Caucasus By 4wd

Activity Description

• Date

  02.10.2021 - 15.10.2021

• 01 DAY

  OCTOBER 2 SATURDAY (TURKEY)

  We are starting our tour from Trabzon heading to Borçka alongside the Çoruh River (Nigara Valley), district of Artvin Province. After a short break, we drive to Karagöl (Black Lake).

  An incredible view and delicious Georgian dishes will company us where we stop for lunch, a piece of heaven in Blacksea Region. After lunch we are visiting Macahal Mosque reknown for its wooden architecture and carved motifs. Then we are heading to the Maral waterfall, falling from 68 meters and forming a 100 m2 lake. An old forest and unique vegetation will surround us. Macahel is the only UNESCO protected biosphere reserve in Turkey.

  Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

• 02 DAY

  OCTOBER 3 SUNDAY (TURKEY)

  Our departure is early in the morning, passing through Fındık Plateau first and heading to Indatsminda Pass at the foothills of Karçal Mountains. Afterwards, we are taking an exciting offroad crossing from 2800 meters altitude by Kuyruk Lake and taking a short break by the water.

  Then we are passing through the Papart Valley and heading to the magnificent Savsat Fish Lake, surrounded by mountains and forest. After lunch, we are visiting the Tbeti Church, which was built during the period of Ashot Koukhi, one of the Georgian Princes, who ruled the region between 899-914. After the visit, we are driving to the famous Şavşat Karagöl and to the plateau houses in Pınarlı Village for our overnight and dinner.

• 03 DAY

  OCTOBER 4 MONDAY (TURKEY – GEORGIA)

  At 9 am we start our programme with the Arsiyan Lakes famous for their legends. After visiting the lake driving through the plateau where the only floating island in Turkey is located, we will be arriving at Türkgözü for the Georgian border crossing.

  The region’s historical name was Potshovi, was changed to Posof in 1929. It was one of the important settlements of the Georgian Kingdom in the Early Middle Ages. It took place in history as a part of Çıldır Province in the Ottoman period. After lunch, we are crossing the border. After the border crossing, we will have entered the Ahıska Region in the southwestern part of Georgia. This region was left to Russia after the 1829 Edirne Treaty. After the treaty, especially the Catholic Georgians living in the region moved to the Bomonti district of Istanbul. We are visiting Ahiska Rabat (Rabati) Castle, which has a mosque, synagogue and a church, the first construction was started in the 9th century. This castle, which had a great restoration in 2014, has not only the walls, but one of the most important tourist centers of the region. Then we are moving to Borjomi, the city of Georgia famous for its hot springs and spring waters.

  Overnight at hotel.

• 04 DAY

  OCTOBER 5 TUESDAY (GEORGIA - ARMENIA)

  Departing at 8 am, we follow the mountain roads from Bakuriani and arrive in Vardzia, a cave monastery and city. There are houses, shops, libraries and even a water channel in this rock-carved city. This cave, built on 13 floors, has about 6000 rooms in the city. A small group of monks still live there. After our visit, we are having lunch in a local restaurant. We are departing from Vardzia, through the alternative village roads and arriving at the Bavarian border gate. After the border crossing, our final destination will be Yerevan.

  Overnight and dinner at our hotel.

• 05 DAY

  OCTOBER 6 WEDNESDAY (ARMENIA)

  Departure at 9.30 am for the city tour. In this tour we are having a local guide and minibus to take us to the Garni Temple, which is thought to have been built in the period of King Tridates, who lived approximately 30 km outside the city. Then we are returning to the city and visiting the city's important museums, art galleries, monumental buildings and the famous Ararat Brandy factory.

  In the evening, we are watching the Light and Water Show with music in the Republic Square near our hotel.

• 06 DAY

  OCTOBER 7 THURSDAY (ARMENIA)

  At 8:30 we will be leaving hotel. In about an hour, we will visit the Knop Virap Monastery , 8km from Turkey border. It is believed that the pigeons released here were placed on Mount Ararat. Then we visit Noravank Monastry, located in the valley created by the Amagu River. After the monastery visit, we are off to Selim Pass, which is 2410 meters high, to reach Lake Sevan surrounded by mountains. In this pass, we will see the Orbelian Caravanserai (also known as the Selim Caravanserai), the best caravanserai of Armenia dating back to the 13th century without restoration. After the break by Lake Sevan, we are heading to our hotel in Dilijan National Park for overnight.

