Destinations
Cities, monuments and landscapes of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan
Discover the best destinations in the Caucasus, one of the most fascinating regions in the world, where three ancient countries meet: Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. From the cobbled alleys of Tbilisi to the medieval monasteries of Armenia and the futuristic skyscrapers of Baku, every place treasures thousands of years of history, culture, and unique traditions at the natural crossroads between Europe and Asia, much of it listed as UNESCO World Heritage.
Use the interactive map to locate each place geographically or browse the list to explore historic cities, religious monuments, wine regions such as Kakheti —the cradle of world viticulture with over 8,000 years of history— natural landscapes of the Greater Caucasus and archaeological sites. Each entry includes its history, what to see, and the best guided tours to visit it with expert local guides.
222 Destinations
Vashlovani National Park
Georgia's most remote park: clay badlands, pistachio forests and steppe wildlife in the southeast of Kakheti.
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Baku Boulevard
A 3.5 km seafront promenade along the Caspian Sea, Baku's green heart with views of the Flame Towers.
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Guria
Green region of western Georgia between the Black Sea and Meskheti: choral polyphony, hazelnuts and the black-sand beach of Ureki.
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Carahunge
Over 200 basalt megaliths with perforations on the Syunik plateau: Armenia's most enigmatic prehistoric site.
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Imereti
Central Georgian region with Kutaisi as capital: UNESCO monasteries, Prometheus Caves, amber wine and green rolling valleys.
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Old City of Baku
Medieval walled core of Baku, UNESCO World Heritage, with the Maiden Tower, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and limestone alleyways.
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Yerevan Cascade
Monumental stairway in central Yerevan with gardens, Botero sculptures and views of Mount Ararat on clear days.
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Fountain Square
The social hub of Baku: 19th-century facades, terraces with Azerbaijani tea and illuminated fountains at the crossroads of the historic centre.
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Qakh
Foothill town of the Greater Caucasus with Albanian monasteries in the forest, honey markets and silence 45 minutes from Sheki.
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Ijevan
Armenian city among the forests of Tavush: <em>Ijevan</em> brewery, Lake <strong>Parz</strong> and a natural base for the green north of Armenia.
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Bakuriani
Family-friendly ski resort in Georgia at 1,700 m, with cheap lift passes, snow from December to March and a scenic train from Borjomi.
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Tufandag
Azerbaijani mountain ski resort near Qabala, in the Greater Caucasus: slopes, cable car and high-altitude hiking.
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Nabran
Beach resort in northern Azerbaijan: fine sand, a pine forest on the Caspian shore and a family-friendly atmosphere 220 km from Baku.
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Baku Funicular
The cable car that climbs from the Caspian Boulevard to Baku Park, with the best views over the bay and the skyscrapers of Azerbaijan's capital.
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Khor Virap
Armenian monastery on the Ararat plain, metres from the Turkish border, with snowy Mount Ararat as a backdrop.
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Alinja Fortress
Medieval fortress in Nakhchivan perched on a volcanic crag at 1,800 m, with ruined towers and views over the Arax valley.
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Shengavit Settlement
Archaeological site from the 3rd millennium BC in Yerevan with remains of the Kura-Araxes culture and an on-site museum.
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Alaverdi
Industrial city in northern Armenia wedged into the Debed River canyon, gateway to the UNESCO monasteries of Sanahin and Haghpat.
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Saghmosavank Monastery
13th-century Armenian monastery on the edge of the Kasakh river canyon, in Aragatsotn, with views of Mount Aragats and no tourist infrastructure.
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Makaravank Monastery
13th-century monastic complex amid the forests of Tavush, with a gavit covered in animal reliefs and an almost constant silence.
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Naftalan
The Azerbaijani city where sanatoriums offer baths in naphthenic crude oil to treat rheumatic and skin diseases.
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Kobuleti
Adjaran coastal resort with a black pebble beach, palm trees and a seafront promenade on the Georgian Black Sea coast.
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Erebuni Fortress
Urartian citadel from 782 BC in southern Yerevan, with views of Ararat and an archaeological museum at the foot of the hill.
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Tusheti Protected Areas
More than 80,000 hectares of mountains and stone villages in northeast Georgia, accessible only in summer.
