DAY 1: ARRIVAL AT YEREVAN On your arrival at Yerevan Airport at 1145, Meet and transfer to Hotel for C/in. Yerevan Observing city tour includes visit to Republic Square, Yerevan State University, Victory Bridge, Parliament, Palace of President, Echmiadzin Cathedral, Opera house. Dinner is at local restaurant. Overnight is at Hotel in Yerevan.(D)

Breakfast is at Hotel. Proceed on a half day trip to Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery. The pagan temple of Garni was built in 1st. c. AC and was devoted to one of the Armenian Pagan Gods - Mitra. After Armenia converted to Christianity in the 4th c., the rulers of the country used the temple as their summer residence. King Khosrov stayed there often as the area was his favourite hunting ground. Garni was destroyed when the Arabs conquered Armenia but was rebuilt in the beginning of the 10th c. Its final destruction came in 1638 during the Turkish invasion. A violent earthquake buried what remained from it in 1679. The complete restoration of the temple began in 1970 and was over in 1978. The temple consists of dwellings and bath quarters built in the 3rd century in the Roman style. The fantastic landscape of Garni canyon shakes the human imagination. Proceed to Geghard Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage):Geghard was initially known simply as Ayrivank (Cave Monastery). The present buildings comprising it date back to 10-13th cc., at which time it was renamed as Geghard meaning "lance" (spear) in Armenian. The name refers to the biblical lance used by a Roman soldier to pierce Christ's body to find out if he was alive or not. The lance was kept in Geghard for a long time before being moved to the museum of Echmiadzin Cathedral. The main church, constructed in 1215, is the oldest building in the monastery complex. Avazan church, 1283, is carved right into the solid rock and is an incomparable work of art. It leads to a rectangular portico and then to another church deeper in the rock. Along the southern and eastern walls of the monastery, high above the valley, medieval dwellings appear. The monastery has withstood many assaults during a period of seven hundred years. Its walls have sheltered many scholars and it was revered throughout Armenia as one of the greatest spiritual and cultural centres in the country. Hundreds of khachkars (cross-stones) and caves are built in the rocks surrounding the Monastery. Return to Yerevan. Dinner Overnight is at Hotel. (BD)

Breakfast is at the Hotel. Check out from Hotel and transfer to Tbilisi by Road.First, we will visit Tsaghkazdor and Lake Sevan. Tsaghkadzor city ("Valley of flowers") is one of the most popular winter resorts of Armenia. It is one of the places of our mountainous country, where the beauty of the nature appears with its whole variety. Tsaghkadzor is situated in Kotayk region, 50 kilometers North from Yerevan, on the eastern slope of Teghenis Mountain and is surrounded with virginal woods and alpine meadows. Sevan Lake, this wonder of nature, is 60 Km from Yerevan on a highway which cuts northward through mountains and rocks. Sevan is so austere and majestic that the gentle turquoise waters are astonishing. They fill the gigantic depression situated at the height of almost 2000 m above sea level. Sevan, with its pure air and sandy beaches, is a popular holiday resort. Sevan has always been famous for its fish "Ishkhan" which means "prince-fish" in Armenian. The fish has graced many Lords' tables in old times. One of the most interesting sites in Sevan is the monastery on the rocky peninsula founded in 874 AD by King Ashot I and his daughter Mariam. Other monuments include Sevan Monastery (874) and Astvatsatsin Church. Drive to Sadhaklo Border Meet on border and transfer to Tbilisi. On Arrival at Tbilisi, Transfer to hotel. Check in. Dinner is at local restaurant Overnight in Tbilisi (BD)

9:00 am. breakfast at the hotel; Drive to Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia and visit Jvari Monastery, erected on the top of the cliff. Jvari means Monastery of the Cross. According to traditional accounts, on this location in the early 4th century Saint Nino, erected a large wooden cross on the site of a pagan temple. Return to Tbilisi. Proceed for Tbilisi city tour. Tbilisi - the capital and the largest city of Georgia, founded in the V century AC by the king Vakhtang Gorgasali. First, we visit Abanotubani (district of sulfur baths) –baths, built on natural hot sulfur springs in XVII-XIX, then Tbilisi Mosque and Synagogue. Metekhi Church of blessed virgin Mary (XIII AC). Ride by the cable car to the Narikhala fortress - the old citadel, which was the main fortress of the city. After visit to Cathedral of Holy Trinity Sameba, built in 1996 – 2004 which became the main cathedral of Georgian Orthodox Church. At the end of the tour we will take a walk on Rustaveli Avenue, which is the main street of the city. Dinner and Overnight in Tbilisi(BD)

