Enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery and take in all of the fascinating historic sites, one of which (The Palace of the Sheki Khans) has newly been inscribed into UNESCO. Here are our suggestions: Ilgars Guesthouse A local homestay, rooms are basic but comfortable, there is decent WiFi and an option to get breakfast in the morning. Next is time to venture north and spend days 14-15 in Dilijan enjoying the nature and laid-back energy of Armenias Switzerland. On the morning of Day 8 in Mestia, check out the Museum of Ethnography to learn about Svan culture. Next up, take the cable car to the top of Zuruldi Ridge, home to the highest restaurant in Georgia. Not all travelers need that amount of trip planning but the best thing that JayWay does is make developing, low-infrastructure countries like Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan easier to handle. All three countries in the Caucasus are very affordable to travel. Azerbaijan requires a visa for most visitors and you must get it in advance. You can visit the Caucasus year-round, but if you want to hike in the Caucasus mountains (especially Svaneti), aim for June through August. and Papanino House. Click here to browse other hotels in Kutaisi! Well, it depends on what you want to do, however, we would recommend planning on spending at least two weeks if you want to go on a Georgia-Armenia itinerary or a Georgia-Azerbaijan itinerary and planning to spend at least three weeks if you want to visit all three countries. Click here to see their latest prices. For instance, there may still be metres of snow on the highest peaks in the Caucasus in August and a city only a couple of hours away would have temperatures well over 35C (95F). This was my favorite hotel of 2019. 2022 Adventurous Kate | Powered by Reggio Digital, How to Spend Three Days in Baku, Azerbaijan, Why You Should Travel to Georgia As Soon As Possible.

They have many rooms available and breakfast included in the room rate. Click here to see their latest prices, Boutique Hotel BelleVue A boutique hotel in the town centre, they have myriad rooms to choose from, some with balconies. Many travellers also wonder if there are any restrictions for travelling to Azerbaijan after Armenia or vice versa. Spend one full day exploring Yerevan. And while we would honestly say that six weeks to two months is the absolute ideal amount of time to spent in Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, we do realise that most typical travellers dont have months on end to aimlessly wander through the Caucasus.

Not quite what youre looking for? This is another way to see the mountains without the long drive to Mestia. Gouroo Club and Garden has a beautiful outdoor setting and terrific international food. If you only have one week to spend in the Caucasus, spend it all in Georgia. The Caucasus is home to incredible natural beauty, interesting cultural hotspots, and fantastic cuisine. I wrote about it in depth here. Ive worked with JayWay Travel for trips to Ukraine in 2017 prior to this Caucasus trip in 2019. specialty but dont waste time ordering tons of them in nice restaurants.

Do not attempt driving this road on your own. Youll find fewer tourists, limited travel resources and service tends to be at a lower standard. Not quite what youre looking for? No matter when you decide to plan your Caucasus itinerary, you are sure to have an amazing time exploring Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Grab lunch here and enjoy your food with a view! Skip Kutaisi and Imereti and fly from Tbilisi to Mestia and back. Culturally, Georgia and Armenia feel much more like Europe, while Azerbaijan feels more like the Middle East. Read up on the Armenian Genocide before you visit. Kutaisi also is worth visiting for a couple of days in its own right. One winery that I recommend is Baias Vineyard, a woman-owned winery where she and her sister make qvevri wine in the ground.

Spend your first three days in Tbilisi, seeing the main sites and maybe taking the time to go on a day trip or visit some more off-beat destinations and attractions within Georgias capital. If you travel with JayWay Travel like I did, theyll handle getting these tickets for you. , 3 Week Georgia-Armenia-Azerbaijan Itinerary, 4 Week Georgia-Armenia-Azerbaijan Itinerary. Kutaisi, Georgias third-largest city, is a logical place to end this Georgia-Armenia itinerary as it has its own international airport with many budget connections throughout Europe. The visa application process is very easy and all you need to do is print out the visa and show it to the border guard upon entering Azerbaijan. Check out more Tbilisi hotels here. From there, spend days 17-20 in Kutaisi. I do appreciate you generosity in sharing these information, it answers all of question in my head.

Because of its diminutive size, there arent a tonne of places to stay in Sheki, however, there are still a few options to choose from depending on your personal budget and travel style. For tips on what to see and do and where to stay, follow the Tbilisi suggestions above. That is why many people looking to visit Georgia want to take the time to visit the neighbouring countries as well. Follow the above suggestions about where to stay in the city.

