Georgia and Armenia Tour by Plane from Izmir - 6 Nights

GEORGIA MANDATORY TRAVEL HEALTH INSURANCE IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE

CHURCH OF THE APOSTLES - NAMIK KEMAL HOUSE - ANI ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

Our tour begins in the early hours of the day at 07.00, as we arrive at Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport by our own means. At the airport, we complete our check-in procedures for our flight using our identity documents (national ID card or driver's license). After check-in, we pass through security and board the scheduled Sunexpress Airlines 09.10 Izmir - Kars flight, starting our journey to the historic city of Kars. Upon arrival in Kars, we meet our guide and vehicle waiting for us. We set off to fully immerse ourselves in the magic of this fantastic city, which has been the rising star of the East in recent times, and to see Kars' rich cultural and historical fabric up close. Our first stop will be the Fethiye Mosque, which was built by the Russians in the late 19th century in the Baltic architectural style as a church and converted into a mosque in 1985. This historical transition stands out as an example reflecting Kars' cultural richness. Afterwards, we move to the Church of the Apostles (Kümbet Mosque), built at the foothills of Kars Castle. This church attracts attention as a prominent example of the Armenian-Georgian architectural style. The details of the structure offer important clues reflecting the history and culture of the region. Then, we take a walk through the streets of Kars. In this region, called the land of 'Ashiks' (bards), we witness the rich gastronomy and cultural heritage of Anatolia. We visit the Stone Bridge, which dates back to the Roman period and is still in use. This bridge appears as a structure emphasizing the historical and geographical importance of the region. Similarly, the Historical Bath offers us a historical journey as a structure extending from the past to the present. While wandering the city, we encounter structures where we see the reflection of all the subtleties of Russian architecture, and we feel as if we are traveling outside of Turkey. By seeing the house where our famous poet Namık Kemal lived for a period, we witness the literary and cultural importance of Kars. We are completely captivated by the magic of this fantastic city, which has been the rising star of the East. We visit the Ani Archaeological Site, which is 50 kilometers from Kars and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Ani is a summary of a medieval city with its impressive walls that have largely survived, examples of religious and civil architecture, and city planning. The places we will see here are; the City Walls, Ani Cathedral, Tigran Honents Church, and the Manucehr Mosque, which was built after the Turks conquered the region and is therefore the first mosque in Anatolia. Afterwards, we check into our hotel. We go to a restaurant for an extra dinner (which includes a Caucasian Folk Show) with guests who wish to join.

Breakfast: Will be taken as an extra at a point recommended by our guide.
Lunch: Will be taken as an extra in Kars (Piti, Goose meat, Hangel, etc.).
Dinner: Will be taken as an extra at a point recommended by our guide.
Accommodation: Kars Hotels, etc.
Route: Kars City Tours (20 km) Kars - Ani - Kars (90 km)
Total Distance to be Covered: 110 km
Hotel Check-in Time: 16.00

LAKE CILDIR - GYUMRI - YEREVAN

Our tour, after breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we set off to reach Lake Cildir via the Arpacay road route. After a short photo break at this lake, which has a unique view, we enter Georgia by passing through the Aktas Border Gate. After a journey of approximately 1 hour, we pass through the Georgia - Armenia border gate (Bavra Border Gate) and reach Gyumri, the second-largest city in Armenia. We take a lunch break in Gyumri, whose streets and houses resemble those of Kars. Afterwards, we take a short tour of Gyumri. The places we will see are; Vartanank Square, Avarayr Battle Statue, Saint Saviour Church (from the outside), Yot Verq Church (from the outside), Abovyan Street, historical buildings, and a barbershop opened in 1940 (which has not changed any of its belongings or accessories from the Soviet era). After a journey of approximately 2 hours, we reach Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.

NOTE: The visa for Armenia will be obtained at the border gate. The visa fee is 10 Dollars, and the price may change during the year. Difficulties may arise for green passport holders at the Armenian border gate. The agency or our guide is not responsible for this. Armenia also applies a visa to green passport holders, and an application must be made via the internet at least 45 days in advance for visa acquisition. For electronic visa: https://evisa.mfa.am. Our guests must have at least two blank pages facing each other in their passports for each country (we can enter Georgia with a national ID card). Passports must have a minimum validity of 6 months based on the end date of the trip. Guests traveling with a passport with less than 6 months of validity may face the situation of not being admitted to the country by the passport police of the country they are traveling to. In such cases, the responsibility belongs to the passport holder.

