Itinerary

Fly over the immense forests and numerous lakes of Canada on our way to Goose Bay for a technical stop.Then continue over Iceland's beautiful scenery before landing at Reykjavík in western Iceland.

Upon arrival, transfer to the Hotel Borg where we will enjoy luxury accommodations in the very center of Reykjavík. The Hotel Borg overlooks the beautiful square of Austurvöllur, and is situated across from Althingi, the Icelandic parliament and the cathedral.

After dinner at the hotel, you may want to venture on your own to experience the local nightlife.

We will head out to the Bergen pier to board the express ferry bound for Flåm. Enjoy breathtaking scenery as we cruise along the famous Sognefjord. In Flåm there will be free time to explore before boarding the renowned Flåm Railway train to Myrdal.

During the short rail journey you climb 2,850' up a steep mountain gorge where you are rewarded with spectacular views of the fjords, waterfalls and mountainous forests below.

Once at Myrdal, we connect with the modern express train returning to Bergen.

Visit the Peterhof Palace - a former summer residence of the Russian Tsars. Dating back to 1715, it is famous for its stunning golden fountains including the Grand Cascade with its more than 140 fountains, ornate palace grounds, and the Grand Palace.

Amble through the Lower Park past the ornamented fountains and exotic flowers before heading inside to view the opulent chambers decorated by extravagant Russian royalty.

Fly to Tbilisi. Upon arrival at Tbilisi international airport this afternoon, clearing immigration and customs, the group will be met by our local guide. We will then be privately transferred to our hotel in the center of town by private luxury vehicle. Transfer to Tbilisi (30 min) and check in at the Stamba Tbilisi Hotel.

Stamba Hotel was conceived to highlight the industrial splendor of the 20th century printing house in which it is situated. Housed within historic atriums, passages and courtyards of what was once Georgia's most important printing house, Stamba Hotel is a celebration of Tbilisi's ever-evolving identity as a hotbed of talent and originality.

This afternoon we will explore the sites of this captivating city with our expert guide. Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia and the country’s largest city. The city is a vibrant example of the mix of nationalities, cultures, religions, and ethnic groups found in Georgia. Tbilisi was founded in the 5th century AD by Vakhtang Gorgasali, the Georgian King of Kartli (Iberia) and made into a capital in the 6th century. Today Tbilisi is a significant industrial, social, and cultural center.

We will pass through the old quarters and the center, with its famous sulfur springs along the Mtkvari River. Traditional houses with balconies and grape vines are the backdrop to our stroll towards Narikhala, the 4th century fort overlooking the city.

The fort provides an exquisite view of the city and region.

Today is a day to relax or explore on your own.

Today we will go for a half-day city tour of Baku. Step into the history and see the wonders that lie inside the 12th-century walls of Icheri Sheher, or The Inner City, during our guided tour of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
 
On the way we will stop to savor layered Baklava stuffed with walnuts and spices and pick up jars of homemade jam.
 
We then stroll along New Boulevard; seaside streets lined with charming teahouses and cafes, and see the cultural insights at the Yarat Contemporary Art Centre and Azerbaijan Stone Museum.

Fly to Bukhara. Upon arrival, we will transfer to the Zargaron Plaza Hotel situated in Bukhara's historic center.
 
One of Central Asia's oldest cities, Bukhara was a legendary stop on the ancient Silk Road, a network of trade routes between China and Europe. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its historic center, the city remains the best example of a well-preserved medieval Central Asian city.

Fly to Samarkand - one of the highlights of Uzbekistan. This small town is packed with strikingly beautiful architecture and so much history.

Upon arrival, transfer to Emir Han hotel, positioned right on the patch of Silk Road that famously connected Samarkand and Bukhara.

Fly to Mary. Upon arrival, we will drive east towards Baýramaly, to visit the contemporary re-incarnation and humble suburb of the glorious Ancient Merv (UNESCO World Heritage Site). One of the major archaeological sites of Central Asia, Merv played an important part in the development of the Silk Road for more than 2000 years. Within the limits of the archaeological park, which is 1200 hectares, you will have a chance to observe all constituent parts of the “wandering city”.

We will then visit the 6-9th centuries AD forts of Big and Little Kyz-Kala, excellent examples of the so-called corrugated Koshks; the splendid XII c. mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar and Muhammad ibn-Zayd, demonstrating exquisite Seljuk period brickwork and architectural decor. If time permits, a possible visit to several more interesting spots within the site.

After sightseeing, we will head back to Mary for lunch at a local restaurant. We will also visit the Regional Mary Museum, presenting a wide array of archaeological finds (dating back to the 3rd mill. BC through the late 19th century) from both Ancient Merv and Bronze Age sites as well as interesting ethnographic displays reconstructing the scenes of daily life of the Turkmen population and other minorities of the Murghab oasis.

At the end of our tour we will check-in to Mary Hotel, located in the city center. It is the largest hotel in Mary city built in 2015. The six-floor hotel has a restaurant, gym, swimming pool, and sauna. There are tennis courts in the adjoining territory. Apart from that, guests may enjoy shopping in the souvenir and the carpet shops.

