19 Days Caucasus and Anatolia Discovery

About the destination: Baku is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. Baku's main tourist area is the old town, called Icheri Sheher and a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its sights from medieval times. There are a number of interesting sites within Baku's walled fortress. The medieval palace of the Shirvan Shahs is the highlight of the Old City and a must see for any tourist in Baku. A striking contrast to the old town, are the ultra-modern buildings of the downtown area, such as the Heydar Aliyev Centre, the Flame Towers and the Crystal Hall. There are a lot of beautiful buildings in the city center and there is a huge promenade on the seafront. You will find a lot of shopping opportunities and also great food in the azeri restaurants.

About the destination: Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia, but beyond that, is the country's largest city. Georgia is technically located in Eurasia, but its inhabitants prefer to say they are the "Balcony of Europe". Tbilisi is a very welcoming city where there is a very hospitable environment. In the city there are many tourist areas and a variety of activities to do. Some of the most famous tourist attractions of this city can be monuments like the Cathedral of Sameba which was built in 2004 and is an orthodox mainly cathedral and the beautiful Square of Liberty, which is located in the city center. For culture lovers, Tbilisi is a great city because it has several museums including the National Museum of Georgia which brings several important museums in various parts of the country or the Historical Museum where you can learn all about the history of this city. For mountain lovers, Tbilisi is as well an ideal place as it is quite hilly. One of the best known is the Mtatsminda Mountain. You can make outdoor activities like taking a balloon ride, hiking, bike tours. Do not forget to visit the botanical Georgia National Park, which is ideal for relaxing walks. Is also perfect for children, theywill enjoy the aerial tramway or the Mtatsminda amusement park, both theme parks where children will have a great time. Tbilisi is also quite active at night, some recommended sites are the pub Nali, where there is a great atmosphere or other like Bottle shock. Overall it is a very friendly town, with a very nice atmosphere and ideal for visiting with the family and have a pleasant holiday which you not forget.

About the destination: The city of Yerevan is the capital of Armenia, which is the largest city in the country at the same time. The city was founded in 782 BC to the West of what is known today as Armenia, in the eastern part of the plain of Mount Ararat. The city is at the same time the headquarters of the most important cultural, artistic and industrial associations in the country, also of policies. The city has great activity during all times of the year. We find a wide variety of tourist attractions in the city: museums, parks, landmarks in the history of the country... Without a doubt a place that is worth much by its long history and the great diversity of places that are worth visiting such as: cascade, the square of the Republic...

About the destination: Istanbul owes its historic importance and its amazing cultural and architectural heritage to its perfect strategic location, straddling the Bosphorus straits which separate Europe and Asia Minor. Through most of its 2,500-year-long history, the city (first known as Byzantium, then as Constantinople and since 1930 as Istanbul) was a cultural melting pot. Today, its population of more than 13 million is almost exclusively Turkish, and many of its people are recent migrants from provincial Turkey, lured by the promise of jobs and careers in this vibrant, fast-growing city. Istanbul is no longer the nation's capital, but is Turkey's economic and cultural powerhouse - a status underlined by its role as a European City of Culture in 2010 and the award of UNESCO World Heritage listing to many of its most important landmarks, which range from stunning Ottoman mosques and Byzantine churches and catacombs to the columns of Hellenistic temples and the remains of massive medieval city walls. But there's more to Istanbul than Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. A fast-growing economy contributed to a flourishing arts and music scene, with a plethora of new bars, clubs, private art galleries, restaurants and designer fashion outlets.

About the destination: Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in the Nevşehir, Kayseri, Kırşehir, Aksaray, and Niğde Provinces in Turkey. According to Herodotus,[1] in the time of the Ionian Revolt (499 BCE) the Cappadocians were reported as occupying a region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine (Black Sea). Cappadocia, in this sense, was bounded in the south by the chain of the Taurus Mountains that separate it from Cilicia, to the east by the upper Euphrates, to the north by Pontus, and to the west by Lycaonia and eastern Galatia.[2] The name, traditionally used in Christian sources throughout history,[citation needed] continues in use as an international tourism concept to define a region of exceptional natural wonders, in particular characterized by fairy chimneys and a unique historical and cultural heritage.

About the destination: Tehran, also spelled Teheran, is the capital city of Iran Tehran is a cosmopolitan city, with great museums, parks, restaurants, warm friendly people. It deserves at least a few days of your Iranian itinerary. The city can be roughly divided into two different parts - north and south. The northern districts of Tehran are more prosperous, modern, cosmopolitan and expensive while southern parts is less attractive but cheaper. A combination of factors make Tehran a pleasant place to visit: The dry climate which is constantly cool (at least in the evenings), the proximity of the mountains, the parks and gardens where flowers blossom all through the year, the alleys of trees in the avenues or even smaller streets, and even the water that runs down from the upper city along deep and wide gutters which look like small rivers during spring.