Classical Highlight: Exploring Georgia and Armenia | A Complete Itinerary
If you want to discover the hidden miraculous places of the Caucasus, come and see the highlights of this tour. Many thanks to the Arara Tour agency for creating this wonderful itinerary. Here, we pen a sincere account of exploring Georgia and Armenia and the many wonders we met during the trip.
It included two captivating countries – Georgia and Armenia – each of them offering a stunning atmosphere and distinctive (but very similar, at the same time) cultures.
Exploring Georgia And Armenia | Know The Best Time To Visit
Do you have plans for exploring Georgia and Armenia? April to May is the best time to visit the countries and explore their landmarks. During these months, Georgia has an average temperature of 9-24 degrees Celsius.
Further, Armenia experiences a temperature of 15-35 degrees Celsius.
September and October are two other months for exploring Georgia and Armenia and their fall beauty. In Armenia, these months record an average temperature of 7-21 degrees Celsius.
Georgia, on the other hand, has a temperature of 5-22 degrees Celsius in the fall season.
Places You Cannot Miss While Exploring Georgia And Armenia
Located in the center of the world, literally, Georgia and Armenia are a kind of bridge between the East and the West.
Further, the recent developments suggest that the tourism bond is only going to get stronger between Georgia and Armenia. Recently, a tri-party convention took place in New Delhi, India, involving two other countries, Armenia and Iran. Improving connections with Georgia was an important aspect of discussion in the convention.
In addition, Armenia’s Crossroads of Peace Project, a transport initiative to strengthen its bond with Georgia, will be a crucial factor for people looking to visit Georgia and Armenia.
So, we felt this was the right time for penning our travelogue on exploring Georgia and Armenia. It will make your journey easier. These are the places we visited.
1. Tbilisi
My first stop was in Georgia, Tbilisi (the capital), which boasts its vibrant atmosphere, rich cultural heritage, and captivating landscapes.
Georgia offers tours for every taste and is a perfect destination for both hikers and seaside lovers.
This bustling city is always full of tourists from all over the world, and it’s for a great reason! Tbilisi is like a storybook, with each page telling a captivating story. Its natural beauty is stunning.
2. The Kura River
The Kura River, flowing through the city with the backdrop of the abundance of churches, leaves powerful impressions for a lifetime!
Bridge of Peace is another masterpiece I discovered in Tbilisi. Arching over the river, this Bridge is the most popular spot in the capital.
3. Mtskheta, A UNESCO World Heritage Site
The next step was heading to Mtskheta. This is the religious center of Georgia. It is situated a short distance from Tbilisi.
Mtskheta is one of the oldest cities in Georgia (the first capital, by the way), and offers sightseeing places that are under UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Here, we visited the picturesque Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari Monastery.
4. Ananuri Fortress
During my journey to Georgia, I also visited to Ananuri Fortress. This is a castle complex that is located on the Aragvi River.
Visit this castle, which once housed the Georgian feudal dynasty, to know more about Georgian history. It also offers stunning views and scenic landscapes.
5. Mount Kazbek, Stepantsminda Village, Gudauri, Gergeti Trinity Church, And…
Gudauri is a paradise for ski lovers, the most popular ski resort in Georgia, which offers its services all year round.
After a short five-minute drive, we visited the picturesque Vedza Sour Waters and then continued on to Stepantsminda Village.
This tour is perfect for adventure lovers. The 4×4 vehicle took us up a hill to reach the 14th-century Gergeti Trinity Church, situated at 2,180 meters. The most fascinating part of this tour is the view of the iconic Mount Kazbek before going back to Tbilisi.
6. Exploring Kakheti And The Wine Region
New day, new places of interest! In the morning, we headed to Kakheti. This place is Georgia’s main wine region, a true paradise for wine lovers! Our tour began in Telavi, the heart of Kakheti.
Then, we continued to the Tsinandali estate, featuring a beautiful labyrinth of exotic trees filled with Georgian and European wines. Our next step was Batonis Tsikhe, and we ended our day with a tour of Khareba Winery.
7. Armenia And Its Wonders
I would love to stay longer in this beautiful country of Georgia. But unfortunately, the tour ended there. Still, I was sure the more exciting part was waiting ahead! The next stop of this tour was considered to be Armenia. Another great country, the cradle of Christianity!
After stepping on the Armenian border, we headed to Tavush Province, and a breathtaking view opened in front of our eyes. Heading north to Tavush Province, you’ll visit the medieval monasteries of Haghartsin and Goshavank. A stop in the charming town of Dilijan follows, known for its arts, crafts, and stunning nature.
The journey continues to Gegharkunik Province, home to Lake Sevan, one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world at 1,900 meters above sea level. In the evening, we arrived in Yerevan.
1. Yerevan: The Capital Of Armenia
Our next highlight was Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Founded in 782 B.C., this enchanting city is considered to be one of the most ancient cities in the world (twenty-nine years before Rome, can you imagine?)
The center of the city is featured by different architectural landmarks. The Cascade Complex, just in the heart of the city, showcases many architectural samples from outside and inside of the complex.
Here, you can explore the Cafesjian Center for Arts and climb up the top of the building to admire the panoramic view of the city.
We then explored the Opera and Ballet Theater, Mashtots Avenue, Republic Square, and the Matenadaran Museum. The latter is famous for holding thousands of manuscripts from Armenia and all over the world.
An informative visit was the visit to the Genocide Memorial. This complex is dedicated to the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, implemented by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 when 1.5 million Armenians were cruelly murdered.
2. Echmiadzin: Home To A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Our next stop was Echmiadzin, the religious heart of Armenia. Here, we explored the Echmiadzin Cathedral, the world’s first Christian temple. On the way back to Yerevan, we also explored the ruins of the 7th-century Zvartnots temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We visited Khor Virap Monastery. This is the most sacred place in Armenia, where the history of Christianity in Armenia began.
The monastery is situated on the top of a tiny hill, from where you can enjoy the stunning views of Mount Ararat (the monastery is located close to the Armenia-Turkey border).
After exploring the site and taking a lot of photos for good memories, we went to visit Noravank Monastery, dating back to the 13th century. This is a masterpiece by Armenian architect Momik. We saw and admired a lot of intricate khachkars (Armenian cross-stones) adorning the grounds of the monastery.
Exploring Georgia And Armenia: Ending The Trip On A Happy Note
On the final day, we enjoyed a 1-hour drive to the Azat River Canyon. The monumental monastery complex, Geghard Monastery, welcomed us with its phenomenal architectural solutions (it’s carved into the rocks and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000).
The journey continued to Garni village to see the Garni Temple. It’s the only surviving example of Hellenistic architecture in the region. This was the final day of our Georgia and Armenia tour.
We enjoyed this classical tour of Georgia and Armenia! It was full of history, culture, and stunning views. A big thank you to the Arara Tour for their great service and for making this trip so memorable.
We truly appreciate their help and care to organize luxury tours in Armenia, Georgia, and beyond.
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