South Caucasus

Venerable Cultures, Cherished Food and Wine Traditions, Towering Terrain

Explore The South Caucasus

The soaring Caucasus Mountains separate Europe from Asia, and the South Caucasus countries are on that borderline. Inhabitants of Azerbaijan burned crude oil in their lamps before anyone knew what it was. Beautiful, rocky Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion. And Georgia, acclaimed for its fabulous food and drink, claims to be the first area to cultivate the wine grape.

Why Travel with MIR to the South Caucasus

30 years of South Caucasus travel experience
National Geographic Traveler honored MIR’s Eastern Turkey & Georgia: Legacy of Empire, as a “Tour of a Lifetime”
Travel programs such Harvard, World Affairs Council of Philadelphia and the American Museum of Natural History have chosen MIR to guide them to the South Caucasus
Twice named one of National Geographic Adventure’s “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth”
On-the-ground support and quality you can trust
Personalized travel planning from start to finish
Guides and tour managers that clients rave about

Signature Experiences

We regularly garner compliments from our travelers for the inspired opportunities we provide to help them get to know the local people, distinctive art, architecture and accomplishments of the age-old region of the South Caucasus. Below is just a sampling of the South Caucasus experiences MIR has designed to take our clients far from the familiar.

Visit a potter’s home
Visit a potter’s home outside of Kutaisi and learn about Georgia’s signature pottery style....
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Visit a potter’s home

Kutaisi, Georgia

Visit a potter’s home outside of Kutaisi and learn about Georgia’s signature pottery style.

Suggested Journeys
- Eastern Turkey & Georgia: Legacy of Empire
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Dazzle your eyes with the vivid colors and bold designs of Azeri carpets
Admire the vivid colors and bold designs of Azeri and Caucasian carpets at the Museum of Azerbaijani Carpets and Applied Folk Art....
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Dazzle your eyes with the vivid colors and bold designs of Azeri carpets

Baku, Azerbaijan
Admire the vivid colors and bold designs of Azeri and Caucasian carpets at the Museum of Azerbaijani Carpets and Applied Folk Art.

Suggested Journeys
- Treasures of the South Caucasus
- Essential Caucasus
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Savor an authentic “Georgian Table” meal
Savor an authentic "Georgian Table," featuring an abundance of local specialties and an official Georgian toastmaster....
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Savor an authentic “Georgian Table” meal

Various locations, Georgia
Savor an authentic "Georgian Table," featuring an abundance of local specialties and an official Georgian toastmaster.

Suggested Journeys
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Experience the soaring voices of a small ensemble in a classic setting
Experience traditional Armenian songs sung a cappella during a private concert at 1st century Garni Temple....
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Experience the soaring voices of a small ensemble in a classic setting

Garni, Armenia

Experience traditional Armenian songs sung a cappella during a private concert at 1^st century Garni Temple.

Suggested Journeys
- Treasures of the South Caucasus
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Ways to Travel to the South Caucasus with MIR

Thirty years ago we fell in love with the South Caucasus countries. Their people have welcomed us again and again and shared their secrets and suggestions with us, so that we can share them with you.

Take a look at your options, from small group escorted tours to independent, custom and private travel:

Small Group Tours
Rail Journeys by Private Train

Private Trips
Destination by Design: Customize Your Trip

Small Group
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Rail Journeys
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Small Group Tours

Village Traditions of the South Caucasus

Local Life & Landscapes of Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan

Travels to: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, South Caucasus

21 Days / Departures in August 2020

Small Group land tour from $8,295

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Village Traditions of the South Caucasus

Local Life & Landscapes of Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan

Travels to: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, South Caucasus

21 Days / Departures in July, August 2021

Small Group land tour from $8,495

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Treasures of the South Caucasus

Classic Survey of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia

Travels to: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, South Caucasus

15 Days / Departures in August, September 2020

Small Group land tour from $7,795

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Treasures of the South Caucasus

