Cox and Kings Across the Southern Caucasus

• 4-star accommodation
• International flights
• Experienced local tour manager
• 14 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners
• Guided sightseeing & entrance fees
• Welcome drink & farewell dinner

• Explore the beautiful Khan Palace in Sheki, Azerbaijan
• Wine & brandy tasting
• Enjoy a performance of Armenian spiritual music
• Masterclass in making arishta, traditional Armenian pasta

Day 1: Fly to Baku, Azerbaijan
Fly from London (regional connections available) to Baku, via Istanbul. Transfer to your hotel on arrival
(No meals)

Day 2: Baku
Enjoy an afternoon sightseeing tour of Baku
(Breakfast)

Day 3: Gobustan • Abershon
Admire Gobustan’s 20,000 year old rock carvings before visiting Absheron to see the Ateshgah Fire Temple and the Yanar Dagh fire. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner.
(Breakfast and dinner)

Day 4: Shemahka • Kish • Sheki
Travel to Shemahka and visit the Yeddi Gumbez mausoleum. Continue to Sheki, stopping en route at the village of Kish to explore the sixth-century Albanian church.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day 5: Sheki • Telavi, Georgia
Morning tour of Sheki, a pretty town surrounded by forested mountains, including the Palace of Sheki Khan. Cross the Georgian border and into the country’s main wine region. Visit a vineyard for a late lunch and wine tasting. Continue to Telavi, via the Gremi monastery.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day 6: Telavi • Sighnaghi • Tbilisi
Morning visit to Telavi market and meet a qvevri master, who will demonstrate how these large earthenware wine-keeping jars are made. Sample some local wine before continuing to the Tsinandali wine estate for lunch. In the afternoon, tour the town of Sighnaghi before driving to Tbilisi.
(Breakfast and lunch)

Day 7: Tbilisi
Tour of the Georgian capital including the old town, with its beautiful Orthodox churches, mosque, synagogue and sulphur baths. Afternoon at leisure.
(Breakfast)

Day 8: Gori • Uplistsikhe • Kazbegi
Morning visit to the sixth-century Jvari monastery, followed by Mtskheta, then continue to Gori, the birthplace of Josef Stalin. Visit the museum, his private train and see the house where he was born. Travel to Kazbegi via the cave city of Uplistsikhe, set on the path of the Silk Road.
(Breakfast and dinner)

Day 9: Gergeti • Tbilisi
Excursions on foot to the 14th century Gergeti Trinity church. Return to Tbilisi for some time at leisure.
(Breakfast)

Day 10: Yerevan, Armenia
Cross the border and visit the monastery of Haghpat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of medieval Armenia’s largest religious, cultural and educational centres. Then continue to Yerevan, where you’ll stay for the next 4 nights.
(Breakfast)

Day 11: Ejmiatsin • Zvartnots
Visit the Cathedral of Ejmiatsin, founded in 303AD and still the official residence of the Catholic Church in Armenia. Continue to the seventh-century Zvartnots temple. Have lunch in the village of Parakar and take part in a cooking lesson, learning how to make arishta (traditional Armenian pasta) and sweet sudzukh
(Breakfast and lunch)

Day 12: Yerevan
Tour Yerevan and visit its museum of ancient manuscripts and the genocide memorial complex.
(Breakfast)

Day 13: Khor Virap • Noravank • Yerevan
Drive south to Khor Virap monastery, the site where Gregory the Illuminator, who introduced Christianity to Armenia, was imprisoned. The monastery has stunning views of Mount Ararat. Continue to Noravank monastery, before lunch and wine tasting in Areni. Farewell dinner at a traditional Armenian restaurant in Yerevan.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day 14: Garni • Geghard • Sevan • Dilijan
Visit Garni, Armenia’s only surviving Hellenistic temple, then enjoy a performance of spiritual music. Admire the basalt formations of Garni Gorge, before continuing to the fourth-century, mountain-carved monastery of Geghard. Enjoy lunch with a local family and a lavash bread-making lesson, then visit two 10th century monasteries. Drive to Dilijan for an overnight stay. Enjoy a farewell drink.
(Breakfast and lunch)

Day 15: Dilijan • Goshavank • Tbilisi
Morning stroll in Dilijan followed by a visit to Goshavank Monastery. Drive to Tbilisi airport for your flight home.
(Breakfast)

Prices are available on request and will include all mandatory charges, taxes, and fees applicable to your booking. Some destinations may have local taxes or resort fees payable on arrival; these will be clearly confirmed in your personalised quote.