Golden Eagle - Caspian Odyssey

Day 1 : Yerevan

Upon arrival at Yerevan International Airport you will be met and transferred to the five-star Alexander Hotel, for a two night stay. Located in the heart of Yerevan’s historic quarter even the hotel’s facade with a history dating back to the 18th century presents a unique glimpse into the country’s fascinating past.

For early arrivals to Yerevan, enjoy a Freedom of Choice excursion this afternoon.

Option 1: Visit Etchmiadzin, the spiritual centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church and often referred to as the “Vatican of Armenia.” Founded in 301 AD, it is widely regarded as the oldest cathedral in the world. Explore the Treasury Museum of Etchmiadzin, which houses some of Christianity’s most revered relics, including fragments of the True Cross, a piece believed to be from Noah’s Ark, and the Holy Spear said to have pierced the body of Christ. Also make a brief stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of 7th-century Zvartnots Cathedral.

Option 2:
Join a guided walking tour through central Yerevan, discovering the city’s lively streets, elegant architecture, and key landmarks that reflect its unique blend of ancient heritage and modern life.

This evening, gather for a Welcome Dinner at an authentic local restaurant — a perfect opportunity to meet fellow travellers and look ahead to an extraordinary journey.

Why not consider extending your stay in Yerevan with additional pre‑tour nights, allowing time to further explore this fascinating city and its surrounding region at your leisure?

Day 2 : Yerevan & Lake Sevan

This morning explore one of Yerevan’s most distinctive landmarks, The Cascade — a monumental limestone stairway adorned with sculptures, fountains, and terraces. Enjoy sweeping views across central Yerevan, with Mount Ararat often rising majestically on the horizon. From here, we visit the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial, a deeply moving complex completed in 1967 to commemorate the 1.5 million Armenians who lost their lives during the genocide of the early 20th century.

Continue to Lake Sevan, one of the largest high‑altitude freshwater lakes in the world. Stop for lunch, enjoying stunning views across the shimmering waters. Historically regarded as one of the three great lakes of the ancient Armenian Kingdom — collectively known as the Seas of Armenia — Lake Sevan is now the only one located within the borders of the modern Republic of Armenia.

After lunch, return to Yerevan for an optional visit to the renowned Yerevan Ararat Brandy Factory, where Armenia’s iconic brandy has been produced for generations.

This evening, enjoy a dine‑around dinner at a selection of carefully chosen local restaurants located near your hotel, offering the opportunity to savour a variety of Armenian flavours at leisure.

Day 3 : Yerevan

Today visit the remarkable Geghard Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This extraordinary complex of medieval churches and tombs is partially carved directly into the surrounding rock, creating a striking harmony between architecture and nature, dramatically set amid towering cliffs at the head of the Azat Valley. Also visit the pagan Temple of Garni, dating from the 1st century AD and dedicated to the Sun God Mithra. Perched high above a deep gorge, Garni is Armenia’s only surviving Greco‑Roman colonnaded temple. Here, find the remains of an ancient fortress, royal palace, and bath complex before enjoying lunch in this spectacular setting.

Alternatively, guests may choose a gentle walk through Garni Gorge, following the right bank of the Azat River to admire the extraordinary natural formation known as the “Symphony of Stones” or Basalt Organ. This striking geological monument consists of towering hexagonal and pentagonal basalt columns formed by ancient lava flows that cooled slowly over time. Rising up to 50 metres, the perfectly aligned columns resemble the pipes of a giant organ.

After an authentic Armenian lunch, continue to the airport for a private charter flight to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. Enjoy a three night stay at the Paragraph Freedom Square, a Luxury Collection Hotel. Tonight, enjoy dinner in the hotel accompanied by a traditional folk performance.

