Tour overview

This 18-day small-group journey crosses the Caucasus from Azerbaijan's capital on the Caspian Sea to Georgia's mountains and Black Sea coast. Groups have no more than 12 travellers aged 15 and over, with a local leader in each country. You travel by private vehicle, with one leg by public bus or train, and stay in comfortable hotels and family guesthouses in the mountains. Breakfast is included daily, with 4 lunches and 5 dinners, several of them home-cooked. The trip is land-only, starting in Baku and ending in Tbilisi.

Baku mixes a walled medieval Old City with bold modern architecture, and you explore both on foot, including a walk at night. A day trip to Gobustan reveals UNESCO-listed rock carvings and bubbling mud volcanoes. Heading into the forested mountains, you stay in Lahij, a village of coppersmiths, with a yoghurt-making demonstration, then meet the Udi people of Nij and see the old Albanian church at Kish. In Sheki you visit the painted Palace of the Sheki Khans and watch craftsmen make shebeke, stained-glass windows assembled without glue or nails.

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Crossing into Georgia at Lagodekhi, you reach the Kakheti wine country around Telavi, with its farmers' market and the Tsinandali estate. The Georgian Military Road climbs to Gudauri, and from Stepantsminda you hike up to Gergeti Trinity Church, set beneath Mount Kazbek. Three nights in Tbilisi bring a walking tour of the Old Town and plenty of free time for its sulphur baths, galleries and wine bars. You then visit Mtskheta's medieval Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and stop at a social enterprise in the Tserovani settlement for lunch.

The final week heads to Svaneti, the highest inhabited region of the Caucasus. From Mestia you drive to Ushguli, a UNESCO-listed cluster of villages with medieval defensive towers beneath Mount Shkhara, one of the highest permanently inhabited places in Europe. A winery visit with a tasting leads to two nights in Batumi on the Black Sea, with a walking tour and time on the seafront boulevard, before you return to Tbilisi by public transport.

The pace is moderate, with some long, winding drives and a 2.5-hour hike up to Gergeti. This trip suits travellers who want an in-depth, varied journey through two of the most hospitable countries in the region.

Trip highlights

  • Baku's Old City and the petroglyphs of Gobustan (Days 1–2)
  • The coppersmiths of Lahij and the Khan's Palace at Sheki (Days 3–5)
  • Kakheti wine country and the Tsinandali estate (Days 6–7)
  • The hike to Gergeti Trinity Church beneath Mount Kazbek (Day 8)
  • The medieval watchtowers of Ushguli in Svaneti (Day 14)
  • Tbilisi's Old Town and the Black Sea at Batumi (Days 9–16)

Your route

17 stops from Baku to Batumi

18-day route: Baku – Lahij – Sheki – Telavi – Gudauri – Tbilisi – Kutaisi – Mestia – Batumi – Tbilisi
  1. Baku Days 1–2
  2. Gobustan National Park Day 2
  3. Shamakhi Day 3
  4. Lahij Day 3
  5. Nij Day 4
  6. Sheki Days 4–5
  7. Lagodekhi Day 6
  8. Telavi Day 6
  9. Alaverdi Cathedral Day 7
  10. Gudauri Days 7–8
  11. Stepantsminda Day 8
  12. Tbilisi Days 9–11 & 17–18
  13. Mtskheta Day 12
  14. Kutaisi Day 12
  15. Mestia Days 13–14
  16. Ushguli Day 14
  17. Batumi Days 15–16

Why choose this tour

Combines Azerbaijan with a thorough tour of Georgia, from the High Caucasus to the Black Sea, in under three weeks. Guesthouse stays, home-cooked meals and craft workshops bring you close to local life.

