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Tours >>> Pilgrim tours
Georgia – Armenia
13 days /12 nights
Season: March-November
Number of participants: 10 - 30
Day I: TBILISI
Arrival in Tbilisi International Airport. Transfer to the hotel and accommodation.
Day II: TBILISI
Breakfast in the hotel. City tour. The city offers a great variety of sights, most of them very ancient. We start our visit from Tbilisi’s unique Old Town from Metekhi church (XIIIc.) and then we head for Narikala Fortress (IV.c.) – one of the oldest fortifications in the city,we continue to the Anchiskhati church (VIc.), Sioni Church(VI-VIIc.c.) and recently built Sameba Cathedral. After lunchwe visit the treasuries of the Georgian National Museum (seeing the Gold Fund of Georgia). Our trip comes to the end with a sightseeing walk around Old Tbilisi visiting the Catholic Cathedral. Leisure time. In the evening formative meeting with the Catholic Bishop. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day III: TBILISI – DAVID-GAREJA – BODBE - TELAVI
Breakfast in the hotel and driv e to the wine-growing region of Kakheti, visiting David-Gareja Monastery – cave complex located in a stark, semi-desert landscape (Lavra and Udabno monasteries). Lunch in Sighnaghi; afterwards visit Bodbe Monastery – the tomb of St. Nino. Leaving for Tbilisi. Dinner and overnight .
Day IV: TBILISI – MTSKHETA – KAZBEGI - GUDAURI
Breakfast in the hotel and departure to Gudauri; on the way visit the ancient capital and religious centre of Georgia- Mtskheta and its UNESCO World Heritage sites: Jvari Monastery (VI-VIIc.c.) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (XIc.)- one of the sacred places of Georgia where is the robe of Jesus Christ buried; arrival in Gudauri, accommodation in hotel, lunch and drive to Kazbegi - the main town in the region. From Kazbegi a leisurely 1.5 hour walk up through beautiful valleys and woodland leads us to Gergeti Trinity Church – located at 2170 m.; afterwards - dramatic Dariali Gorge; return to Gudauri, dinner and overnight.
Day V:
GUDAURI – GORI – UPLISTSIKHE - BAKURIANI
Breakfast in the hotel, meeting with guide and departure to Bakuriani. On the road visit Ananuri Fortress, afterwards Samtavisi Church(XI c.). Drive to the town of Gori; arrival and visit Catholic Church, then Ateni Sioni Church. After lunch visit Uplistsikhe Cave town (VI B.C). Arrival in Bakuriani, dinner and overnight.
Day VI: BAKURIANI - SAPARA - VARDZIA - BAKURIANI
Breakfast in the hotel and departure to Samtskhe-Javakheti region; visit Sapara monastery (XIII – XIVc.c.) and drive to Vardzia Cave Town (XII – XIII c.c.) - one of the highlights of Georgia with its cave churches and its frescoes. During the trip lunch packets will be offered. Return to Bakuriani, dinner and overnight.
Day VII: BAKURIANI - KUTAISI
Breakfast in the hotel and departure to Imereti province an area of cool springs, green fields and beautiful gardens. We arrive in Kutaisi and visit its UNESCO World Heritage site - the splendid Bagrati Templeruins (10 th-11 th c.c.), after lunchanother site of UNESCO Heritage- Gelati Monastery and Academy Complex (12 th c.), afterwards- Motsameta Church. In the evening –formative meeting with the catholic mission of West Georgia. Dinner and overnight.
Day VIII: KUTAISI - TBILISI
Breakfast in the hotel and departure to Tbilisi; arrival and leisure time. In the evening farewell banquet in Georgian restaurant in Old Tbilisi. The tourists can enjoy the views of Tbilisi by night. Overnight.
Day IX: TBILISI - YEREVAN
Breakfast in the hotel and departure to Yerevan; after passport control on the Georgian-Armenian border visit UNESCO World Heritage sites: Sanahin Monastery, after lunch – Haghpat Monastery. Then we drive to visit Hagartsin Medieval Monastery and Sevanavank Monastery; arrival in Yerevan, hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight.
Day X: YEREVAN – GARNI - GEGHARD - YEREVAN
Breakfast in the hotel. Yerevan sightseeing tour includes a visit to the State Museum of History of Armenia and Commemorative Monument of Genocide. After lunch visit the Catholic Cathedral, formative meeting with Catholic Bishop. Then we head to visit St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. Drive to Garni , a pagan temple and a summer residence for Armenian royalty. From Garni a short drive will bring us to Geghard Cave Monastery (IV c.). In the evening we return to Yerevan. Dinner/ overnight.
Day XI: YEREVAN - KHOR-VIRAP – NORAVANK - YEREVAN
Breakfast in hotel. In the morning we drive to visit spectacular Khor Virap Monastery with the biblical Mt. Ararat in the background. Afterwards –Noravank –marvelous complex of churches. Return to Yerevan, dinner and overnight.
Day XII: YEREVAN – ECHMIADZIN - YEREVAN
Breakfast in the hotel and drive to Echmiadzin - the religious centre of Armenia. After visiting the main cathedral there we continue to St.Hripsime and Gayane Churches; lunch and return to Yerevan. Leisure time. Dinner and overnight.
Day XIII: Transfer to airport and departure.
In case of force major circumstances the agency reserves the right to make some necessary changes.
During the journey you will visit a great number of historical sites, as well as natural beauties of Georgia, in particular:
* 16 Churches: including UNESCO World Heritage
* Vardzia and Uplistsikhe Cave Towns
* 11 Monasteries with particular frescoes, including David-Gareja Cave complex
* 2 Museums: Georgian National Museum and Matenadaran Museum in Yerevan
Total length of the itinerary 2550 km
UPON REQUEST OF CLIENTS THE AGENCY CAN OFFER AIR TICKETS FOR THE FLIGHT CORRESPONDING TO THIS JOURNEY
P.S. On Sundays it is always considered a free time for Holy Mass Celebration. If there is no priest available within the group, will be requested the assistance of the local vicar.
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