Let us introduce Armenia to you: rich cultural heritage and ancient history, architectural masterpieces of Tatev Monastery, Noravank and pagan temple of Garni; natural pearls of Dilijan and Sevan; authentic cuisine and a rich bouquet of wines and brandy!
All tastes and colors of Armenia are gathered in one tour!
Day 1: Yerevan
Arrival at Zvartnots International Airport. You will be met by our guide and transferred to the hotel. After check-in and a short rest, we set off for getting acquainted with our pink city, as we like to call Yerevan. During the city tour you will immediately feel the warm spirit of the ancient city: Republic Square with famous fountains (pulpulaks), from where you can drink fresh water; Northern Avenue, built up with modern buildings; Swan Lake at the Opera and Ballet Theater; the architectural complex "Cascade" scattered with interesting sculptures by famous masters. Let’s have a photo session for children with different animal sculptures at the Gafesjyan Art Center on the Cascade. The first evening of your stay in Armenia will finish with a welcome dinner in one of numerous restaurants of national cuisine.
Return to the hotel.
Note! For tourists with children, we recommend visiting the Microminiature Museum by Ter-Kazaryan. You will find yourselves in a quite different world, since all usual objects are exhibited in the smallest sizes, some of them can only be seen under a microscope. Vibrant impressions are guaranteed!
Day 2: Yerevan – Haghartsin – Dilijan – Sevan
Breakfast at the hotel. We are going to have a wonderful trip to the most beautiful corners of Armenia. The first destination of our trip is the monastery of Haghartsin (11th-12th centuries), which is ideally located near the city of Dilijan among dense emerald forests. You will feel peace and tranquility in the courtyard of the monastery of Haghartsin which is considered a white pearl of Armenian architecture among wooded mountains. We leave Haghartsin for Dilijan, where we have a walk in the old district of the city. Now let’s get acquainted with Lake Sevan, the blue pearl of Armenia, which will show you all its colors as soon as you find yourselves at the top of the peninsula. Visit to Sevanavank, one of the most ancient churches in Armenia.
Delicious lunch on the lake shore. Return to Yerevan.
Optionally:
1) Gata -baking master class in Haghartsin
2)A master - class of cooking national dishes in one of the restaurants in Dilijan
Note! For tourists with children, we recommend visiting the rope park “Verev" in Dilijan. An adrenaline rush is provided
Day 3: the Matenadaran–Gegard -Garni
After breakfast at the hotel we are having an excursion in the most famous museum of Armenia: the Matenadaran, the largest repository of ancient manuscripts and the center of written culture of Armenia. Then we proceed to Kotayk province where we visit Geghard monastery, a unique architectural structure carved in the rock. The monastery, together with the gorge of the Azat River, is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. It was in Geghard, or in Ayrivank, as it was originally called, that the legendary spear geghard, with which the crucified Christ was killed, was kept (now it is kept in the Etchmiadzin Museum).
From the Christian monastery we go to the pagan temple of Garni, the only preserved pagan monument on the territory of Armenia,.
The Garni Temple dedicated to the Sun god (1st century), stands proudly among beautiful mountains.
Tourists are attracted not only by the beauty of temples and monasteries, but also by wonderful nature, breathtaking landscapes, clean mountain air and tasty organic food. Lunch at a local restaurant, where you will have a bonus: a master class of baking lavash (national Armenian bread).
Return to Yerevan. Free evening for new experiences: numerous cafes, pubs, restaurants are waiting for you. Or you can just enjoy the evening with a glass of wine in the wine corner of our city -in Saryan Street.
Note! For tourists with children, we recommend a master class in pottery or on the preparation of sweet sujuh at “ Noyan Aygi “ center in Garni.
Day 4: Khor Virap –Noravank –Tatev –Areni
Early breakfast at the hotel. A rich excursion program awaits us today. The first stop is the fortress monastery of Khor Virap, where Christianity originated, and from the walls of which a majestic view of Mount Ararat opens.
While driving in Vayots Dzor, it will seem to you that you are somewhere far away in America, among the red rocks. If you're lucky, you can spot Bezoar goats among the sheer cliffs. The mountains of Vayots Dzor hide Noravank monastery, another pearl of Armenian medieval architecture .
Throughout Vayots Dzor, especially in Areni where wine-making originated more than 6000 years ago, you will find one epic initiative called the Vayots Dzor Wine Route. This wine route currently consists of six awesome wineries. Lunch and wine tasting in one of these wineries.
The must-see place in Armenia is Tatev, one of the wonderful combinations of nature and architecture. On “the Wings of Tatev”, which is the name of one of the longest cable cars in the world, we fly to the monastery. A 12-minute flight, the breathtaking beauty of the Vorotan Gorge - and we are at the walls of the Tatev Monastery, which was founded in the 9th century, and in the 14th and 16th centuries became the most important center of science and education in Armenia. At the end of the 14th century, a large university was founded on the territory of the monastery.
Our guide will tell you the most mysterious stories about the monastery. After a delicious dinner in Tatev
we will return to Yerevan.
Day 5: Vernissage –Zvartnots –Echmiadzin –"Ararat" brandy factory
Breakfast at the hotel. Our guide will accompany you to the Vernissage, a fair of handicrafts in the center of Yerevan. Here you can buy a lot of interesting, extraordinary souvenirs, handmade silver or wood items. A colorful atmosphere is guaranteed, even if you do not buy anything, you will feel the spirit of this ancient people who has rich historical heritage.
The next destination of our trip is the ruins of the Zvartnots temple (included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List).
After observing the ruins we are going to Etchmiadzin, the spiritual and administrative center of the Armenian Apostolic Church. In Etchmiadzin we will have lunch, then we will visit the Museum of Relics and the oldest Christian church, the mother church, founded in the 4th century.
Return to Yerevan. Let’s have brandy tasting at “Ararat” brandy factory.
The highlight of our program is a gala dinner in one of the authentic restaurants in Yerevan.
Note! For tourists with children, we recommend various master classes at “ Machanents” Art Center in Etchmiadzin.
Day 6: Yerevan - Airport
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
The price of the program includes:
