O.A.T. Land & Small Ships Adventures 2023 & 2024 | Page 51

S I

( Mtkvari )

T U R K E Y

PRE-TRIP EXTENSION

GEORGIA Tbilisi

ARMENIA

RUSSIA

Shaki Lahic

AZERBAIJAN

Gobustan

C a s p i a n

Baku

A

R M

Yerevan

DAY 7 • Cave City of Vardzia Discover Vardzia , a vast 800-year-old monastery complex hewn into the side of a mountain . The legendary Queen Tamara expanded an earlier fortress into a cave monastery and holy city . About 2,000 resident monks lived here , high above the valley floor . After , travel to a nearby village for an included lunch at a local restaurant .

B , L — Crowne Plaza Borjomi or similar

DAY 8 • Stepantsminda ( Kazbegi ) • Fortress of Ananuri Journey along the Georgian Military Highway to reach the snowy peaks of the Greater Caucasus . Along the way , visit Ananuri , a 13th-century hilltop fortress . Then stop at a scenic overlook to see the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument before reaching our hotel in the mountain town of Stepantsminda ( also known as Kazbegi ).

B , L , D — Rooms Hotel Kazbegi or similar

DAY 9 • Kazbegi • Controversial Topic : Post- Soviet Georgian women • Gergeti Trinity Church • Home-Hosted Lunch Meet with a female community leader to discuss the Controversial Topic of women ’ s evolving role in Georgian society . Then , travel by 4x4 vehicles to view the alpine vistas of the Greater Caucasus , and see the remote 14th-century Gergeti Trinity Church . Then , visit a felt-making workshop before heading to a remote mountain village for a Home- Hosted Lunch and a lesson on making Georgian dumplings .

B , L , D — Rooms Hotel Kazbegi or similar

DAY 10 • Sighnaghi • Bodbe Convent Travel to Kakheti , one of the world ’ s oldest wineproducing regions . Stop in the village of Bodbe

S e a

E N I

Lake Sevan

Geghard Monastery Garni

Khor Virap

A

AZERBAIJAN

To / From U . S . Internal flight Land route Cruise route

0 Miles 40

to visit the Monastery of St . Nino . Then , arrive in the hilltop town of Sighnaghi for a walking tour of the Old Town .

B , L , D — Kabadoni Boutique Hotel or similar

DAY 11 • Telavi • Alaverdi Monastery • Winery visit In Telavi , visit a local market and sample Georgian snacks . Then , visit the medieval Alaverdi Monastery and its 1,000-year-old wine cellar , followed by a tasting and lunch at a family-owned winery . After , visit an organization dedicated to preserving rural Georgian traditions and learn how to make Georgian favorites like churchkhela , a sweet treat made with grape juice and walnuts .

B , L — Kabadoni Boutique Hotel or similar

DAY 12 • Tbilisi • Yerevan , Armenia Depart Sighanghi and stop back in Tbilisi for lunch before heading to the airport for our flight to Armenia . Arrive in Yerevan late this evening .

B , L — Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan or similar

DAY 13 • Yerevan • Genocide Museum

• Controversial Topic : Armenian nonnuclear families Explore the capital of Armenia . Visit the top of the “ Great Cascade ” to take in the city and Mount Ararat . After viewing the medieval manuscripts at Matenadaran , visit the Genocide Memorial & Museum and learn about the oftenoverlooked Armenian genocide . Visit a nearby café afterwards to meet a single mother and discuss the Controversial Topic of raising a child out of wedlock in Armenia .

B , L — Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan or similar

Azerbaijan : Baku & Shaki

PRE-TRIP : 5 nights from $ 1695 Only $ 339 per night

To view your optional extension in detail , visit www . oattravel . com / gaa

DAY 14 • Lake Sevan • Geghard Monastery and Temple of Garni Cruise Lake Sevan , then enjoy lunch at a local restaurant that includes a lesson on making gata , traditional Armenian pastry . Then , visit Geghard Monastery , partially carved into a cliff face . After , visit the Temple of Garni , a Greco-Roman temple perched on a cliff overlooking the Azat River .

B , L , D — Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan or similar

DAY 15 • Khor Virap Monastery • Echmiadzin Explore Khor Virap , an ancient monastery set at the foot of Mount Ararat . Then , visit Echmiadzin Mother Cathedral , the world ’ s oldest Christian cathedral . We ’ ll also stop at the nearby archaeological site of Zvartnots . Dinner at a local restaurant is accompanied by a performance of traditional Armenian songs .

B , D — Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan or similar

DAY 16 • Return to U . S . After breakfast , depart for the airport for your return flight to the U . S .

B

We recommend that you Arrive Early , Stay Later

We strongly recommend you take advantage of this extra time to relax or explore more in depth before or after your trip . Prices shown include accommodations , daily breakfast , and private airport transfer .

• Arrive early in Baku on your Azerbaijan pre-trip extension for $ 150 per person , per night

• Arrive early for your main trip in Tbilisi for $ 200 per person , per night

• Conclude your main trip with more time in Yerevan for $ 175 per person , per night

Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www . oattravel . com / gaa 51