Classic Caucasus

Explore Baku’s Old City

Day 1 in Baku

Azerbaijan’s capital might be changing fast due to the oil-boom, but its heart still lies in the UNESCO-listed Old City, full of tree-lined boulevards and fascinating mansions. Look for ruined mosques and busy bakeries dotted between the new fashion boutiques.

See the ring of fire at Mount Yanar Dag

Day 2 in Mount Yanar Dag

Azerbaijan is known as the Land of Fire and nowhere is that more apt than at Mount Yanar Dag in Mehemmedi village, where an eternal flame burns from the hillside’s underground gas reserves. Come at night for a spectacular show.

Encounter the Silk Road in Sheki

Day 3 in Sheki

Once a trading stop on the fabled Silk Road, the town of Sheki is now the perfect place to sample Azerbaijan’s historic architecture (look for Sheki Khan’s Palace), craft workshops and try piti, a national dish of lamb stew cooked in a clay pot.

Taste fine Georgian wine in Kakheti

Day 4–5 in Kakheti region

Kakheti in eastern Georgian is the country’s premier wine-producing area, with plenty of wineries where you can sample a glass of qvevri – named for the large, lemon-shaped terracotta pot buried in the ground that the wine ferments in.

Lagodekhi, the country's oldest national park, is home to stunning Black Rock Lake, a natural border between Georgia and Dagestan in Russia. Here you can see a complete transformation of the ecosystem from dense beech forest to high alpine meadows, with a crystal clear alpine lake at the end.

Vashlovani, on the other hand, offers an entirely different experience. It is located near the Azerbaijan border and boasts surreal landscapes of narrow canyons, savannas with pistachio trees, mud volcanoes, and rugged peaks.

Take a sulphur bath in Tbilisi

Day 6–7 in Tbilisi

Tbilisi’s famous sulphur baths can be found in the Abanotubani district in the old town. Hot and cold sulphur springs used to run under Tbilisi and were used for bathing. Today, you can join locals at public baths (prepare for total nakedness) or try a spa-like private bath – the sulphur is said to help circulation and skin health.

See Rabati Fortress – Georgia’s symbol of tolerance

Day 8 in Rabati Fortress

Located on a mountaintop overlooking the town of Akhaltsikhe, Rabati Fortress attracts tourists for its mix of architecture, churches and mosque. Once a place where Catholics, Jews, Orthodox Christians and Muslims all had their own places of worship, today it’s a symbol of the region’s tolerance.

Visit Kutaisi, gateway to the Imereti region

Day 9–10 in Kutaisi

Kutaisi was once the capital of Georgia and dates back to the 15th century BC. Today, it’s a city with an old-world charm, but is best known as an entry point to the Imereti region, where you can explore caves, waterfalls and awe-inspiring Gabzaruli Lake.

Mountains and monasteries in Dilijan National Parks

Day 11 in Dilijan National Park

Northern Armenia’s Dilijan National Park is home to hiking trails where you can see bears, wolves and several species of eagle. However, it’s the 10th-century Haghartsin Monastery in Dilijan town that attracts visitors for its unique Armenian architecture.

Visit a Silk Road caravanserai on Selim Pass

Day 12 in Selim Pass

The Selim Pass road links the provinces of Gegharkunik and Vayots Dzor through the Vardenis mountain range, but the main attraction is the Selim Caravanserai, just past the highest point. Built in 1332, this hall and domed chapel once housed weary travellers, but today is an excellent picnic spot with beautiful views over the Yeghegis Valley.

Visit Armenia’s most famous monastery in Tatev

Day 13 in Tatev Monastery

The 9th-century Tatev Monastery was a centre of spiritual enlightenment and home to more than 600 monks at one point. Today, you can see frescoes and carvings at Surp Poghos-Petros Church and join the faithful at the newer Surp Grigor Church.

Climb The Cascade in Yerevan

Day 14–17 in Yerevan

Check out Yerevan’s art scene by climbing The Cascade staircase that connects downtown Yerevan with the museum district. Each level hosts a different installation and views over the city.