The Story of ArArAt Brandy

ArArAt brandy is just one of many the tasty drinks you’ll try on the Caucasian Challenge.       After a long day driving on the Caucasian Challenge, whether participants have been racing along Turkey’s Black Sea Coast; driving through Georgia’s stunning mountain regions; or searching for ruins in remote Armenia, we like to celebrate in […]

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Turkey’s Black Sea Cities

Turkey’s Black Sea Cities: Sinop, Trabzon, and Rize.     The Caucasian Challenge minimal assistance rally sets off from Istanbul, and we spend another night in Turkey before we reach Georgia. We’re massive fans of Turkey’s Black Sea Coast, and its glorious scenery: white beaches, green forests, and rolling hills. We always spend a night camping, and partying, […]

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The Moments that Made the Caucasian Challenge Special

We recount some of the moments that made the Caucasian Challenge 2016 special.         There are fewer than five months till the this year’s Caucasian Challenge, and we’re getting excited by looking at back at the Caucasian Challenge 2016. We’ve recounted our highlights of each leg of the journey, from leaving Istanbul to the finishing party in […]

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Guest Post: Tony’s Caucasian Challenge Story

A guest post from Tony Thorndike, Caucasian Challenge participant (and winner)!       Tony Thorndike is a veteran of Travel Scientists rallies, a lifetime traveler who thinks nothing of driving from the UK to Bishkek, and back! He and his son-in-law Rob won the Caucasian Challenge in 2016, earning a reputation as a charming pair who loved to […]

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Caucasian Challenge Day 11: Party in Yerevan

The Caucasian Challenge 2016 had a great final day, as teams visited Tatev Monastery en route to the party in Yerevan.     After ten incredible days of driving, socialising, experiencing the weird and the wonderful, the Caucasian Challenge was almost over. On Day 11 the team’s task was to make it to the finish […]

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Caucasian Challenge Day 10: Secret Adventures

Day 10 of the Caucasian Challenge was dedicated to secret adventures, which we can’t really tell you about.       On Day 10 of the Caucasian Challenge we explored Nagorno-Karabkh, before driving along the Iranian border on our way to Kapan, in Southern Armenia. We can’t tell you everywhere we explored, but it was […]

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Caucasian Challenge 2016 Day 9: The Weirdest Village in the Caucasus?

  On Day 9 of the Caucasian Challenge 2016, we traveled to maybe the weirdest village in the Caucasus.         After one night at glorious Sevan Lake, on Day 9 it time to leave Armenia… sort of. Our destination was the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, the subject of a conflict between Azerbaijan and […]

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Caucasian Challenge 2016 Day 8: Driving to Armenia

After a rest in Tbilisi, Day 8 of the Caucasian Challenge 2016 meant driving to Armenia.       The Caucasian Challenge took a break of Day 7, with the teams free to navigate the wonderful city of Tbilisi. There was a lot to do: cable cars taking visitors to the historic Narikala fortress, sulphur baths amid […]

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Tsitsernakaberd: The Armenian Genocide Complex

  The Armenian Genocide Complex is found on Yerevan’s Tsitsernakaberd hill.         At Tsitsernakaberd you can find both a monument to, and much information about, the most traumatic time in Armenian history. The site is an essential place to visit on any visit to Yerevan, although it can obviously be an upsetting experience. On Armenian […]

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The Armenian Alphabet Monument

Ever gazed at an Armenian-language road sign and gave three silent cheers for GPS? Or wondered how something so utterly either un-ciryllic or non-latin-like could have materialized in this nook of the world, as if by magic? If so, wonder no more, but fold yourself into your favourite shape and absorb the story of the […]

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