Highlights of the Caucasus

Explore Baku’s Old City

Day 1–3 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.

Encounter the Silk Road in Sheki

Day 4 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.

Take a sulphur bath in Tbilisi

Day 5–7 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.

Taste fine Georgian wine in Kakheti

Day 8 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.

Mountains and monasteries in Dilijan National Parks

Day 9 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.

Climb The Cascade in Yerevan

Day 10–13 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.