Azerbaijan to Istanbul - 30 Days
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Overview
Highlights
- Baku - see the sights of Baku independently and visit the bubbling mud volcanoes and ancient petroglyphs at Gobustan
- Vardzia - venture into the incredible subterranean cave city and visit the Vardzia Monastery where a handful of monks still reside
- Cappadocia - discover the enchanting and unique landscape of subterranean churches and cities then opt for a hot air balloon ride over the magical region
- Sumela Monastery - gaze out over the green forests and swirling mists of the valley from this ancient monastery which clings to the rock face
- Ephesus - explore the ancient marble ruins including the Library of Celsus and the Temple of Serapis
- Stepantsminda - hike into the hills and visit the tiny Tsminda Sameba Church surrounded by the towering Caucasus Mountains
- Yerevan - relax for two days and independently explore one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth
- Gori - enjoy a guided tour of the birthplace of Josef Stalin and visit the Stalin Museum to learn more about the dictator
- Sheki - stay in an ancient Silk Road caravanserai which has been converted into a comfortable hotel
- Istanbul - conclude your adventure with a taste of culture captivating Turkish city and discover highlights including the Blue Mosque independently
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Travel Themes
Destinations
Activities
Max Group Size
Trip includes
- 17 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 14 dinners
- 20 nights in hotels and guesthouses
- 9 nights camping (including 3 nights on campsites, 5 nights wild camping & 1 night camping without facilities)
- Transportation in an overland expedition vehicle
- All necessary camping equipment (excluding sleeping bags)
- Services of two crew (drivers/tour leaders) and local guides along the way
- Sightseeing as per itinerary
- Visit to Gobustan to see the petroglyphs and mud volcanoes
- A stay in the ancient Sheki caravanserai in Azerbaijan
- Visits to the Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery & Khor Virap Monastery in Armenia
- Guided tour of Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus & Cappadocia in Turkey
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Itinerary
Welcome to Azerbaijan! On arrival in Baku there’s a 18:00 pre-departure meeting at our joining hotel. The rest of the day is then free to explore the city at leisure. Baku is a fascinating contrast of old and new, with glistening skyscrapers and ancient architecture such as the Maiden Tower.
Today is free to explore Baku. This oil-rich city is an emerging player on the world scene and has hosted international sporting events in recent years, including a Formula One Grand Prix and the Europa League football final in 2019. There's also plenty of cultu...
Baku - Lahij. Leaving Baku today, we drive to Gobustan, near the Caspian Sea coast. See the ancient petroglyphs and bubbling mud volcanoes that the area is famous for. We continue to the ancient mountain village of Lahij, which is known for its copper and arms production. Explore the site at leisure and we camp with facilities tonight.
Lahij - Sheki. Today we drive to the old city of Sheki. Explore the pretty Khan’s Palace before we arrive at our accommodation for the night. We spend the night in a hotel which has been built inside an ancient caravanserai, once an important stopover for weary travellers on the Silk Road.
Sheki - Lagodekhi National Park (Georgia). Today we say goodbye to Azerbaijan and cross the border into the next country in the Caucasus - Georgia. We spend the night camping, most likely in the beautiful scenery of Lagodekhi National Park.
Lagodekhi National Park - Telavi. We head into the Alazani Valley this morning and visit the impressive Gremi Citadel en route to Telavi. We base ourselves in this famous wine region for the next couple of days.
Today we exploring the town of Telavi and introduce ourselves to some famous Georgian wine. We visit some local vineyards and watch aspects of the production process including grape harvesting. Lunch will be served at a local family-run winery and of course there will be included wine tasting.
Telavi - Stepantsminda. Leaving Telavi behind, we drive to Stepantsminda, which is nestled in the beautiful scenery of the Georgian Caucasus. During our stay here we enjoy a trek up to the tiny Tsminda Sameba Church. There’s also an optional cooking class where you can learn how to make delicious Georgian kinkhalis (meatballs).
Stepantsminda - Mtskheta. This morning is free to relax in Stepantsminda, or we hike up to the Tsminda Sameba Church if there wasn't time yesterday. Later in the day we head to the town of Mtskheta, where we visit the beautiful 11th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.