NOTE: According to the agreement between the Republic of Turkey and the State of Georgia, Turkish citizens can enter Batumi with a national ID card containing a Turkish ID number. Entry cannot be made with other identity cards (driver's license, etc.). Guests under the age of 18 who will not be traveling with their family (Mother and Father at the same time) must obtain a NOTARIZED CONSENT FORM for their entry to BATUMI. It is mandatory for IDs to have photos, including for babies and children. IDs must not be torn or worn out.

ATTENTION: DO NOT FORGET TO TAKE YOUR NATIONAL ID CARD WITH TR ID NUMBER AND YOUR PASSPORT WITH YOU WHEN YOU SET OFF FOR THE TRIP. THE INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE FEE IS PAID BY THE GUEST. OFFICIALLY, AS OF 01.09.2019, ENTRY TO GEORGIA CANNOT BE PROVIDED WITH OLD NATIONAL ID CARDS.

Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Lunch: Will be taken as an extra.

Dinner: Will be taken as an extra.

Accommodation: Yerevan Hotels, etc.

Route: Kars - Gyumri (230 km) Gyumri - Yerevan (120 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 350 km

Hotel Check-in Time: 19.30

ECHMIADZIN CATHEDRAL - KHOR VIRAP MONASTERY - GARNI TEMPLE - SYMPHONY OF STONES - GEGHARD MONASTERY

Our tour, after breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we depart for Echmiadzin to visit the center of the Armenian Catholic Church and the Mother Church, which dates back to 303 A.D. We visit the religious center, which has been an important center since the early periods of Christianity and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. After visiting the Zvartnots Temple ruins first, we tour the Cathedral. Afterwards, we move to the Khor Virap Monastery, which was built right across from Mount Ararat and has a magnificent view. After visiting this ancient place where Saint Gregory, who brought Christianity to Armenia and is considered the founder of the Armenian Gregorian church, was imprisoned for 13 years, our next sightseeing point will be the Garni Temple. It is the symbol of Armenia before Christianity and is the only monument from the Hellenistic period that has been preserved in Armenian lands. After our Garni Temple tour, we move to the place known as the "Symphony of Stones," which consists of well-preserved basalt column cliff walls. It consists of symmetrical giant hexagonal and pentagonal basalt columns (approximately 50 meters high). These stones, which hang against gravity, resemble an organ. After seeing this natural formation, we visit the Geghard Monastery, one of the largest medieval architectural structures in Armenia. Geghard, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is carved entirely into a cave and is also called a "cave monastery." After visiting this historical structure, you can buy Gata (sweet, walnut, or hazelnut bread), Kome, and dried fruits from the vendors in front of the monastery. Afterwards, we return to Yerevan. We depart from our hotel for dinner with music in the evening (Extra).

Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour price.
Lunch: Will be taken as an extra.
Dinner: Will be taken as an extra.
Accommodation: Yerevan Hotels, etc.
Route: Yerevan - Khor Virap Monastery (45 km) Khor Virap Monastery - Garni (50 km) Garni - Geghard Monastery (10 km) Geghard Monastery - Yerevan (35 km)
Total Distance to be Covered: 145 km
Hotel Check-in Time: 18.00

YEREVAN TOUR - COGNAC FACTORY - LAKE SEVAN - DILIJAN (THE SWITZERLAND OF ARMENIA) - TBILISI

Our tour, after breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we start touring the Yerevan city center. The places we will see are; Republic Square, State University, Parliament, Presidential Palace, Opera House, Abovyan Street, which is the city's first planned street, buildings and parks from the Soviet era, Vernissage (Open Market place), Blue Mosque, and the Cascade, a modern art museum with free access in the open air where we can see Mount Ararat. Afterwards, we go to the Ararat Cognac factory, one of the best cognacs in the world, to see the story of Cognac making on-site (EXTRA). Then, leaving Yerevan behind, we move to Lake Sevan, which is the largest lake in the Caucasus and the highest lake of this size in the world with an altitude of 1900 m. During our break by the lake, you can take a boat tour on the lake or visit the Sevanavank Monastery located just above it. Afterwards, we move to Dilijan, which is generally called the Armenian Switzerland or Little Switzerland by the locals. We take a short break in Dilijan, known for its unique local architectural style, clean mountain air, and surrounding alpine forests. Afterwards, we move to the Armenia-Georgia border gate by seeing the canyons and abandoned Copper Factories via Vanadzor - Alaverdi. We arrive in Tbilisi by passing through the (Sadakhlo Border Gate).

Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Lunch: Will be taken as an extra.

Dinner: Will be taken as an extra.

