleums, bathhouses, mosque, and ceremonial halls carved in limestone. Continue to Fountains Square, a lively pedestrian zone surrounded by neoclassical buildings, shopping streets, cafés, and fountains that create a vibrant city atmosphere. Proceed to Highland Park, the best panoramic viewpoint in the city. From here, guests can see the entire Baku Bay, Flame Towers, and the contrast between modern skyscrapers and historic districts. Dinner at Shirvanshah Museum Restaurant – a cultural dining experience where guests are surrounded by antique collections, traditional Azerbaijani décor, live music performances, and regional cuisine prepared in authentic style. Overnight in Baku. Meals: Dinner DAY 2: Absheron Peninsula – Fire Heritage & Cultural Sites After breakfast, visit Heydar Aliyev Center, an architectural masterpiece designed by Zaha Hadid. The building represents fluid modern design and hosts exhibitions on Azerbaijani history, art, and cultural identity. Continue to the Absheron Peninsula, known as the “Land of Fire”: Visit Yanar Dag, a natural gas fire burning continuously on a hillside for centuries. The flames emerge directly from the earth and are especially impressive during evening hours, symbolizing Azerbaijan’s natural gas-rich geology. Proceed to Ateshgah Fire Temple, a historic 17th–18th century temple built on a natural gas field. It served Zoroastrian, Hindu, and Sikh fire worshippers. The complex includes a central eternal flame altar, monk cells, Sanskrit and Persian inscriptions, and a museum explaining ancient fire rituals and trade routes connecting India, Persia, and the Caucasus. Dinner at Ateshgah Restaurant, offering traditional Azerbaijani cuisine in a heritage-inspired atmosphere. Return to Baku. Overnight in Baku. DAY 3: Gobustan – Mud Volcanoes – Boulevard Experience After breakfast, depart to Gobustan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring more than 6,000 prehistoric rock engravings. These carvings depict hunting scenes, rituals, dancing figures, and early human life spanning up to 40,000 years, offering one of the most important archaeological records in the region. Continue to Gobustan Mud Volcanoes, home to nearly half of the world’s mud volcanoes. The landscape resembles a lunar surface, with bubbling mud craters constantly releasing natural gases. Return to Baku. Lunch at ADA Restaurant – a premium seaside dining venue located directly on the Caspian coastline. The restaurant is known for its unique combination of panoramic sea views, modern architecture, and refined Azerbaijani cuisine. Guests can enjoy fresh seafood, local specialties, and a relaxing oceanfront atmosphere, making it one of the most exclusive dining experiences in Baku. After lunch, walk along Baku Boulevard, one of the longest waterfront parks in the world, featuring gardens, entertainment zones, and sea views. Continue to Deniz Mall, a futuristic waterfront shopping complex shaped like a wave. Visit the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, architecturally designed as a rolled carpet. The museum showcases the evolution of Azerbaijani carpet weaving, regional styles, symbolic patterns, and UNESCO-recognized craftsmanship traditions. Enjoy traditional tea at Khalcha Restaurant, offering Azerbaijani tea culture with homemade jams, dried fruits, and sweets in a cozy traditional setting. Overnight in Baku. Meal: Lunch DAY 4: Baku – Shamakhi – Sheki (Full Sheki Tour) After breakfast, depart towards Sheki via Shamakhi. Visit Juma Mosque Shamakhi, dating back to the 8th century and rebuilt multiple times due to earthquakes. It is one of the earliest Islamic structures in the Caucasus, representing the historical religious center of the region. Continue to Diri Baba Mausoleum, a unique 15th-century mausoleum built into a vertical cliff. The structure appears to float above the ground and is surrounded by legends, making it both a historical and mystical site. Proceed to Sheki, one of the most historically rich cities along the Silk Road, known for its preserved architecture, crafts, and mountain landscapes. Sheki city tour includes: Sheki Khan’s Palace – an 18th-century royal residence famous for its stained-glass “shebeke” windows, intricate frescoes, and wooden architecture built without nails or glue. It represents one of the finest examples of Azerbaijani palace architecture. Historic caravanserai district – once a major Silk Road trading hub where merchants from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East exchanged goods and culture Local artisan workshops – including silk production, embroidery, and traditional crafts that Sheki is historically known for Dinner at VIP Karvan Restaurant – offering authentic regional cuisine such as piti (slow-cooked lamb stew served in clay pots), tandir bread, and traditional desserts in a caravanserai-style environment reflecting Sheki’s trading heritage. Overnight in Sheki. Meal: Dinner DAY 5: Sheki – Azerbaijan / Georgia Border – Lopota Lake resort After breakfast, transfer to the Azerbaijan–Georgia border. Travel to Kakheti, widely recognized as the birthplace of wine, with an 8,000-year-old tradition of winemaking using clay vessels called qvevri, now protected by UNESCO as intangible heritage. Overnight in Kakheti. Meals: Lunch DAY 6: Lopota – Tsinandali – Kochbaani – Tbilisi First stop is Visit Tsinandali Estate, once the residence of Prince Alexander Chavchavadze, who transformed it into a cultural hub for aristocrats and artists in the 19th century. Continue to Telavi, a historic center of Kakheti, before arriving at Lopota Lake Resort & Spa, where tradition meets luxury in a serene natural setting. Next visist the qvevri making family. Drive to Kochbaani, a family-owned organic farm, where all products are sourced directly from their land. Here you will enjoy a hands-on cooking experience, preparing traditional Georgian dishes yourself and tasting truly fresh, chemical-free, farm-to-table cuisine. Overnight in Tbilisi. Meals: Lunch. Hotel: Stamba ( Only DBL Rooms). Telegraph DAY 7: Along the Georgian Military Highway to Kazbegi -Tbilisi – Ananuri – Panorama Gudauri – Kazbegi Brekafast at the hotel. Follow the historic Georgian Military Highway, a strategic route used since antiquity and later developed by