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Hovhannavank Monastery
Armenian 12th-century monastery on the edge of the Qasagh river canyon in Aragatsotn: three-nave church, medieval gavit and unlabelled khachkars.
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Sevan
Armenian town on the shores of Lake Sevan at 1,900 m, with Sevanavank monastery, pebble beaches and trout restaurants.
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Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial
Memorial in Yerevan with an eternal flame, twelve basalt pillars, and an underground museum dedicated to the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
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Khertvisi Fortress
Medieval Georgian fortress on the cliff where the Paravani River meets the Mtkvari, on the way to Vardzia, no entrance fee and no crowds.
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Sataplia Nature Reserve
Nature reserve 9 km from Kutaisi with fossilised dinosaur footprints, a limestone cave and a glass viewing platform over subtropical forest.
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Goychay
Azerbaijani city on the Kura plain, famous for its pomegranates and the Nar Bayrami festival every October.
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Gergeti Trinity Church
Medieval Georgian church at 2,170 m above Stepantsminda, with Mount Kazbek as a permanent backdrop.
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Mtskheta
Ancient capital of Georgia 20 km from Tbilisi: Sveti Tskhoveli Cathedral, Jvari Monastery and the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, UNESCO World Heritage.
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Baku
Capital of Azerbaijan on the Caspian: medieval old city, modern skyscrapers, Soviet architecture and one of the richest cuisines of the Caucasus.
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Kolkheti National Park
Coastal wetlands on the Black Sea in western Georgia, UNESCO World Heritage, with lagoons, peat bogs and migratory birds of the Caucasus.
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Uplistsikhe Cave Town
City carved into sandstone rock beside the Mtkvari River, with 3,000 years of history 80 km from Tbilisi.
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Borjomi
Georgian spa town nestled among pine forests, famous for its mineral water and the gateway to Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park.
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Heydar Aliyev Center
Zaha Hadid's masterpiece in Baku: white curves with no sharp angles, exhibitions on Azerbaijani history and the world's best design award in 2014.
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Stalin Museum (Gori)
The most visited museum in Georgia outside Tbilisi: Stalin's birthplace, his armoured railway carriage and the Soviet personality cult almost intact.
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Wings of Tatev Cable Car
5.7 km cable car in southern Armenia crossing the Vorotan Canyon to Tatev Monastery, with views of the cliffs and the river 320 m below.
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Gadabay
Mountain district in western Azerbaijan with ruins of a 19th-century Swedish smelter, pine forests and Lake Göygöl nearby.
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Nokalakevi (Archaeopolis)
Ancient capital of the Egrisi kingdom in Samegrelo: Cyclopean walls from the 6th century, a river tunnel and ruins above the Tekhuri River.
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Sapara Monastery
9th-century monastic complex among beeches above Akhaltsikhe, with medieval frescoes and forest track access that keeps crowds away.
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Mtatsminda Park
Leisure park on top of <strong>Mount Mtatsminda</strong>, 770 metres above <strong>Tbilisi</strong>, with a cable car from <strong>Rike Park</strong>, panoramic Ferris wheel and Georgian writers' pantheon.
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Ganja
Azerbaijan's second city: a red-brick bazaar, 17th-century mosques and a slower pace of life than Baku.
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Astara
Coastal city in southern Azerbaijan, on the border with Iran, with tea, fresh fish and the Hyrcanian forests nearby.
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Trchkan Waterfall
Armenia's highest waterfall: a 23-metre free drop over the Chichkhan River, in the gorge between the provinces of Shirak and Lori.
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Sheki
Historic city in the Azerbaijani Caucasus, famous for the Khan's Palace, shebeke stained glass windows and its silk-making tradition.
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Vanadzor
Armenia's third-largest city, in the Lori region, with Soviet architecture and direct access to the monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin.
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Kutaisi
Georgia's second city, on the banks of the <strong>Rioni</strong>, with the medieval <strong>Bagrati</strong> Cathedral declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a base for exploring the west of the country.
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Katskhi Pillar
40-metre limestone monolith in Imereti with a medieval church on top, viewable from a free lookout point in the valley.
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Harichavank Monastery
7th-century Armenian monastery on the Shirak plain, near Gyumri, home to one of the oldest churches in Armenia.
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Maralgol Lake
Alpine lake among beech forests in the Ganja mountains, at 1,800 m, with no infrastructure and almost deserted outside the Azerbaijani summer.
