Across the Southern Caucasus

Fly from London (regional connections available) to Baku, via Istanbul, with Turkish Airlines. Transfer to the Midtown Hotel (or similar) for 2 nights.

See the ancient rock carvings at Gobustan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back 20,000 years. Continue to Absheron and the Ateshgah Fire Worshippers’ temple. Return to Baku for a tour of the Old City and some time at leisure.

Visit the Yeddi Gumbez mausoleum in Shemahka. Continue to Shaki, stopping en route at a sixth-century Albanian church. Overnight at Sheki Saray (or similar).

Tour Sheki, scenically set in the Caucasus foothills, including its 18th-century palace. Cross the border into Georgia for a vineyard lunch and wine tasting. Continue to Telavi via the Gremi monastery. Overnight at Chateau Mere (or similar).

This morning, visit Telavi market and meet a qvevri master, who will demonstrate how these large earthenware wine-keeping jars are made. Sample some local wine before continuing to the Tsinandali wine estate for lunch. In the afternoon, tour the hilltop town of Sighnaghi. Drive to Tbilisi and stay at the Shota@Rustaveli Boutique Hotel (or similar) for 2 nights.

Tour the Georgian capital including the Old Town, with its beautiful Orthodox churches, mosque, synagogue and sulphur baths. Spend your afternoon at leisure.

This morning, visit the sixth-century Jvari Monastery, then continue to Gori, the birthplace of Josef Stalin. Visit the museum, his private train and see the house where he was born. Travel to Kazbegi via the cave city of Uplistsikhe, set on the path of the Silk Road. Overnight at Hotel Porta Caucasia (or similar).

Drive to the picturesque 14th-century Gergeti Trinity church. Return to Tbilisi for some time at leisure.

Today we will visit a unique masterpiece of Armenian architecture of X-XIV centuries: the monastery of Haghpat which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located on an uneven plateau, separated by a deep crack formed by a small river that flows into the river Debed. Haghpat Monastery was one of the largest religious, cultural and educational centers of medieval Armenia.

Visit Ejmiatsin Cathedral, founded in 303AD and still the official residence of the Catholic Church in Armenia. Continue to the seventhcentury Zvartnots temple. Have lunch in the village of Parakar and take part in a cooking lesson, learning how to make arishta (traditional Armenian pasta) and sweet sudzukh.

Tour Yerevan, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Visit the city’s museum of ancient manuscripts, and the genocide memorial complex.

Travel to Khor Virap monastery, where Armenia’s patron saint, Gregory the Illuminator, was imprisoned. Savour views of the Ararat Mountain, then continue to Noravank monastery, dramatically situated within a gorge. Visit the wine-producing village of Areni for lunch. Return to Yerevan. Enjoy a farewell dinner with folk music at an Armenian restaurant.

Visit Garni, Armenia’s only surviving Hellenistic temple, then enjoy a performance of spiritual music. Admire the basalt formations of Garni Gorge, before continuing to the fourth-century, mountain-carved monastery of Geghard. Enjoy lunch with a local family and a lavash bread-making lesson, then visit two 10thcentury monasteries. Drive to Dilijan and overnight at the Best Western Paradise (or similar)

Morning stroll in Dilijan followed by a visit to Goshavank Monastery and its green and pleasant surrounds. Drive to Tbilisi Airport for your flight home.