Accommodation: Tbilisi Hotels

Route: Yerevan - Sevan (65 km) Sevan - Dilijan (35 km) Dilijan - Tbilisi (195 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 295 km

Hotel Check-in Time: 19.00

BODBE MONASTERY - SIGHNAGHI (CITY OF LOVE) - WINE TASTING - GEORGIAN BREAD MAKING - TBILISI CITY TOUR

Our tour, after breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we start exploring Kakheti, the wine region of Georgia located in the eastern part of the country. Our first stop will be the wine factory on the way. After wine tasting and shopping here, we take a short break to see the making of Georgian Bread on-site. After tasting traditional Georgian Bread (Shotis Puri or Shoti) and Georgian cheeses, we visit the Bodbe Monastery (now a nunnery), built on the burial place of Saint Nino, who witnessed the Georgians' conversion to the Christian faith. From the monastery, we also see the Alazani Valley, famous for its vineyards and fruits, and the Caucasus Mountains. After photographing this magnificent view, we move to Sighnaghi, one of the oldest and best-preserved fortified cities in Georgia, also known as the "City of Love." The places we will see here are; castle walls, St. George Church, marriage office (open all day), statue of a doctor on a donkey, fascinating houses, and cobblestone streets. After our break, we return to Tbilisi. We take our Tbilisi tour on foot. The places we will see are; the Vakhtang Gorgasali Statue, which gives Tbilisi its name, the David the Builder Statue, the Saint Nino Statue, Freedom Square, the historical colorful Tbilisi houses around the Kura River, the Ottoman Period Mosque, the Bath (old sulfur bath), and the Clock Tower, which is located next to the Rezo Gabriadze Puppet Theater and displays the cycle of life with tiny puppets symbolizing marriages, the birth of children, and funerals. Afterwards, a Georgian night awaits you with a special menu consisting of Georgian dishes (Extra).

Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Lunch: Will be taken as an extra.

Dinner: Will be taken as an extra.

Accommodation: Tbilisi Hotels, etc.

Route: Tbilisi - Sighnaghi (105 km) Sighnaghi - Tbilisi (105 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 210 km

Hotel Check-in Time: 18.00

TBILISI MURAL (STREET ART) - STALIN'S HOUSE - CAVE CITY UPLISTSIKHE - BATUMI CITY TOUR

Our tour begins after breakfast at our hotel, as we head to the Fabrika area (Chugureti), a former Soviet-era sewing factory now converted into a hostel. This area is one of the richest in all of Tbilisi when it comes to street art. You can encounter murals by local and international artists on every corner. Some of the murals where we can take beautiful photos include the Cosmic Girl, Rhino, Polar Bear, etc. Afterward, we depart for Gori, known as the city where the Georgian-born Soviet leader Joseph Stalin was born. We visit the Stalin Museum in Gori. At the museum, we will be able to see the small wooden hut where Stalin was born in 1878 and spent his first four years, as well as the green Pullman carriage that Stalin used for many of his travels. After our museum visit, we head to Uplistsikhe, a cave city built on approximately 9.5 hectares. Following our tour of this cave city, which resembles Cappadocia, we depart for Batumi via Kutaisi. First, we head to our hotel. For those interested, we will take a night city tour of Batumi, which offers a beautiful view as the streets light up. During the city tour, our first stops are the Justice House, designed in the shape of an inverted bottle, and the White Restaurant, designed as an inverted building. After seeing these, we head to the statue of Ali and Nino. Afterward, we watch the dance of the water at the Small Water Games located in the city center, where we can witness the magnificent harmony of music and light, and then we return to our hotel. Guests who wish may use the casino near our hotel.

Breakfast: To be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Lunch: To be taken as an extra.

Dinner: To be taken as an extra.

Accommodation: Batumi Hotels, etc.

Route: Tbilisi - Gori (85 km) Gori - Uplistsikhe (15 km) Uplistsikhe - Batumi (300 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 400 km

BATUMI CITY TOUR - MAKHUNSETI WATERFALL

Our tour begins after breakfast at our hotel, as we start exploring the city center of Batumi. We take a short walk through the center of Batumi. During this pleasant walk accompanied by our guide, we will see the Orta Mosque from the Ottoman era, the Clock Tower, Piazza Square, the Government Building, the Poseidon Statue, the Theater Building, the Astronomical Clock, St. Nicholas Church, and the Hotel France, where Nazım Hikmet once stayed. While walking, we also taste local street delicacies (Kvass, Pear Juice, Luca Polare Italian-style ice cream). Afterward, we set out for the Makhunseti Tour. First, we go to an authentic wine house (Adjarian Wine House) (Entrance Fee 20 Lari Extra). Guests who wish can purchase world-famous Georgian wines here. After the meal, we visit the Makhuntseti Stone Bridge, built by the Georgian Queen Tamar Mepe in the old days, and the Makhuntseti Waterfall, a natural wonder. After our visits, we leave Batumi. We exit through the Sarp border gate and head to Trabzon Airport. We return to İzmir with the 23.10 Sunexpress flight. We say goodbye with sadness, hoping to meet again on another Prontotour trip.