Best suited to

  • Travellers looking for somewhere less visited
  • Lovers of mountain scenery and village life
  • Wine lovers keen to explore Georgia's ancient traditions
  • Anyone interested in the meeting of Europe and Asia
Snow-capped Mount Kazbek above Gergeti Trinity Church

Day-by-day itinerary

18 days from Baku, Azerbaijan to Tbilisi, Georgia

  1. Day 1 · Baku, Baku Boulevard Arrive in Baku

    Welcome to Azerbaijan. Before the welcome meeting at 6pm, stroll along Baku Boulevard beside the Caspian Sea. In the evening, your leader takes you on a walk through the city lit up at night.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Gobustan National Park, Baku Old City Gobustan and Baku's Old City

    Drive to Gobustan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its ancient rock carvings, stopping to see mud volcanoes bubbling with mud and gas. Back in Baku, walk through the walled Old City with its palaces, caravanserais and the Maiden Tower.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Shamakhi, Lahij Shamakhi to Lahij

    Leave the dry plains for forested mountains, stopping at the Juma Mosque in Shamakhi, one of the oldest in Azerbaijan. Continue to Lahij, a stone village famous for its coppersmiths, for a yoghurt-making demonstration, a workshop visit and dinner at your guesthouse.

    Hotel
    Guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Nij, Kish, Sheki Nij and Kish to Sheki

    Visit Nij, home to most of the world's Udi people, descendants of the ancient Caucasian Albanians. See the old Albanian church at Kish and walk through the village before arriving in Sheki.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · Palace of the Sheki Khans, Sheki Sheki

    Visit the Palace of the Sheki Khans, its walls painted with hunting and battle scenes and its windows filled with shebeke stained glass. Then watch craftsmen make shebeke, fitting glass into wooden frames without glue or nails.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Sheki market, Lagodekhi, Telavi Into Georgia and Telavi

    Walk through Sheki's market to stock up on halva, nuts and dried fruit, then cross into Georgia at Lagodekhi. Stop for lunch on the way and continue to Telavi in the Kakheti wine region.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  7. Day 7 · Telavi, Tsinandali, Alaverdi Cathedral, Gudauri Wine country to Gudauri

    Browse Telavi's farmers' market, then visit Tsinandali, the historic estate and winery of the poet Alexander Chavchavadze, and the Alaverdi Cathedral. Climb the Georgian Military Road to the mountain resort of Gudauri.

    Hotel
    Guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Stepantsminda, Gergeti Trinity Church Kazbegi and Gergeti Trinity Church

    Follow the Tergi River to Stepantsminda, also known as Kazbegi, then hike about 2.5 hours through valleys and woodland up to the 14th-century Gergeti Trinity Church, set beneath the glaciers of Mount Kazbek.

    Hotel
    Guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Tbilisi Tbilisi

    Drive to Tbilisi, Georgia's capital on the banks of the Kura River. Your leader takes you on an orientation walk, and the rest of the day is free, perhaps for khachapuri, the famous cheese bread.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Tbilisi, Georgian National Museum Free day in Tbilisi

    A free day to explore. Visit the Georgian National Museum, browse the Dry Bridge flea market or relax in the sulphur baths. In the evening, meet your new leader for the second part of the trip.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  11. Day 11 · Tbilisi Old Town, Peace Bridge, Sioni Cathedral Tbilisi Old Town

    Take a walking tour of Tbilisi's Old Town, passing the Baratashvili Bridge, the leaning Gabriadze clock tower, the Peace Bridge and Sioni Cathedral. The afternoon is free.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  12. Day 12 · Jvari Monastery, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Tserovani, Kutaisi Mtskheta to Kutaisi

    Visit Mtskheta, Georgia's ancient capital, with the hilltop Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Stop in the Tserovani settlement, built for people displaced by conflict, for lunch at a social enterprise supporting women and young people, then continue to Kutaisi.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  13. Day 13 · Mestia To Mestia in Svaneti

    A long drive into Svaneti, the highest inhabited region of the Caucasus. Arrive in Mestia, a mountain town of stone defensive towers, with time to explore before dinner at your guesthouse.

    Hotel
    Guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  14. Day 14 · Ushguli, Lamaria Church Ushguli

    Drive to Ushguli, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of medieval towers beneath Mount Shkhara and one of the highest permanently inhabited settlements in Europe. Visit the Lamaria Church and walk through the villages.

    Hotel
    Guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  15. Day 15 · Batumi Winery visit and Batumi

    Drive down to the coast, stopping at a winery to learn about Georgia's 8,000-year winemaking tradition and taste its wines, before arriving in Batumi on the Black Sea.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  16. Day 16 · Batumi Boulevard Batumi

    A short walking tour introduces Batumi, then the rest of the day is yours: walk the seafront boulevard, visit the botanical garden or watch the Ali and Nino statue light up at night.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  17. Day 17 · Tbilisi, Rike Park Back to Tbilisi

    Travel back to Tbilisi with the locals by long-distance bus or train. The rest of the day is free, perhaps for Rike Park or the cable car up to the Narikala Fortress.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  18. Day 18 · Tbilisi Trip ends in Tbilisi

    The trip ends after breakfast, and you are free to leave at any time. Extra nights in Tbilisi can be arranged when you book.

    Meals
    Breakfast
A cobbled street in the Old City of Baku, Azerbaijan

Where you stay

  • Baku (2 nights) Hotel
  • Lahij (1 night) Guesthouse
  • Sheki (2 nights) Hotel
  • Telavi (1 night) Hotel
  • Gudauri (2 nights) Guesthouse
  • Tbilisi (3 nights) Hotel
  • Kutaisi (1 night) Hotel
  • Mestia (2 nights) Guesthouse
  • Batumi (2 nights) Hotel
  • Tbilisi (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 17 nights in hotels and family guesthouses
  • Meals 17 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 5 dinners
  • Transport private vehicle throughout, with public bus or train from Batumi to Tbilisi
  • Azerbaijan Baku Old City and night walks, the Gobustan petroglyphs, a Lahij yoghurt demonstration and copper workshop, Nij, Kish and the Palace of the Sheki Khans
  • Georgia Telavi market, Tsinandali, the Gergeti hike, a Tbilisi walking tour, Jvari and Svetitskhoveli, Ushguli and a winery tasting
  • Local leaders in Azerbaijan and Georgia

Not included

  • International flights to Baku and from Tbilisi
  • Airport transfers
  • Azerbaijan visa
  • Meals not listed and optional activities
  • Single supplement (not available in guesthouses), tips, travel insurance and personal spending
The mud volcanoes of Gobustan, Azerbaijan

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want flights included — they are not
  • You need a single room every night — not available in the guesthouses
  • You dislike long road days — mountain roads are slow and winding
  • You want luxury hotels — guesthouses are simple and sometimes have shared facilities

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Azerbaijan · UK FCDO travel advice for Georgia
Historic buildings in Baku with the Flame Towers behind

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £3,060 per person, twin share, tour only. 19 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Do I need a visa?

Azerbaijan requires a visa for most visitors, usually an e-visa applied for online before travel. UK passport holders do not currently need a visa for Georgia. Always check the latest rules for your passport.

How active is the trip?

The pace is moderate. The main walk is the hike up to Gergeti Trinity Church, about 2.5 hours on a steady climb to around 2,170 m. Other days involve walking in towns and villages.

What are the guesthouses like?

Clean, comfortable and family-run, sometimes with shared bathrooms and occasionally limited hot water. Single rooms are not available on guesthouse nights.

What are the roads like?

Mountain roads can be slow, winding and affected by weather. Your leader may adjust timings or the route for safety.

Will we taste Georgian wine?

Yes. You visit the Tsinandali estate in Kakheti and a winery on the way to Batumi, where a tasting is included. Georgia has one of the oldest winemaking traditions in the world.

Are flights included?

No. You fly into Baku and out of Tbilisi, so an open-jaw ticket works well.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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