After breakfast at the hotel we drive to visit Signaghi “city of love”. Excursion in the city, that stands on the ruined fortress (2.5 km length of the walls), with towers and entrances of the XVIII century, which is still preserved. Climbing on any of these towers you can observe stunning beauty of Alazani Valley. Then drive to Tsinandali. On the way visit Gremi Monastery the 16th century architectural monument – the royal citadel and the Church of the Archangels – in Kakheti. Lunch is at local restaurant Visit house museum of Prince AleksandreChavchavadze in Tsinandali, with beautiful garden and wine cellar, where we will taste 5 sorts of wine. Alexander Chavchavadze inherited this village, lying in the Alazany River valley, from his father, Prince Garsevan. He refurbished the estate, constructed a new Italianate palace and built a decorative garden in 1835. It was the place where Chavchavadze frequently entertained foreign guests with music, wit, and – most especially – the fine vintages made at his estate winery (marani). Familiar with European ways, Chavchavadze built Georgia’s oldest and largest winery where he combined European and centuries-long Georgian wine making traditions. The highly regarded dry white Tsinandali is still produced there. Then visit Telavi, main city of the region, excursion there. Dinner and overnight in Telavi. (BLD)

After breakfast at the hotel we will drive to Georgian – Azerbaijan border – Lagodekhi. guide and Driver. Should be there Arrival to Azerbaijan Meeting at Lagodekhi Boarder. Transfer to Sheki Hotel Start Sheki Excursion Sheki is one of the most famous and ancient places in Azerbaijan. Situated in 700 m (2297 ft.) above sea level the city, like an amphitheatre, is surrounded by the mountains and forests of oak trees, this ancient city was long famed as a silk Centre and an important stop on the Great Silk Route. We’ll start our Sheki tour from visiting the 18th century Khan's summer palace with magnificent frescos and exquisite stained-glass work. We will visit “Shebeke” workshop where the tourists will meet with local craftsman who will tell about “Shebeke” make process. After we will also visit workshop of Sheki baklava that is popular all over Azerbaijan. Our acquaintance with Sheki continues with a visit to the Albanian church, which is in Kish village. As the legend says, this church is the first Christian church built not only on the territory of the Caucasian Albania, and in general - in whole Transcaucasia. This place is also remarkable because the burials of people whose constitution is different from the present inhabitants of the region were found at the temple. Scientists and researchers who have studied the found skeletons have concluded that they belong to tall people, with blond hair and blue eyes. The famous Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl, who visited these lands, concluded that the Albanians were the ancestors of the Vikings who immigrated to these places to the north. In 2003, the church was restored with money donated by Norwegian government thanks to personal efforts of Thor Heyerdahl. Here, near the territory of the church you can see a memorial bust in honor of the famous researcher posed as a token of appreciation from the local people and the state. Dinner and Overnight in Sheki. (BD)

Breakfast in the hotel. Check-out from Sheki Hotel Transfer to Gabala city tour. Gabala was capital of Caucasian Albania along 6 centuries B.C. Today we will visit Seven Beauties waterfall. Nohur Lake and Gabalaland entertainment park. Later transfer to Baku Dinner Overnight in Baku (BD)

Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, we will start to discover Baku city. Sightseeing tour of Baku with a visit and tour of the monumental, historical and architectural monuments of the city: you will see a panorama of the city of Baku Bay and the Upland Park. Then follows the visiting of the old city *Icherisheher-the inner city*. Icherisheher means the inner city. It was called the inner after the oil boom of the middle of the XIX century when the city stopped to hold in defense walls and left its limit. Several tens of the historical- architectural monuments at the same time the Shirvanshakhs Palace, the symbol of Baku city The Maiden Tower, the place of merchant’s rest Karavansaray are concentrated in the Icherisheher, with the square of 22 hectares. Icherisheher is the live organism which has its own infrastructure and inhabited files. The place where 1300 families are living. In a word, it is an ancient city in the modern city. Lunch is at local restaurant at Ateshgah with unlimited Buffet Proceed for Excursion to Ateshgah. The temple of fire worshippers Ateshgah is located at the Apsheron peninsula at the outskirts of Surakhani village in30 km from the center of Baku and was revered in different times by Zoroastrians, Hindus and Sikhs. Current constructions of the temple are dated by XVII century. Because of excavations far more ancient artifacts were discovered here. Pentagonal complex has an open courtyard with temple-altar in the center which was the place of pilgrimage for worshippers. By the decree of the President of Azerbaijan Ateshgah was declared a State historical-architectural reserve. This museum under the open sky was recently restored. Overnight in Baku (BL) DAY 9: BAKU – GOBUSTAN, MUD VOLCANOES AND YANARDAG Breakfast is at Hotel. Today we will visit “Gobustan Excursion on historical-art reserve “Gobustan”, where rock paintings have perfectly remained, barrows and housing objects dated from X-XIII millennial BC to the Middle Ages. There are certificates of inhabitants of region of an epoch of the Stone Age and the subsequent periods in “Gobustan” - Rock drawings, person parking, gravestone monuments, are concentrated there. Nearby is “GavalChalan” - original stone- tambourine, representing flat wise established huge plate. It is possible to hear rhythmic accurate motives by knocking on it. It is considered that these sounds accompanied ritual dances and ceremonies. Visiting of “Gobustan” will transfer you to other world, the world of last mankind and will allow you to feel the atmosphere of thousand – year history of this place. Everyone knows volcanoes, but have you ever seen a volcano which instead of hot lava spits out cold gooey mud? These can be found near Gobustan (Qobustan), a settlement situated 64km southwest of Baku. They are in the middle of an oily desert. (Mind you, I wouldn’t be surprised if in Azerbaijan, which is one of the birthplaces of oil industry, everything was covered with a thin layer of oil). They vary in size and shape but most of them look like giant (40-200 cm) gray molehills, whose surface has been cracked from the heat and which occasionally make oozing, bubbling or squeaking noises. They erupt with thick mud, which is pleasantly cold and makes a nice counterbalance to the oppressive heat of the desert. Excursion to Yanar Dag. You can see here nature phenomenon, incessant burning nature gas on the rock which named to the Yanar Dag reserve the burning rock. As the historians say, maybe this place gave the name *the fire country* to Azerbaijan. Overnight in Baku (B)

Breakfast is at Hotel. Today we will visit “Gobustan Excursion on historical-art reserve “Gobustan”, where rock paintings have perfectly remained, barrows and housing objects dated from X-XIII millennial BC to the Middle Ages. There are certificates of inhabitants of region of an epoch of the Stone Age and the subsequent periods in “Gobustan” - Rock drawings, person parking, gravestone monuments, are concentrated there. Nearby is “GavalChalan” - original stone- tambourine, representing flat wise established huge plate. It is possible to hear rhythmic accurate motives by knocking on it. It is considered that these sounds accompanied ritual dances and ceremonies. Visiting of “Gobustan” will transfer you to other world, the world of last mankind and will allow you to feel the atmosphere of thousand – year history of this place. Everyone knows volcanoes, but have you ever seen a volcano which instead of hot lava spits out cold gooey mud? These can be found near Gobustan (Qobustan), a settlement situated 64km southwest of Baku. They are in the middle of an oily desert. (Mind you, I wouldn’t be surprised if in Azerbaijan, which is one of the birthplaces of oil industry, everything was covered with a thin layer of oil). They vary in size and shape but most of them look like giant (40-200 cm) gray molehills, whose surface has been cracked from the heat and which occasionally make oozing, bubbling or squeaking noises. They erupt with thick mud, which is pleasantly cold and makes a nice counterbalance to the oppressive heat of the desert. Excursion to Yanar Dag. You can see here nature phenomenon, incessant burning nature gas on the rock which named to the Yanar Dag reserve the burning rock. As the historians say, maybe this place gave the name *the fire country* to Azerbaijan. Overnight in Baku (B)