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Baku City Circuit
The Formula 1 circuit running through the streets of Baku, including the passage by the historic old city. Visible year-round on the walls of Icheri Sheher.
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Goshavank Monastery
12th-century monastic complex in the Tavush forest, with intricately carved stone khachkars and free entry. Near-guaranteed silence on weekdays.
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Yanar Dag
A hillside that never stops burning on the Absheron Peninsula: natural gas seeping through the rock and blazing for decades, 25 km from Baku.
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Echmiadzin Cathedral
Seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church and UNESCO World Heritage site in Vagharshapat, considered the oldest functioning Christian cathedral.
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Sergei Parajanov Museum
The art Parajanov made when he could not film: collages, dolls and objects in a small, dense museum in Yerevan.
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Poti
Black Sea port city with Lake Paliastomi, humid subtropical forest and Georgia's busiest commercial harbour.
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Makhuntseti Waterfall
30-metre waterfall amid the humid forests of Adjara, combinable with the medieval King's Bridge, 40 km from Batumi.
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Agsu
Town on the Shirvan plain in Azerbaijan, with ruins of the medieval Akhsu settlement and a natural stop on the Baku–Sheki route.
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Svaneti
Region in northwestern Georgia above 2,000 m, with Svan medieval towers, Great Caucasus glaciers and villages inhabited since the Middle Ages.
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Karabakh
A historic region of Azerbaijan under reconstruction: Shusha, medieval monasteries and Caucasus mountains with coordinated access.
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Syunik Province
Armenia's southernmost province: Tatev Monastery, Wings of Tatev cable car, Shikahogh Reserve and basalt gorges.
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Yanar Bulag
Spring in southern Azerbaijan where carbonated water emerges with methane gas and burns with a continuous flame on the surface.
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Azerbaijan Mud Volcanoes
Azerbaijan concentrates almost half the world's mud volcanoes: craters bubbling cold mud in a lunar landscape near Baku.
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Nij
A Caucasian Albanian village in Azerbaijan where the Udis, one of the oldest peoples of the Caucasus, preserve their language and Christian church.
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Sanahin Monastery
10th-century Armenian monastic complex, UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Alaverdi, with churches, a medieval library, and khachkares.
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Areni Church
A 14th-century Armenian church beside the Arpa river, in the heart of the Vayots Dzor wine region, with partial frescoes and easy access.
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Republic Square
The civic heart of Yerevan: Soviet-Armenian pink tuff, nocturnal dancing fountains and the best starting point for exploring the centre.
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Zugdidi
Capital of <strong>Samegrelo</strong> and gateway to <strong>Svaneti</strong>: the <strong>Dadiani Palace</strong> with its death mask of Napoleon, subtropical botanical garden and overnight train from <strong>Tbilisi</strong>.
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Stepanavan
Northern Armenian city among beech forests, with the country's largest dendropark and the basalt gorge of the Dzoraghet river.
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Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
Georgia's largest medieval cathedral, in Mtskheta, houses the relic of Christ's tunic and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.
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Juma Mosque of Shaki
18th-century mosque in <strong>Shaki</strong> with twin minarets and <em>shebeke</em> windows, the glue-free glass technique declared UNESCO Heritage.
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Shikahogh State Reserve
A relict humid forest in southern Armenia, refuge of the Caucasian leopard and century-old beeches near the border with Iran.
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Tetnuldi
Ski resort in Upper Svaneti with runs at 3,165 m, Great Caucasus glaciers and medieval Svan towers visible from the slopes.
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Meghri
Armenian city at the southernmost tip of the country, bordering Iran, with a subtropical climate, pomegranate terraces and medieval churches with frescoes.
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Batumi
Georgian Black Sea port among palms, art nouveau and skyscrapers: seven kilometres of promenade lively until the early hours.
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Shirvan National Park
Semi-arid steppe along the Caspian Sea, home to the largest gazelle herds in the Caucasus, pink flamingos and Dalmatian pelicans.
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Maiden Tower
The oldest cylindrical tower in Baku, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Old City, with centuries of mystery surrounding its original purpose.
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Noratus Khachkar Cemetery
Armenia's largest khachkar field: over nine hundred basalt crosses carved between the 10th and 17th centuries on the shores of Lake Sevan.
