Day Day 1
Arrive Yerevan, Armenia
Upon arrival at Yerevan International Airport you will be met and transferred to the five-star Alexander Hotel, where we stay for two nights.
Boasting a prestigious central location the Alexander, a Luxury Collection Hotel, is located in the heart of Yerevan’s historic quarter and allows guests a relaxing stay in luxurious surroundings. Even the hotel’s facade with a history dating back to the 18th century presents a unique glimpse into the country’s fascinating past.
Armenia's colorful capital blends imposing Soviet tower blocks with wine bars and 19th-century churches. Here, visit the world’s oldest cathedral, home to important Christian relics such as a fragment of Noah’s Ark.
Tonight, we will enjoy a Welcome Dinner at an authentic local restaurant – the perfect opportunity to meet your fellow travellers and look forward to the journey across six captivating countries of the South Caucasus region and Central Asia.
Meals: Dinner
Day Day 2
Yerevan - In the Shadow of Mount Ararat
Yerevan's skyline is dominated by the meringue-like peak of Mount Ararat, a symbol of the city's rich history. Here, visit the rock tombs of the Geghard Monastery and first-century pagan temple of Garni.
This evening we head to the Armenia Wine Company, located close to Yerevan. Here we have opportunity to explore Armenian wine making technology, walk through the factory cellars, learn about the evolution of Armenian wine making history at the special museum and try the premium wines followed by an authentic and exclusive dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day Day 2.1
Transfer: Yerevan to Tbilisi
Day Day 3
Yerevan - Lake Sevan
Continue your exploration of Yerevan at The Cascade, a vast staircase and arts center that is emblematic of the country’s reclaimed statehood.
After lunch we continue our way, by coach, to Armenian-Georgian border in Bagratashen driving through the spa town of Dilijan well known for its forest landscapes and medicinal mineral water before we make a coffee & brandy stop at Avan Dzoraget Hotel. nestled amongst the forest-covered hills and rocky slopes of the Caucasus Mountains.
This evening we arrive into the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, where we stay for the next three nights at the Paragraph Freedom Square, a Luxury Collection Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day Day 4
Tbilisi, Georgia - Heart of the South Caucasus
Cool and cosmopolitan, Georgia’s capital is the cultural heart of the South Caucasus. Today’s walking tour delves deep into the labyrinthine alleyways of Kala, the city’s most storied neighborhood, as well as a visit to the Janashia Museum, which traces the history of Georgia all the way back to prehistoric times.
In the evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant accompanied by a traditional Georgian dance performance.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day Day 5
Gori, Uplistsikhe and Mtskheta - Echoes of the Past
Gori, one of Georgia’s oldest cities, is the birthplace of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. The city’s museum offers haunting insights into his early life. Nearby, explore the ancient rock-hewn cave city of Uplistsikhe and UNESCO-listed holy city of Mtskheta before settling into a performance of Georgian polyphonic singing.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day Day 5.1
Transfer: Tbilisi to Baku
Day Day 6
Baku, Azerbaijan - Ancient Wine Country
Georgia’s terrain has lent itself to 8,000 years of winemaking, and a visit to a traditional winery reveals how the country’s vintners age their wine in ceramic egg-shaped vessels called qvevri. A seamless private jet journey to Baku offers views over the blonde planes of Azerbaijan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day Day 7
Baku - Walls of Icherisheher
Azerbaijan’s capital hugs the Bay of Baku with its historic Old Town, Icherisheher, at its heart. The 12th-century walls cosset the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvan-Shahs, as well as a host of mosques and small cafes serving pomegranate wine.
Tonight, we visit the magnificent Villa Petrolea. Nearly 150 years ago, before the Nobel Peace Prizes were created, the Nobel brothers themselves played a key role in Baku’s first ‘oil boom’. The mansion that they built as their residence in the early 1880s has been preserved, restored, and turned into a fascinating museum. It is here we will be privileged to have a guided tour and treated to champagne, canapes, and a sumptuous dinner within its historic walls.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day Day 8
Baku - Ice Age Caves
The inhabitants of Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape daubed scenes of hunting and fishing on the walls of the craggy caves they inhabited just after the last Ice Age; viewing brings the distant past thrillingly to life.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day Day 8.1
Transfer: Baku to Khiva
Day Day 9
Khiva, Uzbekistan – Silk Road Crossroads
Fly by private plane to Urgench and explore Khiva’s UNESCO-listed Ichan-Kala, a remarkably preserved Silk Road city of ancient walls, mosques, madrassas, bazaars and minarets.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day Day 9.1
Transfer: Khiva to Bukhara
Day Day 10
Bukhara – Islamic Legacy Revealed
Discover Bukhara’s historic treasures, including the Ark Citadel, Poi-Kalyan Square, Trading Domes and Lyabi-Hauz Square. Later, enjoy a memorable farewell barbecue on the station platform before departure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day Day 10.1
Transfer: Bukhara to Samarkand
Day Day 11
Samarkand – Minarets and Mausoleums
Explore the legendary Silk Road city of Samarkand, visiting the magnificent Registan Square, Bibi-Khanum Mosque and Ulugh Beg Observatory, followed by an evening light and sound show.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day Day 11.1
Transfer: Samarkand to Tashkent
Day Day 12
Tashkent – Sacred Relic of Islam
Discover Uzbekistan’s capital, visiting the Khast-Imam Complex and the revered Uthman Qur’an, before exploring the Museum of Applied Arts.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day Day 12.1
Transfer: Tashkent to Bishkek
Day Day 13
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – Soviet Heritage and Steppe Culture
Travel by rail across Central Asia into Kyrgyzstan and explore Bishkek’s Soviet heritage, leafy parks and grand boulevards.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day Day 13.1
Transfer: Bishkek to Issyk-Kul
Day Day 14
Lake Issyk-Kul – Nomadic Traditions of Kyrgyzstan
Journey to the spectacular alpine waters of Lake Issyk-Kul and experience Kyrgyz nomadic culture through traditional music, crafts, sports and eagle hunting displays.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day Day 14.1
Transfer: Issyk-Kul to Almaty
Day Day 15
Almaty, Kazakhstan - Cultural Capital
Nestling at the foot of the Trans-Ili Alatau Mountains among wild apple forests, the former capital of Kazakhstan is filled with quirky sights including 21 Soviet theaters, Panfilov Park and Zenkov Cathedral, a 19th century Russian Orthodox Church made entirely of wood.
Overnight we stay for one night at the Ritz-Carlton, Almaty.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day Day 15.1
Transfer: Almaty to null
After breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airport for your onward journey.
Meals: Breakfast