Eastern Turkey & Georgia: Crossroads of Ancient Civilizations

Itinerary

• Days 1-3: Istanbul (Turkey), Van
  

  Arrive in Istanbul for a welcome dinner and a night of rest before flying the next morning to Van, once capital of the Iron Age Urartu Empire. Here you’ll visit massive Van Castle, where Urartian kings once ruled; take a boat ride over the blue-green waters of Lake Van – Turkey’s largest lake – to Akhtamar Island, where you’ll visit the 10th century Church of the Holy Cross; and watch traditional kilim rugs being made by hand at the Van Carpet Weaving Center.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Van Castle’s remarkably well preserved Urartian cuneiform inscriptions, dating from the 6th century BC
  • High-relief carvings and frescoes of the 1,000-year-old Church of the Holy Cross
  • The boat trip across Lake Van to Akhtamar Island and the spectacular views from there, with a ring of mountains on the horizon
  • The intricate patterns of hand-woven kilim carpets at the Van Carpet Weaving Center
• Days 4-5: Dogubeyazit, Kars, Ani
  

  Drive through jagged volcanic terrain, passing nomad camps along the way, to reach Dogubeyazit, a Kurdish town set in the shadow of mighty Mt. Ararat. See beautiful Ishak Pasha Palace, set on a hillside overlooking the Silk Road. Spend the night in the high-steppe town of Kars, with its towering citadel and 10th century Church of the Apostles, and visit the remains of the medieval Armenian capital of Ani, which in the 11th century was one of the most populous cities in the world.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • 18th century Ishak Pasha Palace, one of Turkey’s most photogenic locales
  • The beautiful iconostasis in the Church of the Apostles in Kars
  • Ani, once a major metropolis known as the City of 1,001 Churches; today its churches are the best-preserved structures
  • A visit to Bogatepe village cheese museum near Ani, followed by lunch in the village cooperative
• Days 6-8: Akhaltsikhe (Georgia), Vardzia, Batumi
  

  After crossing the border into Georgia, wander the 1,000-year-old town of Akhaltsikhe, which once sat at a junction of the old Silk Road, and visit the remarkable medieval cave town of Vardzia. Drive over Rikoti Pass to Batumi, an important port and resort city on the Black Sea Coast. Along the way, visit a winemaker for an introduction to traditional Georgian winemaking techniques.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Akhaltsikhe, where medieval Christian, Jewish, and Islamic structures testify to the multicultural influences brought by the Silk Road
  • Exploring the network of hundreds of caves that make up Vardzia
  • Vardzia Terraces winery, where wine is fermented in qvevri (giant earthenware vessels), a method that’s been in use for 8,000 years
  • The tropical-resort ambience of Batumi, where cafes spill out onto the broad, tree-lined streets
• Days 9-12: Mestia, Ushguli, Okureshi, Kutaisi
  

  Head to the remote, mountainous region of Svaneti, which has earned a UNESCO World Heritage listing for its massive medieval watchtowers. As a result of their isolation, Svanetians are considered the “most Georgian of all Georgians.” Get a chance to meet some of them at Ushguli, at 6,900 feet the highest continually inhabited village in all of Europe. An optional guided hike toward Zagri Pass leads to glorious alpine vistas. Descend from the mountains, stopping at the village of Okureshi to sample Usakhelouri wine, a rare, ancient red varietal that’s one of Georgia’s most esteemed. Overnight in Georgia’s second-largest city, Kutaisi, best known as the site of Jason’s mythical quest for the Golden Fleece, and visit the UNESCO-listed 12th century Gelati Monastery.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • The steep, remote mountains of Svaneti, studded with medieval watchtowers
  • Meeting Svanetians, the most tradition-bound of Georgians
  • Medieval artifacts at the ethnographic museums in the towns of Mestia and Ushguli
  • A picnic amid stunning mountain views on the optional guided hike toward Zagri Pass
  • Sampling rare and prized Usakhelouri wine
  • The frescoes and mosaics of Gelati Monastery
• Days 13-15: Signagi
  

  Cross into eastern Georgia and the region of Kakheti, the country’s most important wine-growing region. Here you’ll tour and taste at the vineyards at renowned Pheasant’s Tears Winery; indulge in a traditional “Georgian Table” feast, featuring delicious food and drink and a soulful performance of polyphonic folk singing; and visit 9th century Bodbe Monasterty, formerly a coronation venue for the kings of Kakheti. Overnights here are in the charming walled hill town of Signagi.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Exceptional Georgian wine at Pheasant’s Tears Winery in Kakheti
  • A “Georgian Table” feast, accompanied by a performance of traditional songs in a centuries-old polyphonic style that developed independent of European rules of harmony
  • The narrow streets and elaborate wooden balconies of Signagi
  • The basilica and gardens of Bodbe Monastery
• Days 16-18: Tbilisi
  

  Finish your journey in hip, picturesque Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital and by far its largest city. Tour the red-roofed Old Town, the art nouveau Sololaki District, the 6th century Anchiskhati Basilica, the 8th century sulfur baths, and, up on the hillside, Narikala Fortress and the looming Mother Georgia monument. On your final night, celebrate your time in Turkey and Georgia with a sumptuous farewell dinner.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • The elaborately carved balconies of Tbilisi’s Old Town and the restored mansions of the Sololaki District
  • The frescoes of 6th century Anchiskhati Basilica, Tbilisi’s oldest church
  • In the hills overlooking town, the 4th century Narikala Fortress and the statue of Mother Georgia, who hold a sword in one hand to fight off enemies and a cup of wine in the other to welcome friends