Autumn Colors & Winter Scenes in the Caucasus Mountains
ARMENIA and GEORGIA
October 26 - November 8, 2026
Visiting Armenia and Georgia is a photographer's dream, where every corner unveils a tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty. In Armenia, ancient monasteries cling to rugged mountainsides, whispering tales of centuries past. The warmth of Armenian hospitality resonates in bustling markets and serene villages alike. Meanwhile, Georgia's landscapes captivate with their diversity, from lush vineyards to the rugged peaks of the Caucasus Mountains. Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, is a blend of old and new, where cobblestone streets lead to modern art galleries and traditional Georgian cuisine awaits in cozy taverns. The thrill of capturing these lands through a camera lens lies not just in their picturesque landscapes but in the vibrant stories etched into their every stone and smile.
What you will learn on this photo tour:
-- Why use HDR at sunrise and sunset
-- How to use focus stacking with a telephoto lens
-- Choosing good backgrounds for village portraits
-- Hand holding a camera for HDR in churches
-- Shooting large interiors with a vertical pano
-- Using the right white balance for the blue hour
-- Working with foreign models
-- Substituting wide angle shots with panoramas
ITINERARY
Day 1, October 26, Monday
TBILISI, GEORGIA: Arrive in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, on this day and at the airport. You'll be met by a local representative and transferred to our hotel located in the old town of Tbilisi. It is located in a stunning neighborhood offering street scenes, historical buildings, colorful houses and temples of various religions. Overnight Tbilisi in a 4 star hotel.
Day 2, October 27, Monday, Tuesday
TBILISI. Early in the morning at the blue hour we photograph the old city including the remarkable Peace Bridge, a photogenic pedestrian bridge with ultra modern architecture. We also shoot the old
sulfur baths that date from the 5th century A.D. We return to the hotel for breakfast and then go out again to view the old town from the 6th century Metekhi Church high on a bluff above the river Mtkvari. Next we photograph the colorful frescos of the 7th century Sioni Church. We will also have a photo walking tour through the old houses from Soviet times. We take the early afternoon to rest and in the late afternoon photograph the stunning Sameba Cathedral (Church of Trinity), one of the largest Eastern Orthodox Churches. Overnight Tbilisi in a 4-star hotel.
Day 3, October 28, Wednesday
KUTASI: We depart for the small, quaint town of Kutasi. In Greek Mythology, this place was the final stop of the Argonauts searching for the Golden Fleece. On the way, we will stop at Jvari Monastery
which offers a great view over the rivers and the old capital Mtskheta. We will drive by the city of Gori where Stalin was born, then photograph the cave dwellings of Uplistsikhe known as "God’s Castle”. Our next stop will be Katskhi Pillar, a 120 foot high natural monolith with a single monk's cell on the top. It's really amazing! We will arrive in Kutaisi and photograph the beautifully lit 11th century Bagrati Cathedral right after sunset to capture the cobalt blue sky. The mint-green domes really stand out. Overnight Kutaisi in 4 star hotel.
Day 4, October 29, Thursday
MESTIA: We drive to Mestia today, located in the scenic Caucasus Mountains. The drive through the Georgian landscape offers great photo-ops -- canyons, snow-capped mountains and interesting, unique "tower villages" that look like
castles. These towers are attached to the village houses and they were built 800 years ago for defensive purposes. We will stay in a mountain lodge with a beautiful view. Overnight Mestia.
Day 5, October 30, Friday
MESTIA: We drive on the scenic mountain roads of the Caucasus, offering us a variety of beautiful landscapes. Our 4x4 vehicles will take us to Ushguli, a community of villages with towers located at an altitude of over 7000 feet at the foot of the impressive 17,000 foot Mt Shkhara, the highest peak of the Caucasus Mountains. It is covered in snow year round and is unparalleled in its beauty and its drama. Another peak, Mt. Ushba at 15,000 feet, rivals Shkhara for visual impact. Overnight Mestia.
