Eleven days, three countries and a must for Caucasus fans

1Day: Baku - Big Money at the Caspian Sea

First of all, arrive calmly and let the impressions of the day sink in. After all, the journey to Baku is a trip in itself. And the richest and largest city in the region thanks to oil, gas and other natural resources has a lot of exciting things to offer. After all the hustle and bustle, a few relaxing hours at the hotel or on the beach promenade on the Caspian Sea round off the day perfectly.

2Day: Baku City Tour and Gobustan National Park

With local guide, panoramic city tour and visiting historical and architectural monuments offer a good view of the capital of Azerbaijan: the medieval part of the city - Ichiari Shiakhar, the Palace of Shirvan-Shakhs, the Maiden's Tower, medieval bathhouses, Karavansaray, handicraft workshops, carpet and antique shops.
Next on the itinerary is a visit to the Gobustan National Park, located south of Baku between the Greater Caucasus and the Caspian Sea. Prehistoric people once lived here, leaving behind numerous rock drawings - petroglyphs. The world-famous mud volcanoes are of course part of the excursion.
Of course, there is also some time for exploring on your own. Or for a relaxed stroll along the boulevard. Or - if the weather cooperates - for a boat trip on the Caspian Sea.

3Day: Time travel: from the oriental farmers' market to Zaha Hadid

Oil has made Baku rich. But even before that, the largest city in the South Caucasus was the cultural centre of the region. From then to now - that's what the third day in Baku is all about: with a visit to a farmers' market with oriental spices and sweets and the old Zoroastrian temple Ateshgyah (House of Fire) on the Absheron peninsula. Incidentally, the area around the temple is world-famous for a unique natural phenomenon: the natural gas fire on Yanardag.
With a visit to the Heydar Aliyev Centre, designed by the Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid and known for its distinctive architecture, our little journey back in time ends in the here and now - one might almost say in the future.

4Day: Road trip to Tbilisi: from Baku to Sheki

Our road trip starts early in the morning. The first stops are Shamakhi and the visit of the Great Mosque, the Yeddi Mausoleum, the Gumbez and the Juma Mosque. The next stop on this day is Sheki, which has a lot to offer with its medieval old town, the fortress (18th century), the Khans Palace, the mosque and the caravanserai. Of course, a visit to the artisans and their workshops for the production of stained glass windows - the Shebaka - is also on the programme.

5Day: On the wine route

In the morning we say goodbye to Azerbaijan. Hello Georgia! Hello homeland of wine. Border formalities, vehicle and guide changes are organised and the journey continues in a relaxed manner through Georgia's largest wine-growing region: Kakheti.
Our route leads via Signagi, which lies on a hill above the wide Alazani valley. The remains of the 18th century fortress walls enclose the town. Our journey continues to the church of St. George in the village of Bodbe. It is dedicated to Saint Nino, who brought Christianity to Georgia as early as the 4th century.
When choosing the route, we paid special attention to the Georgian method of making wine in underground clay vessels. Its history already counts 8,000 vintages and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And of course, before arriving in Tbilisi, the programme includes a visit to a local winery as well as a multi-faceted wine tasting.

6Day: Tracing the modern lifestyle on historical paths

At the foot of the Narikala Fortress lies the historical part of Tbilisi. And if you want to be enchanted by romantic narrow streets, beautiful facades and picturesque sights, Tbilisi is the place to be. Our special city tour takes one past the Metechi Church, the Synagogue, the Sioni Cathedral, the Peace Bridge, the Anchiskhati Church and the famous Sulphur Baths, which are located next to each other.
But modern Tbilisi also has a lot to offer that is worth seeing. After all, Georgia's capital is, in addition to all its history, also a centre of attraction for free spirits, globetrotters and digital nomads. This quickly becomes clear during a city walk through the Sololaki or Betlemi districts with their narrow alleys, interesting architecture and many small cafés.

7Day: Around Tbilisi

From Mtskheta - the ancient capital of Georgia - the Christianisation of Georgia started in the 4th century. The Svetitskhoveli Cathedral from the 11th century is still the spiritual centre of the country today. It is not without reason that the visit to these two sites is at the beginning of our tour around Tbilisi.
The Jvari Monastery follows. Built on a high rock, it offers a breathtaking view of the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers.
The cave town of Uplistsikhe, near Gori, has served both as a dwelling and a place for pagan rituals over the centuries. The functional aspects of the city are still clearly visible in its remains, including an ancient theatre, the hall for pagan rituals, wine cellars, etc. Right! This is where the Silk Road ran, the traces of which are still visible today. We think: very very very worth seeing!

8Day: Off to Yerevan

New day. New country. New luck: off to Armenia. We start with what is probably one of the most interesting monastery complexes in the country. And it goes without saying that the Haghpat monastery complex (976 AD) is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. After all, it is one of the outstanding works of medieval Armenian architecture.
The journey continues to Lake Sevan - the "Emerald of Armenia" is the second largest alpine freshwater lake in the world and the largest in the Caucasus. It lies about 1,900 metres above sea level and occupies a large part of Armenia's surface area.
On the Sevan Peninsula, a visit to the Sevan Monastery is on the programme before heading to the hotel in Yerevan.

9Day: Stones, churches, temples and a legendary brandy

An important part of our tour of Armenia's capital is a visit to the Tsitsernakaberd memorial park and site before continuing on to Echmiadzin, just 20 km from Yerevan. Echmiadzin Cathedral is known as the centre of the Armenian Church and appears to be one of the first Christian state churches in the world.
On the way back to Yerevan, we stop at the ruins of the Temple of Zvartnots, a pearl of 7th century architecture that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The late afternoon and evening are at leisure. Those who wish can, for example, visit the Yerevan Brandy Factory, founded in 1887. An insider tip, the bar offers various old and Chateau brandy varieties for tasting.

10Day: On the trail of the Bible

If you are interested in the history of Christianity, a visit to the Matenadaran with its historical documents from all over Europe and Asia from many centuries is a real highlight. Here, for example, is the first copy of the Bible in Armenian and the Gospels, which fascinate with their beautiful miniatures.
The citadel and the pagan temple of Garni are our next destination. They are a picturesque monument from Hellenistic times and an impressive testimony to ancient Armenian architecture. And northeast of Garni, high above the gorge of the Azat River, lies a magnificent monument of medieval Armenian architecture - the Geghard Monastery, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

11Day: Departure