Mtskheta - Vardzia. We head out of Mtskheta and make our way to Borjomi National Park. Enjoy a short hike in the ancient forest and opt to ride a cable car up the mountain before we continue to the incredible Vardzia cave city. First inhabited during the Bronze ...
Vardzia - Armenian Highlands (Armenia). This morning we visit Vardzia if there wasn't time yesterday. We then set off for the Armenian border, finding a suitable spot to camp in the dazzling scenery of the Armenian Highlands.
Armenian Highlands - Yerevan. On day 12 we visit the Khor Virap Monastery, near the Turkish border. This important pilgrimage site is set in the shadow of Mt Ararat and on a clear day there are incredible views of the snow-capped peak. After our visit we continue to a...
Yerevan - Lake Sevan. Say goodbye to Yerevan as we make our way towards Lake Sevan. There are included stops en route at the UNESCO-listed Geghard Monastery and Garni Temple. The Geghard Monastery was carved into the rock face of the Azat River Gorge, whilst Garni Tem...
Lake Sevan - Tbilisi (Georgia). Today we cross back into Georgia and pass through the amazing scenery of Dilijan National Park to reach Tbilisi, Georgia's endearing capital city. The rest of today is free to explore the quaint Old City as you please. Consider heading up to Narikala Fortress for amazing views over Tbilisi.
Tbilisi - Gori - Kutaisi. This morning we set off from Tbilisi and head to Gori, the Georgian city that is famous as the birthplace of former Soviet leader Josef Stalin. There's a guided tour of the city and an included visit to the Stalin Museum, where we can learn m...
Kutaisi - Batumi. Today we drive to the hospitable port city of Batumi. Sitting on the Black Sea coast, Batumi is a popular summer getaway destination for Georgians and travellers alike. There’s free time to explore the city and an optional visit to the Batumi Archaeo...
Batumi - Sumela (Turkey). Today we say goodbye to Georgia and the Caucasus, as we cross into Turkey. We make our way to the incredible Sumela Monastery, which clings to rugged cliffs 1,200m up. The Sumela Monastery was founded in the year 368CE, during the reign...
Sumela - Zara. Today we have a full day's drive through central Turkey towards the magical landscape of Cappadocia. We break the journey at the village of Zara, where we camp.
Zara - Goreme. On day 20 we arrive at the small town of Goreme, nestled in the heart of the magical Cappadocia Mountains. During our two days here we enjoy guided sightseeing in this enchanting subterranean landscape. Explore the underground city of Kaymakli and the a...
Goreme - Egirdir. Today we leave Cappadocia behind and continue south towards Egirdir, finding a suitable camping spot en route.
Egirdir - Termessos - Olympos. On day 23 we drive to the impressive Pisidian ruins of Termessos, which sit at an altitude of more than 1,000m. After exploring the site, we continue towards Olympos, where we spend the next two nights. Olympos is a popular Turkish...
Olympos - Pamukkale. Driving inland, we reach the small village of Pamukkale, which is famous for its mineral rich hot springs and white terraced travertines. Take a walk along these beautiful terraces and opt for a dip in the thermal springs. Tonight, we either camp near Pamukkale or stay in a local hotel.
Pamukkale - Selcuk. On day 26 we drive to our next destination, Selcuk. We spend the next two nights here. The evening is free to relax in one of the many tea bars in the area. The next day sees us exploring the legendary marble ruins of Ephesus, including the T...
Selcuk - Troy - Eceabat. Today we drive along the coast to the ruins of the fabled city of Troy. See the replica Trojan Horse here before we board the ferry to cross the Dardenelles, arriving in Eceabat this afternoon.
Eceabat - Gallipoli - Istanbul. This morning we drive to the Gallipoli peninsula. Here we take a guided tour of the region and can pay our respects at some of the WW1 battlefields and memorials. We also visit ANZAC Cove, the site of some of the fiercest fighting durin...
Our adventure comes to an end today. If you wish to stay in Istanbul for a few extra days to partake in some of our optional activities, then please contact our sales team.
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
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Logistics
What's excluded
- International flights and visas
- Items of a personal nature, additional meals and drinks
- Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
- Sleeping bag and roll mat - please bring your own for camping
- Local payment - $940pp, paid in USD
Accommodation
18 and over. No upper age limit but anyone over 70 needs to complete a tour suitability form.
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