Tbilisi

Arrive in Tbilisi, Georgia’s atmospheric capital, where your guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, the rest of the day is at leisure to settle in after your journey. Tbilisi is a city of layered history, with Persian, Russian, Ottoman, Armenian, Georgian and European influences visible in its streets, architecture and cuisine. This first evening offers time to relax, take a gentle walk near your hotel, or enjoy an introduction to Georgian hospitality before the cultural journey through Georgia and Armenia begins.

Hotel Options:

Rooms Hotel Tbilisi

WHY WE LOVE THIS HOTEL

Housed in a former publishing house in Vera, Rooms Hotel Tbilisi is one of the capital’s most distinctive design stays, a short walk from Rustaveli Avenue and well placed for cafés, galleries and nightlife. It has a lived in, local energy, with a lobby scene that feels as popular with Tbilisi residents as it is with travellers.

Interiors are intentionally moody and tactile: dark wood floors, rich leather, vintage lighting and handmade wallpaper, balanced with modern comforts and strong soundproofing for a genuinely good night’s sleep. The overall tone is relaxed and confident rather than formal.

Food and drink are a key part of the stay, anchored by The Kitchen and a lively bar lounge for easy breakfasts, late lunches and evening cocktails. Step out for the Dry Bridge market and Old Town walks, then return for a calmer night in a neighbourhood that feels stylish, central and quietly authentic.
 

Tbilisi

Explore Tbilisi on foot and by short drives, beginning in the old quarter where sulphur baths, Orthodox and Armenian churches, a synagogue and a mosque stand close together, reflecting the city’s long tradition of religious tolerance. Visit Sameba Cathedral, Metekhi Church and Narikala Fortress, then continue through the atmospheric lanes around Shardeni Street, known for cafés, galleries and restored houses. See Anchiskhati Church, one of the city’s oldest churches, before reaching Rustaveli Avenue, lined with theatres, public buildings and cultural institutions. Dinner is at a local restaurant with traditional Georgian music and dance.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tbilisi

Drive out after breakfast to Uplistsikhe, a remarkable rock-hewn city inhabited from early times into the medieval era. Walk through carved streets and chambers that once functioned as homes, shops, wine spaces and public buildings, including a theatre area, giving a vivid sense of a city shaped from stone. Continue to nearby Gori for the Stalin Museum, then travel to Mtskheta, Georgia’s ancient religious capital. Visit Jvari Church and the grand Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, a major 11th-century church at the heart of Georgian Christianity, traditionally linked to the robe of Christ. Both are UNESCO-listed and central to Georgia’s spiritual heritage. Return to Tbilisi for the night.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Tbilisi

Head east into Kakheti, Georgia’s celebrated wine region, where vineyard landscapes and village traditions define the day. Begin with a visit to a local мастер’s studio to learn how qvevri—large clay jars buried underground—are made and used for traditional winemaking, followed by a tasting of home-produced wines. Continue to the beautifully sited Alaverdi Cathedral, set in the valley with the Greater Caucasus as backdrop. Lunch is in a local home and accompanied by Georgian songs, adding a personal, cultural layer to the day. In the afternoon, visit Sighnaghi, a hilltop walled town with sweeping views over the Alazani Valley, then stop at Bodbe Monastery before returning to Tbilisi.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Tbilisi

Tbilisi

After breakfast, drive north towards Kazbegi on one of Georgia’s most scenic routes, with the landscape shifting from valleys to high mountain viewpoints. Stop at Ananuri Fortress and the striking Jinvali Reservoir, then pause along the way at small roadside stalls showcasing local crafts such as feltwork, embroidery and icon-style painting. Continue to Kazbegi (Stepantsminda), the region’s main town, and switch to 4×4 vehicles for the ascent to Gergeti Trinity Church, dramatically positioned above the valley. Weather permitting, enjoy views towards the glacier and peak of Mount Kazbegi. Return to Tbilisi by evening.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel Options:

Rooms Hotel Tbilisi

WHY WE LOVE THIS HOTEL

Housed in a former publishing house in Vera, Rooms Hotel Tbilisi is one of the capital’s most distinctive design stays, a short walk from Rustaveli Avenue and well placed for cafés, galleries and nightlife. It has a lived in, local energy, with a lobby scene that feels as popular with Tbilisi residents as it is with travellers.

Interiors are intentionally moody and tactile: dark wood floors, rich leather, vintage lighting and handmade wallpaper, balanced with modern comforts and strong soundproofing for a genuinely good night’s sleep. The overall tone is relaxed and confident rather than formal.

Food and drink are a key part of the stay, anchored by The Kitchen and a lively bar lounge for easy breakfasts, late lunches and evening cocktails. Step out for the Dry Bridge market and Old Town walks, then return for a calmer night in a neighbourhood that feels stylish, central and quietly authentic.
 