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Martvili Canyon
Limestone canyon with turquoise water in Samegrelo: a walk and boat ride through the narrowest walls of the Abasha river.
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Shusha
Azerbaijani city at 1,400 m in the Karabakh mountains, cultural capital of the country, with restored mosques and a past marked by conflict.
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Yerevan Brandy Factory
Historic 1887 distillery in Yerevan where Ararat brandy is produced, with guided tours of underground cellars and tastings.
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Sevanavank Monastery
9th-century monastery perched on a rocky peninsula of Lake Sevan with water views, cutting winds, and a stone staircase from the village.
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Spitakavor Monastery
13th-century Armenian monastery among the forests of Vayots Dzor, with well-preserved khachkars and virtually no visitors.
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Balakan
Border town in the far northwest of Azerbaijan, gateway to the Zaqatala forests and the culture of Lezgi and Avar communities.
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Palace of the Shirvanshahs
15th-century palace complex in the old city of Baku, UNESCO Heritage: mausoleum, mosque and Divankhane in limestone.
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Martyrs' Lane and Highland Park
Black January memorial cemetery and viewpoint over the Caspian and the Flame Towers, on the highest hill in Baku.
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Flame Towers
Three LED-clad skyscrapers dominating Baku's night skyline with flame-like animations, a symbol of oil-era Azerbaijan.
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Noravank Monastery
13th-century monastic complex set in a red-rock canyon in Vayots Dzor, with the church of Surb Astvatsatsin as its centrepiece.
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Tsakhats Kar Monastery
Medieval monastic complex in the heights of <strong>Vayots Dzor</strong>, among pink tufa and near-total silence above the <strong>Arpa valley</strong>.
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Selim Caravanserai
14th-century Armenian caravanserai at 2,410 m on the Selim Pass: one of the best-preserved Silk Road stops in the Caucasus.
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Lake Paravani
Georgia's largest lake, at 2,100 m on the volcanic Javakheti plateau: grey-blue water, constant wind and a treeless horizon.
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Tatev Monastery
9th-century Armenian monastic complex above the Vorotan gorge, reachable by the world's longest ropeway, with medieval churches and canyon views.
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Matenadaran
The great repository of Armenian manuscripts in Yerevan: over 23,000 medieval codices with illuminations that have remained intact for centuries.
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Shamakhi Juma Mosque
The oldest mosque in Azerbaijan: a thousand years of Islamic history in the heart of Shamakhi, two hours from Baku.
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Telavi
Wine capital of Kakheti, among vineyards and royal fortresses in the Alazani valley, where wine has been made in clay jars for centuries.
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Chiatura
Georgian mining town in the Kvirila river gorge, famous for its rusting Soviet cable cars that still carry residents over the void.
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Chronicle of Georgia
Sixteen concrete pillars 35 m tall beside the Tbilisi reservoir, covered in reliefs narrating Georgia's history from its origins to the 20th century.
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Dmanisi Archaeological Site
The site outside Africa where the oldest known hominids were found, on a volcanic promontory with medieval ruins in southern Georgia.
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Ananuri
A 17th-century fortress-church complex on the shore of Jinvali Lake, on the Georgian Military Highway, one hour from Tbilisi.
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Dashbashi Canyon
Basalt canyon with waterfalls and a glass bridge in southern Georgia, two hours from Tbilisi on the route to Armenia.
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Bodbe Monastery
Active convent in Kakheti with the tomb of Saint Nino, rose gardens and views over the vineyards of the Alazani valley.
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Lake Sevan
The largest lake in Armenia, at 1,900 m altitude, with the medieval Sevanavank monastery and endemic trout on its shores.
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Lake Arpi National Park
High-plateau lake in northwest Armenia, refuge for migrating cranes and volcanic peatlands, far from mass tourism.
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Ramana Castle
14th-century medieval tower on the Absheron Peninsula, 25 km from Baku, with views of the Caspian Sea and almost no tourists.
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Yeddi Gumbaz
Seven 18th-century white stone mausoleums in Şamaxı where the last khans of the Shirvan Khanate are buried.
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Lerik
Mountain town in southern Azerbaijan, amid Talysh forests and mist, known for the longevity of its inhabitants and its remote villages.
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Mardakan
Two 14th-century medieval towers watch over the Absheron Peninsula 30 km from Baku, amid summer villas and pomegranate gardens.
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Garni Temple
First-century Hellenistic temple on a basalt promontory above the Azat River gorge — the only Greco-Roman structure in Armenia.
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Gobustan
Archaeological reserve with over 6,000 petroglyphs declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 65 km from Baku, next to active mud volcanoes.
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Vernissage Market
Weekend market in central Yerevan with Soviet antiques, Armenian garnet jewellery, khachkars and Caucasian carpets.
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Odzun Church
5th-century Armenian basilica on the Lori plateau, with black basalt stelae in the atrium and views over the Debed River valley.
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Lake Kari
Glacial lake at 3,200 m on the slopes of <strong>Mount Aragats</strong>, accessible by car in summer and starting point for the highest peak in Armenia.
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Khinalug
Caucasian village at 2,350 m in Azerbaijan, UNESCO World Heritage Site, where 2,000 people speak a language with no known relation to any other in the world.
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Ushguli
Four Svan villages at 2,200 m, with medieval stone towers and the Shkhara glacier as backdrop. UNESCO World Heritage since 1996.
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Goderdzi
Ski resort at the Goderdzi Pass, Adjara, at 2,025 m and less than two hours from Batumi, with snow until April.
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Shamkir
Wine-producing town in western Azerbaijan, with a medieval castle, active wineries and the Kura reservoir three hours from Baku.
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Mestia
Capital of Upper Svaneti at 1,500 m altitude, with inhabited medieval towers, nearby glaciers and access to the most remote valleys of the Caucasus.
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Mount Aragats
Armenia's highest mountain: four volcanic peaks, Lake Kari at 3,200 m and the medieval fortress of Amberd within a single massif.
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Qusar
A Lezghin town in northern Azerbaijan and gateway to the Shahdag mountain resort in the Greater Caucasus.
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Lankaran
Coastal city in southern Azerbaijan, between the Caspian Sea and the Talysh mountains: tea, citrus, local cuisine and a 19th-century lighthouse.
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Tusheti
Mountainous region in northeast Georgia: medieval stone-tower villages, alpine trekking and a mountain road that only opens in summer.
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History Museum of Armenia
The great archaeological museum of Yerevan, on Republic Square, with pieces from the Urartu kingdom and collections spanning from the Palaeolithic.
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Nakhchivan
Capital of the Azerbaijani exclave surrounded by Armenia, Iran and Turkey: medieval funerary towers by Ajami and a pace of life all its own.
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Kish Albanian Church
One of the earliest Christian temples in the Caucasus, in a quiet village 5 km from Sheki, with an on-site archaeological museum.
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Sardarapat Memorial
Monumental complex on the Ararat plain commemorating the 1918 battle in which Armenia survived as a nation.
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Jermuk Waterfall
72-metre waterfall of the Arpa River in the heart of the thermal spa town of Jermuk, Armenia. Free access year-round.
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Nizami Street
Baku's main promenade: two kilometres of 19th-century facades, café terraces and urban life between the walled city and the modern centre.
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Akhaltsikhe
City in southern Georgia dominated by the medieval Rabati Fortress and base for the cave monastery of Vardzia.
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Krasnaya Sloboda
Mountain Jewish quarter next to Quba, in northern Azerbaijan: active synagogues, Judeo-Tat and a community with centuries of history in the Caucasus.
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Baku Fire Temple
A 17th-century Zoroastrian and Hindu temple in Surakhani, built over natural gas seeps that fed eternal flames.
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Dilijan National Park
Armenia's densest forest: oaks, beeches, medieval monasteries and marked trails in the Tavush region.
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Tsinandali Estate
19th-century manor estate in wine country Kakheti: botanical garden, historic wine cellar and museum of poet Alexander Chavchavadze.
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Ashtarak
Armenian town 20 km from Yerevan, known for its medieval churches, stone bridges over the Kasagh and the traditional sweet gata.
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Areni-1 Cave
Archaeological cave in southern Armenia where the world's oldest winery (6,000 BC) and the oldest known leather shoe were found.
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Absheron National Park
Nature reserve on the Caspian coast where gazelles, flamingos and wild horses inhabit an arid landscape less than an hour from Baku.
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Shaki Waterfall
18-metre waterfall over black basalt in southern Armenia, accessible from the road between Goris and Kapan in the Syunik region.
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Haghpat Monastery
10th-century Armenian monastery in Lori, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with one of the finest collections of medieval khachkars.
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Khosrov Forest State Reserve
One of the oldest protected natural reserves in the world: volcanic gorges, wildlife and almost no tourists south of Yerevan.
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Gonio-Apsaros Fortress
First-century Roman fort on the Black Sea coast, one of the best-preserved Roman military outposts in the Caucasus.
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Nardaran
Conservative Shia enclave on the Absheron Peninsula with a 14th-century medieval fortress and active pilgrimage mosque, 25 km from Baku.
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Masalli
Azerbaijani city in the Talysh region, with tea plantations on the hills, Hyrcanian subtropical forest and the culture of the Talysh people.
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Bagrati Cathedral
An 11th-century cathedral crowning Kutaisi, UNESCO World Heritage site whose restoration divided experts and international bodies.
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Gyumri
Armenia's second city with a historic centre of black volcanic stone, a living craft tradition and the still-visible scars of the 1988 earthquake.
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Gelati Monastery
12th-century monastic complex in Imereti with golden Byzantine mosaics, the tomb of David the Builder, and an oak forest.
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Nekresi Monastery
Fourth-century monastic complex perched above the Alazan Valley in Kakheti, with views over the vineyards and the Greater Caucasus.
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Batabat Lake
Glacial lake at 2,400 m in the high pastures of Nakhchivan, with no organised tourism and a high-altitude silence that is hard to find elsewhere.
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Hirkan National Park
A Tertiary-era relic forest in southern Azerbaijan, UNESCO World Heritage Site, with trees that have been growing near the Caspian for millions of years.
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Shamakhi
Ancient capital of the Shirvan kingdom, among vineyards and hills 120 km from Baku: medieval mosque, Madrasa wines and an astronomical observatory.
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Vardzia
12th-century cave monastery carved into the cliffs above the Mtkvari river, with over 500 chambers hewn from the rock and medieval frescoes.
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Haghartsin Monastery
10th-century monastery in the Tavush forest with three medieval churches, a vaulted refectory and free admission. Easy access from Dilijan.
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Okatse Canyon
Metal walkway suspended over the Okatse River in Imereti, 20 km from Kutaisi, combinable with the Martvili caves.
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Sighnaghi
Small walled town in the wine-growing region of Kakheti, with views of the Alazani valley and the snows of the Caucasus, known for its houses with carved wooden balconies and its wineries.
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Gudauri
Georgia's best-known ski resort at 2,200 m, with 50 km of runs, affordable lift passes and direct access from Tbilisi.
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Khevsureti
Region of the Georgian Greater Caucasus with medieval towers, semi-abandoned villages and high-mountain trekking routes.
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Candy Cane Mountains
Red and white striped sandstone hills in the Khizi district of Azerbaijan: a sedimentary landscape with no infrastructure and plenty of light.
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Momine Khatun Mausoleum
12th-century decagonal funerary tower in Nakhchivan, the masterpiece of architect Ajami Nakhchivani and Seljuk architecture in the Caucasus.
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Shio-Mgvime Monastery
6th-century Georgian monastic complex in a limestone gorge near <strong>Mtskheta</strong>, with cave cells hewn from the rock and an active community.
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Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum
Baku's museum dedicated to Azerbaijani carpets, housed in a scroll-shaped building on the Caspian waterfront, with pieces from the 16th to 20th century.
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Kazbegi
A Greater Caucasus village at 1,700 metres, with the snow-capped Mount Kazbek and the Gergeti church on its ridge, three hours from Tbilisi.
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David Gareja Monastery
Rock-hewn monastic complex in the Kakheti steppe, carved into limestone cliffs near the Azerbaijan border, with 6th-century medieval frescoes.
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Lahij
Craft village in a canyon in northern Azerbaijan, famous for its hammered copper workshops and cobblestone street with a water channel.
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Amberd Fortress
Medieval Armenian fortress from the 10th century on the slopes of Mount Aragats at 2,300 m, with a well-preserved church and views of Ararat.
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Hayravank Monastery
9th-century Armenian monastery on black basalt on the southwest shore of Lake Sevan, with no ticket booths or tourist buses.
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Abanotubani Sulfur Baths
Thermal district in the old town of Tbilisi with brick domes, sulfurous springs and traditional Georgian massage in private rooms.
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Kapan
The second city of Syunik in southern Armenia, surrounded by dense forests and gorges, with a mining history and the Baghaberd fortress nearby.
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Kakheti
Georgia's wine region: vineyard valleys, kvevris buried in every courtyard, and the monasteries of the Alazani Valley.
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Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque
19th-century mosque in <strong>Shusha</strong>, <strong>Karabakh</strong>, with two restored brick minarets after 2020 and views over the <strong>Dashalti</strong> canyon.
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Goygol National Park
Caucasian forests, Lake Goygol at 1,556 m and mountain wildlife in the Lesser Caucasus of Azerbaijan.
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Gabala
Azerbaijani city set among beech forests and the Greater Caucasus, with a cable car, Albanian ruins and mountain air three hours from Baku.
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Jvari Monastery
6th-century Georgian church on a rocky promontory above <strong>Mtskheta</strong>, UNESCO Heritage, with views of the confluence of the <strong>Aragvi</strong> and <strong>Mtkvari</strong>.
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Zvartnots
Circular ruins of a 7th-century Armenian cathedral, UNESCO World Heritage, with Mount Ararat in the background a few kilometres from Yerevan airport.
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Mingrelia
Subtropical region of western Georgia with humid forests, a cuisine spicier than anywhere else in the country, and the Inguri river border with Abkhazia.
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Bibi-Heybat Mosque
Shia mosque on the Caspian shore south of Baku, rebuilt in the nineties and visible from the road to Gobustan.
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Kecharis Monastery
11th-century Armenian monastic complex in Tsaghkadzor: red-tuff churches, medieval gavits and khachkars amid fir forests and ski slopes.
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Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park
One of Europe's largest parks: Lesser Caucasus forests, multi-day routes and mountain huts in Georgia.
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Basqal
Historic village in Azerbaijan famous for its silk fabrics: stone streets, 18th and 19th-century houses and traditional weavers still active.
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Prometheus Cave
Limestone caves in Imereti with stalactites, underground lakes and a navigable river by boat, 20 km from Kutaisi.
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Gremi Royal Citadel
Former medieval capital of Kakheti: 16th-century church with frescoes, tower with views over the Alazani valley vineyards.
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Racha
Mountainous region in northwestern Georgia, famous for Khvanchkara wine, medieval churches and barely visited valleys.
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Geghard Monastery
13th-century Armenian monastery partially carved into the rock of a gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
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Yevlakh
Azerbaijani railway junction on the <strong>Kura</strong> plain, a transit point between <strong>Baku</strong>, <strong>Ganja</strong> and <strong>Sheki</strong> and gateway to the Karabakh corridor.
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Palace of the Shaki Khans
18th-century palace in Shaki with nail-free coloured glass panels, hunting frescoes and a throne room: UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Lagodekhi Protected Areas
Century-old reserve in the far east of Kakheti: beech forests, alpine lakes and uncrowded trails in the Greater Caucasus.
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Marmashen Monastery
Three 10th-century pink tuff churches by the Akhurian river, in a quiet gorge 10 km from Gyumri, with very few visitors.
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Motsameta Monastery
Medieval Georgian monastery perched above the Tskhaltsitela river canyon, 6 km from Kutaisi, housing the relics of martyrs David and Constantine.
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Mingachevir
Soviet-built city on the shores of Azerbaijan's largest reservoir, with archaeological finds from Caucasian Albania.
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Taza Pir Mosque
The most important Shia mosque in Baku, built in 1914 with 45-metre minarets and a golden dome in the heart of the city.
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Dvin Ruins
Ancient Armenian capital on the Ararat plain: walls, palaces and cathedral excavated 35 km south of Yerevan.
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Dilijan
Mountain town in northeastern Armenia, set within a forested national park, with craftspeople, medieval monasteries and trails two hours from Yerevan.
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Zaqatala
Azerbaijani town at the foot of the <strong>Greater Caucasus</strong> with a 19th-century Russian fortress, beech forests and a walnut market in September.
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Chirag Qala
Medieval dark basalt fortress on a cliff in northern Azerbaijan, with valley views and free access.
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Bjni Fortress
Medieval black basalt ruins above the <strong>Hrazdan river</strong> gorge, 35 km from <strong>Yerevan</strong>, with no ticket booth or organised tourism.
