Day 1. Yerevan
Arrival at the International airport Zvartnots. You will be met and transferred by our guide to the hotel. Accommodation and rest in the hotel. Then you will have a welcome lunch / dinner in one of traditional restaurants.
Return to the hotel.
Day 2. Yerevan – City -tour
After breakfast we will have a guided city tour in Yerevan. The tour starts with a visit to the National Museum of History on the main square. After the excursion in the Museum you will walk along the Northern Avenue to the building of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet. After a few hundred meters we’ll find ourselves in a beautiful square with interesting statues of a big black cat by Botero, a teapot, deer, and see the magnificent architectural structure – the Cascade. The next destination of our tour is the monument of Mother Armenia in the Victory Park.
Lunch. The excursion will continue to Megerian carpet factory which is famous for its beautiful carpets with unusual ornaments. Return to the hotel.
Day 3. Yerevan – Garni – Gegard – Yerevan <> brandy factory
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Garni, where among the beautiful mountains proudly stands the temple of Garni (the 1century A.D), the only preserved pagan temple in Armenia. According to some scholars it was built by king Tiridates I in the first century AD as a temple to the sun god Mihr. After Armenia's conversion to Christianity in the early fourth century, it was converted into a royal summer residence.
Proceeding to Gegard, a medieval monastery complex, a unique architectural structure partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. Gegard is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During this tour you will also have a master class of lavash – baking, the national Armenian bread.
Return to Yerevan. The tour will continue to the << Ararat >> brandy factory with tasting some best sorts of Armenian brandy.
Return to the hotel. Free evening for walking in the city center or sitting in a café at a cup of coffee or just relaxing in a warm atmosphere.
Day 4. Yerevan – the Matenadaran – Echmiadzin – Zvartnots – Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the most famous Armenian Museum – the Matenadaran, the largest repository of ancient manuscripts and research institute. It holds one of the world's richest depositories of medieval manuscripts and books which span a broad range of subjects, including history, philosophy, medicine, literature, art history and cosmography in Armenian and many other languages.
The next point of our excursion is Echmiadzin, the spiritual and administrative center of the Armenian Apostolic Church. You will see the Echmiadzin Cathedral, the mother cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the churches of St. Gayane, Hripsime and Shogagat. Lunch in Echmiadzin.
On the back way you will have a visit to the ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral (meaning "celestial angels"), a 7th-century Armenian cathedral built by the order of Catholicos Nerses the Builder from 643-652.
Return to the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 5. Yerevan – Oshakan – Ashtarak – Tsiranavor – Karmravor – Saghmosavank – wine factory
In the morning after breakfast you will have a guided tour to one of the most sacred places for Armenian people – Oshakan, the cradle of the Armenian alphabet. Here you will visit the Church of Mesrop Mashtots (19c.), the creator of the Armenian alphabet, and his grave. Then proceeding to Ashtarak where you will visit Tsiranavor (13c.) and Karmravor (7c.) churches, good examples of Armenian medieval architecture, and the monastery of Saghmosavank (13c). In Ashtarak gorge you will admire a view of a unique bridge built in 1664.
In Aragatsotn region vineyards of <>- winery are stretching for several hundreds of hectares. <> is famous for its wines not only in Armenia but also far beyond its borders. You will enjoy the tour to <> wine factory where you have a walk in the vineyards and taste the best wine.
Return to the hotel, in Yerevan.
Day 6. Yerevan – Sevan – Ayravank – Noratuz – 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-Swiss. During the tour you will visit the monastery complex of Hayravank (9 c.), the ancient cemetery with khachkars in Noratuz. Arrival in Dilijan. Transfer to the hotel in Dilijan. Accommodation and rest.
Day 7. Dilijan (old town) – Hagartsin – Goshavank – Parz Lich -Dilijan (overnight)
After breakfast is a high time to discover wonders of Dilijan and its surroundings. After a short tour around old Dilijan you will go to Haghartsin Monastery (11-12 c.) which is located in the countryside of Dilijan, 18 km from the town, in a wooded valley of Ijevan ridge.
The next point of our tour is Goshavank Monastery (12-13 c.), one of the largest cultural, educational and religious centers of medieval Armenia. The tour will end with a trip to Parz Lich (Clear Lake), one of the most beautiful places of Dilijan. Walk and lunch at the lake. Enjoy the beauty and quietness of this wonderful place!
Return to the hotel in Dilijan
Day 8. Dilijan – Odzun – Sanahain – Haghpat – Yerevan
Departure from Dilijan to Lori region. You will visit one of the oldest monasteries in Odzun (6 c.) surrounded by rows of wooded mountains, and the monastery complexes Haghpat and Sanahin, two famous spiritual and cultural centers of medieval Armenia, which are listed in the World Heritage by UNESCO.
Return to Yerevan. Transfer to the hotel.
Optional: excursion to the house-museum of brothers Mikoyan in Sanahin.
Day 9. Yerevan
Free day for shopping, walking and enjoying the city.
Optional: Excursions to museums
Day 10. Yerevan – Khor Virap – Noravank – Karahunj – Goris (overnight)
To be in Armenia and not to see the glorious combination of nature and architecture – Tatev?! It’s impossible.
We are going to the wonderful region of Syunik. Before we reach Tatev monastery we will see several famous sightseeings: Khor Virap monastery, the cradle of Armenian Christianity and the panoramic view of biblical Mount Ararat, the pearl of Armenian architecture among red rocks Noravank monastery, Armenian Stonehenge - Karahunj observatory near town of Sisian. Arrival in Goris and transfer to the local hotel. Accommodation and rest.
Day 11. Goris –Tatev – Areni – Yerevan
After breakfast at the hotel we proceed to Halidzor village where you take <>, the longest ropeway in the world , to get to Tatev monastery. A 12-minute flight over picturesque Vorotan gorge and you are at the walls of Tatev complex.
The Tatev monastery was founded in the 9-th century and in the 14-16th centuries became the one of the most important centers of science and education. At the end of the 14-th century there was founded Tatev University.
After the excursion at the territory of Tatev monastery you will have a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. On the back way you will have a wine tasting in Areni winery.
Return to Yerevan.
Day 12. Yerevan – airport
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport to your flight home. If you have time you can visit 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 program includes:
-All the transfers
-English speaking guide during the program
-Accommodation in hotels (Yerevan – 8 n, Dilijan – 2n, Goris – 1n)
-All the excursions according to the program
-Entrance tickets to the historical sites (Garni, Zvartnots)
-Tickets for the ropeway
-Wine tasting in Areni,<> and brandy tasting in << Ararat>>
-Master-class of lavash-baking
