1300 368 149
info@amacotravel.com.au
Starts: Baku, Azerbaijan
Ends: Yerevan, Armenia
Starts: Tbilisi, Georgia
Ends: Yerevan, Armenia
15 May 2021 @ 6:30pm
21 May 2021 @ 6:30pm
1 June 2021 @ 9:00am
1 June 2021 @ 9:00am
Conference Participant: $1,795 pp
Non-Conference Participant: $1,195 pp
Conference Participant: $995 pp
Non-Conference Participant: $695 pp
Amaco Family Price: $9,995 pp
(for previous Amaco Conference Participants)
Early Bird Price: $10,995 pp
(if booked on or TBC)
Standard Price: $11,995 pp
(if booked on or after TBC)
Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia Single Supplement: $2,995 pp
(if traveling alone)
Amaco Family Price: $6,995 pp
(for previous Amaco Conference Participants)
Early Bird Price: $7,495 pp
(if booked on or TBC)
Standard Price: $7,995 pp
(if booked on or after TBC)
Georgia & Armenia Single Supplement: $1,995 pp
(if traveling alone)
For those who are ready to discover all three countries, we recommend you begin your exploration of this region in Azerbaijan & then continue onto Eastern Georgia’s Kakheti region before meeting up with the Main Conference in Tbilisi.
The Pre Conference itinerary begins in Baku, an engaging blend of Dubai, Paris, Marrakech, and Moscow all rolled into one. This glamorous and cosmopolitan capital of oil-rich Azerbaijan lies on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
Azerbaijan has been using its petrol dollars to become the economic engine of the region with a fledging cultural centre and a dazzling array of futuristic architecture. Not surprisingly it is now considered “The new Dubai” but with history and character.
You will experience both sides of this city, the modern and the old. You will visit Ichari Shahar the UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town, expect a maze of alleys, dead ends, and caravanserais, a throwback to the cities Silk Road connections. The modern side of the city is represented with a visit to the stunningly modern Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre by Iraqi-Britsh architect Zaha Hadid and the new home of the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum resembling the shape of a rolled-up carpet.
You will explore the nearby Ashberon Peninsula with its Fire Temple with connections to the little known religion of Zoroastrianism. Then it’s onto Yanardagh – Burning Mountain, where natural gas has been burning for several thousand years and the Mehemmedi settlement, one of the oldest and most attractive sights on Absheron.
Further afield you will venture to Gobustan with its stone-age connections and bubbling mud volcanoes. The open-air, historical-artistic preserve with its Neolithic rock drawing goes back 12,000 years.
Leaving the capital behind you will head deep into the country visiting the Shamakhi region, a long time capital and trade centre for western Azerbaijan and a key town on the Silk Road. This region is renowned for its roots in the Yeddi Gumbaz group, a family of Mustafa Khan, the last khan of Shamakhi.
You will visit Lahij, a craft village located in the hills of the Greater Caucasus Mountains before heading to Gabala for an evening spent in the highest hotel above sea level in Azerbaijan. Expect stunning green lush forests and snow-capped mountains as your surroundings.
We visit Sheki, one of the most ancient settlements and cultural centres of Azerbaijan. The highlight of the area is a visit to the Royal Summer Palace of Sheki Khans with its magnificent frescoes and exquisite stained glass windows.
Your pre-tour of Azerbaijan will cover a crossing into Georgia’s winemaking region of Kakheti, the most picturesque and fertile part of Georgia. You will have the opportunity to explore this region famous for its wine, and indulge in a wine tasting or two. Georgia’s winemaking traditions stretch back some 7,000 years, while vintners today grow more than 500 varieties of grapes.
You will then visit the stunning hilltop town of Sighnaghi, and the Gremi architectural complex, founded by the King of Khaketi Levan before your arrival into the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi where the Azerbaijan Pre Conference itinerary concludes.
The second part of the “The Grand Caucasus – Crossroads of the East & West” itinerary begins in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. Long under the thumb of its neighbouring triumvirate of regional powers – the Persians, the Ottomans, and then the Soviets – Georgia has finally managed to shake off its shackles and stand as an independent country. Until recently mired in post-Soviet poverty and corruption, the Georgian capital has now emerged with a mix of old-world gentrification and ultramodern hip architecture.
You begin your exploration of Tbilisi in the Old Town, a city born where sulphur bathhouses still stand, once the haunt of Pushkin and guarded over by the rambling 17th-century fortress. Hidden courtyards, balconied facades, century-old mosques, synagogues, and icon filled Orthodox churches all stand in unity suggesting a multi-faith tolerance. You venture off the beaten path to the impressive monument dedicated to Georgian history is a perfect example of brutalist Soviet architecture, the “Stonehenge of Tbilisi” located on a hill overviewing the Soviet suburbs and the scenic Tbilisi Sea.
You’ll head for the Shida Kartli region to visit Gori, the birthplace of Stalin and home to a controversial museum dedicated to the dictator’s memory. A short distance away you’ll visit Uplistsikhe – The Fortress of God – a rock-hewn town dating back to 2000BC.
Your tastebuds will be delighted with a visit to the Chateau Mukhrani winery. You will learn about the Georgian art of winemaking and the history of Prince Ivane Mukhranbatoni’s Georgian Royal Family Estate.