Yerevan

Meet at Sadakhlo border and cross into Armenia, changing guide and vehicle for the Armenian section of the tour. Travel through the green Debed region to visit two outstanding monastic complexes from the 10th–14th centuries. Begin at Haghpat Monastery, a UNESCO-listed masterpiece set on an uneven plateau above a deep river cleft—once a major religious, cultural and educational centre of medieval Armenia. Continue to Akhtala Monastery, known for its distinctive character and impressive setting. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant during the day’s touring, then continue onwards to Yerevan. Arrive and check in for the night.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel Options:

Tufenkian Historic Yerevan Hotel

WHY WE LOVE THIS HOTEL

Tufenkian Historic Yerevan Hotel is a designed, heritage inspired stay in Kentron, centrally placed near Republic Square and the Vernissage arts and crafts market—ideal for a walkable city break with museums, cafés and evening strolls on your doorstep. 

The hotel’s personality comes from its Armenian craft focus: natural materials (basalt stone, metal, wool) and interiors accented with Tufenkian carpets, creating a warm, authentic feel rather than a generic international look. Accommodation is described as 83 rooms, suited to couples and small groups who value character and comfort in equal measure. 

Onsite, Kharpert Restaurant is known for Western Armenian flavours, and there’s a seasonal outdoor pool for downtime between sightseeing. It’s a strong mid to upper option for travellers wanting style, location and a sense of place. 
 

Yerevan

Begin your exploration of Armenia in Yerevan, often called the “pink city” for the warm volcanic stone used in many of its buildings. Visit Republic Square, Mashtots Avenue, the Opera House and the Cascade, before continuing to Matenadaran, Armenia’s important museum of ancient manuscripts. Later, drive to the UNESCO-listed sites of Zvartnots and Ejmiatsin. Zvartnots preserves the ruins of a remarkable 7th-century temple, while Ejmiatsin Cathedral, founded in 303, remains the spiritual centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Return to Yerevan and visit the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial. Dinner is at a stylish Armenian restaurant with folk music.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Yerevan

After breakfast, drive to Khor Virap Monastery, a pivotal Armenian pilgrimage site associated with Gregory the Illuminator’s imprisonment and the country’s Christian conversion. The location is also prized for its sweeping views of Mount Ararat, Armenia’s enduring national symbol. Continue to the Areni wine region and visit Areni Cave, where remarkably ancient artefacts have been discovered, including what’s often cited as the world’s oldest known leather shoe. Then travel to Noravank Monastery, dramatically framed by sheer red-rock cliffs in a winding gorge and notable for its distinctive stonework and rare iconography. Lunch is hosted in a local home, adding a personal window into rural Armenian hospitality. Return to Yerevan for the night.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Yerevan

Dilijan National Park

Travel to Garni, Armenia’s only surviving Greco-Roman-style pagan temple, originally dedicated to the sun god Mihr. Nearby, visit the basalt formations known as the Symphony of Stones, before continuing to Geghard Monastery, partly carved into the rock and associated with the Holy Lance. At a local home, watch lavash, Armenia’s traditional thin bread, being prepared in a tonir oven, followed by a simple lunch. Continue to Lake Sevan, one of the world’s largest high-altitude freshwater lakes, and visit Sevanavank Monastery on its peninsula. Later, drive to Dilijan, a forested mountain town known for its cool climate and traditional architecture.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tbilisi

Spend the morning in the Dilijan region, beginning with a short visit to Parz Lake, a peaceful forest-fringed lake where there may be time for a gentle walk or optional boating. Continue to Goshavank Monastery, named after the medieval scholar Mkhitar Gosh and set in a beautiful natural landscape. After lunch at a local restaurant, drive north towards the Bagratashen border. Complete Armenian and Georgian border formalities, change guide and vehicle as required, then continue through Georgia to Tbilisi. Arrive in the capital for your final overnight stay before departure.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel Options:

Best Western Plus Paradise Hotel

WHY WE LOVE THIS HOTEL

Best Western Plus Paradise Hotel Dilijan is a comfortable, wellrun property set in the forested hills of Dilijan, often called Armenia’s “Little Switzerland”. It’s a practical choice for travellers who want fresh mountain air, easy access to Dilijan National Park, and a relaxed base between Yerevan and the northern regions.

Rooms are modern and functional, with warm finishes and views over the surrounding greenery in many categories. Public areas feel spacious and family friendly, with a lobby atmosphere that suits groups as well as couples. Dining is straightforward and reliable, typically focusing on Armenian and European favourites, making it easy after a day outdoors.

Wellness is a key draw: an indoor pool, sauna/steam areas and spa treatments help round out hiking and sightseeing days. Service is generally attentive, and the hotel works particularly well for short breaks, naturefocused itineraries, and small groups wanting good standards without going ultraluxury—especially in Dilijan’s cooler spring and autumn seasons.
 

Depart Tbilisi

After breakfast, transfer to Tbilisi airport for your onward flight. Depending on your flight schedule, there may be a little time to relax at the hotel or take a final short walk through the city. The journey concludes after exploring two of the Caucasus’ most culturally rich countries, combining Georgia’s wine traditions, mountain churches and ancient capitals with Armenia’s monasteries, manuscript heritage, dramatic landscapes and deep Christian history. Your guide and driver will assist with the airport transfer and departure arrangements.

Meals Included: Breakfast