Experiences in Azerbaijan

The bridge between East and West 9 days

AZERBAIJAN - GEORGIA

A combined trip to Georgia and Azerbaijan is a unique opportunity to discover two gems of the Caucasus. Despite their geographical proximity, Georgia and Azerbaijan have distinct cultures, languages and traditions. This makes the package trip a fascinating experience for travelers interested in exploring cultural diversity.

Departures:
July: 7, 14, 21, 28
August: 4, 11, 18, 25
September: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
October: 6, 13, 20, 27
November: 3, 10

Price per person from:

2290€

Your Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

Day 2

Baku - Gobustan - Baku [City tour] (120 km)

Breakfast.
Departure to Gobustán, protected area 60 km from Baku. The UNESCO heritage where there are more than 7000 cave paintings among which there are some, held more than 25 thousand years. After having seen the small museum of the daily life of the primitives, with the scenes of hunting, feeding and burial we will continue with the visit of the stone called Roman Stone, once recorded by the Roman soldiers.
Visit mud volcanoes, one of the natural beauties of Azerbaijan. There are several mud volcanoes of different heights that give a lunar effect to the area.
Return to Baku. Visit the Bibi-Heybat Mosque, the spiritual centre of the region’s Muslims and one of the main monuments of Islamic architecture in Azerbaijan.
Lunch at restaurant.
Visit of the old town of the capital. We will visit the most important historical caravanserais, the remains of the church of Saint Bartholomew, the ancient Hammam, the famous Virgin Tower, the ancient mosques and the Palace of Shirvanshah.
Panoramic tour of Baku. We will walk in the alley of the Martyrs. From where you see the beautiful bay of Baku along with towers of flames.
Free dinner. Return to the hotel. Hotel accommodation in Baku. (D/A/-)

Day 3

Baku - Absheron - Baku (80 km)

Breakfast.
Departure to the peninsula of Absheron with arrival at Atashgah, the temple of fire, in the village of Sarukhan, a religious place that remains a point of reference for the worshippers of fire. The structure of the temple presents a combination of Persian, Indian and Caucasian architectural elements where we can find the inscriptions in various languages, including Persian and Sanskrit, and tell the story of the pilgrims and visitors who came to the temple over the centuries.
Visit Yanardag (burning mountain), one of the incredible natural beauties of Azerbaijan. The fire in Yanar Dag comes from an accumulation of natural gas that escapes from the underground layers of the earth and ignites spontaneously. Throughout history, this natural phenomenon has been known and worshipped by various cultures that considered fire as a sacred element and a divine manifestation.
Return to Baku. Short stop at the cultural center designed by Zaha Hadid to admire its architecture in the futuristic style.
Lunch in restaurant. Walk along Nizami Street (shopping street).
Free price. Hotel accommodation in Bako. (D/A/-)

Day 4

Baku - Shemakha - Kish - Sheki (380 km)

Breakfast departure Sheki. On the way stop in the town of Shamakhi which was the capital of the Kingdom of Shirvan in the Middle Ages and here literature, poetry and arts flourished for centuries. We will visit the mosque, called "Juma", built in the 8th century and is one of the oldest mosques in Azerbaijan and the Caucasus. Its architecture is a reflection of Islamic and Persian influence, with rich architectural and decorative elements. One of the most notable features of the Shamakhi Mosque is its hexagonal design. Then visit the mausoleum of Diri Baba which is an impressive example of 15th century architecture. The geometric and decorative motifs on the façade suggest an Islamic influence, while some aspects of the structure resemble ancient pagan temples of the region.
Lunch in local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will arrive at Sheki, visit of the village of Kish, where there is an important church of the first Christians, built between the 1st and 5th centuries AD, when Christianity spread in the region, which at that time was known as the Caucasian Albania.
Dinner on your own.
Hotel accommodation in Sheki. (D/A/-)

Day 5

Sheki - Lagodekhi (entrance in Georgia) - Signagi - Tbilisi (270 km)

Breakfast.
Visit the old part of the city of Sheki , which, due to its strategic location on the Silk Road and its natural beauty, has become an important cultural, commercial and artistic centre over the centuries. It was also an important center for the production of handicrafts, especially ceramics and carpets. The Old City of Sheki is a labyrinth of narrow, cobbled streets, where local bazaars offer a variety of artisanal products and old-style buildings and houses with wooden balconies create an authentic and charming atmosphere. We will have the visit of the beautiful Palace of Khans, built in the eighteenth century and presents a series of rooms, corridors and courtyards arranged around a central courtyard. Each room is adorned with intricate wall paintings, wood carvings and multicolored glass mosaics. One of the most remarkable aspects of the palace is its ingenious use of stained-glass windows, which allow the entry of natural light and create fascinating color effects in the interior.
Departure to the border of Georgia and Azerbaijan. After processing customs formalities, change of guide and departure transport to Tbilisi, capital of Georgia.
On the way, lunch at local restaurant. Stop to visit Signagi, the city that attracts attention with its reserved architecture of the eighteenth century, houses of decorated balconies and a wall of 23 towers that surrounds the city. We will take a walk through the city and observe the beautiful views of the valley of the river Alazani. Arrival in Tbilisi.
Free price. Hotel accommodation in Tbilisi. (D/A/-)

