This is considered a fast-paced tour. In order to explore as much as possible, this tour may require early starts and long travel days. One to two nights at one destination is standard. While some free time may be scheduled, most sightseeing is included throughout this tour. You will be required to move about unassisted, including getting on and off vehicles, walking up and down stairs and some activities will be conducted on uneven or steep terrain. You will be required to handle your own luggage. To ensure this trip is right for you, any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aid, then this tour is not suitable.
Good quality properties chosen for their modern facilities and amenities, typically ideally located, offering easy access to the city centre.
Hotel stars are based on local ratings provided and the expected standard may differ depending on the destination. Hotels listed within the itinerary are indicative of the typical hotel we intend to use for that package but is subject to change.
This tour is fully escorted by an expert English-speaking guide who will accompany you throughout the tour.
These tours are our proudest creations. They have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for exact group size. Enjoy features such as hand-picked accommodation, a sampling of the region’s best culinary delights, and a range of optional activities to choose from to best suit your travel style.
✓ Small, intimate group experience – no more than 14 people
✓ Return international airfares with a full-service airline
✓ All airport and transfers
✓ 10 nights in comfortable 4-star accommodation
✓ Daily breakfast, 1 lunch
✓ Fully escorted by a professional, English-speaking guide
✓ Dedicated coach transportation
✓ Incredible sightseeing, like UNESCO-listed Geghard monastery, the lavish Sheki Khan’s palace and Gobustan’s mud volcanoes
✓ $200pp OFF flights to Europe when booking any Europe Tour - click here for full terms and conditions
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Armenia! You’ll be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel in Yerevan.
The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore Armenia’s capital. Dating back to the 8th century, it’s one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Please note: Some flights may depart the day before.
Check in: Passengers will be arriving at various times throughout the day from as early as 6am through to late evening. If arriving prior to standard check-in time, which is generally 3pm local time, you are welcome to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available, as there are generally no scheduled activities on Day 1 of the itinerary. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotels discretion.
At midday we’ll take a city tour of Yerevan, known as the ‘Pink City’ thanks to its pink stone buildings. We’ll visit the Mother Armenia monument that overlooks the city with a spectacular panoramic view of Yerevan and Mount Ararat.
Yerevan is a compact city. We’ll visit the Matenadaran (Institute of Ancient Manuscripts) and take a tour of the Cascade complex, a massive staircase in the city centre. It has eight levels and offers beautiful city views as you ascend. Don’t worry if it seems daunting – there is an escalator!
We’ll see the Yerevan Opera Theatre, as well as the busy, pedestrian-friendly Northern Avenue and grand Republic Square. Republic Square, home to its well-known musical fountains, is a great place to people watch as the locals go about their day.
We’ll visit Tsitsernakaberd, the Armenian Genocide memorial complex, honouring the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide carried out by the Ottomans in 1915. There is an eternal flame and an arrow-shaped stele of granite, 44 metres high reaching to the sky, symbolising the survival and spiritual rebirth of the Armenian people.
We’ll stop at the Vernissage market for souvenirs and gifts and the shuka (market) to buy traditional sweets or dried fruit.
We’ll head first to iconic Khor Virap monastery, with the breathtaking backdrop of unmistakable Mount Ararat. It’s the birthplace of Christianity in Armenia and an important pilgrimage site for Armenians. From the monastery it is possible to see four countries at once: Armenia, Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan.
We’ll then head to Echmiadzin, the spiritual and administrative centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church. We’ll visit its mother church, Echmiadzin Cathedral, and attend the Holy Liturgy.
We’ll visit the first-century Temple of Garni, the only surviving Greco-Roman structure in Armenia. This pagan temple is a rare glimpse into pre-Christian Caucasia.
We’ll then visit one of the most beautiful monasteries in Armenia, the 13th-century medieval monastery of Geghard. This UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of a number of churches and tombs, many cut directly into the mountain rock face.
On our way back to Yerevan, we’ll visit the ruins of Zvartnots Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unusually circular in design, it’s a superb example of medieval Armenian architecture.
This morning we’ll head to Lake Sevan. You’ll visit the ancient, well-preserved Sevanavank Monastery, on the narrow Sevan Peninsula. The complex has brilliant views over the sparkling blue lake, a popular beach destination.
We’ll continue to Dilijan, a resort town renowned for its charming nature and extraordinary architecture. The surroundings are picturesque; with the densely forested valleys and mountains with alpine meadows, it’s little wonder this area is referred to as ‘Armenian Switzerland’. We’ll see the town’s historic centre, Sharambeyan Street, lined with traditional houses and artisan workshops.
We’ll then drive to the Armenia-Georgia border and after border formalities, drive to Tbilisi.
Welcome to Georgia! This small, beautiful country at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains offers natural beauty and lush landscapes everywhere you go. It’s known for good food and wine, welcoming locals and stunning historic attractions.
