Armenia Tour

Arrival at Zvartnots international Airport. Transfer by Deluxe coaches to the hotel (15 km from Yerevan, 15 minutes drive).

Breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast we start the city tour around Yerevan. Yerevan is one of the oldest cities in the world having also its testimony of birth –an inscription of the foundation of Erebouni fortress by Argishti 1st (782 BC). We start our day with visiting the Victory park in order to admire the beautiful panorama of the city and the fantastic view to Mount Ararat. Then we contine our walking to The Cascade with Gafeschian Centre of Art dedicated to bringing the best of contemporary art from all over the world to Armenia and presenting the best of Armenian culture to the world. Inspired by the vision of its founder, Mr. Gerard L. Cafesjian, the Center offers a wide variety of exhibitions, the majority of which are derived from Mr. Cafesjian’s own extensive collection of contemporary art.

Visit the to Matenadaran Institute of ancient manuscripts, hosting the treasures of Armenian science and invaluable manuscripts since the 5th century and containing about 17,000 ancient manuscripts – the largest collection in the world. The short tour in the Matenadaran will be exclusively guided by the most prominent specialists of the Institute.

Visit to the extraordinary History Museum with departments of archeology, ethnography and numismatics documenting the history of Armenia from ancient times to the present.

Visit to a Yerevan Brandy Factory with an exclusively guided excursion and tasting of various types/ages of the famous Armenian Brandy – an inalienable attribute of life for many generations. Having preserved the traditions of brandy production since 1887, today ARARAT is one of the most famous and successful brands in Armenia. Only local varieties of grape are used in the production which takes place in the unique microclimate of the Ararat Valley.

Drive to Echmiadzin city (the so called Armenian Vatican city) for a visit to the Cathedral and the Museum of Treasurers of Armenian Apostolic Church (which wil be open after the liturgy). Reputed to be one of the world’s oldest cathedrals, Echmiadzin (World UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site) is also a special place of pilgrimage for all Armenians around the world. Echmiadzin is also the official residence of the Catholikos (Highest clerical rank of Armenian Apostolic Church similar to the Pop for Catholics) of all the Armenians. The Cathedral, built in the IV century, is the first official Christian Church in the World.

Lunch in a special authentic environment in Echmiadzin. The ethnic environment is organized by a family of the Cross of Armenian Unity. The group can go down to the winery of the owner where he himself makes wine and keeps it in the big barrels. The group can also take part in the process of carpet weaving or make Armenian dishes. The Cross of Armenian Unity is a charity NGO founded in 1991 the aim of which is to provide humanitarian assistance to orphans and help them successfully integrate in the social life. The group can also assist the development of an NGO by purchasing items made by local orphans.

Excursion to Zvartnots Temple – another UNESCO site – built in the 7th Century and a majestic sight, as well as being of extreme architectural value.

Continue to Geghard Cave Monastery (4th-12th centuries) -a UNESCO World Heritage site. The monastery is situated 40 km away from Yerevan and is partially carved in the rock, assuring the great acoustics of the sacred place. An emotionally moving concert of early medieval Armenian Religious Music in the cave part of the monastery.

We drive to Garni village from where we start hiking to the gorge that takes about 1 hour, where you can admire the natural beauty of the cliff walls of basalt columns known as the “Symphony of Stones”. Visit to the Garni pagan temple (1st century AD – World UNESCO Heritage sight) with its roman mosaic. Garni is the only pagan temple remaining in Armenia and from where there is a great panoramic view of Azat river gorge and Khosrov state reserve opens. A touching duduk (national musical instrument made of apricot tree) performance will be organized in the temple.

A special dinner will be organized at the house of an Armenian rural family (or in a local restaurant) with a demonstration of Armenian Bread “Lavash” baking process in an underground traditional oven.

Drive to Gegharqunik region to enjoy the beauty of Armenian pearl-Lake Sevan. The Lake is the highest sweet water lake in the Caucasus (2000m above sea level) and is one of the prides of the Armenians. It is also rich in different types of fish and is especially famous for its trout. Lunch in a restaurant Bashinjaghyan in Sevan.

Drive to the old cemetery of cross-stones, Noraduz, with its collection of khachkars – the largest in Armenia – and where the oldest khachkar dates back to the 10th century. Then we continue to the Selim Pass – one of the best preserved caravanseries in Armenia dating back to the 13th century and part of the Silk Road.

Drive to Stepanakert. On the way we also visit the ancient observatory of Karahunj (otherwise called Zorats Karer). Constructed 6000 years ago, the observatory was used for 4000 years and is one of the oldest and well-preserved evidence of pre-historic civilization.

Drive to Tatev and take the cable car to the Monastery (9-14th century). The cable car is 5,7 km long – the longest in the world. We take the cable car to Halidzor village. On the way you can enjoy the breathtaking view over the River Vorotan and the canyon from above. Excursion around the monastery.

Dinner and overnight in Goris.

We make a short detour on a narrow road that somehow finds its way through an outlandish narrow, rocky gorge emerging into a dramatic scenery of rocky mountainous landscape. As the road leads higher into this amazing valley, above looms the incredibly located Noravank Monastery – a unique construction, spectacularly surrounded by red cliffs. We’ll leave you to contemplate for yourself just what an incredible feat it must have been to construct this monastery in such a location in the 13th Century as you enjoy the spectacular views.

Lunch in a very nice restaurant with cottages resembling the prototype of the traditional Armenian houses.

Drive to Khor Virap on the way visiting Areni village famous for its wine and viticulture. The landscapes suggest that this is a relatively hot and relatively dry part of Armenia and so not surprisingly is also renowned for its wine production too. This area of Armenia is believed to be the location of one of the oldest wine producers in the world as over 6500 years old winery was recently discovered. A special visit to the oldest cave winery. Drive to Ararat valley which is dominated by Bibilical mount Ararat. Our first stop is Khor Virap Monastery (dates back to the 4th century). From the monastery you are only 20 km away from the Turkish border. From here you’ll admire the beauty of Mount Ararat. Visit the chapel which was constructed over the deep dungeon where Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years. Drive back to Yerevan. Dinner and overnight in Yerevan.

After breakfast drive to Saghmosavank monastery. The monastery got its name from the saghmos – religious songs that were sung in churches and monasteries. And literally translated it means the Monastery of religious songs.

Amberd is nicely nestled on the triangular plateau formed by the rivers Arkashen and Amberd. From here you can admire the beautiful scenery to Mount Ararat from the south-east and to Mount Ara from north-east.

Continue to Alaverdi via Vanadzor – the 3rd largest city in Armenia and Spitak – the town that suffered greatly from the 1988 earthquake. On the way you ca also see the villages and the old cemetery of Yazidis – a minority living in the territory of Armenia mainly in Aragatsotn region close to the slopes of Aragats. On the way you will also have the opportunity to stop at the monument to Armenian alphabet where you can find all the letters and also the monument to the creator and prominent Armenian writers.

Drive to Dilijan (known among armenians as “Small Switzerland” for its surrounding forests). Visit to the historical centre of the city. Then we continue our way through the villages of Molokans to Sevan. Molokans (in russian they are called “Milk drinkers” ) are Christian sectarians, russian peasants who refused to obey the rules of Russian Orthodox church, at the end of the 17th century. They call themselves “True spiritual christians”. They were exiled to Armenia in the 19th century and have been living in Armeni ever since keeping more or less the same lifestyle.

Farewell dinner in Yerevan.

Transfer to Yerevan airport for return flights.