Day 1: Arrival in Baku
Arrival in Baku Heydar Aliyev Airport. ENC Tours guided transfer to hotel.
Day 2: Baku
This morning, your guided walking tour of Baku includes the medieval walled city "lcheri Sheher" with its narrow alleyways, historic caravanserais, mosques and Palace of the Shirvan Shahs, UNESCO Heritage site. Visit the 12th century Maiden's Tower, UNESCO Heritage site the imposing mansions of the oil barons, built in the oil boom of 1870-1914 and Martyr's Alley with its superb views over the Bay of Baku.
Day 3: Baku – Absheron – Baku
Today enjoy a half day excursion to the Absheron Peninsula, visiting the Ateshgah (or place of fire) a Zoroastrian Fire Temple, UNESCO Heritage site and natural burning mountain Yanardagh. Also see the medieval fortress in Mardakan, which in medieval times formed part of the defence system of the Peninsula and the attractive mosque at Amirjan.
Day 4: Baku – Shamakhi – Sheki
Leaving Baku, depart with ENC guide for the Caucasus Mountains in the northwest of Azerbaijan. The dry landscape gives way to a densely forested mountain area. Visit the town of Shamakhi, once the capital of Shirvan, and the charming village of Lahij, a centre of Azerbaijani handicrafts, before arriving at the historic town of Sheki. Overnight with dinner at an atmospheric converted caravanserai.
Day 5: Sheki – Kish – Sheki
Visit the Royal Summer Palace of the Sheki Khans with its magnificent frescoes and stained glass as well as Sheki Museum and Fortress. In the afternoon drive into the countryside to the village of Kish with the oldest church in the Caucasus dating from the first century and enjoy a walk in the surrounding Caucasus foothills. Transfer to the border with Georgia. Change vehicle & guide. After crossing the border lunch with famous Georgian wine and shashlik in local family. Visit Gremi Complex before arriving in Telavi. Overnight in Telavi.
Day 6: Telavi – Mtskheta – Gudauri
We travel to Kakheti - the famous wine-growing region. In the morning we visit Alaverdi Monastery. Visit local farmer's family to see aunique 300-years old wine cellar.
Visit the ancient capital and religious centre of Georgia - Mtskheta and its historical places: Jvari Monastery and
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, where the Robe of Christ is buried. Both Jvari and Svetitskhoveli are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Afternoon we drive through the Great Caucasus along the Georgian Military highway en-route visiting Ananuri complex. In the evening we arrive in Gudauri skiresort.
Day 7: Gudauri – Kazbegi – Tbilisi
A stunning drive from Gudauri along the Tergi River will bring us to Kazbegi - the main town in the region. From Kazbegi 1.5 hour walk up through beautiful valleys and woodland leads us to Gergeti Trinity Church located at 2170 m, offering beautiful views of the Caucasus Mountains and the town of Kazbegi. Weather permitting we may catch a glimpse of one of the highest glaciers in the Caucasus -Mt Kazbegi (5047m). We then drive through the dramatic Dariali Gorge before returning to Tbilisi.
Day 8: Tbilisi
Arrive in Tbilisi and transfer to hotel. Tbilisi sightseeing tour - the Old and New Towns. The city offers a great variety of sights, most of them very ancient. All the places of interest in the Old Town are very close to each other, within a few minutes' walk. We start our visit to Old Tbilisi from Metekhi Church, then walk up to the brick-domed Sulphur Baths. From the Baths we head up the hill to visit Narikala Fortress - one of the oldest fortifications in the city. Afterwards we continue to the Synagogue, Sioni Cathedral and Anchiskhati Church. This marks the end of the Old Town. After lunch we visit the stunning treasury of the Georgian National Museum, before taking a stroll along Rustaveli Avenue - the main street in Tbilisi.
Day 9: Tbilisi – Departure
Transfer to the airport and departure.