Its capital Tbilisi, a heady blend of east and west, was founded in the fifth century during the Iberian Empire. It’s home to nearly half of the country’s population. Enjoy the lively, charming atmosphere as you stroll the maze-like, cobblestone streets and admire the old churches.
We’ll drive through the Caucasus Mountains, making a stop on the banks of the Zhinvali water reservoir and then visiting Ananuri Castle. This medieval monument was built by the Dukes of Aragvi, with its earliest parts dating from the 13th century.
We’ll continue upwards to the alpine ski resort of Gudauri. Then we’ll follow the old Georgian Military Road through the Jvari Pass (Cross Pass). The Georgian Military Road is an incredibly scenic adventure, steeped in history and legend. We’ll arrive in Stepantsminda to enjoy the view from Gergeti Trinity Church.
Perched on top of a steep mountain at an elevation of 2,170 metres, its isolated beauty surrounded by towering snowy peaks makes it an icon of Georgia. It overlooks the small village of Stepantsminda.
After an authentic lunch with a local family, we’ll return to our hotel.
Today we’ll head to the Kakheti region. We’ll drive through the gorgeous Georgian countryside to the fortified city of Signagi, surrounded by the remnants of the 18th-century city walls with 28 watchtowers.
We’ll visit the Bodbe Monastery, the final resting place of St. Nino. It’s an important religious site overlooking the Alazani Valley and offers spectacular views of the Greater Caucasus mountains and wine country.
The ancient wine-growing region Kakheti is the biggest in the country. Georgia has a long history of viticulture, although the oldest winery in the world can be found in neighbouring Armenia.
Georgia’s traditional, ancient qvevri wine-making method is inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. After Bodbe, we’ll head to the tunnel winery at Khareba to taste Kakhetian wines made here according to local traditions.
We’ll continue to Telavi, stopping to visit the 16th-century Gremi fortress on the way. Telavi is one of the oldest cities in Georgia, inhabited since the Bronze Age. We’ll visit the Old Town.
After a visit to the Telavi food market, we’ll head to Alaverdi Cathedral. Built in the early 11th century, it’s one of the four great cathedrals of this country and in a beautiful setting, dominating the landscape against the backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains.
Then we’ll visit beautiful Tsinandali Estate, the place where Georgian wine was first bottled. Prince Alexander Chavchavadze was a poet and prominent figure in Georgia, as well as creator of modern Georgian winemaking. In his home here you’ll find an art gallery and a bar, where you can try Tsinandali, the first Georgian wine produced in accordance with European methods. Ancient qvevri tradition and classical European winemaking still coexist here.
We’ll continue to the Academy of Ikalto, and the Shuamta Monastery Complex, before heading back to Tbilisi via beautiful Gombori Pass.
We’ll head to Lagodekhi to cross the border into Azerbaijan. You’ll meet your Azeri guide and start exploring Azerbaijan, ‘The Land of Fire’.
Azerbaijan is a somewhat chaotic, eclectic mix of cultures. Like the rest of the Caucasus, it’s fascinating given its geography and history – previously part of the Russian empire and then the Soviet Union.
On our way to Sheki, we’ll visit the first Albanian church in Caucasus, in the village of Kish. It dates back to first century AD.
We’ll continue on to Sheki, one of the most ancient cities in Azerbaijan. The city is inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List given its rich history as a stop on the fabled Silk Road.
We’ll enjoy a short sightseeing tour on arrival. The city is known for its traditional crafts and folk art. We’ll visit a handicrafts workshop and a local bazaar. We’ll also visit a local mosque and madrassa.
We’ll visit the medieval fortress and of course, visit the opulent Sheki Khans’ Palace, an architectural delight. Built in the late 18th century, it’s been meticulously restored with its elaborate frescoes, Iranian mirror work and Ottoman ceramics. The facade is largely covered by shebeke artistry, a mosaic of multicoloured glass set in a wooden lattice. Examples of this traditional artistry can be found throughout Sheki.
On the way to Baku, we’ll visit the historical Juma Mosque, considered one of Azerbaijan’s most ancient mosques. We’ll stop and see the Yeddi Gumbez Mausoleum (Seven Domes of Shamakhi), a cemetery located near the town of Shamakhi. It’s the Shirvan Shah’s family graveyard.
When we arrive in Baku, enjoy a night tour by bus with your expert local guide. It’s an interesting city of contrasts, from the medieval 12th-century Inner City (Icheri Sheher), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the modern skyscrapers. The Flame Towers are an interesting sight; three towers built to resemble fire that glow over the city – at night they light up and alternate between the colours of the nation’s flag and the colour of fire.
Today we’ll explore Greater Baku and the Absheron Peninsula.