Day 6, October 31, Saturday
BATUMI: After breakfast we depart for Batumi, a scenic town along the Black Sea. Upon arrival in the late afternoon, we photograph the old town and the interesting art works along the pebble beach on the Black Sea. Batumi also has ultra modern architecture that is illuminated at twilight, and your images will be amazing. Overnight Batumi in a 5- star hotel.
Day 7, November 1, Sunday
AKHALTSIKHE: We will travel to Akhaltsikhe by way of a very scenic road. Once in the city, we'll photograph the beautifully lit 13th century Rabati Castle and fortress at the blue hour. The castle developed under the influence of different cultures
and that's readily seen in its architecture. Overnight Akhaltsikhe in a 4-star hotel.
Day 8, November 2, Monday
YEREVAN, ARMENIA: Today we drive to Yerevan, the beautiful capital city of Armenia. We cross the border at Bavra with the possibility of photographing villages and scenery along the way. Overnight Yerevan in a 4-star hotel.
Day 9, November 3, Tuesday
YEREVAN: Early in the morning, we go to "Cascade", a several hundred step stairway built on the side of a hill offering a great view. From here, we can photograph the two peaks of Mt. Ararat with the city of Yerevan in the foreground. We then return to the hotel for breakfast. Next we drive to the Church of Khor Virap which is located right
at the foot of Mt Ararat. This is one of the most important churches in Armenian Christendom because it was built at the site where St Gregory the illuminator was imprisoned. You'll want to use a telephoto lens to compress the church with the mountain, and focus stacking will keep both in sharp focus. We will then photograph the Cathedral in Eicmiadzin, spiritual and administrative center of the Armenian Apostolic Church and considered by many to be the oldest church in the world. It dates from 301 - 303 A.D. In the afternoon, we will photograph a Yazidi Temple. Yazidi or Ezidi people are indigenous to this area and the Middle East. They belong to a monotheistic religion with Peacock Angel being the chief divine being. Photographing a Yazidi temple is a very rare opportunity as there are not very many in the world. Our last stop for today will be the dramatic ruins of Zvartnos Temple built in the 7th
century and largely destroyed by an earthquake in the 10th century. Mt Ararat makes a phenomenal backdrop to the still evident grandeur of this temple. Overnight Yerevan in a 4-star hotel.
Day 10, November 4, Wednesday
YEREVAN: In the morning we go to the Genocide Memorial, a stunning work in architecture and a great subject for the widest lens you have. We then drive to Geghard Monastery, an impressive medieval structure begun in 1215. It is partially carved into the rock, and there are endless perspectives for great images. In the afternoon, we visit the Garni Temple built in the 1st century. It is the only Greco-Roman colonnaded style buildinging still standing in Armenia. We also photograph the scenic hexagonal basalt rock formations in the river gorge known as Symphony of Stones for extremely unique landscapes. Overnight Yerevan in a 4-star hotel.
Day 11, November 5, Thursday
GORIS: This morning we depart for Goris, a small town surrounded with rugged but beautiful mountains that presents wonderful landscape opportunities of unique basalt formations embedded in a carpet of green plant life. In the afternoon, we visit Tatev Monastery, a 9th century religious center located on top of a high cliff looking like an eagle's nest. We cross two canyons to get to Tatev which has the longest cable car ever built to facilitate visitors and pilgrims. Overnight Goris in a 3-star hotel.
Day 12, November 6, Friday
DILIJAN: After breakfast, we photograph intriguing stones with human-carved holes in them
called the Armenian Stonehenge. It is believed they were built in 6000 BC and used for astronomical observations. Our next stop will be the Shakhi Waterfalls. Then, the ancient Noratuz cemetery with its almost 1000 year old Kachkars -- beautifully carved tomb stones with crosses -- is our next photo stop. Enroute to our hotel, we pass Lake Sevan and then arrive in Dilijan where we overnight in a 4-star hotel.
Day 13, November 7, Saturday