Visit two of Armenia’s ancient monasteries and the town of Alaverdi on this small group tour from Tbilisi. Cross over the border with your experienced guide who will take you through the highlights of Northern Armenia in just 1 day.   Depart at 9:00 AM sharp for a 1.5-hour trip across the Georgian-Armenian boarder. Almost immediately you’ll start to notice changes in the landscape—the fields will become rocky mountains and the scenery takes on a certain apocalyptic touch, due to the many abandoned Soviet mines and factories. Your first stop is the fortified monastery of Akhtala, where you can marvel at the beautifully preserved frescoes and learn about the thrilling history of this Georgian-Armenian creation.   Then, you’ll reach the UNESCO-listed monastery complex of Haghpat, where you’ll learn about the Armenian stone crosses and the mystical poet Sayat-Nova. The next stop is a small authentic restaurant by the river, where you can try authentic Armenian cuisine. Travel another 30 minutes to the center of the town of Alaverdi, famous for being the hometown of MIG fighter jet engineer Mikoyan, and the 10th century monastery of Sanahin. Arrive back in Tbilisi by around 6:00 PM after a full and fascinating day.

Armenia, with its distinctive culture, its beautiful rocky mountains and ancient history is a must-see when traveling in the Caucasus region. Discover the beauty of Northern Armenia on this day trip from Tbilisi, with your tour starting at 9:00AM, after which you will head for the border. From here the landscape will begin to change, as you drive through the narrow gorges of the Debed River in between the high rocky mountains. The time seems to stand still in this part of the country, with its typical Soviet cars and huge copper factories built in the middle of the mountains, the scenery is full of bizarre beauty. The tour includes several main sightseeing objects of Northern Armenia, such as the historic Lori region, the fortified monastery of Akhtala, a unique example of wonderfully preserved frescoes from the 11th century and the two UNESCO protected monasteries of Sanahin and Haghpat. The history of the two monasteries in Alaverdi is connected by a legend of father and son and you can see many similarities, but also differences in their architecture. Both places are known for their beautiful architecture and the unique hachkars, as well as the stone crosses, a signature of Armenian art. Before heading back to Tbilisi you can taste authentic Armenian food in a traditional restaurant by the river.

Take a trip to the birthplace of wine, Kakheti. Be driven from Tbilisi through the Gombori pass, which overlooks stunning landscapes of high mountains. After about two hours of driving, arrive at one of the highest cathedrals of Georgia, Alaverdi, which was built in the 11th century. Continue towards the Napareuli village, known as one of the most distinguished winery microzones in the world, to taste several types of Georgian wine in one of the old wine cellars of the village. Afterward, head to a lovely small city in Kvareli for lunch.  After tasting some of the delicious dishes of Georgian cuisine, continue to another old winery, Khareba Tunnel, with a unique rare wine cellar located in the Alazani Valley. Carved inside the Caucasus mountains and opened in 1962, the cellar is 7.7 kilometers long. After tasting some delicious Georgian wine, head to Tsinandali, another village in the Kakheti region. Visit the beautiful House Museum of Prince Alexander Chavchavadze, which has its own ancient wine cellar or Marani where wine was produced and bottled according to the European method of winemaking, for the first time in the history of Georgia. Learn the old Georgian method of winemaking in special earthenware vessels Qvevri or amphorae, which give a special rich flavor to the wine. Georgian wine making method in Qvevri is in the UNESCO list of intangible world heritage monuments.

During the day tour, you will see the most picturesque and interesting places in Georgia. The first destination will be the ancient capital of Georgia - Mtskheta. It is the center of religious life and one of the oldest cities in the country. Unique sacred relics are collected here - you will be able to touch them. In the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, you will hear how Orthodoxy arose in Georgia. The huge church keeps many stories and legends. Each stone keeps a great story to be told by our experienced guide. Walking along the cozy streets of Mtskheta, you will be able to visit small shops selling souvenirs, sweets, and spices. After visiting Svetitskhoveli cathedral the next spot will be the 6th-century monastery of Jvari. From here opens a gorgeous view of the ancient city and the confluence of two multi-colored rivers. You aren't going to leave the place without beautiful photos! After exploring Mtskheta, we will head to Eastern Georgia, to the Kakheti region. On the way, we will stop for the lunch at the cozy family house. Excellent homemade Georgian food paired with Georgian wines will delight you. Our wine experts will tell you about Georgian winemaking and Georgian hospitality. The next stop will be the Bodbe monastery – another sacred place in Georgia. We will continue talking about rich Georgian history. The territory of the monastery is looking like a beautiful garden with a panoramic view of the Caucasus Mountains. From the monastery, we will drive to the city of love – Sighnaghi. The ride will be short but the views are spectacular. The small town is enclosed by the largest wall in Georgia, which has a walking path. During the walking on the wall, more wonderful views and opportunities for photography will be opened up before us.