We’ll start with Gobustan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s home to fascinating ancient rock art. We’ll visit the Petroglyph Museum, with 12 rooms of displays exploring the significance of the history of Gobustan petroglyphs. We’ll continue to the mud volcanoes in Gobustan Reserve – half of the world’s mud volcanoes are located in Azerbaijan, concentrated in this national park along the coast of the Caspian Sea.
Later we’ll drive to the Baku Ateshgah, a temple of fire worship located in the town of Surakhani. This area is famous as oil oozes naturally from the ground and flames burn perpetually – our next stop is Yanar Dag Mountain (Burning Mountain). It’s no wonder Azerbaijan is known as ‘The Land of Fire’!
Enjoy one last delicious breakfast this morning, before your Caucasus adventure comes to an end. Later you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight home.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this extraordinary journey.
Check out: Passengers will be departing at various times throughout the day. Standard hotel check-out times will apply no matter what time your flight is scheduled to depart. Check-out time is generally anywhere from 10am-12pm. You are welcome to leave your luggage at hotel reception and spend your final moments of free time exploring the area or alternatively please speak with hotel staff if you would like to extend your check-out time. Please note this service is subject to availability and will likely come at an additional cost. Your tour guide (or hotel staff) will confirm the time of your airport transfer with you directly.
Arrive home today after your amazing adventure, we hope you have been Inspired!
Refundable deposit within 28 days of purchase:
For cancellations made within 28 days of paying the deposit on any tour, your deposit can be refunded in full or can be transferred to a new booking should you decide to change to another package or destination. Please note this change of mind guarantee does not apply for bookings made within 90 days of departure, after which time our standard 48 hour cooling off period applies. After this time, your booking becomes non-refundable.
All cancellation or change requests must be advised in writing to our Customer Service Team at support@inspiringvacations.
Refund times will vary and the timeframe of which will be advised at the time of cancellation. Any refund of deposit will be issued back to the original form of payment.
Any bookings made prior to 13 March 2020 must abide by the original payment term conditions.
Transferrable second installment up until 90 days before scheduled departure:
Following the second installment payment and up until 90 days before your departure only, should you wish to postpone your travel or transfer to another package, we can provide you with a credit note of the current balance paid on your booking, to be used to rebook within 18 months of the credit being issued.
Any change request must be advised in writing to our Customer Service Team at support@inspiringvacations.
Any bookings made prior to 13 March 2020 must abide by the original payment term conditions.
Please refer to our full Terms and Conditions for more details
Deposit & Payments
Booking Process
Airfare Information
Premium Economy or Business Class upgrades
Please specify this as a 'Special Request' when completing your booking and you will be quoted for the additional fare. In the event your selection is unavailable, or that you are dissatisfied with the quote, you will be provided with a full refund.
Land Only discount
A reduction of $2,200 per person applies if you wish to arrange your own airfares. To purchase a land-only fare, please select this option in the booking process under 'Departure City'.
Please note, if you are not arriving or departing as per the group itinerary, airport transfers are also no longer included. If you would like us to arrange this service for you, please refer to the ‘Extra services’ section for pricing.
Extending Your Stay
Some customers like to enhance their holiday by extending their stay pre- and/or post-tour or including a stopover in another destination. If you wish to do so, please follow these steps:
By choosing to extend your stay, please note that a supplement of $150 per person, plus applicable fare and tax differences will apply. We will contact you via email with a quote and proposed flight itinerary, and then proceed with collecting the additional payment required to confirm your request.
You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour, adding a stopover package en-route or booking a tour extension. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Pre and post tour accommodation
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Please specify in the 'Special Request' field when making your purchase your preferred travel arrangements and if you would like our team to book additional nights' accommodation and/or airport transfers. The additional cost for these land arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.
Please note, the transfers are not private and you may be grouped with other Inspiring Vacations customers.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a “3”.
3 – Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. While tipping is not customary, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations. You may also consider tipping your tour leader and driver for outstanding service throughout your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $1,821 per person in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not available.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.
Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.
A visa is required for travel to Azerbaijan for New Zealand passport holders. Please check HERE for further information.
A visa is not required for travel to Georgia or Armenia for New Zealand passport holders.
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://safetravel.govt.nz/ for up to date information in terms of entry requirements. Visas should not be applied for before receiving final documentation.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including, e-tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Group Size
2 - 14 people
Trip Style - Group Tour
Our Group Tours offer unparalleled value for money and are the perfect style of travel for those on a budget, though still eager to pack as much in to their itinerary as possible. These tours tick all the boxes with an abundance of inclusions such as sightseeing highlights, expert tour guides, quality accommodation, transfers, coach transportation, some meals and more. Please note that the maximum group size will vary between deals and will be mentioned within the Fine Print of each deal page.
Children
Children must be 11 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent inflight and is subject to change, depending on the flight schedule. Please refer to the day-by-day itinerary for the time spent