Day 4 : Tbilisi

Hemmed in by the Surami Range, the city of Tbilisi stretches for nearly 27 km along the banks of the River Kura. Despite centuries marked by wars and fires that reshaped much of the city’s landscape, Tbilisi’s Old Town has retained much of its original character — a captivating spider’s web of narrow, winding streets and hidden alleyways. Visit the 13th‑century Metekhi Church, a cross‑cupola church forming part of the former royal residential complex, and the 5th‑century Sioni Cathedral, the principal church of Tbilisi, before continuing on foot to discover the atmospheric streets of the Old Town.

Then depart the city for the elegant Chateau Mukhrani Wine Estate for a delicious lunch and local wine tasting, introducing Georgia’s renowned winemaking traditions. You may then choose to continue exploring the Old Town on foot, or return to the hotel to relax at leisure. This evening, enjoy a dine‑around experience at selected local restaurants, allowing you to savour Tbilisi’s vibrant culinary scene at your own pace.

Day 5 : Tbilisi – Gori, Uplistsikhe & Mtskheta

This morning you may choose between two fascinating touring experiences.

Option 1: Visit Gori, one of Georgia’s oldest cities, founded in the 7th century AD and best known as the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. See the modest house where Stalin spent his early childhood. Adjacent stands the imposing, columned building that houses the Stalin Museum, with exhibits that offer a haunting and thought‑provoking insight into the life of one of the most controversial and consequential figures of the 20th century. Nearby, Stalin’s private railway carriage is also on display. Alternatively, you may choose to visit a local Ceramics Museum, showcasing the traditional works of renowned Georgian ceramicist George Tatulashvili.

Option 2: Visit the remarkable ancient cave city of Uplistsikhe, dating back to the 6th century BC and first mentioned in written chronicles of the 1st century AD. Carved into a rocky plateau, this extraordinary site reveals vast echoing halls, winding corridor‑streets, chambers once used for pagan worship, and even the remains of Georgia’s oldest theatre. Strategically positioned above the Mtkvari River and protected by sheer rock faces and strong fortifications, Uplistsikhe once played a vital role in controlling the surrounding region. Despite numerous attempts to destroy it, the city survived until the 13th century, when the forces of Khulagu, son of Genghis Khan, finally succeeded in capturing and devastating the fortress. The loss of its 5,000 inhabitants marked the end of life here forever, lending the site a profound historical atmosphere.

Lunch today is served at a rustic local restaurant, accompanied by a private performance of traditional Georgian polyphonic singing. Later this afternoon, continue to Mtskheta, Georgia’s ancient capital and spiritual heart. Renowned for its historical importance and wealth of early Christian monuments, the city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

This evening, enjoy a dine‑around experience at local restaurants, dining at your leisure and sampling Georgia’s rich culinary traditions.

Day 6 : Tbilisi > Baku

This morning, visit the Janashia State Museum of Georgia, home to an exceptional collection of archaeological treasures. Highlights include exquisite gold filigree jewellery dating back to the 6th century BC, offering remarkable insight into the artistry and cultural sophistication of ancient Georgian civilisations.

After lunch at a local restaurant, transfer to the airport to board a private jet for the short flight to Baku. Upon arrival in the Azerbaijani capital, check in for a three‑night stay at the elegant Four Seasons Hotel Baku, superbly located along the Caspian Sea waterfront.

Day 7 : Baku

Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, occupies a striking position on the western shore of the Caspian Sea. Baku’s international prominence has long been shaped by its vast oil and gas reserves, which transformed the city into one of the world’s great energy capitals from the late 19th century onwards. At the heart of the modern city lies Icherisheher, Baku’s walled Old Town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Much of the surviving fortifications date from the medieval period and later reinforcements following the Russian conquest in the early 19th century. Dominating the skyline is the enigmatic Maiden Tower, rising approximately 27 metres. Within the maze of narrow alleyways stand some of Azerbaijan’s most important architectural treasures, including the Palace of the 15th-century Shirvanshahs, and the Synyk-Kala Minaret, completed in 1078–79, the oldest dated Islamic monument in Baku. Continue on foot through the evocative streets of the Old Town.

