The Caucasus overland tours
Jim O’Brien from our partner Native Eye on key differences between Caucasus countries:
“A lot of people want to ‘do’ the Caucasus countries in the same way as they want to ‘do’ the ‘Stans. Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan have each developed and diverged in different, fascinating ways. Armenia and Georgia were some of the first countries to adopt Christianity as their state religion, whereas Azerbaijan and Turkey are predominantly Muslim. Azerbaijan has been influenced more by Persia, Georgia more by Russia, Armenia is somewhere in between. All have completely different languages and Armenia and Georgia have their own alphabets. Given their relatively compact nature a multi centre trip over several weeks makes sense to really appreciate the complexities of this region.”
Why take a Caucasus overland tour?
Multi country Caucasus holidays enable to you to appreciate the interesting ways that cultures have diverged in the neighbouring countries, from culture to religion, as well as the contrasts of landscapes in each. The Caucasus region is quite out of the way, so it is a smart tactic to visit several of them in one trip.
Travel logistics
Typically these are small group holidays, with numbers up to around 16. You’ll be travelling from point to point with likeminded travellers, so it is usually quite a sociable affair. In terms of accommodation, expect a mix of hotels in cities, and family run guesthouses in the countryside, with restaurant lunches or picnics most days. Private vehicles are the principal form of transport, either minibuses or small coaches, and groups are accompanied by knowledgeable local guides. Ambitious itineraries involve lots of time on the road, in countries with few motorways, so besides your camera and hiking boots you’ll need to bring patience, camaraderie and energy.
Typical routes
Because Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan all share borders, there are various routes available. A good example might be an itinerary that starts in Armenia with a few days in Yerevan and its surrounds, before heading south to see Tatev Monastery and Jermuk, and crossing the border into Georgia via Lake Sevan and Sevanavank Monastery. After seeing the capital, Tbilisi, you might continue west to Gori, birthplace of Stalin, and Kutaisi, over into Azerbaijan via the renowned Kakheti wine region. In Azerbaijan you travel through historic Shaki before finishing in Baku, with a visit to the amazing ‘Flaming Mountain’.
Every trip takes a slightly different approach, but you’ll see plenty of ancient religious architecture mingled with utilitarian Soviet factories and tower blocks, and of course all of it framed against the stunning mountainous scenery that characterises the Caucasus region.
Note that, due to the ongoing tension over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, overland crossings between Armenia and Azerbaijan are not currently possible, so most itineraries that feature both countries will travel via Georgia.
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How long do I need?
A multi country tour is best suited to travellers with at least three or four weeks at their disposal. Even with two weeks, the itineraries are necessarily brisk just to cover the main highlights, and little time can be spared to properly interact with local people or explore on your own. If you want to really get under the skin of the Caucasus region, consider either a longer, perhaps tailor made trip, or focus on just one or two countries. Allowing at least a week for each country lets you take things at a more relaxed pace, and build in some free time. It’s also worth considering a few extra days at the start or end of the trip, so that you can take a closer look at the capitals, Yerevan, Tbilisi or Baku.
Natalie Fordham, from our partner Wild Frontiers, recommends a multi-country trip:
“You’ve got all the Silk Road and Soviet Union history, and it’s really interesting to explore the similarities and contrasts between the three countries, as each is growing into independence in different ways. Of course, this part of Eurasia is not somewhere you just ‘pass through’ so if you’re visiting one country it makes sense to see the others at the same time. To do even the highlights of three countries though you need at least two weeks.”
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