Planning a trip through the Caucuses comes with some challenges—namely transportation. But, after reading several travel blogs on the subject, I devised this efficient travel plan to maximize time and convenience.

1. Fly to Baku. Once there, taxis are widely available. If you don’t speak Russian or Azerbaijani, don’t worry. Lots of people speak at least some English or have a friend that does. One taxi driver called a friend and had me explain to him where I needed to go and that worked out fine.
2. Book day tours to nearby sites (Qobustan, Ateshgah and Yanar Dag) through Viator. You’ll get a driver and an English-speaking guide. Easy-peasy.
3. Arrange a taxi from Baku to Sheki. To avoid the local bus, arrange transportation with a taxi driver in Baku. We took plenty of rides in the city and chose the driver we liked best. We paid high (around $100) but got what we paid for. The next morning, right on time, the driver’s son picked us up at our hotel in a nice car and drove us the 2½ hours to Sheki.
4. In Sheki, have your hotel call a taxi and arrange a full-day fare. Sheki is small and slow-paced but this was super convenient and inexpensive. Do a self-tour of Sheki Khan’s Palace (Xan Sarayı) and Winter Palace and the Caravanserai.
5. Arrange a taxi from Sheki to the Georgia border. I used the same driver as above. To address the language barrier, the driver used Google translate on his phone. Cost was around $30.
6. Cross the border into Georgia on foot.
7. Take a short taxi ride to Lagodekhi.
8. Arrange a GoTrip driver to pick you up in Lagodekhi and take you to Tbilisi. Along the way, stop in Telavi for a winery tour. Georgian wine is different than European wine and it is fantastic.
   • With GoTrip, you select a tour or transport or create your own trip and then choose from available drivers. You’ll see a photo of your driver and their vehicle plus reviews. Your driver will also make any stops you want in between.
9. In Tbilisi, stay in a centrally located hotel. Walk and take taxis.
10. Use GoTrip for day tours to Gori, Uplistsikhe and Kazbegi.
11. If not traveling on to Armenia, do a full-day tour of northern Armenia through Kartveli Tours and return to Tbilisi.
12. Fly out of Tbilisi.

Note: If traveling to both Armenia and Azerbaijan, visit Azerbaijan first. An Armenian stamp in your passport may make entering Azerbaijan difficult.

Photos

• Georgia
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan