Best of Georgia & Armenia: Self-Launched Edition
8 days · Georgia & Armenia
G Adventures charges £1,240
No-markup version: ~£420 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
The Caucasus is one of the world's most underrated travel regions — ancient monasteries, dramatic mountain landscapes, outstanding wine, and some of the warmest hospitality on Earth. This self-launched version of G Adventures' classic 8-day Georgia & Armenia itinerary follows the same route from Yerevan to Tbilisi, swapping the private group van for marshrutkas, shared taxis, and local buses, and replacing hotel packages with well-reviewed guesthouses and budget hotels. You'll visit the same UNESCO sites, taste the same traditional food, and have the same jaw-dropping views — at a fraction of the price. Estimated costs are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Yerevan
Yerevan, Armenia
Arrive into Zvartnots International Airport (EVN) at any time. From the airport, take the marshrutka (minibus route 201) or a cheap Yandex taxi into the city centre for around £2-4. Check into your guesthouse in the Republic Square area — a great base for exploring. Spend the evening strolling the famous Cascade Steps and grabbing dinner on Abovyan Street, where you'll find traditional Armenian food for well under £10. Try khorovats (Armenian BBQ) and a glass of local brandy.
🚌Marshrutka 201 from airport or Yandex taxi (~£2-4)
🛏Envoy Hostel Yerevan or Loft Hostel Yerevan — well-reviewed, central, dorm from ~£12/night or private from ~£25/night
- →Arrive at Zvartnots Airport — take marshrutka 201 or Yandex taxi to centre (~£2-4)
- →Check in and explore the Republic Square and Cascade Steps area
- →Dinner on Abovyan Street — try khorovats and Armenian brandy
Echmiadzin Cathedral & Yerevan City Tour
Yerevan & Echmiadzin, Armenia
Head to Echmiadzin (also spelled Vagharshapat), the religious heart of Armenia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a shared marshrutka from Yerevan's Kilikia bus station — journey takes around 30-40 minutes and costs less than £1 each way. The cathedral complex (4th century AD) is stunning and entry is free. Back in Yerevan, visit the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial and Museum (£3 entry) — a deeply moving and important site. In the afternoon, explore Yerevan's colourful open-air market, Vernissage, for crafts, souvenirs, and local colour. Book a self-guided walking tour via GetYourGuide for extra context (~£10).
🚌Marshrutka from Kilikia bus station (~£1 each way)
🛏Envoy Hostel or Loft Hostel Yerevan
- →Marshrutka to Echmiadzin from Kilikia bus station (~£1 each way, 30-40 mins)
- →Visit Echmiadzin Cathedral UNESCO complex — free entry
- →Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial & Museum (~£3)
- →Explore Vernissage open-air market in Yerevan
- →Optional: self-guided Yerevan walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£10)
Khor Virap Monastery, Garni Temple & Lavash Lunch
Khor Virap, Garni & Geghard, Armenia
This is one of the most iconic days on the entire Caucasus circuit. Hire a shared taxi or book a day-trip minibus from Yerevan to cover Khor Virap, Garni, and Geghard — many guesthouses can arrange this for £15-20pp. Khor Virap Monastery sits dramatically at the foot of Mt Ararat (visible across the Turkish border on clear days) — it's free to enter and absolutely breathtaking. Next, visit the 1st-century pagan temple of Garni (entry ~£2). Continue to the medieval cave monastery of Geghard (UNESCO listed, free entry), where you can watch women baking lavash bread in a traditional tonir oven — book a lunch-with-locals experience via GetYourGuide (~£18) or ask your guesthouse to connect you with a local family. Return to Yerevan for the evening.
🚌Shared taxi day trip (~£15-20pp)
🛏Envoy Hostel or Loft Hostel Yerevan
- →Shared taxi day trip: Khor Virap, Garni, Geghard (~£15-20pp arranged via guesthouse)
- →Khor Virap Monastery with Mt Ararat views — free entry
- →Garni pagan temple — entry ~£2
- →Geghard cave monastery (UNESCO) — free entry
- →Traditional lavash bread baking & local lunch (~£18 via GetYourGuide or guesthouse arrangement)
Lake Sevan, Molokan Villages & Haghpat
Lake Sevan & Haghpat, Armenia
Today is a long but spectacular travel day north. Take a marshrutka from Yerevan's Kilikia station towards Vanadzor (~£3-4, 2 hrs), stopping at Lake Sevan en route — you can ask to be dropped at Sevanavank Monastery on the lake's peninsula (free entry, gorgeous views). Continue north by shared taxi or marshrutka towards Alaverdi/Haghpat (~£3-4). En route, ask locals or your driver about passing through Molokan minority villages — these Russian Old Believer communities are fascinating and welcoming. Arrive in Haghpat village by late afternoon. Stay in a local guesthouse — several family-run options offer rooms with dinner for around £20-25pp, with unbeatable views over the Debet Canyon.
🚌Marshrutka Yerevan–Sevan–Vanadzor (~£3-4), shared taxi to Haghpat (~£3-4)
🛏Haghpat family guesthouse (B&B with dinner) — ~£20-25pp including breakfast and evening meal
- →Marshrutka from Yerevan to Vanadzor via Lake Sevan (~£3-4, 2 hrs)
- →Stop at Sevanavank Monastery on Lake Sevan peninsula — free entry
- →Continue north by shared taxi towards Haghpat (~£3-4)
- →Pass through Molokan minority villages — ask driver to stop briefly
- →Arrive Haghpat — check into family guesthouse with canyon views
Haghpat & Sanahin Monasteries, Cross into Georgia, Telavi Wine Tasting
Haghpat, Armenia → Telavi, Georgia
Start the morning at the magnificent Haghpat Monastery complex (UNESCO, free entry) — arrive early before day-trippers and soak in the extraordinary medieval stonework in peace. It's a short walk or hitch down the hill to Alaverdi town, from where you can visit the sister UNESCO complex at Sanahin (free entry, 20-min walk or taxi). From Alaverdi, take a shared taxi or marshrutka to the Bagratashen–Sadakhlo border crossing into Georgia (~£3-5). Cross on foot and pick up a Georgian shared taxi or minibus on the other side towards Telavi in the Kakheti wine region (~£5-8, 2-3 hrs). Arrive in Telavi and visit one of the region's renowned family wineries for a traditional Georgian wine tasting — try Schuchmann Wines or a smaller estate via GetYourGuide (~£12-15).
🚌Shared taxi to border (~£3-5), shared taxi Sadakhlo–Telavi (~£5-8)
🛏Hotel Telavi or Twins Wine House guesthouse — ~£18-25pp
- →Morning visit to Haghpat Monastery (UNESCO) — free entry
- →Visit Sanahin Monastery (UNESCO) — free entry, walk or short taxi from Alaverdi
- →Shared taxi/marshrutka to Bagratashen border crossing (~£3-5)
- →Cross into Georgia on foot at Sadakhlo border
- →Shared taxi/minibus to Telavi (~£5-8, 2-3 hrs)
- →Georgian wine tasting at a Kakheti family winery (~£12-15 via GetYourGuide)
Kakheti Wine Country, Sighnaghi & Tbilisi
Kakheti Province & Tbilisi, Georgia
Spend the morning exploring the Kakheti wine region — the world's oldest wine-producing area. Take a local marshrutka or hire a shared taxi to the hilltop walled town of Sighnaghi ('the City of Love'), with sweeping views over the Alazani Valley and the Caucasus mountains beyond. Wander the cobbled streets and pick up a bottle of Kakheti's famous amber wine from a local shop. Stop for a traditional Georgian lunch at a village house (your guesthouse can often arrange this, or look for agritourism families on Airbnb Experiences, ~£10-15pp). Then transfer by marshrutka or shared taxi to Tbilisi (~£3-5, 1.5-2 hrs). On arrival, book a guided walking tour of Tbilisi's Old Town via GetYourGuide (~£10-15) — covering the Narikala Fortress, Metekhi Church, sulphur baths district, and colourful Abanotubani neighbourhood.
🚌Shared taxi to Sighnaghi (~£2-4), marshrutka/shared taxi to Tbilisi (~£3-5)
🛏Fabrika Hostel Tbilisi or Envoy Hostel Tbilisi — dorm from ~£12, private from ~£28
- →Marshrutka or shared taxi to Sighnaghi hilltop walled town (~£2-4)
- →Explore Sighnaghi's cobbled streets and Alazani Valley views
- →Buy amber (skin-contact) Kakheti wine from a local shop
- →Village lunch with local family (~£10-15 via Airbnb Experiences or guesthouse arrangement)
- →Marshrutka/shared taxi to Tbilisi (~£3-5, 1.5-2 hrs)
- →Tbilisi Old Town walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£10-15)
Georgian Military Road, Mtskheta, Jvari & Uplistsikhe
Tbilisi, Mtskheta & Uplistsikhe, Georgia
An epic day of Georgia's greatest hits. Hire a shared taxi for a full-day excursion from Tbilisi — many drivers near the Old Town offer this route for £25-35pp (negotiate the full day). Drive the legendary Georgian Military Road north to Mtskheta, the ancient capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Jvari Monastery perched dramatically on a hilltop at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers (free entry), then walk down to the magnificent Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta town (entry ~£1). Continue west to Uplistsikhe, a remarkable 3,000-year-old rock-hewn cave city carved into the hillside above the Mtkvari River (entry ~£3). The drive through the Aragvi River Valley is stunning. Return to Tbilisi for the evening — spend your last night exploring the vibrant bar scene around Fabrika or Vera district.
🚌Shared taxi full-day excursion (~£25-35pp)
🛏Fabrika Hostel or Envoy Hostel Tbilisi
- →Full-day shared taxi excursion from Tbilisi (~£25-35pp, negotiate in Old Town)
- →Drive the Georgian Military Road to Mtskheta (UNESCO)
- →Jvari Monastery — free entry, dramatic hilltop views
- →Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Mtskheta — entry ~£1
- →Uplistsikhe cave city — entry ~£3
- →Evening drinks in Fabrika creative hub or Vera neighbourhood bars
Depart Tbilisi
Tbilisi, Georgia
Depart at any time from Tbilisi International Airport (TBS). Take the Airport Express train from Liberty Square metro station — it runs every 30 minutes, takes 37 minutes, and costs around £1.50. If you have time before your flight, grab one last Georgian breakfast — churchkhela (walnut-stuffed grape candy), freshly baked shoti bread, and strong Turkish-style coffee from a bakery near the Old Town. Safe travels!
🚌Airport Express train from Liberty Square (~£1.50)
🛏Check out
- →Final Georgian breakfast near the Old Town — shoti bread, churchkhela, strong coffee
- →Airport Express train from Liberty Square to TBS airport (~£1.50, 37 mins)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£420 | £1,240 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £820 per person (66%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£420
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Best of Georgia & Armenia: Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £420 per person for 8 days in Georgia & Armenia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,240 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £420 — a saving of roughly £820 (66%) per person.
How long is the Georgia & Armenia trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Georgia & Armenia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, backpacker, budget trip through Georgia & Armenia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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