the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Stop at Ananuri Fortress, once the seat of the powerful Aragvi dukes in the 16th–17th centuries, guarding vital trade routes. Continue to the Gudauri Panorama, a Soviet-era monument built in 1983, decorated with vivid mosaics depicting regional history. In Kazbegi, visit the iconic Gergeti Trinity Church (14th century), which once safeguarded religious treasures during invasions thanks to its remote location. In the heart of the Caucasus, surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks, guests will experience a traditional felt master class in Kazbegi. This hands-on workshop introduces one of Georgia’s most ancient crafts, where wool is transformed into soft, durable felt using natural mountain water, soap, and centuries-old techniques passed down through generations. Beyond being a creative activity, felt-making in this region reflects the pastoral lifestyle of the highlanders, where every material comes directly from nature. Under the guidance of local artisans, guests will learn how to shape and decorate their own felt piece – often inspired by Georgian motifs and mountain landscapes—creating not just a souvenir, but a meaningful connection to the culture and traditions of the Caucasus. Overnight in Kazbegi. Meal: Lunch ( Either Local family/ eather local restauarnt) DAY 8: From Mountains to Wine and Ancient Capitals- Kazbegi – Chateau Mukhrani – Mtskheta – Tbilisi Brekafast at the hotel. Travel to Château Mukhrani, founded in the 19th century by Prince Ivane Mukhranbatoni, a pioneer who introduced European winemaking techniques to Georgia while preserving ancient traditions. Continue to Mtskheta, the former capital of the Kingdom of Iberia and a spiritual heart of Georgia. Here stands Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century), built on the site where, according to tradition, the robe of Christ is buried—making it one of the most sacred places in the country. Overnight in Tbilisi. Meals: Lunch in Chateau Mukhrani DAY 9: Tbilisi city tour Brekafast at the hotel. Exploring Tbilisi is a journey through centuries of history, culture, and living tradition. The experience begins with a cable car ride offering panoramic views before reaching the ancient Narikala Fortress, a 4th-century stronghold that has guarded the city through countless empires. Nearby stands the dramatic Metekhi Church, overlooking the river from its cliffside position and closely linked to King Vakhtang I Gorgasali, the legendary founder of the city. Below, the historic district of Abanotubani reveals the origins of Tbilisi itself, where natural sulfur baths have been a center of life and culture for centuries, once visited by travelers such as Alexander Pushkin. The charm continues with the whimsical Gabriadze Clock Tower, created by artist Rezo Gabriadze, where a small puppet show brings poetry to the streets. The walk concludes on the modern Bridge of Peace, a striking glass structure symbolizing the harmony between Tbilisi’s ancient soul and its modern future. This tour includes The “Tbilisi Hallways” visist, whihc refer to the narrow passageways, inner courtyards, and hidden connections between traditional houses in Tbilisi, especially in the Old Town area. These atmospheric spaces reflect the city’s layered architecture, where buildings are connected through wooden balconies, carved staircases, and shared courtyards. They are especially interesting to visit because they reveal the “hidden side” of Tbilisi – places you would never notice from the main streets. Walking through these hallways feels like stepping into a living museum, where residents still use these spaces in daily life. They offer authentic encounters with local culture, unexpected viewpoints over the city, and a true sense of Tbilisi’s intimate, historic atmosphere. Overnight in Tbilisi. Meal: Dinner DAY 10: Tbilisi – Uflistsikhe – Gori – Tbilisi A journey into the deepest layers of Georgian history, where ancient civilizations and modern identity meet. The day begins with a drive from vibrant Tbilisi toward one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in the country – Uplistsikhe. Carved directly into volcanic rock more than 3,000 years ago, this ancient “City of the Gods” once served as a major political and religious center. Walking through its tunnels, temples, and ancient streets, you feel the echoes of pre-Christian Georgia and the spirit of the Silk Road that once passed through here. The journey continues to Gori, the birthplace of Joseph Stalin, where history takes a more modern and complex turn. The town reflects a different chapter of Georgian heritage, shaped by the 20th century and its global political impact. In the afternoon, return to Tbilisi, carrying with you a powerful contrast of eras – from ancient rock-hewn civilizations to modern history – revealing once again why Georgia is a land where time never stands still. In the heart of Tbilisi lies one of its most iconic and historic experiences – the legendary sulfur baths of Abanotubani. This is the very place where the city was born, as natural hot sulfur springs were the reason King Vakhtang I Gorgasali chose this valley for his capital in the 5th century. Stepping into the bathhouses is like entering a different world, where time slows down and ancient traditions come alive. For centuries, travelers, poets, and kings have come here to relax, heal, and socialize. Even famous visitors like Alexander Pushkin praised the unique healing properties and unforgettable atmosphere of these waters. The experience is both cultural and sensory: warm mineral-rich waters soothe the body, while the distinctive domed brick bathhouses create an atmosphere of intimacy and history. It is not just a spa visit, but a ritual deeply connected to Georgian identity and hospitality. A visit to the sulfur baths is one of the most authentic ways to feel the soul of Tbilisi – where wellness, legend, and history flow together from the same ancient springs. Meals: Dinner DAY 11 Brekafast at the hotel. After a final morning transfer to Tbilisi Airport. Departure with a deep appreciation of a land where myths, history, and living traditions blend seamlessly—an unforgettable destination that continues to inspire travelers from around the world.