Intrepid Highlights of Azerbaijan & Georgia

• Connect with locals and gain insight into everyday life in this part of the world – you'll visit the Udi community in Nij, learn the traditional methods of copper craftsmanship in Lahij and appreciate stained-glass artistry in Sheki.
• Hike to the 14th-century Gergeti Trinity Church, which sits in splendid isolation at 2170 m in the heart of the Caucasus Mountains.
• Navigate the organised chaos of the farmers markets in Telavi. Your expert local leader will be there to help you order as much fresh fruit, nuts or pigs’ heads as you desire.
• Stop at a traditional Georgian wine producer where the ancient, UNESCO-listed qvevri method is still used, then enjoy a hearty home-cooked lunch.
• Walk through Azerbaijan's Old Town, where views of the Palace of the Shirvanshahs are made even more spectacular by the modern skyscrapers in the background.

Meals

9 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Transport

Private Vehicle, Public Bus, Taxi

Accommodation

Hotel (6 nights), Guesthouse (3 nights)

Included Activities

• Baku - Leader-led night city walk
• Baku - Old City Walking Tour
• Kakheti - Georgian winery visit and home-cooked lunch
• Kakheti- Gremi Complex
• Kakheti - Telavi Fresh Produce Market
• Kakheti - Tsinandali Estate Visit
• Kish - Albanian Church
• Kish - Village Visit
• Lahij - Copper workshop visit
• Lahij - Yoghurt Making Demonstration
• Nij - Udin village and museum visit
• Qobustan - Petroglyphs
• Shamakhi - Juma Mosque
• Sheki - Bazaar Visit
• Sheki - Khan's Palace
• Sheki - Shebeke workshop visit
• Stepantsminda - Gergeti Trinity Church Hike
• Tbilisi - Dry Bridge
• Tbilisi - Orientation Walk
• Telavi - Alaverdi Cathedral

Day - 1

Location: Baku - Salam! Welcome to Azerbaijan. Your adventure begins in Baku with a welcome meeting at 6 pm this evening. If you arrive early, maybe walk along 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 an evening walk around Azerbaijan’s capital, where they’ll point out the best spots for dinner. Maybe get your group together for some traditional Azerbaijani dishes, like plov (spiced rice with meat, chestnuts and dried fruits, cooked in layers) or dolma (vine leaves stuffed with rice and vegetables).

Day - 2

Location: Qobustan/ Baku - 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. Make a stop along the way to check out these geological formations as they spew mud and gas. Azerbaijan has more mud volcanoes 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 more than 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.

Day - 3

Location: Caucasus Mountains / Lahij - Leave Baku this morning and enjoy the change of scenery as the dry landscape gives way to densely forested mountains. Stop in Shamakhi and check out one of the oldest mosques in Azerbaijan – Juma (Friday) Mosque. Continue to your final destination for today – the traditional village of Lahij, home to the Tat people. Explore the cobbled streets and stone houses, visit a coppersmith workshop and get to know some local folk over a cup of tea. Then, try your hand at making yogurt the traditional way – an important part of Azerbaijani cuisine.

Day - 4

Location: Sheki - 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. Visit a local church and museum of Udi culture. The Albanian Church (as it’s known colloquially) is a source of pride and heritage for the local Udi community. After, continue to Sheki, where you’ll have a free evening.

Day - 5

Location: Sheki - Visit the Palace of Sheki Khans this morning. The walls of the palace are painted with scenes of hunting and war and feature impressive stained glass. After, check out a workshop where shebeke – stained-glass windows made with no glue or nails – are produced by local masters with skills passed down through generations. Then, board a local public bus to Kish. When you arrive, you’ll see the pointed spires of the 12th-century Church of Kish. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to discover Sheki. Why not explore the impressive traditional architecture on foot, maybe stopping along the way for tea and some local halva (a traditional confectionery made with sugar, nuts, coriander seeds and rice flour).

Day - 6

Location: Telavi - After breakfast, take a walk with your leader through the Sheki market. This is a great opportunity to stock up on snacks for the journey ahead, so maybe grab some halva, nuts and dried fruit. Continue to the town of Lagodekhi, located 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 travel on to Telavi, where you’ll stay in a local hotel for the evening.

Day - 7

Location: Gudauri - Spend this morning wandering through the vibrant local farmers market in Telavi, where butchers carve up fresh meat and vendors offload piles of spices. Then, visit Tsinandali – a historic estate and winery once owned by 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. Continue to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Alaverdi Monastery, which dates back to the 6th century. After, drive into the mountains up the renowned Georgian Military Highway. Tonight, have dinner with your group and spend the night in lofty Gudauri.

Day - 8

Location: Gudauri / Stepantsminda - 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 – which you might catch a glimpse of if weather permits. The view of the pointed spires of the isolated church against the mountains is truly striking and is a great place for a photo. Drive back to Gudauri for dinner with your group.

Day - 9

Location: Tbilisi - Drive to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, located along the banks of the Kura River. Get the lay of the land on an orientation walk with your leader. Spend the rest of the day as you wish, maybe grabbing a khachapuri (bread filled 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.

Day - 10

Location: Tbilisi - With no further activities planned, your trip comes to an end after breakfast today. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.