Classic Survey of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia

Travels to: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, South Caucasus

15 Days / Departures in April, May, August, September 2021

Small Group land tour from $7,995

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A Taste of Georgia: Wine, Cuisine & Culture

An Epicurean Adventure Across Georgia’s Wine Country

Travels to: Georgia, South Caucasus

13 Days / Departures in September 2020

Small Group land tour from $5,295

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A Taste of Georgia: Wine, Cuisine & Culture

An Epicurean Adventure Across Georgia’s Wine Country

Travels to: Georgia, South Caucasus

13 Days / Departures in September 2021

Small Group land tour from $5,495

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Eastern Turkey & Georgia: Crossroads of Ancient Civilizations

From the Black Sea to the Caucasus Mountains

Travels to: Georgia, South Caucasus, Turkey

18 Days / Departures in June 2021

Small Group land tour from $7,295, plus $150 internal air

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Rail Journeys by Private Train

Caspian Odyssey by Private Train: Eastbound

South Caucasus to Central Asia Aboard the Golden Eagle

Travels to: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Central Asia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, South Caucasus, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

16 Days / Departures in September 2020

Rail Journey by Private train land tour from $22,995

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Custom and private travel is our specialty. We’ve been designing unforgettable custom itineraries through the mountains and valleys of the South Caucasus for 30 years; a majority of our guests travel on custom itineraries.

For ideas, peruse one of our Regional Travel Planners, a roundup of the must-sees from our savvy staff.

Read more about how to design your own trip or view our suggested itineraries. Also, consider this: You can customize one of our small group tours to match your preferred dates of travel.

Design Your Own
Custom Trip

Suggested Itineraries
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Design Your Own Custom Trip

Traveling privately on a custom program means flexibility:

You set the dates, the focus and the level of accommodations.
You are met on arrival and seen off at the end of your trip.
Your in-country transportation is pre-arranged hassle-free.
Your own expert local guides ensure that you get the most out of your visit.
And the best part? You travel at your own pace on an itinerary exclusive to you.

Check out just a handful of our South Caucasus signature experiences below and then get in touch with a MIR Private Journey Specialist to craft an itinerary that suits your travel goals, budget and style. Or get started planning now.

Learn to make lavash, Armenian flatbread
Visit a private Armenian home for a lavash-making demonstration, then taste the fresh bread during a meal....
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Learn to make lavash, Armenian flatbread

Various locations, Armenia

Visit a private Armenian home for a lavash-making demonstration, then taste the fresh bread during a meal.

Next Steps
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Learn about Neolithic artists through their ancient rock carvings
Visit Azerbaijan’s UNESCO-listed ancient petroglyphs on the Caspian Sea, discovered by accident in the 1930s....
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Learn about Neolithic artists through their ancient rock carvings

Gobustan, Azerbaijan

Visit Azerbaijan’s UNESCO-listed ancient petroglyphs on the Caspian Sea, discovered by accident in the 1930s.

Next Steps
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Experience the soaring voices of a small ensemble in a classic setting
Experience traditional Armenian songs sung a cappella during a private concert at 1st century Garni Temple....
Read More
Experience the soaring voices of a small ensemble in a classic setting

Garni, Armenia

Experience traditional Armenian songs sung a cappella during a private concert at 1^st century Garni Temple.

Next Steps
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Participate in making khinkali, juicy flour dumplings
Participate in making khinkali, juicy flour dumplings, at a village home near Georgia’s highest peak, Mt. Kazbek...
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Participate in making khinkali, juicy flour dumplings

Kazbegi, Georgia

Participate in making khinkali, juicy flour dumplings, at a village home near Georgia’s highest peak, Mt. Kazbek.

Next Steps
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Suggested Itineraries for Private Travel

Whether you’re looking for a compact trip with all the highlights or something a little roomier with some of the extras, MIR offers itineraries that are available on a private departure basis with your choice of dates. They can also serve as inspiration for your own custom itinerary.

Our itinerary, your dates – great for solo travelers, couples or small groups.