Eastern Turkey, Georgia, & Armenia - 20 Days

Arrive at any time, and meet your CEO and group in the evening at a welcome meeting. Afterwards, head out for a short orientation walk around the hotel area on the way to an optional group dinner.

Transfer to the airport this morning for the flight from Istanbul to Adiyaman. Settle in for lunch by the lake of the Ataturk Dam before continuing on to the Mt. Nemrut area. Visit the funerary monument, Karakus, the Cendere bridge, then ascend to the summit of Mt. Nemrut for sunset. Continue on to Adiyaman where you can settle in for the night and enjoy dinner in the hotel.

After an early breakfast, transfer to Ataturk Dam to enjoy the viewpoint, then continue to Karahantepe. You'll be welcomed into a local home for lunch before continuing on to the ancient and impressive archaeological site of Gobekli Tepe. Afterwards, transfer to the nearby town of Urfa for the night and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Travel to Mardin after breakfast this morning. Mardin's old town is protected by UNESCO and is considered to be an open-air museum. Explore the historic limestone architecture and learn about the interesting landmarks throughout. The rest of the day is free for individual exploration or time to relax before joining the CEO for an optional dinner in the evening.

Settle in for a drive to Lake Van, the largest lake in Turkey. Upon arrival to the lakeside town of Gevas, board a boat to Akdamar Island for a CEO-led walk, then head back to your hotel in Van. Enjoy a free evening to end the day.

Visit the Van Citadel this morning, built by the ancient kingdom of Urartu. From there transfer to the previous capital of the Republic of Ararat, Dogubeyazit. Explore Ishak Pasha Palace then take in views of Mt. Ararat and across the mountains where the possible resting place of Noah's Ark is said to be located. Continue on to Kars for a brief orientation walk, then settle in for the evening with free time.

Drive to Ani this morning, known as the city of 1001 churches,. Explore the Ani complex with your CEO, seeing the many religious buildings, palaces and forts before heading back to Kars for a free evening and optional final dinner out with the group.

Wave goodbye to Turkey this morning on a drive to the Oncul Çıldır Aktaş Border Gate for the crossing into Georgia. Enjoy the picturesque scenery en route to Tbilisi, with a stop in the small town of Poka for a visit and some time for lunch. In the evening, take a short orientation walk with your CEO on the way to an optional dinner.

Set off to explore Tbilisi this morning on a walking tour through various districts and past some of the iconic landmarks of the city. Enjoy views from the Narikala Fortress before descending into the Caravanserai, a place where travellers and trade caravans used to stop and spend the night in years past. Enjoy the remainder of the day and evening at leisure to continue exploring or to relax.

Travel this morning from Tbilisi to the village of Stepantsminda, where you'll switch to 4WD Jeeps for the drive to the spectacular Gergeti Trinity Church. Visit the church and explore on your own before meeting a local family for a cooking experience involving the preparation of meat dumplings called khinkali, which will serve as lunch. Move on to Gudauri for the evening, stopping at the Friendship Monument on the way.

Travel to Gori, birthplace of the communist revolutionary and Soviet politician, Joseph Stalin. Choose to visit the State Stalin Museum or join your CEO on a walk up to the town fortress for views overlooking the valley. Continue to the archaeological site of Uplistsikhe, an ancient city carved out of the rock, before arriving to the city of Kutaisi. Join your CEO for a short orientation walk on the way to an optional dinner out with the group in the evening.

Visit the impressive Martvili Canyon this morning, and board a boat for a short ride along the gorge with cascading waterfalls. Continue by foot to a quaint local village for for some free time for lunch before returning to Kutaisi. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free for individual exploration, or perhaps join your CEO for a walk to the Bagrati Church.

Travel to Mtskheta this morning, one of the oldest cities in Georgia as well as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Visit the Svetitskhoveli cathedral, then continue on to Terragarden for lunch and a cooking class. Later, transfer to Tbilisi for a walk with your CEO and an optional farewell dinner.

Wave goodbye to Tbilisi this morning and cross the border into Armenia. Stop in the city of Vanadzor for a walking tour and some free time for lunch before continuing on to Yerevan. Head out in the evening for an optional dinner with your CEO and fellow travellers.

Set out on foot this morning with a walking tour of the city. Discover the historical significance of Republic Square before visiting the Megerian Carpet Museum to enjoy the rich traditions of the Armenian rug weaving culture. Continue to the Cascade complex for stunning views of the city, learn all about the stone-carved Armenian Khachkar, and try your hand at playing the Duduk instrument with a local musician. Enjoy free time for the rest of the day and evening.

Depart for Lake Sevan this morning and take some free time to explore or take an optional boat ride on the lake. Continue on to Dilijian for a cooking class about how to make traditional sweet Armenian pastries called 'gata' which will serve as a light lunch. Continue exploring the area on foot with a walking tour and finish the day with free time and an optional dinner out with the group in the evening.

Set out for Khor Virap and enjoy a tour of the Monastery this morning. After some free time for lunch, depart for the Areni-1 Cave to explore the multicomponent cave complex on foot. Continue on to Goris for the evening and take a short orientation walk with your CEO on the way to an optional dinner.

Travel to Goris Crochet this morning to visit the WINNET Goris Foundation, which works to empower the women of southern Armenia in their political, economic, and social lives. Continue on to Halidzor and hop on the Wings of Tatev Cable Car up to the monastery for a visit of the ancient complex before returning to the bus and carrying on to Yerevan in the afternoon.

Enjoy a free day to explore Yerevan's parks, museums and historical monuments. Perhaps join an excursion to the Geghard monastery and Garni monastery, and finish off with a cooking demonstration at a local guesthouse. Regroup in the evening for an optional final dinner out with the group.

Depart at any time.