A not so common destination among my peers back then, I only heard the Caucasus Region upon moving to Dubai. The region, surprisingly, has become a popular getaway destination due to its close proximity and accessibility. A 3-hour flight away and serves by a budget carrier FlyDubai, as you can imagine, it is well marketed by travel companies. Out of our curiosity, we went backpacking back in 2019 to satiate our thirst for adventure and moved from one place to another.
DISCLAIMER & UPDATE AS OF JUNE 2024: The land border between Azerbaijan and Georgia has been closed, and the overnight train service between Baku and Tbilisi has been suspended until 2024, with no specified reopening date available at this time.
Introduction of the Caucasus Region
The Caucasus Region consists of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and technically some parts of the Southern Russia. These countries belong to โTranscontinental/Intercontinental States' in which the countries are located on more than one continent.ย
As an overview of the three countries, here are some useful information for you:
| Azerbaijan | Georgia | Armenia | |
| Capital | Baku | Tbilisi | Yerevan |
| Main Airport | GYD โ Heydar Aliyev International Airport | TBS โ Tbilisi International Airport | EVN โ Zvartnots International Airport |
| International Railway Station | Baku Central Railway Station | Tbilisi Railway Station | Yerevan Railway Station |
| Language (Main) | Azerbaijani | Georgian | Armenian |
| Religion | Islam | Orthodox Christian | Apostolic Christian |
| Currency | Azerbaijan Manat AED 1: 0.46 AZN USD 1: 1.7 AZN | Georgian Lari AED 1: 0.77 GEL USD 1: 2.82 GEL | Armenian Dram AED 1: 127.79 AMD USD 1: 469.45 AMD |
8-Days BACKPACKING Itinerary:
With lots of energy to spare and slow travel isn't my thing yet, we packed our 8-day trip with lots of activities, covering the three countries. I'll probably not gonna do it again but for reference, here's our itinerary and may you find something useful out of it.
| Day | Destination | Activities |
| 1 | Azerbaijan | Arrival, DIY Walking Tour of Old City in Baku & Trip to Yanar Dag by Public Transportation |
| 2 | Azerbaijan | Day Tour to the Mud Volcanoes and Qobustan National Park, DIY Sightseeing of Flame Towers and Heydar Aliyev Center and Overnight Train from Baku to Tbilisi via Azerbaijan Railways |
| 3 | Georgia | DIY Walking Tour of Tbilisi - Peace Bridge, Narikhala Fortress, Cable Car, Old City, Holy Trinity Church & Leaning Clock Tower |
| 4 | Georgia | Day Trip to Chronicles of Georgia by Public Transportation and transfer to Stepantsminda/Kazbegi |
| 5 | Georgia | Day Hike to Gergeti Glacier via Gergeti Trinity Church and Overnight Train from Tbilisi to Yerevan via Georgian Railway |
| 6 | Armenia | DIY Walking Tour of Yerevan - Yerevan's Republic Square, Tashir Street, Cafesjian Center & Cascade Complex, Freedom Square, Rossia Mall |
| 7 | Armenia | Day Tour to Khor Virap, Areni Cave, Noravank Monastery and Areni Winery |
| 8 | Armenia | Flight back to Dubai |
The trip was short and sweet, and for sure, we've only touched the tip of the iceberg. There are still so many things to do around the region and we're hoping to be back someday.
HIGHLIGHTS OF BACKPACKING THE CAUCASUS REGION:
While our trip is not extensive, my friend and I would like to share some impressions and highlights of our trip. Again, the below is based on our own experience and perspective and this is not meant to generalize the country either. Let's dive right in!
AZERBAIJAN - Interaction with the Locals!
For as little as 2 days, we've had so many interactions with the locals (Azerbaijani/Azeris) and we were offered nothing but kindness and helpfulness. Of course we had a fair share of a taxi driver who ripped us off however, we believe that this is pretty common in any tourist destination. Overall, the kindness of everyone who helped us overweigh the bad ones. Also, how can I forget this lovely Azeri girl who posed with me after her father asked my permission for a picture!
To be honest, there's so many locals who helped us out - an old man who helped and walked us towards our accommodation, a police officer who approached us first and asked us where do we want to go and an honest bus driver who gave me a change short of a few coins but gave the correct one to my friend Joy so that I get the right amount. Last but not the least is the lady who ran after us after her father (or maybe her uncle) instructed us to go to the wrong train platform and the Azeri mother and son as our roommates on the Overnight Train from Baku to Tbilisi! What a save!
GEORGIA - Hiking in the Mountains!
While Tbilisi is charming and chill, we felt that the landscape of Georgia especially its mountains are their biggest pride. We didn't get to hike any mountains from the neighboring countries (Azerbaijan & Armenia), so we might be a little biased here. But hear me out... Whether you're a casual hiker like us who only reached the Sabertse Pass, or if you're a serious mountaineer who wants to reach the peak of Mt. Kazbek, I believe you're in for a treat. The options in Georgia are endless and they are pretty accessible from Tbilisi.
If you want to try hiking for a couple of hours, we suggest you hike the Gergeti Trinity Church from the town of Kazbegi. And if you still have time, push your way up to Sabertse Pass and even up to the Gergeti Glacier, if you're body is still up for it!
Looking for a hiking guide? Check my hiking guide to Gergeti Glacier via Gergeti Trinity Church!
ARMENIA - Food, coffee, & monasteries!
Everybody have different food preferences for so many reasons - allergies, being a picky eater (like me), and even dietary restrictions. Fret not because we find Armenia (or at least Yerevan), quite accommodating when it comes to food choices! Food chains of your familiar convenience are available in Yerevan such as Burger King and Cinnabon. Not only that, there still more options than you can imagine so you will not need to worry being hungry in Yerevan.
Not only the food choices are abundant, it's also applicable for coffee and monasteries. For coffee lovers, you can find as low as 500 AMD from small kiosks or you can buy as high as 3000 AMD from fancy cafes. As for the monasteries, you don't have to search far because they are always part of the tour. It's just a matter of selecting which monasteries to visit as you don't want to just do monasteries hopping on your entire trip, isn't it?
Personal Thoughts from Backpacking Caucasus Region:
After our short trip backpacking the Caucasus Region, there's definitely a lot more to see. However, the trip was a good experience since we are already familiar with each country and we can plan our next visit accordingly. To summarize what's best in each country (according to our point of view), check out the below:
- Local Interaction? Head to Azerbaijan by starting in Baku!
- Mountain and Hiking lover? None other than Georgia!
- Food, coffee and monastery hopping? Definitely Armenia!
Now that you know what's in store from each of them, make sure to add them on your travel inspirations!