After lunch at a local restaurant, the afternoon is at leisure to explore Baku independently. You wish to visit the striking Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, delve deeper into history at one of the city’s national museums, or simply relax along the Caspian waterfront and absorb the city’s distinctive blend of ancient heritage and contemporary ambition.

This evening, enjoy a truly special experience at the magnificent Villa Petrolea. Built in the early 1880s as the residence of the Nobel brothers, who played a pivotal role in Baku’s first great oil boom decades before the establishment of the Nobel Prizes, the villa has been beautifully restored and now serves as a museum celebrating this remarkable chapter of industrial history. Enjoy a guided private visit, followed by champagne, canapés, and an elegant dinner within its historic interiors.

Day 8 : Baku

This morning explore the UNESCO-listed Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, one of Azerbaijan’s most important archaeological sites. Located near the shores of the Caspian Sea, Gobustan preserves more than 6,000 prehistoric rock engravings, some dating back over 40,000 years. These evocative petroglyphs depict scenes of ritual, hunting, dancing, and daily life, offering a rare and compelling insight into early human civilisation. The landscape also contains the remains of ancient caves, settlements, and burial sites, underscoring its long history of human habitation.

Enjoy lunch overlooking the Caspian Sea before returning to the city to enjoy an afternoon at leisure. You may choose to relax and explore the city independently, or alternatively visit the Ateshgah Fire Temple, the historic Zoroastrian place of worship on the Absheron Peninsula, long revered for its natural gas-fed eternal flames and its role in ancient fire-worship traditions.

This evening, enjoy an elegant dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel Baku.

Day 9 : Khiva

Following breakfast, fly to Urgench, gateway to the extraordinary desert city of Khiva. With a history spanning more than 2,500 years, Khiva rose to prominence as a vital Silk Road oasis, strategically positioned along caravan routes linking Central Asia with Persia and the wider Islamic world. Today, its perfectly preserved historic centre, Ichan-Kala, is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Emerging dramatically from the surrounding desert landscape, Khiva is a truly arresting vision — a living museum of Islamic architecture enclosed within formidable mud-brick walls. Explore ornate mosques, elegant madrassas, bustling bazaars, and soaring minarets, their turquoise tiles and carved wooden columns bearing witness to centuries of scholarship, trade, and devotion. Wandering through its atmospheric streets offers an immersive journey into one of Central Asia’s most beautifully preserved historic cities.

Day 10 : Bukhara

Bukhara is one of Central Asia’s most complete and atmospheric historic cities. A highlight is a visit to the Ark of Bukhara, the immense fortified citadel that once served as the seat of power for the Emirs of Bukhara, who ruled with absolute authority until the city’s incorporation into the Soviet state in 1920. Rising dramatically above the surrounding streets, the Ark is a powerful symbol of Bukhara’s political and cultural dominance across the centuries.

Also explore the grandeur of Poi-Kalyan Square, home to the iconic Kalyan Mosque and its towering minaret. Wandering through the mosque’s vast pillared galleries and deeply recessed niches evokes the spiritual and intellectual life of a great Silk Road metropolis. Continue through the historic Trading Domes, once the beating heart of Bukhara’s commercial life, before gathering at Lyabi-Hauz Square. Shaded by ancient mulberry trees and centred around a tranquil reflecting pool, this elegant ensemble of madrassas and teahouses remains one of the city’s most evocative social spaces.

This evening, weather permitting, enjoy a barbecue on the station platform before the train departs.

Day 11 : Samarkand

The very name Samarkand conjures the romance and splendour of the Silk Road. Founded in the 7th century BC, this legendary crossroads of civilisations rose to become one of the most important cities in Central Asia. Its breathtaking architectural legacy is particularly associated with the 14th to 17th centuries, when Samarkand flourished as the glittering capital of Timur (Tamerlane) and his successors during the Timurid Empire, attracting scholars, artisans, and merchants from across the known world.