Head east and into the watchful gaze of Mt Kazbek a soaring 4890 metre peak. You’ll travel along the great Georgian Military Highway in the shadow of jagged peaks topped with snow and alpine meadows. You will cross making your way to the fortified 13th century Castle. Cross the Jvari Pass and arrive in Kazbegi near the Russian Border.
You will have the opportunity to explore the wonders of this rugged region with a visit to the famous Gergeti Trinity Church, enjoy a panoramic view of the dramatic Dariali Gorge bordering Russia and an adventurous hike to Gveleti waterfall if the mood takes you.
You visit the Aragvi region featuring churches with massive guard towers and richly decorated facades dating back to the 13th Century. You’ll spend time in Mtskheta –the ancient capital of Georgia and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jvari.
Today you farewell Georgia and cross the border into Armenia. Set in the mountainous region of southern Caucasus, Armenia’s past is as dramatic as its rugged landscape. One of the world’s oldest civilisations, few countries have a history as rich or complex. With spectacular medieval churches and monasteries, breath-taking natural beauty, and warm and welcoming people, Armenia’s enticing culture is one that shows resilience and rebirth from its tragic past.
You’ll visit the monasteries of Haghpat & Sevanavank representing a fusion of vernacular and Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture located in the Debed Canyon in the Lori-region of North Armenia. Their oldest structures date back to the 10th century. Then there’s the sparkling waters of Lake Sevan, a vast lake which covers five percent of Armenia’s total surface area.
Crossing the Selim Pass once used by merchants of the Silk Road you will visit the 13th-century Noravank Monastery tucked between tall, sheer brick-red cliffs.
Board the ‘Wings of Tatev’ and travel on the longest aerial tramway in the world to the 4th century Tatev Monastery. Heading towards the border of Turkey you continue to Khor Virap – the site of the Royal Prison, and one of the most romantic sited monasteries in Armenia with views across the vast plains of Turkey and the twin peaks of Mt Ararat, the resting place of Noah’s Ark.
Arriving in Yerevan, one of the oldest cities in the world – 28 years older than Rome. You’ll explore the medieval shrines hidden behind imposing Soviet-style façades, the narrow streets of the old center with sunlight playing on its pink walls.
Further afield you venture to two more jewels in Armenia’s cultural crown, the Hellenic-style temple of Garni and the monastery at Geghard. Both are nearly 1,500m up in the foothills of the Geghama Range where the air is cool and fresh and the buzzards soar on the wind then swoop down into the ravines to snatch prey.
Given everything that has happened in the travel industry of late – you’re correct to be vigilant about where you spend your travel dollar.
Amaco is not only a member of AFTA, the Australian Federation of Travel Agents but we are also ATAS Travel Accredited. This means we have met strict industry standards and criteria. Only the best industry agents achieve this accreditation meaning that you can travel with us knowing that you’re in safe and capable hands.
With almost 25 years’ experience in planning and running conferences, we understand that participants often want to add additional travel destinations and adventures either before or after the all-inclusive packages we provide.
Other operators might discourage you from doing this. Sometimes, it’s because of the added complexity it creates and at other times they’ll try to talk you out of it simply because they don’t have capable or experienced consultants with the breadth and depth of the consultants we employ.
Australia is such a long way from many of the places we conference in – so we encourage all participants to make the most of the time away. This might mean departing earlier than the rest of the group and visiting other destinations before meeting up with the main group at the conference or staying on at the conclusion and doing some additional travel.
Either way – our consultants are perfectly positioned to assist you with making these arrangements and will do all the hard work for you – seamlessly combining your personalised itinerary with the group program.
Amaco is an Accredited Education Provider for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural & Remote Medicine.
Each conference we run includes an education syllabus that assists GP’s, pharmacists and health professionals to improve the quality of care they provide to patients and customers while at the same time providing them the opportunity to travel to and experience new and exciting destinations.
Our conference will allow delegates the opportunity to earn CPD points based on the content and time in session. As has been the case with past conferences, we will work closely with participants affiliated with other associations to ensure that they receive maximum recognition for attending the conference.
The content of the education sessions will be relevant to GPs, Medical Specialists, Pharmacists, Dentists, Nurses and other health providers. We encourage all attendees to register for the conference sessions.
The Education Committee for the Grand Caucasus Conference will be selected in the third or fourth quarter of 2020 with final conference topics to be chosen based on the feedback from our previous conference attendees and with input from the RACGP, ACRRM and Medical Journals. Suitable speakers will be approached based on the topics selected.
Subject to final accreditation, the Grand Caucasus Conference will include 2 x Accredited Education Activities (formerly Category 1 Activity) affording delegates the opportunity to earn up to 2 x 40 points.
ACRRM members can also expect the education program to be accredited and to earn CPD points. RACGP and ACRRM accreditation will be applied for under the triennium 2020 to 2022.
As has been the case in the past, Amaco will work with pharmacy bodies and those affiliated with other associations to ensure that they receive maximum recognition for attending the conference.
We welcome applications from potential presenters and encourage anyone interested to contact us to obtain further information.
