''This article is an '''itinerary.
This is an itinerary that is created for the South Caucasus, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. They can be taken separately or combined.
Understand
Prepare
Get in
Go/Walk/Drive/...
Armenia
Arrive in Yerevan
Visit tourist information office (Nalbandyan 3)
Visit the Parajanov Museum (surrealist director able to make art out of all manner of junk)
Half day trip to Echmiadzin Cathedral (mother church), Zvartnots Cathedral ruins.
Dinner at the Club (Agump), drink at Melody Cafe in the Opera Square
Breakfast at Artbridge before heading to the following sites in Central Armenia
Take a day trip to Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery (UNESCO)
Hike to Aghjots Vank from Garni. Continue to explore Khosrov Reserve if you are inclined (S. Stepanos Monastery, Fortress, old inhabited caves, canyons - might need car/guide).
Dinner at Amrots, stroll the Northern Avenue, check out the fancy fountains of Republic Square
Quick breakfast sandwich at Yum Yum (try the basturma!)
Head north to Lori
Visit Saghmosavank en route
Visit Akhtala
Visit Odzun
Spend night at Tufenkian Avan Dzoraget.
Breakfast at Tufenkian hotel.
Head to Haghpat and Sanahin UNESCO Monasteries.
Hike to Kobayr Monastery (15 min)
Hike to Horomayri Monastery (45 min) or Surp Grigori Monastery (35 min)
Head back to Yerevan, spend the night
Visit Matenadaran (Illuminated Manuscripts Collection)
Visit Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum
Explore the city (and vernissage if it's the weekend)
Have dinner at Central Cafe
Sleep in Yerevan
Head to Southern Armenia, get an early start.
Visit Khor Virap Monastery and the views of Mt. Ararat en route
Visit Noravank Monastery's two double decker church and brick red cliffs
Visit some other sites of your choice in the area. Choose from:
*Selim Caravanseray
*Smbataberd Fortress
*Mozrov or Arjeri Caverns (requires guide)
*Tsakhats Kar Monastery
*Areni wineries
Sleep in Jermuk
Soak in one of the spas in Jermuk, take a bath, and hit the long road to...
Zorats Karer - Armenia's cruder and much older roadside "Stonehenge"
Tatev Monastery
Satan's Bridge spring fed pools (risk a treacherous climb down to the cavern and underground river below if you like)
Spend the night in Goris at Mrhav B&B.
Return to Yerevan or take a side trip to nearby Nagorno-Karabakh (see separate section on page)
Head north to Yeghegnadzor where you can take the highway directly to Lake Sevan (Martuni). Head northwest along the shores.
Visit Noratus, Armenia's largest khachkar cemetary
Visit Hayravank Monastery, overlooking the lake
Visit "Kghzi", the peninsula with Sevanavank and the more popular beaches
Eat fish and crayfish on the shores of the lake!
Head to Dilijan and spend the night.
Explore Dilijan
Visit Haghartsin and/or Goshavank Monastery
Have fish by the river - try Getap Restaurant
Visit a Molokan (Russian Amish type sect) Village
Head back to Yerevan to depart the following day, or on to Georgia
Azerbaijan
Arrive in Baku
Check into lodging
Eat lunch in Fountain Square at the Lebanese fast food shop
Walk around the Baku Bolvar
Go to the old city and spend the afternoon around the old city. Climb the Maiden's tower.
Eat dinner at Cafe Rendezvous
Walk around Fountain Square and enjoy the night life
Sleep
Wake up
Eat pastries from Judo Petchka near Sahil station and eat them in the nearby park
Go to the Atashgah Fire Temple via electric train (leave 28 May station at 10:20)
Return to 28 May station, buy a night train ticket to Sheki and eat a lunch of Georgian food at Georgian Home
Go to Cafe Aroma or another cafe and get some coffee-invite a Bakuvian and learn more about the city over a cup of coffee/tea
Eat dinner at Cafe Rendezvous
Depart for Sheki at 22:00
Share a taxi to the center of Sheki. Pay 1 AZN per person.
Check into lodging
Walk to the center of town while observing the ancient architecture of the Friday Mosque. Walk around the center and observe the men play bat gammon ''nard''. After soaking in some of the culture walk to Chelebi Xan and try a bowl of Piti and Capital Salad ''Stolicnoye Salat''. For a true Sheki experience, eat the pity in the following manner: First crumble up pieces of bread, pour the au jous into the bowl from the earthenware pot, eat the bread and au jous, and finally pour the rest of the stew into your bowl and eat it. To finish the night, walk up to the tea house inside the walls of the Palace of the Sheki Khans. There request a plate of the Sheki specialty halva alongside a pot of tea. Pay 2 AZN. Finally, walk back to the hotel and sleep soundly.
Wake up and walk over to the Sheki Bazaar and eat breakfast at the Turkish cafe adjacent to the Istanbul restaurant. There have a pot of tea alongside delicious pastries. If you have a sweet tooth in the morning, make sure to try the snicker_fs cake. After breakfast, walk through the Sheki bazaar and look at the various local handicrafts including scarves, unique boxes, and a plethora of sweets and confections. Once finished with shopping, buy a picnic lunch to eat in Kish. Then catch a cab up to Kish, pay .8 AZN for admission, walk around the church and eat lunch; pay the cab ~3 AZN and tell him to return in. It is also possible to take the 23 or the 15 minibus from the Sheki bazaar to save about 3-4 AZN up and back. Upon returning to Sheki take a cab to the Palace of the Sheki Khans, pay .8 AZN for admission, and tour the grounds. Then walk down the hill to the Karavan Palace and enjoy a dinner in the ancient grounds. To end the day, look at the various handicrafts on the road from the Karavan Palace while walking down the hill to the hotel.
Wake up and go to the Sheki Saray_fs Shebeke (''stain glass'') Restaurant. There order an omelet, a cup of coffee or tea by preference, and enjoy the plentiful variety of fruit, cereal, juice, and yogurt. Upon finishing breakfast pay 6 AZN and walk across the town center and go to the Friday (''Juma'') mosque. There tour the interior and enjoy the ornate geometric designs. Upon completing the tour, check out of the hotel and depart for Georgia on the 14:00 Balakan bus. Upon arriving to Balakan, find a bus marked to Tbilisi and board it.
Georgia
Nagorno-Karabakh
Stay safe
Get out