This morning our tour includes the World Heritage listed fortress of Old Nisa, the earliest of the Parthian Empire capitals. Located in an atmospheric area on an irregular pentagon hill, at the foot of the Kopet Dag Mountains, Old Nisa is a beautiful landmark. Afterwards continue to the Arkadash stud farm, home of the famous Akhal-Teke horses. The breed is one of the oldest breeds in existence today and is well-known for its stamina. Snacks and tea will be provided at the farm.

On the way back to Ashgabat we will stop in Kipchak to visit a complex of the biggest mosque in Turkmenistan (called “Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque”) and the family mausoleum of the first President.

The National Museum of History (more than 327,000 objects on a display) exhibiting exclusive ancient artifacts from different historical & archaeological sites of Turkmenistan, such as Old Nisa, Ancient Merv, and Kunya-Urgench and others.

This morning we will drive with our local guide to Geghard, one of the treasures of Armenia.

This medieval monastery is located in the Kotayk province of Armenia, partially surrounded by cliffs and carved out of the adjacent mountains. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

While the main chapel was built in 1215, the monastery complex was founded in the 4th century by Gregory the Illuminator at the site of a sacred spring inside a cave. The name commonly used for the monastery today, Geghard, or more fully Geghardavank, meaning "the Monastery of the Spear", takes its name from the spear which had wounded Jesus at the Crucifixion, allegedly brought to Armenia by Apostle Jude, called here Thaddeus, and stored amongst many other relics.

Enjoy a private Spiritual Vocal Concert arranged specially for you.

Continue to Garni, a large village in the Kotayk Province of Armenia which is known for the nearby classical temple. En-route we will stop for lunch at a rustic local restaurant and indulge in the local cuisine as well as Armenian lavish bread making.

After lunch, continue to the ancient pagan temple of Garni. The Temple of Garni is a reconstructed classical Hellenistic temple and the best-known structure and symbol of pre-Christian Armenia. It is the only "Greco-Roman colonnaded building" in Armenia and the former Soviet Union. Enjoy traditional duduk flute by the temple.

We return back to Yerevan to visit Matenadaran Museum - the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts.

If the velocity of the wind is suitable today, we will have an early bird departure from the hotel for a formidable “Balloon Adventure” over the enchanting “lunar landscape” of Cappadocia, to hail the slowly rising sun, with a glass of champagne. The balloon ride over Cappadocia at sunrise is an experience of a lifetime, with all the excitement of seeing from above, the farthest “fairy chimneys” of the vast region, as a lunar landscape, only possible in one's fantasies.

After, our tour continues to explore the most extraordinary treasures of sacred art, the rock-carved churches of Göreme, now an "open-air museum‟ which hosts some of the finest examples from the ninth and tenth centuries. What survives at Göreme and other sites scattered about Cappadocia marks out the region's rock-cut churches and chapels as one of the greatest museums of medieval art in the world.

Next, visit another marvel of the region: the "underground city‟ at Kaymakli. The enigmatic cellar villages, over 40 of which have been discovered empty, are among the wonders of Cappadocia.

After a morning of touring glorious sites in Cappadocia, we will be transferred to a specially-chosen vantage spot where, we will enjoy a white-gloved country lunch right in the midst of the Cappadocian landscape next to “fairy-chimneys”, this is truly being here!

Another cultural experience, unique to this region, is a visit to the “Art School”, where young village girls learn to become masters of the national art of weaving Turkish carpets and kilims to be able to contribute to their traditional dowry, before they get married.

Fly to Cyprus, officially the Republic of Cyprus, an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean and the third-largest and third-most populous island in the Mediterranean, located south of Turkey, west of Syria and Lebanon, north of Israel, the Gaza Strip and Egypt, and southeast of Greece.

Fly to Tel Aviv, Israel.

The Jaffa Hotel resides within Tel Aviv- Jaffa is renowned for its historical port, local flea market and culinary scene. The hotel pays homage to its historical surroundings, seamlessly blending a section of the 13th century crusaders wall from the courtyard into the contemporary lobby.

With our local guide, we will begin our tour at Masada, ascending via the cable car and touring the fortress which dates to King Herod's time, taking in the incredible views across the Dead Sea region and Judaean Desert. Continue to the Dead Sea, where we will get a chance to bathe in the muds and float in the waters of this salty lake which is the lowest point on Earth.

Leaving the Dead Sea, we will head back to our starting point, passing Qumran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered and visit the lowest and oldest city on Earth, Jericho, on the way.

Fly to Dubrovnik – the 'Pearl of the Adriatic'. An iconic city with ancient walls that have protected the city's medieval churches, palaces and monasteries for more than seven centuries, Dubrovnik is considered one of the most beautiful stone-built cities in the world.

Prominently situated on the cliffs above Dubrovnik's prestigious St. Jacob precinct, Villa Dubrovnik provides spectacular views of the crystal blue-turquoise waters of the Adriatic and the Old City.

Today is at leisure to relax or explore on your own.

With our local guide we will begin an exploration of Como, the lake's main town, as we discover its historic center.

After lunch, enjoy a cruise around Lake Como admiring chic hillside villas and hotels against the backdrop of the Alps.

After breakfast and an in-depth briefing, we will launch for our over-water crossing to Iceland and spend the night at the Hotel Borg.
 
Dignified and imposing, Hotel Borg overlooks the beautiful square of Austurvöllur in the heart of Reykjavík, across from Althingi, the Icelandic parliament and the cathedral.