Join us for a full gastronomic experience “from farm to table” on this food and wine tour of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia. Enjoy the region’s legendary hospitality as you visit farms, local markets, family homes, restaurants, and wineries. Taste a vast range of traditional dishes – such as khachapuri (“Georgian pizza”), pilaf, piti, and sweet baklava – while discovering the rich traditions surrounding the preparation and consumption of the food. Explore the culture around Azerbajiani dolma and Armenian lavash, both of which are on UNESCO’s lists of intangible cultural heritage, and share home-cooked, home-grown foods at the tables of local families. Participate in masterclasses to learn about each country’s culinary traditions, including recipes passed down through the generations and the secrets held by local cooks, and try making local specialities like khinkali, dolma, churchkhela, and different types of bread. Visit wineries in all three countries, immersing yourself in winemaking traditions that are thousands of years old while sampling the local wines and enjoying the views of beautiful vineyards surrounded by the Caucasus Mountains. Setting the food and wine in their broader context, this Caucasus food and wine tour also showcases the history and geography that have influenced the cuisine – and still do today – with visits to ancient churches and monasteries, beautiful waterfalls and canyons, and many other historical and scenic attractions, as well as three vibrant capital cities.
Tour itinerary:
Free day. Overnight at the hotel.
Driving distance: 30 km
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Driving distance: 10 km
Meals: breakfast, tea break, lunch, dinner, cooking class
Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours
Driving distance: 330 km
Meals: breakfast, wine tasting, dinner
Duration of sightseeing tour: 8-9 hours
Driving distance: 180 km
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, wine tasting
Duration of sightseeing tour: 8-9 hours
Driving distance: 190 km
Meals: breakfast, lunch, wine tasting
Duration of sightseeing tour: 8-9 hours
Driving distance: 20 km
Meals: breakfast, cooking class
Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours
Driving distance: 250 km
Meals: breakfast, lunch, wine tasting
Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours
Driving distance: 260 km
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Duration of sightseeing tour: 7-8 hours
Driving distance: 100 km
Meals: breakfast
*Optional cooking class of Svan cuisine: learn to cook kubdari (local pie with meat and herbs) and tashmidjabi (potato puree with sulguni cheese).
Duration of sightseeing tour: 7-8 hours
Driving distance: 230 km
Meals: breakfast, lunch, wine tasting
*Optional stop at Martvili Canyon (extra 1,5 hours). We will take a small boat trip inside the canyon, and after that enter the gorge's another side to stroll over the canyon's waters watching it changing its colors on every turn and stone.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Driving distance: 220 km
Meals: breakfast
Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours
Driving distance: 370 km Meals: breakfast, lunch
Duration of sightseeing tour: 7-8 hours
Driving distance: 25 km
Meals: breakfast, dinner, cooking class, brandy tasting
Duration of sightseeing tour: 10-11 hours
Driving distance: 290 km
Meals: breakfast, two wine tastings
The next stop is Garni, the only pagan temple in Armenia that survived the introduction of Christianity in the 4th century. After sightseeing, learn about the preparation of, and traditions surrounding, Armenian lavash – which are on UNESCO’s lists of intangible cultural heritage – and have a go at baking the bread yourself. This will be followed by a lunch of traditional Armenian specialties – including, for dessert, garni gata, a sweet bread that’s usually served with tea or coffee. After lunch, return to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 8-9 hours
Driving distance: 90 km
Meals: breakfast, lunch, cooking class
Price includes:
- All transfers (1-2 pax by sedan, 3-4 pax by Mercedes Vito or similar, 5-10 pax by Mercedes Sprinter passenger van);
- Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
- Sightseeing tour program in each country with local English-speaking guides;
- Entrance tickets to sights as per itinerary;
- Meals, cooking classes, and wine tastings as per the itinerary;
- Azerbaijan e-visa;
- Bottled drinking water.
Price doesn't include:
- Full board (lunches and dinners);
- Hotel charges for additional services;
- Personal travel insurance;
- Tips are not included, but would be appreciated.
Prices, per person
Accommodation
Boutique Hotel Baku / City Park / Grand Midway
Comfort:
Sultan Inn Hotel / Midway Baku / Molokan Inn / Midtown
Deluxe:
Radisson Hotel Baku / Sapphire City / Courtyard by Marriott
Sheki Palace / Macara Sheki City Hotel / Ruma Qala / Sheki Park
Comfort:
Sheki Palace / Macara Sheki City Hotel / Ruma Qala / Sheki Park
Deluxe:
Marxal
Stay Boutique / Kopala / Tiflis / Ginger / Monday / Ramada By Wyndham Tbilisi Old City
Comfort:
River Side / Museum / Ibis Styles / New Tiflis / Makmani Boutique
Deluxe:
Ambassadori / Tiflis Palace / Rooms / Swissôtel Tbilisi / Wyndham Grand
Solomon Kutaisi / Magnolia / Memoire / Terrace Kutaisi / Family Hotel 1887
Comfort:
Best Western Kutaisi / Grand Opera / Newport
Deluxe:
Best Western Kutaisi / Grand Opera / Newport
Old House Mestia / Mestia Inn / Chubu / Old Seti / Villa Mestia
Comfort:
Lahili / Chalet Mestia / Sunset Terrace
Deluxe:
Gistola Mestia / Posta
Hayasa / Ani Central Inn / Silk Road Boutique / Cascade / Felinger Collection
Comfort:
Opera Suite / Yerevan Place
Deluxe:
Tufenkian Historic / DoubleTree by Hilton Yerevan / Republica Hotel / National by Stellar