Medicine and Society in Armenia and Georgia

Itinerary at a glance

• Day 1: Yerevan (Sat, 21 Sept) Arrive in Yerevan, the relaxed capital of Armenia, and spend the first day at leisure. Local dinner.
• Day 2: Yerevan (Sun, 22 Sept) Take a gentle walking tour of Yerevan, a mix of Soviet architecture and 19th century Russian edifices, including imposing Republic Square, the magnificent 1930s Opera House and Victory Park with its city views. Visit Mesrop Mashtots, the Manuscript Museum, which is one of the largest collections of ancient manuscripts in the world. Visit the Cascade complex - a Soviet period structure that resembles a giant stairway - and see a craftsman making the traditional duduk, an double reed woodwind made of apricot wood.
• Day 3: Yerevan (Mon, 23 Sept) Meet with Armenian doctors at the oldest hospital in Armenia, the Beglaryan Medical Centre. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Cave Monastery at Geghard and hear sacred choir singing. Visit the stunning Temple of Garni, followed by tastings at a local brandy factory.
• Day 4: Yerevan / Dilijan (Tues, 24 Sept) Drive through spectacular scenery to Khorvirab Monastery, where Armenia adopted Christianity in 301 AD, near Mount Ararat. Sample the renowned local dry red wine and see Noravank Monastery. Cross the Selim Pass and explore Selim caravanserai. Stop to admire Lake Sevan – the 'blue eye of Armenia'– before continuing to the spa town of Dilijan.
• Day 5: Dilijan / Telavi (Wed, 25 Sept) Head for the Georgian border through rolling valleys, with a backdrop of the Lesser Caucasus. Visit a stone carver, who makes traditional Armenian stone crosses, and the UNESCO Heritage Site Monastery of Haghpat. Cross into Georgia and continue to Telavi.
• Day 6: Telavi (Thurs, 26 Sept) Telavi is the heart of the Kakheti region, which is the home of Georgia's ancient wine industry with several famous wineries as well as art museums, historic castles and a strong folkloric tradition. Explore the little town, including a visit to majestic Alaverdi Cathedral, which dates back to the 11th century.Visit a local wine cellar with lunch followed by tastings before dinner with folk music.
• Day 7: Telavi / Tbilisi (Fri, 27 Sept) Visit a community clinic in Gurjaani to learn about local health care. Walking tour of the fortified town of Sighnaghi. This is a region of vineyards, with breathtaking views of the Great Caucasus Mountains. Drive to Tbilisi and overnight.
• Day 8: Tbilisi (Sat, 28 Sept) Tbilisi is a leisurely town of considerable charm with a distinctly un-Soviet character that is a blend of Europe and Asia. Half day walking tour through the picturesque Old Town. Lunch at a family home. Talk: "Georgian cuisine and its influences". At leisure or visit the local flea market. Option to visit the opera or ballet in the evening.
• Day 9: Tbilisi (Sun, 29 Sept) Visit the fascinating State Museum, the church of Metekhi, an unusual example of a domed Georgian Orthodox church, 13th century Sioni Cathedral, the old pharmacy and the historic sulphur thermal baths. Hear a talk on Georgian medicine and wine. Afternoon at leisure.
  Day 10: Tblisi / Gori / Uplistsikhe / Kazbegi (Mon, 30 Sept) Transfer to Gori, a town known for its most notorious son, Stalin, and meet with doctors at the military hospital. Visit Uplistsikhe, an ancient rock-hewn town, and return to Kazbegi.
• Day 11: Kazbegi (Tues, 1 Oct) Visit Gergeti Trinity Church, perched high above the town. Continue to Dariali Gorge for a beautiful walk to Gveleti Waterfalls. Watch out for local bird life, including birds of prey. Continue to the hotel.
• Day 12: Kazbegi (Wed, 2 Oct) Explore the spectacular landscapes of the Great Caucasus on a 4WD tour. Visit the remote village of Juta, taste local honey and yoghurt and visit another remote gorge, Truso.
• Day 13: Kazbegi / Tbilisi (Thur, 3 Oct) Return to Tblisi via Ananuri. Lunch at Chateau Mukhrani. the original Georgian Royal Chateau founded on Georgia’s long tradition of winemaking. Continue to the ancient capital of Mtsketa and hear Georgian chanting in the 11th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Continue to Tbilisi. Farewell dinner at the excellent Barbarestan restaurant, which serves traditional Georgian fare.
• Day 14: Tbilisi (Fri, 4 Oct) Depart after breakfast.