Breakfast: To be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Lunch: To be taken as an extra at a point to be directed by our guide.

Dinner: To be taken as an extra at a point to be directed by our guide.

Route: Batumi - Trabzon (250 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 250 km

TOTAL TOUR DISTANCE: 1950 km

NOTE: According to the agreement between the Republic of Turkey and the State of Georgia, Turkish citizens can enter Batumi with their national identity cards containing a Turkish ID number. Entry cannot be made with other identification cards (driver's license, etc.). Guests under the age of 18 who will not be traveling with their family (Mother and Father at the same time) must obtain a NOTARIZED CONSENT FORM for their entry into BATUMI. It is mandatory for IDs, including those of babies and children, to have a photograph. IDs must not be torn or worn out.

ATTENTION: DO NOT FORGET TO TAKE YOUR NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD WITH A TR ID NUMBER AND YOUR PASSPORT WITH YOU WHEN SETTING OFF ON THE TRIP. THE INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE FEE IS PAID BY THE GUEST. OFFICIALLY, AS OF 01.09.2019, ENTRY TO GEORGIA CANNOT BE PROVIDED WITH OLD NATIONAL IDENTITY CARDS.

CLIMATE

It is a generally temperate climate type that is rainy in all seasons. Frontal and orographic rains are dominant. The presence of high mountains parallel to the coast in the region has created an environment for increased rainfall. Although not in terms of rainfall amounts, the most rainfall is seen in autumn and the least in spring. The region is also the most humid region of our country in terms of humidity. For this reason, the annual and daily temperature difference in the region is not large. At the same time, winters in the region are not very cold, but they are rainy. Precipitation is mostly in the form of rain, and snow, frost, and fog are frequently seen. Summer months in the region are also temperate. The average of the hottest month does not exceed 22°C-24°C. The average temperature of the coldest month is always above 0°C. Although cold air masses coming from the northwest occasionally affect the region, this effect disappears as one goes to the east of the region. The region shows variations in terms of temperature and precipitation according to its geographical features. Precipitation occurs as cool and humid air coming from the Black Sea rises along the North Anatolian Mountains. Due to the high altitude in the Eastern Black Sea Region, the most rainfall is seen in this section. The annual average rainfall is 2000 mm (Rize 2300 mm). In the southern part of the North Anatolian Mountains, this value drops to 300 mm. The Central Black Sea Region is the least rainy part of the region due to the decrease in altitude. Here, the annual average rainfall is about 700 mm. In the Western Black Sea Region, rainfall is less than in the Eastern Black Sea Region, in parallel with the lower altitude compared to the Eastern Black Sea Region. The annual average rainfall is around 1200 mm. Throughout the region, the annual rainfall can exceed 2000 mm, especially in the Eastern Black Sea Region, and can drop to 600 mm in the Central Black Sea Region.

MIDIBUSES

ISUZU TURKUAZ: 31+1 or 27+1 Seating, Reclining Bus Seats, ABS, ASR, Air Conditioning, 1 Monitor, 1 Refrigerator, Kitchen Unit with Water Heater, Reading Lights, Sound System for Guide Announcements, CD and DVD Player.

NOVO LUX: 31+1 or 27+1 Seating, Reclining Bus Seats, ABS, ASR, Air Conditioning, 1 Monitor, 1 Refrigerator, Kitchen Unit with Water Heater, Reading Lights, Sound System for Guide Announcements, CD and DVD Player.

TEMSA PRESTIGE: 31+1 or 27+1 Seating, Reclining Bus Seats, ABS, ASR, Air Conditioning, 1 Monitor, 1 Refrigerator, Kitchen Unit with Water Heater, Reading Lights, Sound System for Guide Announcements, CD and DVD Player.

MINIBUSES

MERCEDES SPRINTER: 12+1 or 16+1 Seating, Specially Designed Reclining Bus Seats, ABS, ASR, Air Conditioning, 1 Refrigerator, Reading Lights, Sound System for Guide Announcements, CD and DVD Player.

WOLKSWAGEN CRAFTER: 12+1 or 16+1 Seating, Specially Designed Reclining Bus Seats, ABS, ASR, Air Conditioning, 1 Refrigerator, Reading Lights, Sound System for Guide Announcements, CD and DVD Player.

NOTE: Depending on the number of people in our tours, any of the vehicle types mentioned above is used.

OUR TOUR PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONSUMER LAW NO. 6502.