At the heart of Samarkand lies Registan Square, one of the finest public spaces in the Islamic world, framed by three majestic madrassas adorned with intricate tilework and soaring portals. Also visit the monumental Bibi-Khanum Mosque, once among the largest mosques in the Islamic world, whose vast scale and refined decorative details reflect the ambition of Timur’s imperial vision. Visit the Ulugh Beg Observatory, built in 1428–29 by the astronomer-ruler Ulugh Beg and regarded as one of the most advanced astronomical observatories of the medieval Islamic world.

This evening promises to be truly unforgettable. As dusk falls, return to Registan Square, now dramatically illuminated. From exclusive front-row seating, witness a spectacular light and sound show that brings Samarkand’s extraordinary history to life — a magical and deeply moving conclusion to your time in this timeless city.

Day 12 : Tashkent

Arrive in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. Much of the city was extensively rebuilt following the devastating 1966 earthquake, resulting in its distinctive blend of broad avenues, monumental architecture, and Soviet-era design. Begin in the Old Town with a visit to the Khast-Imam Complex, an important centre of Islamic scholarship, to view one of Islam’s most revered relics — the Uthman Qur’an, widely regarded as the world’s oldest surviving manuscript of the Qur’an. Also visit the Museum of Applied Arts, housed in the richly decorated former residence of Imperial Russian diplomat Alexander Polovtsev, followed by time in Independence Square, a symbol of modern Uzbekistan.

Day 13 : Bishkek

Enjoy a leisurely day of scenic rail travel, as you traverse the wide-open landscapes of Uzbekistan before crossing the border into Kyrgyzstan. Late afternoon arrive in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and disembark for a short tour of the city. Witness Bishkek’s distinctive Soviet-era character, shaped during its development as the capital of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic. Visit Ala-Too Square, created in 1984 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Kirghiz SSR, and stroll through several of the city’s leafy parks. These public spaces provide a window into the country’s 20th-century history, featuring monuments and memorials associated with the Soviet period, including statues of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, as well as the Memorial to the Red Guards.

Day 14 : Lake Issyk-Kul

Today enjoy an extended visit to the magnificent Lake Issyk-Kul, a true natural wonder nestled in the heart of the Kyrgyz mountains. Stretching over 170 kms in length and up to 70 kms wide, it is recognised as the second-largest alpine lake in the world. Its name, meaning “warm lake”, reflects its remarkable resistance to freezing – the result of a unique combination of depth, mineral richness, and geothermal activity beneath its surface. Framed by towering, snow-capped peaks, the lake offers a serene beauty.

Immerse yourself in the rich nomadic heritage of Kyrgyzstan with a private cultural event along the lake’s shores. A captivating display of traditional sports and games that have been passed down through generations. While archery may be familiar, few have encountered the spectacle of horseback wrestling, hunting with majestic Golden Eagles, or “ordo” – a strategic game played with cow kneecaps. A celebration of steppe culture, this is a rare and enthralling glimpse into a way of life that continues to flourish in the highlands of Central Asia. After the festival there will be the option to visit the outdoor Museum of the Petroglyphs before returning to the Golden Eagle for a Farewell Dinner.

Day 15 : Almaty

This morning arrive in Almaty and bid farewell to the Golden Eagle. Our guided tour visits Panfilov Park, located in the heart of Almaty, where the park’s serene avenues and monuments honour Kazakhstan’s heroes. At its centre stands the Zenkov Cathedral, a striking 19th-century Russian Orthodox Church renowned for being entirely constructed of wood without the use of nails, and for its vibrant, colourful façades.

Transfer to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Almaty, for an overnight stay in refined comfort, marking a memorable conclusion to your journey through Central Asia.

Day 16 : Almaty

Following breakfast, you will be transferred to Almaty Airport for your onward flight.