Day 6

Tbilisi - City Tour

Breakfast.
We will have some unforgettable hours of familiarisation with the capital which is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious city built in the 5th century along the tortuous valley of the river Mtkvari. Here, close to each other are Orthodox, Gregorian, Roman Catholic churches, synagogue and mosque. We will start the excursion from the medieval church Metekhi (sig.XIII); We will walk through the center discovering its alleys and we will see the buildings with wooden balconies, typical of the city that give it different personality. We will visit the synagogue, the cathedral of Sioni(sig.XIII), the basilica of Anchiskhati (sig.VI); we will climb up to the fortress of Narikala that dominates the horizon of the old town; We will continue exploring the neighborhood of the baths of Sulfur of oriental style and then we will visit National Museum with its most important room of the works of gold dating from the III millennium B.C. Finally, the circuit will take us to the main avenue of Rustaveli where we will see the Parliament and the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, which will provide you with a cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Then we will go to the welcome dinner and folklore show in a traditional restaurant.
Hotel accommodation in Tbilisi. (D/-/C)

Day 7

Tbilisi - Mtskheta - Uplistsikhe - Tbilisi (240 km)

Breakfast.
Departure to the town of Mtskheta, the former capital of the Kingdom of Georgia - UNESCO heritage, located at the intersection of the military road and the Silk Road. We will visit the Church of Jvari (cross) of the sixth century built at the point where Saint Nino had erected a wooden cross to celebrate the conversion of Iberia to Christianity. The church of Jvari had a great impact on the development of Georgian architecture and served as a model for many other churches. Then we will visit the most sacred cathedral in Georgia where it is said that the robe of Christ was buried, Svetitskhoveli which is one of the most important cultural, artistic and architectural monuments in Georgia. Then we will head towards Gori - the main city of the Shida Kartli region founded in the 12th century by one of the greatest kings of the country, David Aghmashenebeli (the Builder). It’s Stalin’s hometown.
Lunch at restaurant.
Near Gori is the ancient cave town Uplistsikhe - the most prominent monument of the Silk Road period in Georgia which is the ancient cave city that was built on a rocky bank of the Mtkvari River. Beginning its history in the 2nd millennium BC, Uplistsikhe has been identified as one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia. Here we will discover several structures of that time: a theater, a pharmacy, a pagan temple and several palaces. In the afternoon return to Tbilisi.
Dinner on your own.
Hotel accommodation in Tbilisi. (D/-/C)

Day 8

Tbilisi - Ananuri - Gudauri - Gergeti - Stepantsminda - Tbilisi (320 km)

Breakfast departure to the mountains of the Great Caucasus, a majestic mountain range that extends from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea, famous for its natural beauty and rich biodiversity. On its slopes and valleys, you can find coniferous forests, alpine meadows, glacial lakes and a wide variety of flora and fauna. Along the way stop for views of Lake Jinvali and visit the fortress of Ananuri (sig. XVII) which houses defensive towers and orthodox churches. The complex was the seat of the Eristavis (Dukes) of Aragvi, a feudal dynasty that ruled the area from the 13th century. Stop for the beautiful landscapes of the viewpoint of Gudauri. Arrival at Stepantsminda. From where we will travel by private vehicle (off-road) to the church of Gergeti (the church of the Trinity) 2170 m. Its isolated location on the top of a steep mountain surrounded by the immensity of nature has made it a symbol of Georgia. If the weather permits we will observe the Mount Kazbegi which is the fourth highest summit of the Caucasus mountains with a height of 5047 m.
Lunch in traditional restaurant. Return to Tbilisi.
Dinner on your own.
Hotel accommodation in Tbilisi. (D/-/C)

Day 9

Price includes:

Flight from Barcelona
Private vehicle circuit with A/C, according to the indicated route (2 pax-sedan, 3-5 pax-minivan, 6-12 pax minibus)
Professional Spanish speaking guide
4 nights hotel accommodation (breakfast included): 4 x night in Tbilisi
Diet: 8 x breakfast, 8 x lunch, 1 x dinner
Tickets to museums and monuments according to the program
Visit of Gergeti in 4x4 vehicle
One bottle of water per day per person

Not included:

Air and fuel charges
No visa required
Air surcharge in case of change in fare or fees
Any item not specified in the price includes (extras in hotels, drinks at meals and personal expenses)
E-visa for Azerbaijan (28 euros) https://evisa.gov.az/en/