#1 The Caucasus is one of the most culturally diverse regions in the world.
#2 It was a main cultural centre during the Middle Ages, influencing all the Byzantine world and Asia.
#3 Rome, Byzantium, the Ottomans, Persians and Russians have added to it so it is like Europe and Asia in a nutshell.
#4 Around 40 unique languages are spoken in the Caucasus (plus others from surrounding areas). These belong to 5 different language families and use 4 different scripts. 3 of these language families don’t exist anywhere else.
#5 There is a huge variety of amazing landscapes – from the highest peaks in Europe, to seaside resorts; from beautiful lakes and forests to lunar landscapes.
#6 It has beautiful mediaeval churches decorated with the finest orthodox frescoes and mosaics.
#7 The food is a fantastic mixture between Europe, Turkey, the Levant and Central Asia.
#8 Georgians claim wine was invented in their country. They have many different unique grape varieties and continue using qvevri (large earthen vessels) for fermentation, ageing and storage.
#9 You can eat caviar from the Caspian Sea at Azerbaijan.
#10 You can taste Armenian Ararat brandy, Winston Churchill’s favourite. He tried in the Yalta Conference and Stalin sent him bottles every year as a present.
#11 In Yerevan, you can taste Syrian food brought by Armenian repatriates from Aleppo fleeing the Syrian civil war, as well as Eastern Armenian grilled meat.
#12 The capital cities are very vibrant. Tbilisi and Baku have a mediaeval heritage, while Yerevan was rebuilt following a rationalist urban grid.
#13 There are old monasteries and towns carved on the rock, or even underground!
#14 And it also has an obvious Soviet legacy.
#15 There are not many tourists, especially outside Tbilisi and Baku, so it preserves its authenticity.
#16 The Caucasus has a troubled history that continues to this day, as a battleground for foreign powers and the Easternmost frontier between Christianity and Islam.
#17 South Caucasus is divided into 3 recognised republics and 3 largely unrecognised states, post-Soviet frozen conflict zones.
#18 It is a safe destination and you can travel and drive on your own without any problem.
#19 It has been an exotic destination of choice for real travellers since the 19th century and inspiration for poets, like Pushkin.
#20 It will be an unforgettable and affordable trip.
There are many more reasons to travel to such a marvellous region… we are sure you will want to go back! So, what are you waiting for? You can check the best flights to the Caucasus using this search form, that includes an insurance if you make a connection with different airlines!
