Highlights of Azerbaijan & Georgia
Highlights of Azerbaijan & Georgia
Highlights of Azerbaijan & Georgia
10 Days Starting in Baku and ending in Tbilisi
Visiting: Baku, Qobustan/ Baku, Caucasus Mountains / Lahij , Sheki, Telavi , Gudauri, Gudauri / Stepantsminda , Tbilisi
Tour operator:
Tour code:
KFSB
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
Spend 10 days exploring Azerbaijan and Georgia, where historic Old Towns and monasteries sit comfortably alongside skyscrapers and the Caucasus mountains. Discover the ancient history hidden among Azerbaijan's futuristic architecture, then cross into Georgia to enjoy medieval ruins and traditional wines. Visit one of Europe's largest open-air rock museums, savour a hearty home-cooked lunch with a local Kakheti family and hike to the iconic Gergeti Trinity Church. From cities to mountains, this trip promises unforgettable encounters at every turn.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Baku
Location: Baku
Accommodation: Hotel
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).
Included Activities:
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Day 2: Qobustan/ Baku
Location: Qobustan/ Baku
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 3: Caucasus Mountains / Lahij
Location: Caucasus Mountains / Lahij
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Sheki
Location: Sheki
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
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).
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Sheki
Location: Sheki
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
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).
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Telavi
Location: Telavi
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
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.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 7: Gudauri
Location: Gudauri
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
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.
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Gudauri / Stepantsminda
Location: Gudauri / Stepantsminda
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
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.
Included Activities:
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Day 9: Tbilisi
Location: Tbilisi
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 10: Tbilisi
Location: Tbilisi
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
Optional Activities:
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What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Guesthouse (3 nights) -
Baku - Leader-led night city walk
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Qobustan - Petroglyphs
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Baku - Old City Walking Tour
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Lahic - Yoghurt Making Master Class
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Lahic - Copper workshop visit
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Shamakhi - Juma Mosque
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Nij - Udin village visit
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Kish - Church
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Kish - Village Visit
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Sheki - Shebeke workshop visit
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Included Activities
- Baku - Caravanserai
- Baku - Shirvan Shah Palace
- Baku - Old City Walking Tour
- Baku - Maiden's Tower
- Qobustan - Petroglyphs
- Shamakhi - Yoghurt making
- Lahic - Copper workshop visit
- Baku - Absheron Peninsula Tour
- Sheki - Khan's Palace
- Nidj - Udin village visit
- Kish - Church
- Kish - Village Visit
- Sheki - Shebeke workshop visit
- Sheki - Bazaar
- Kvareli - Lunch with a Local Family
- Kakheti- Gremi Complex
- Kakheti- Tsinandali Estate Visit
- Kakheti- Telavi Fresh Produce Market Visit
- Telavi - Alaverdi Cathedral
- Stepantsminda - Gergeti Trinity Church Hike
- Tbilisi - Metekhi Church
- Tbilisi - Orientation Walk
Transport
- There are some long travel days and some rough travelling in areas away from main tourist routes. Windy roads, rough surfaces and cramped conditions make for some challenging travel experiences. On some long travel days we depart early in the morning to ensure we optimise our time at our next destination. If you experience travel sickness we recommend you consider medication to help ease the discomfort.
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Important Information
- 1. A single supplement is bookable on this trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
- 2. Please note there is a chance of potential changes to the itinerary due to heavy rain, flooding and snow at higher altitudes, which often affect roads and bridges, making travel difficult or impossible (particularly in remote areas).
- 3. Please be advised that due to current border crossing restrictions for different Caucasus nationalities, your Trip Leader may be from nearby region. Your leader will have in-depth knowledge and extensive travel experience throughout the Caucasus. Local guides from Azerbaijan and Georgia are represented throughout the itinerary to ensure you receive a diverse and uniquely local range of perspectives.
Mode of Transport
- There are some long travel days and some rough travelling in areas away from main tourist routes. Windy roads, rough surfaces and cramped conditions make for some challenging travel experiences. On some long travel days we depart early in the morning to ensure we optimise our time at our next destination. If you experience travel sickness we recommend you consider medication to help ease the discomfort.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
There’s so much to see in this part of the world and we don't want you to miss anything. The itinerary is densely packed, but there will be the odd free afternoon or evening to explore at your own pace. Please read the itinerary carefully to determine if this will suit you.
Some of the best scenery in the region is found on foot. So, while this trip doesn't require a high level of fitness, it’s essential to be at least moderately fit if you want to partake in all activities. Make sure you bring comfortable walking shoes with good support.
This trip has a strong historical focus and is perfect for anyone with an interest in the Caucasus region. Even if you know nothing about the area, you’re bound to find yourself fascinated by the various political and social machinations that have shaped the area.
If you enjoy experiencing new food, good wine and breathtaking scenery then this is the right trip for you, keep in mind that altitudes can be high (over 2000m) so even in summer a sweater is a good idea.
If you would like to further explore the region, please check out our 20-day trip 'Azerbaijan & Georgia Experience' (trip code:KFSGC). -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions