1st Day Ankara- Baku We recommend that you be at Ankara Esenboğa Airport by 09:15… At 12:20, we depart for the city of fire, Baku, with the scheduled flight number VF 577 of AJET Airlines. We arrive in Baku at 15:35 and transfer to the hotel. Check-in to the rooms. 2nd Day Baku- Ateshgah- Abseron- Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center After breakfast, there’s free time. We start the day with a visit to Ateşgah (Fire Temple), which is one of the three Zoroastrian Temple that have survived until today and is the most important one. This religious structure, resembling a castle, was first built in the 3rd Century AD. Since ancient times, it has been known for its eternal flame and regained its popularity during the period when the Silk Road was active. After our visit here, we go to Absheron’s Yanardagh to watch the dancing flames. After this, we continue our tour with a visit to the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center, designed by the Iraq-born English futurist architect Zaha Hadid, which has made headlines worldwide due to its massive area of 101 thousand square meters. The complex, representing the rise of the Caspian Sea in Azeri mythology, consists of theaters, conference halls, museums, and art galleries. (IMPORTANT NOTE: The cultural center may not accept visitors on certain days. Since today and visiting hours are not announced in advance, our company cannot be held responsible for this situation. If it is open, we will enter; otherwise, it will be viewed from the outside.) After the allotted free time, we transfer back to the hotel. Accommodation at our hotel. 3rd Day Baku (Dinner with Azeri Night) After breakfast, we depart from our hotel for a Full Day Baku City Tour. Traditional and historic Baku has also gained a very modern appearance with numerous recent investments. In this comprehensive tour, where you can see the most important parts of New and Old Baku, we first go to Şehitler Yolu and onward to Yayla Park. Here, you can capture panoramic views of Baku city and the Baku Bay and take plenty of photos. Then we visit the Old City or İçeri Şeher, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. You will experience and learn about the historical and traditional features of Baku. In this area and its nearby regions, we will see the Maiden Tower built in the 12th century, the Friday Mosque dating back to the 15th century, the historically significant Siniggala Minaret and Mohammed Mosque, the only Miniature Books Museum in the world, and the Shirvan Shah Palace, considered one of the pearls of Azerbaijan’s architectural heritage; the Ismail Palace, which now serves as the Science Academy; the city's heart İstiklal Street; the Fountain Square that takes its name from the historical fountain found here; Belediye Park famous for the Philharmonic Fountain; and the National Carpet and Kilim Museum. Afterward, we explore the modern face of the city and visit the area with numerous futuristic architectural works, including the world-famous Flame Towers, and head towards Baku Boulevard. This area, also known as “Little Venice,” consists of a pedestrian path parallel to the coastal area built a century ago by the Oil Barons. After the tour, we head to our local venue for the Dinner Show with Folkloric Azeri Night. In one of the city's historic venues, you will enjoy beautiful local flavors along with traditional Mugham music. After the delightful evening, we return to our hotel. Accommodation at our hotel. 4th Day Baku- Shamakhi- Gabala- Sheki After breakfast and checking out of the rooms, we set off towards Shamakhi (approximately 125 km). This city, known for the Shamakhi Siege during the Ottoman-Safavid Wars, is also one of the renowned regions of the Caucasus for winemaking and carpet weaving. Here, we explore the old city center, the Yeddi Gumbez Tomb located at the foot of the Gulistan Fortress and the Friday Mosque. We then head towards Gabala, famed for its natural beauty (approximately 95 km). Accompanied by the breathtaking scenery of National Park, we will have free time by the shores of Nohur Lake, where the mountains, forests, and waterfalls create a heavenly appearance on earth, re-energizing you. After our pleasant break, we continue to our final destination of the day, Sheki (approximately 90 km). Upon our arrival, we explore Sheki, one of Azerbaijan’s oldest, most authentic, and beautiful cities. A classic mountain town, Sheki is known for its gentle people, unique culture, and cuisine. We will see the historical stone and wooden buildings spread over narrow, cobbled streets, the magnificent Palace of the Khan from the Persian Period, which is one of the important members of the UNESCO World Heritage List; the Sheki Fortress, comprising buildings like the Sheki Crafts Workshop, Etnographic Museum, Art Gallery, and Art House; the Khan and Friday Mosques, which are the essential religious structures of the city. During the break in the bazaar, you may taste the famous Azeri Tea alongside Sheki Halva, and purchase many handmade art pieces, especially the world-renowned silk products. At the end of the tour, we transfer to our hotel and check into our rooms. Accommodation at our hotel. 5th Day Sheki- Bodbe Monastery- Signaghi- Tbilisi After breakfast and checking out of the rooms, we move towards the Azerbaijan/Georgia Border (approximately 90 km). According to regulations, vehicles will be changed at the border. After necessary procedures, we continue our journey to Bodbe Monastery, which is one of the most important religious sites in Georgia, known for its architecture and surrounding nature (approximately 60 km). After our visit here, we head towards Sighnaghi, the City of Love (approximately 15 km). Known for its natural beauty and restored charming stone buildings, this beautiful place is a tourist attraction. During our tour, we will see Sighnaghi Fortress, known as the ‘Georgia Wall’, which has over 4 km of walls and offers magnificent views of nature; St. George Church admired for its architecture and natural beauty; and the intact historic center filled with charming and well-kept buildings. We will also see the statue of ‘Doctor on Donkey’, dedicated to a beloved town doctor who once helped many people by reaching every village on donkeyback. During our city tour, we will use special electric vehicles and have photo breaks at high points such as Kakheti Panorama Point, Signagi Panorama Point, and St. George Tower, offering you breathtaking views. In our free time, guests can freely explore, shop, and have lunch in this delightful town. Afterward, we head towards Tbilisi (approximately 10 km). Upon arrival, we check into our rooms. Accommodation at our hotel. 6th Day Tbilisi (Dinner with Caucasian Night) After breakfast, we begin our Full Day Tbilisi Tour. This beautiful city, which never fails to amaze its visitors with its offerings, starts with a visit to Narikala Fortress, Bridge of Peace, Rike Park, Meidan Square, Etnographic Museum, Agmashenebeli Boulevard, City Hall, Rustaveli National Theatre, Viceroy Palace, National Bank of Georgia, Mtatsminda Hill, and the Mother Georgia Monument, continuing on to Freedom Square, Parliament Building, and the Archaeological Museum, which houses significant treasures of the country, as well as the Art Museum with over 3500 works. We will see the replica of the Samtavisi Cathedral built in the 11th century, and Georgia National Museum, which contains many important artworks, the Opera and Ballet Theatre, known for its unique sculptures and hosting temporary exhibitions; the Historical Books Museum well-known for ancient books and manuscripts; and the Fine Arts Academy famous for its Mirror Hall. We will see the grand Sameba Cathedral, the largest religious structure in present-day Georgia, visible from most locations in Tbilisi, as well as the statue of Vakhtang Gorgasali, also known as The Horseman King, and the Metekhi Mother Mary Cathedral, which dates back to 455 AD from a panoramic view. After that, we will begin our walking tour through the famed Flower Market, and the Covered Market in Orbeliani Park, along with Atoneli Street, which has become a center of attraction due to the restoration of 13 important buildings considered part of the cultural heritage of the country. We will also visit Avlabari District, Georgian Patriarchate, and Sioni Cathedral. We will see the Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theater and the Angel Clock Tower, as well as Anchiskati Basilica and Jan Shardeni Street. During the free time we have in this lovely square, you will have the opportunity to taste local flavors in authentic cafés. We will visit Bethlehem Street, which serves as a center for the Georgian Jewish Community and houses many artifacts. After this, we head to the Fortress Region, home to the symbol of the city, Narikala. We take a short cable car ride to reach the top and see the Mother Georgia Monument, built to commemorate Georgia's 1500th anniversary in 1958. You will also have the chance to capture panoramic photos of the city. Then we return to the city by cable car and head to the historical Abanotubani, which is known for its sulfur baths that have existed since the 4th century BC. We will also see the Friday Mosque, also known as ‘Double Mihrab’, built by the Ottomans in 1724, and the Chreli Abano Sulfur Baths. We will descend via the famous Spinning Staircase and cross the Wooden Bridge of Love before having free time in the Underground Market. Afterwards, we will head to a venue where you can also watch breathtaking Georgian folk performances and enjoy a menu of Georgian specialties. At the end of this wonderful day, we transfer back to our hotel. Accommodation at our hotel. 7th Day Tbilisi- Chronology Monument- Gori- Uplistsikhe- Jvari- Mtskheta- Tbilisi We start the day with breakfast and then head to the Georgia Chronology Monument with a short journey (approximately 15 km). Located on the Kehni Hill, this monument, started in 1985, remains incomplete due to the continuous addition of current significant events, making it a rare artwork worldwide. After this, we continue to Gori (approximately 85 km). Upon arrival, we visit the Stalin Museum, which showcases numerous items and photographs from the era of Stalin, a Georgian who transformed the Soviet Union into a powerful industrial and military entity. Then, after some free time in the charming Gori, we head to Uplistsikhe (approximately 15 km), known for its cave dwellings reminiscent of Cappadocia. Our next stop is the Jvari Monastery (approximately 65 km), built in the 6th Century at the junction of the Aragvi and Kura Rivers, providing an exceptional view of Mtskheta and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Renowned for its architectural beauty and breathtaking views, this monastery has been a center for many significant historical events. After this visit, we will head towards Mtskheta (also known as ‘UNESCO City’), the former capital of Georgia, which is approximately 20 km away. In this historic city, one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world, we will visit the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, regarded as one of the most sacred places in Georgia. In our free time, you can wrap up your shopping for world-famous Georgian wines and other souvenirs and explore this fairy-tale-like town at your leisure. Upon completion of the tour, we return to the hotel for accommodation. 8th Day Tbilisi- Ankara Transfer to the airport at the time determined by the guide. At 05:05, we depart for Istanbul with flight number VF 616 of AJET Airlines. We arrive at 05:25. Looking forward to seeing you on another journey…