• 07 DAY

  OCTOBER 8 FRIDAY (ARMENIA – GEORGIA)

  Departure at 10.00. Before we are off, whoever wants to can visit Parz Lake and Sharambeyan Street. We are driving through Dilijan National Park and coming to the Marneuli border gate via Vanadzor. We cross into Georgia from this point. Our arrival in Tbilisi is in the afternoon. Overnight at our hotel.

• 08 DAY

  OCTOBER 9 SATURDAY (GEORGIA)

  Today after breakfast we will be with our local guide and vehicle. We are enjoying the scenery of the city once by funicular and once by cable car. Legvachtahvi District in Eskişehir, Cuma Mosque, Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theater (Historical time), Narikala Castle, Tsminda Sameba Cathedral are the places we will visit.

  Tiblisi is famous for its nights.

• 09 DAY

  OCTOBER 10 SUNDAY( GEORGIA)

  Today we are starting our tour with the visit of Ananuri Castle and monastery, built in the 13th century on the Aragvi River, 78 km away from Tiblisi.

  Then the journey continues to the high Caucasian mountains. “Georgian Military Highway”, which is one of the most scenic roads of the tour, goes up to 2300 meters. One of the places we are visiting is Russia-Georgia Brotherhood Monument, built in 1983. The other place we are visiting in the afternoon will be the famous Kazbegi Gergeti Tirinity Church, which is always featured in the promotional videos or posters of Georgia.

  Overnight stay in our hotel.

• 10 DAY

  OCTOBER 11 MONDAY (GEORGIA)

  We are departing at 9 am from Kazbeg to Sataplia (also known as 'Honey Place') Natural Protection Area, one of the most touristy areas of Georgia, where "dinosaurs footprints" are located and where a glass terrace, a cave and dinosaur footprints await us. After the tour, we are heading to explore Kutaisi city center.

• 11 DAY

  OCTOBER 12 THURSDAY (GEORGIA)

  We are leaving our hotel at 8:30 and going to Martvili Canyon, tour in the river by boat in a mystical atmosphere. Then we are going to Okatse Canyon and taking a fascinating walk on a platform fixed on the rocks. After that, we are visiting the cave where Prometheus, became the first man to find fire in Greek mythology and, was therefore chained by God Zeus to Khvamlı Mountain as punishment.

  The overnight stay will be in balloons in Ambrolauri. You will remember the tents you stay in for the rest of your life.

• 12 DAY

  OCTOBER 13 WEDNESDAY (GEORGIA)

  8:30 in the morning, we leave the glamping site and arrive in Ushguli after offroad crossings through the highlands of Lentekhi on the Khvanchkara road. Ushguli is the highest village in Europe at 2010 meters. About 70 families (like 200 people) live here. Six months of the year it is covered in snow and the roads are closed to Mestia. This place is also famous for its defense towers in Svaneti. Our picnic lunch is in Ushguli. The Zagari pass is 2650 meters above sea level. Overnight in Mestia.

• 13 DAY

  OCTOBER 14 THURSDAY (GEORGIA)

  We are leaving the hotel at 9:00 in the morning and visiting the home of the Margiani Family, where we can still see the traditional ways of Svan life. Then, heading through Zugdidi and Poti, we arrive in Batumi which is the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara located about 20 km to Turkey.

  Overnight at our hotel. For our last supper, we are having Turkish cuisine.

• 14 DAY

  OCTOBER 15 FRİDAY (TURKEY)

  We are leaving the hotel at 10:00 after breakfast. In our city tour, we will see the “lovers who cannot meet” Ali and Nino Statue, Astronomic Clock, Neptune Fountain, Europe Square, Alphabet Tower.

  We are heading to Trabzon at noon, after passing through the Sarp border gate, we are arriving at Trabzon Airport around 5 in the afternoon. Sadly, this is where we end this special tour full of adventure.

INCLUDED

Hotels

Fuel

Accomodation for tour staff

Entrance fees

Breakfasts & Dinners

City tour in Tiblisi and Yeravan with local tour guides

NOT INCLUDED

Lunches

Accomodation in Trabzon

Flight tickets

Visas

Tips for drivers, guides

Terms and Conditions

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