Day 1.Yerevan.
Arrival at Zvartnots International Airport. Pick up and transfer to the hotel. After accommodation and rest you will have a welcome lunch / or dinner at the restaurant.
Return to the hotel.
Day 2.Yerevan - City -tour.
After breakfast you will have a guided tour round Yerevan. The tour starts with a visit to the National Museum of History on the main square. Then you will have a walk along the Northern Avenue to the building of the National Opera and Ballet Theatre. In a few hundred meters we will come to a beautiful square full of interesting statues such as of a cat, a teapot, a deer. The walking tour finishes at the magnificent architectural structure –the Cascades designed by Tamanyan. Inside the Cascade you will visit The Cafesjian Center for the Arts which is dedicated to bringing the best of contemporary art to Armenia and presenting the best of Armenian culture to the world. The Center offers a wide variety of exhibitions, including a selection of important work from the Gerard L. Cafesjian Collection of contemporary art.
After lunch you will have a visit to Megerian Carpet factory famous for its beautiful carpets with unusual ornaments.
Return to the hotel.
Day 3.Yerevan-Garni-Gegard -Yerevan << Ararat >>Brandy Factory
Breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast, we ‘ll depart to Garni, where among beautiful mountains proudly stands the temple of Garni (1c A.D), the only preserved pagan temple in Armenia. Lunch at a local restaurant.
Then you will visit Gegard Monastery, a unique architectural structure, carved in the rocks. The monastery is included in the list of World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. During this tour you will also have a master class of lavash baking.
Return to Yerevan. The tour will continue to << Ararat >> Brandy Factory where you will taste the best sorts of Armenian brandy.
Return to the hotel. Evening is free.
Day 4.Yerevan- Khor Virap -Noravank - Tatev (overnight)
Being in Armenia and not to see one of the most wonderful combinations of nature and architecture - Tatev ?!
In the morning we’ll leave for the beautiful region of Syunik. Before reaching Tatev we will see a few famous landmarks of Armenia: Khor Virap and a majestic panorama of Mount Ararat from the walls of the fortress, Noravank monastery among the red rock cliffs.
Arrival in Halidzor. Then you will take the longest ropeway <> and fly to the monastery.
12 minutes of flight plus breathtaking beauty of Vorotan Gorge- we’ll reach Tatev monastery complex.
Tatev monastery was founded in the 9th century, and in the 14-16 centuries became one of the main centers of science and education in Armenia. At the end of the 14th century in the monastery there was founded a university.
After visiting the monastery - accommodation and dinner in a guest house in Tatev village.
Day 5.Tatev -Areni -Yerevan
This day you will be sunk in warm atmosphere of a country house: ethno -breakfast in the guesthouse, master class of lavash baking or acquaintance with country life of Tatev. Departure from Tatev.
On the way back you will see the Armenian Stonehendge- Karahunj or Zorats Carrer observatory near town of Sisiana. You will also have a stop in Areni where you can taste and buy wine. Return to the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 6. Yerevan <> -Echmiadzin -Zvartnots -Yerevan.
Breakfast in the hotel. You will have an excursion to the most famous Armenian Museum –the Matenadaran, the largest repository of ancient manuscripts and the center of the Armenian written culture.
The next point of our excursion is Echmiadzin, the spiritual and administrative center of the Armenian Apostolic Church. You will visit the Cathedral, the churches of St. Gayane, Hripsime and Shoghakat. Lunch in Echmiadzin.
The tour will finish with a visit of the ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral.
Return to Yerevan.
Day 7. Yerevan -Oshakan-Ashtarak--Tsiranavor Karmravor -Sagmosavank -<> winery
In the morning you will have a guided tour to a place very special to every Armenian - Oshakan, the place where the Armenian letters were created by Mesrop Mashtots. Here you will visit the Mesrop Mashtots Church of (19c.) and his grave. Then the excursion will continue to Ashtarak where you will see Tsiranavor (5c.) and Karmravor (7c) churches which are good examples of Armenian architecture of the early Middle Ages, and the Saghmosavank monastery (13c).
Then you will have a tour to the << ArmAs >> winery where you immerse yourselves in the enchanting beauty and uniqueness of Armenian culture and hospitality.
The vineyards and factory are located near Nor Edesia village in Aragatsotn region.
Upon arrival at the estate our tour starts with a walk along hundreds of acres of magnificent vineyards and orchards. Then we continue the excursion around the factory when you get acquainted with production process. The tour will end by tasting of premium wines in the tasting hall which overlooks the majestic Mount Ararat. Return to Yerevan. Free evening.
Day 8.Yerevan -Sevan- Dilijan (Old Town) -Agartsin -Goshavank-Dilijan(overnight)
Breakfast at the hotel. You will have a great chance to see and admire Lake Sevan,the blue pearl of Armenia, and Dilijan, co called Armenian-Switzerland . In Sevan you will visit Sevanavank on the peninsula.Arrival in Dilijan. The town is famous for traditional Armenian architecture and beautiful nature. You will see old Dilijan and go outside the town to Haghartsin Monastery (11-12c) which is 18 km from the town.
The next point of our tour is Goshavank monastery (12-13cc.), one of the largest cultural, educational and religious centers of medieval Armenia.
Return to Dilijan and transfer to a local hotel.
Day 9. Dilijan -Odzun-Sanahin -Haghpat -Yerevan
In the morning you will go to Lori region. Here surrounded by rows of wooded mountains you will visit, Odzun (6c.), one of the oldest monasteries; monastery complexes of Haghpat and Sanahin, the famous spiritual and cultural centers of medieval Armenia, which are included in World Heritage List by UNESCO.
Return to Yerevan. Transfer to the hotel.
Optionally: excursion to the house-museum of brothers Mikoyan in Sanahin.
Day 10.Yerevan-airport
Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Depending on your flight you can go to Vernissage, a large open-air market with collections of different types of traditional Armenian art works. Some souvenirs will be bought by you without fail.
The price of the program includes:
-All transfers
-All excursions according to the program
- Guide service during the whole program
-Accommodation in hotels 3 *, 4 * or 5 *.
-Brandy and wine –tasting
Entrance fees for museums and historical complexes
-Tickets for the << Wings of Tatev >> cable car
The price of the program does not include:
-International flight
-Master-classes in Tatev
-Optional excursions
-Tips
-Personal expenses