First off the Caucasus is such an interesting place that you could spend months there without seeing all the points of interest. If youre wondering where to stay in this village, check out our recommendations: Guest House Kavtarashvili 38 A well-located, family-run guesthouse with a handful of clean rooms available. Spend your second day on a day trip to Vardzia and some surrounding fortresses and historical sites. Not quite what youre looking for? One thing to note is that typical coach-style buses in the Caucasus arent common and instead most routes rely on minibuses, also called marshrutkas. Three days is the optimal time to spend in Tbilisi to really get a feel for the vibrant city and to introduce yourself to Georgian culture. Depending on where you end your Georgia-Armenia itinerary, you can easily head back to Yerevan to catch a flight out of the Caucasus or go from Dilijan to Tbilisi and leave from Georgia. Not quite what youre looking for? At night, get dinner with a view at Panoramic Restaurant (tip: go in the afternoon and reserve their table that has the best view of the Flame Towers at night) or head to the edge of the Caspian Sea to dine on fish at Derya Fish House. Many people treat Kazbegi simply as a day trip from Tbilisi, however, we recommend planning to spend two nights (one full day) in order to fully appreciate the scenery and to give yourself enough time to do the hike. Check out the baths and walk through the Peace Bridge. Keep in mind that every destination listed here is easily accessible via public transport, however, they are not all direct routes. Yerevan is a massive city that feels a world away from Tbilisi, however, it retains its own unique charm and it is well worth spending a lot of time in the city. Click here to browse more Sighnaghi hotels! Spend a couple of days here sipping wine, enjoying the beautiful scenery and taking in all of the incredible historic sites. Conversely, summer in the Caucasus countries can be incredibly hot especially in the cities and lowland areas. Mestia is a popular destination for those looking to see what mountain village life is like in Georgia or for travellers who are interested in doing some serious trekking. Baku is becoming a popular destination for city breaks among many countries and there is a seemingly infinite amount of accommodation to choose from ranging from the ultra-luxe to a budget backpacker hostel. Where to Stay in Kutaisi: My top pick is the sumptuously comfortable Hotel Argo, just a short walk from the center of town. For example, public transportation in Georgia is mainly by marshrutka, or shared minibus, but JayWay will arrange a private driver to take you from sight to sight. Click here to browse other rooms in Sheki! Like I said earlier, if you only have two weeks to devote to this region, we recommend sticking only to two countries. Click here to see their latest prices. Later on Day 9, if youre able to, fly from Mestia to Tbilisi on Vanilla Sky Airlines, then fly from Tbilisi to Yerevan, Armenia. All in all, it is very easy to get around all three countries with a few different options depending on your budget and preferences. I urge you not to drive in Georgia unless you are a highly skilled driver who thrives in rough, unpredictable conditions. Call ahead and book a whole meal. My top day trip recommendation is to visit Khor Virap monastery (dont miss the view from the road with Mount Ararat in the background), Noravank Monastery, and the town of Areni, where you can stop for lunch and perhaps some wine tasting.

Planning the perfect Georgia-Armenia-Azerbaijan itinerary can seem overwhelming at first, but once you work out how long you have and which places are worth visiting, the task becomes far less daunting.

After exploring Sheki for a couple of days, its time to head back to Georgia. The only caveat is that you will be barred from entering Azerbaijan if you have ever travelled to Nagorno-Karabakh. Not quite what youre looking for? If you want to know where to stay in Mestia, check out our recommendations: Guesthouse Guram Baba A clean, comfortable family-run guesthouse, they have a number of rooms available, a kitchen available for guests use, and the owners will organise transport to Ushguli if youd like. In Dilijan, dont miss Cafe Number Two (where they train teenagers to work in the hospitality industry!) Have you planned a Caucasus itinerary before?

Hop on the night train from Tbilisi to the dynamic and thriving city of Baku.

I wouldnt recommend reducing time in any of these locations, but you can absolutely strike certain locations altogether. It is also a good time to visit if you want to make the most of the coastal areas along the Black and Caspian Seas. Though you will likely have to make a transfer in Tbilisi (unless youve hired a car or a drive), spend the next two days exploring that beautiful mountain village of Stepantsminda, also known as Kazbegi. As the most populous city in the Caucasus, Baku is large and you can easily occupy a number of days exploring the city. Some people consider the Caucasus part of Europe; others claim its part of Asia. Prices are on par with much of Eastern Europe. Visiting Ushguli feels like reaching the end of the world. If you arent interested in the mountain villages, then you could easily spend days 18-20 in Batumi instead, soaking up the sun on the Black Sea coast. They have helpful staff, clean facilities, and good common areas. The most popular activity in Kazbegi is to undertake the beautiful hike to the Gergeti Trinity Church, which commands incredible views of Mount Kazbek and the surrounding mountains.