Highlights of Azerbaijan & Georgia

Salam! Welcome to Azerbaijan. Your adventure begins in Baku, with a welcome meeting at 6 pm this evening. If you arrive early, maybe walk around Baku Boulevard, a promenade that stretches along the Caspian Sea – the world’s largest inland body of water. After the meeting, join your leader for a night walk around Azerbaijan’s capital, where they’ll highlight the best spots for dinner. Maybe get your group together for some traditional Azerbaijani dishes, like plov (seasoned rice) or dolma (stuffed vegetables).

This morning, drive to Qobustan – also known as Gobustan National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage site that’s famous for its ancient rock carvings and mud volcanoes. Stop on the way to check out these geological formations as they spew mud and gas. Azerbaijan has more clay craters than anywhere else in the world, so you’re in the right place for spotting them! The rock carvings in Qobustan date back to the Stone Age, giving humans today an insight into daily life all those years ago. With over 6000 petroglyphs on display, Qobustan is often referred to as one of the largest open-air museums in the world. Return to Baku in the afternoon and visit the walled Old Town with your leader, who’ll bring its legends and history to life. Enjoy a free evening to explore the city at your own pace. Maybe eat at a restaurant on Nizami Street – a busy boulevard with lots of authentic Azerbaijani cuisine.

Learn about Azerbaijan’s relationship with fire during a tour of the Absheron Peninsula. Visit the Ateshgah fire temple first, which is built on top of a natural gas reserve, creating ‘eternal’ flames. Then, stop off at the Mardakan Fortress. The 12th century watchtower was once used to guard against invaders from the Caspian Sea – a testament to the region’s vital role along the ancient Silk Road. Continue to Yarnardagh Fire Mountain, where natural gas seeping through the ground fuels the constantly burning hillside. Try your hand at yogurt making – a traditional practice in Azerbaijan and an important part of the local cuisine – in a local home in Shamakhi. After, head to a copper workshop in the village of Lahij and learn about this traditional folk art from locals over a cup of tea. Wrap up your day with a group dinner, then settle in for the night at a local guesthouse.

After breakfast, head to Nij village – a settlement of the Udi people who are the direct descendants of ancient Caucasian Albanians. Most the world’s surviving Udi people call Nij home, giving the community a unique culture. Take a stroll in the village with your leader and visit the unassuming site of a significant church. The Albanian Church (as it’s known colloquially) is a source of pride and heritage for the local Udi community. After, continue to Sheki and stop off at Sheki Khans Palace – an 18th century masterpiece constructed entirely without nails or glue, using traditional woodworking techniques. Enjoy a free evening in Sheki – maybe walk the cobbled streets of the Old Town and try Azerbaijan’s national dish Piti (a lamb stew).

This morning, visit one of the oldest churches in the Caucasus – a steepled Christian church in the nearby village of Kish. Believed to be around 1700 years old, the church is among the oldest in Christendom. After, check out a workshop where shebeke – stained glass windows made with no glue or nails – are produced by masters. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to wander Sheki as you wish. Whether you opt to hike to Sheki Waterfall, see the Shakikhanovs’ house or shop for local handmade crafts, be sure to treat yourself to tea and some local halva (made with sugar, hazelnuts, coriander and rice flour grinned in a watermill).

After breakfast, take a walk with your leader through the Sheki market. It’s a great opportunity to stock up on snacks for the journey ahead, so maybe grab some halva, nuts and dried fruit. Continue to Lagodekhi on the Azerbaijan-Georgia border. Travel through the beautiful green valleys of the Kakheti region to Gremi – a complex that includes a castle and church from the 16th century. Spend some time here before hitting the road again, stopping at a traditional Georgian wine producer that still employs the ancient, UNESCO-listed qvevri method. Enjoy lunch here and then finish your journey in Telavi, where you’ll stay in a locally owned family hotel for the evening.

In the morning, wander through the local farmers market in Telavi, where butchers carve up fresh meat and vendors offload piles of spices. Then, visit Tsinandalia – a historic estate and winery once owned by noted Georgian poet Alexander Chavchavadze. In 1814, aristocrat Chavchavadze was the first to bottle wine produced using the qvevri method. Tour the complex, which consists of a memorial house, European-style landscaped garden, a traditional winery, wine cellar, hotel and cafe. After, drive into the mountains through the Gombori Pass – a scenic route for travelling within eastern Georgia. Tonight, enjoy dinner with your group and spend the night in the popular mountain resort Gudauri.

Follow the Tergi River on a drive to Stepantsminda, formerly known as Kazbegi. Explore this mountain village then hike through beautiful valleys and woodlands to the iconic Gergeti Trinity Church. This 14th-century church sits at the base of the second-highest volcanic summit in the Caucasus – Mt Kazbegi – and, weather permitting, you may catch a glimpse. The image of the pointed spires of the isolated church against the mountains is truly breathtaking, and a great place for a photo. Drive back to Gudauri for a dinner with your group.

Make the drive to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, located along the banks of the Kura River. Get into the swing of things with an orientation walk with your leader. Spend the rest of the day as you wish, perhaps grabbing a khachapuri (bread stuffed with salty cheese) to snack on. In the evening, regroup and head out for dinner with your fellow travellers and leader. This is a good chance to sample some khinkali (Georgia’s famous soup-filled dumplings). Make sure to ask your leader about the polite way to eat them – it involves sipping the broth and leaving the pinched bit of dough where the edges of the delicious parcel have joined on the plate.

Your trip comes to an end today after breakfast. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.