Wedged between the Caspian and Black Seas, the less visited countries of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan showcase a wealth of cultural and historical treasures. Discover these special gems on this unique journey.

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Exploring Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia

17 days from $8,395

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Tour Details

JOURNEYS DISPATCHES

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Accommodations

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Hilton Baku

Baku, Azerbaijan

The luxurious modern Baku Hilton features five restaurants, a revolving roof bar on the 25th floor, spa services, fitness center, indoor pool and hammom, as well as free WiFi in public areas. The spacious rooms include air conditioning, minibar, LCD TV, WiFi and cable Internet access, in-room safe, ironing board and hair dryer.

Number of nights: 3

Hotel Sheki Palace

Sheki, Azerbaijan

Opened in 2014 and located in the center of Sheki, the Sheki Palace Hotel is set into the side of a hill and features a restaurant with outdoor terrace, a fitness center and complimentary WiFi. Rooms include air conditioning, flat screen TV, minibar, in-room safe and hair dryer.

Number of nights: 1

Hotel Kabadoni

Signagi, Georgia

The four-star boutique Kabadoni Hotel opened in 2012 and features a restaurant and bar serving Georgian and European cuisine and creative wine selections, a pool, health club, sauna and spa services. Rooms include minibar, free wifi, in-room safe and bathrobes.

Number of nights: 2

Hotel Borjomi Likani

Borjomi, Georgia

Located in the spa city of Borjomi, the five-star Hotel Borjomi Likani opened in January 2015 and features several restaurants serving international and Georgian cuisine, deluxe spa services, indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sports and fitness center. Rooms include air conditioning, satellite TV, minibar, coffee service, complimentary WiFi, in-room safe and hairdryer.

Number of nights: 1

Vardzia Resort Hotel

Vardzia, Georgia

Built on a hillside across from the cave town of Vardzia, the Vardzia Resort is beautifully landscaped with rock terraces, waterfalls, pools and flowering plants. The timbered restaurant serves regional cuisine, and an outdoor swimming pool with a sweeping view is available for guests.

Number of nights: 1

Marriott Tbilisi

Tbilisi, Georgia

This beautiful five-star hotel is located in the heart of Tbilisi on Rustaveli Avenue, within walking distance of the Parliament, museums, the Opera House and the Rustaveli Theater. A lobby lounge and a cafe serve snacks and quick meals, and the Majestic restaurant serves Mediterranean food inside and on the patio. Amenities include a spa and fitness center, in-room newspaper, air conditioning, cable TV and minibar.

Number of nights: 3

Tufenkian Historic Hotel

Yerevan, Armenia

Opened in 2013, the Tufenkian Hotel is located in the Yerevan city center just off Republic Square, and features a restaurant serving international and Armenian cuisine, coffee shop and bar/lounge. The individually designed rooms include air conditioning, satellite TV, minibar, complimentary WiFi and bathrobes.

Number of nights: 4

Activity Level

Level 3: Moderate / Active

Expectations: The level of accommodation on this program is very high: world-class five-star hotels in Baku and Tbilisi, local standard five-star in Signagi, Borjomi and Vardzia, four-star in Sheki and Yerevan. All hotels offer air conditioning, clean running water, private bathrooms with western toilets in every room, and WiFi access. Travel times between cities will vary from 3 to 8 hours with the longest drives being approximately 300 km from Baku to Sheki, from Signagi to Borjomi, and from Tbilisi to Yerevan. Including touring and lunch stops along the way, these days will be as long as up to 8 hours. The coaches are all modern and equipped with air-conditioning but do not have restrooms on board. There are no extreme elevations on this program. We start in Baku below sea level and finish in Yerevan at 3,250 with the gradual elevation gain throughout the program. We never exceed 5,000 feet during the drives between cities.Western toilets are available at all hotels and most restaurants that are chosen for this program. However, squat toilets are prevalent at roadside stops. While this program is designed to be the most comfortable possible for travel in this region, it is rated as rigorous touring due to the fast pace, daily walking involved, the length of some bus rides and the overall shortcomings of local infrastructure. This itinerary features a significant amount of touring on foot. Many streets are cobblestone, and some attractions are only accessible via steep staircases with tall uneven steps without handrails. In particular, the caves in Vardzia have some steep ascents and descents along narrow winding passageways. To reap the full rewards of this adventure, travelers must be able to walk unassisted for at least two miles a day and keep up with the group. Flexibility, a sense of humor and a willingness to accept local standards of amenities and services are essential components to the enjoyment of this trip.

Appropriate for: This program requires that participants be in good physical condition: you must be capable, without assistance, of walking approximately two miles per day over uneven terrain and of climbing stairs that may not have handrails. Participants should have sufficient stamina to keep pace with an active group of travelers on long days of touring.

Reading List

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Highly Recommended

The Ghost of Freedom: A History of the Caucasus

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The Caucasus mountains rise at the intersection of Europe, Russia, and the Middle East. A land of astonishing natural beauty and a dizzying array of ancient cultures, the Caucasus for most of the twentieth century lay inside the Soviet Union, before movements of national liberation created newly independent countries and sparked the devastating war in Chechnya.Combining riveting storytelling with insightful analysis, The Ghost of Freedom is the first general history of the modern Caucasus, stretching from the beginning of Russian imperial expansion up to the rise of new countries after the Soviet Union's collapse. In evocative and accessible prose, Charles King reveals how tsars, highlanders, revolutionaries, and adventurers have contributed to the fascinating history of this borderland, providing an indispensable guide to the complicated histories, politics, and cultures of this intriguing frontier. Based on new research in multiple languages, the book shows how the struggle for freedom in the mountains, hills, and plains of the Caucasus has been a perennial theme over the last two hundred years--a struggle which has led to liberation as well as to new forms of captivity. The book sheds valuable light on the origins of modern disputes, including the ongoing war in Chechnya, conflicts in Georgia and Azerbaijan, and debates over oil from the Caspian Sea and its impact on world markets.Ranging from the salons of Russian writers to the circus sideshows of America, from the offices of European diplomats to the villages of Muslim mountaineers, The Ghost of Freedom paints a rich portrait of one of the world's most turbulent and least understood regions.

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Bread and Ashes: A Walk Through the Mountains of Georgia

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