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Gori
Georgian city in the Mtkvari valley, famous as Stalin's birthplace, its Soviet museum and the medieval Gorijvari fortress.
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Echmiadzin
Spiritual seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church, with the oldest continuously used Christian cathedral in the world and three 7th-century churches listed as UNESCO World Heritage.
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Mount Kazbek
5,047 m volcano in the Georgian Caucasus, with the medieval Gergeti church perched above the void and the village of Stepantsminda at its foot.
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Khachmaz
City in northern Azerbaijan between the Greater Caucasus and the Caspian Sea, gateway to Quba and the fine sand beaches of Nabran.
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Quba
Town in northern Azerbaijan, gateway to the mountain villages of the Caucasus and famous for its apples and handwoven carpets.
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Rabati Castle
Medieval fortress in Akhaltsikhe with an Ottoman mosque, an Orthodox church and restored walls that divide historians.
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Ismayilli
Foothills city of the Greater Caucasus in Azerbaijan, base for the craft village of Lahij and mountain forests 170 km from Baku.
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Shahdag National Park
Azerbaijan's largest national park: glaciers, alpine meadows, Lezgian villages and the Caucasian leopard in the Greater Caucasus.
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Ilisu
Azerbaijani village perched on a cliff above a canyon with a waterfall, in the Greater Caucasus mountains of northern Azerbaijan.
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Mtirala National Park
Subtropical forest in <strong>Adjara</strong> with waterfalls and moss-lined trails: Georgia's rainiest corner, 15 km from <strong>Batumi</strong>.
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Ubisa Monastery
Medieval monastery in Imereti with 14th-century frescoes painted by Damiane, among the most refined in Georgian religious art.
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Jermuk
Armenian mountain spa town at 2,080 m in Vayots Dzor: medicinal thermal waters, a 72-metre waterfall and Soviet-era architecture still in use.
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Alaverdi Monastery
11th-century cathedral on the Kakheti plain: 55 m nave, medieval frescoes and a monastic winery making wine in kvevri.
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Shahdag Mountain Resort
Ski resort in northern Azerbaijan with slopes on the Greater Caucasus, modern lifts and access from Baku in under three hours.
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Narikala Fortress
Medieval fortress above the old town of Tbilisi: ruined walls, a restored church and the best views of the city.
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Machakhela National Park
Virgin subtropical forests, wooden villages and the Turkish border in the interior of Adjara, one of Georgia's least visited parks.
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Ikalto Monastery
6th-century monastic complex in Kakheti with a medieval academy where the poet Shota Rustaveli studied, set among vineyards and oak forests.
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Khndzoresk
Abandoned cave village in the Syunik canyon, with hundreds of caves carved into the rock and a 160 m swinging bridge over the gorge.
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Tsaghkadzor
Armenian mountain resort at 1,900 m with cable car, ski slopes and the medieval Kecharis monastery, less than an hour from Yerevan.
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Goris
Small city in southern Armenia wedged among volcanic rock spires, base for Tatev Monastery and the cave dwellings of Syunik.
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Yerevan
Armenia's capital in pink volcanic tuff, with Ararat in the background and urban life revolving around Republic Square.
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Ordubad
Ancient city of Nakhchivan on the Aras River, with adobe neighbourhoods, pomegranate orchards and a border with Iran.
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Tbilisi
Georgia's capital nestled between hills and the Mtkvari River: carved wooden balconies, sulphur baths and centuries of overlapping cultures.
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Goygol Lake
Mountain lake in Azerbaijan formed by a medieval earthquake, at 1,556 m among Caucasian firs, 40 min from Ganja.
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Smbataberd Fortress
Medieval Armenian fortress on a ridge above the <strong>Arpa valley</strong>, in <strong>Vayots Dzor</strong>, with views of <strong>Noravank Monastery</strong>.
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Adjara
Subtropical coast on the Black Sea, mountains of dense forest and the city of Batumi: Georgia's most humid and green region.
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Vayots Dzor Province
Red rock canyons in southern Armenia: Noravank monastery, the world's oldest winery, and Areni red wine.
View DetailsAltiagach National Park
National park near Quba in northern Azerbaijan, with oak and beech forests and trails visited mainly by Azerbaijani families.
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