Discover Armenia (AM-AYT-03)

Arrive at the airport. Meet & greet, transfer to your hotel.

Overnight: Yerevan

Start tour in the capital of Armenia and explore the important sightseeing places of 2794 years old Yerevan city. The Tsitsernakaberd Monument is designed to memorialize the innocent victims of the first Genocide of the 20th century. Visit Genocide museum. Depart for the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the worldwide Armenian Church. Visit St. Hripsime church (7th c.). Hripsime was a Christian nun who refused to marry the roman emperor and left to Armenia. Visit the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin (302-303 AD) the oldest state-built church in the world and the seat of the Catholicos. Return to Yerevan and stopover for Zvartnots temple (means “celestial angels”) 7th century wonderful architectural masterpiece. The remnants of Zvartnots, even in ruins, are a majestic sight. These sights are listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Drive back to Yerevan.

Meals: (B/L/D)
Overnight: Yerevan

Drive to the Carpet Factory which is a great opportunity not only to see the unique examples of handmade rugs but also to watch the process of the rug weaving. Continue tour to historical Khor-Virap monastery (4- 17th cc.). Take the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful view to the biblical Ararat Mountain, were Noah’s arch cast anchor. Khor-Virap monastery (means «deep dungeon») rests atop a little hill; it is where Grigor Luisavorich (St. Gregory the Illuminator) was imprisoned for 13 years before adapting Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD. Proceed and visit Areni wine factory to taste local wine made from the special sorts of Areni grape. It is famous for its various kinds of wines. Visit Noravank 13th c. (means “New Monastery”) a masterpiece of Armenian architecture which is situated in a narrow gorge and encircled by tall, sheer, brick-red cliffs highlighting spectacular nature of Vayots Dzor province. Proceed to Goris – a beautiful city with a very charming regional style of stone architecture surrounded by high mountains and some great rock formations striving to the sky with ancient cave settlement.

Meals: (B/L)
Overnight: Goris

Drive 20 minutes and appear in a fantastic cave village with a picturesque view to the ruins of an old village, churches, tombs, nature, springs and a new bridge that spans the gorge. Khndzoresk is an ideal place for hiking. In the end of the 19th century Old Khndzoresk was the biggest village of Eastern Armenia. Use the world’s longest reversible ropeway (5,7 km) to transfer to Tatev Monastery. The 9th century Tatev monastic complex is located on a large basalt plateau near the village of the same name in part of Zangezur. Monastery is known for the unique monument called “Gavazan” (pillar) which aimed to give early warning signals about possible earthquakes and invaders. Continue to the first observatory in the world – Karahoonj (kar-means stone, hoonj-means voice, sound). It has a history of 7.500 years and scientists believe that there is a tight connection between the observatory in Armenia and Stonehenge in Britain, since the latter is much younger (about 4000 years). Transfer to Yeghegnadzor.

Meals: (B/L)
Overnight: Yeghegnadzor

Drive through the Selim Pass (2410m) and visit the Caravanserai built in 1332, by Prince Chesar Orbelian. It used to be an important trade point on the famous Silk Road in order to accommodate weary travelers and their animals as they crossed from, or into, the Selim Mountains. Drive across Lake Sevan and visit Noratus Cemetery a medieval cemetery with a large number of early khachkars (cross-stones) dating back to 10th century. Finally we reach Lake Sevan the largest lake in Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is also one of the largest fresh-water high-altitude lakes in the world. This huge mountain lake is situated at an altitude of about 1,900 meters above sea level. Visit Sevanavank 9th c. in the peninsula which used to be an island before. Note that the track leading to monastery consists of 220 stairs. Passing Sevan-Dilijan tunnel we appear in the fabulous forested resort town of Dilijan.

Meals: (B/L)
Overnight: Dilijan

Drive to Lermontovo village to meet Molokans a religious movement, among the Russian peasants that refused to obey the Russian Orthodox Church in the beginning of 17th century. It has the feel of an ethnic Russian village where villagers live according to long-held traditions. After a nice host in Molokans’ village, drive to medieval Armenian monastery complexes of Haghpat (976 AD) and Sanahin (966 AD) which are inscribed in UNESCO world heritage list. Drive to Dendropark Botanical Garden (35 hectare) that features a diversity of tree species brought from different regions of the world. It is also a place of rest, green and fresh, even during hottest times of summer. Return to Yerevan.

Meals: (B/L)
Overnight: Yerevan

Depart for one of the impregnable fortresses of medieval Armenia – Amberd is a fortress complex (7-13th cc.) with the walls, Vahramashen church (1026), the bathroom and other sections built on the rocky eminence on the slopes of Mt. Aragats at 2,300 meters above sea level. Continue towards Byurakan Observatory an astronomical observatory located on the slope of Mount Aragats, the highest peak of Armennia, in the village of Byurakan. It was one of the main astronomy centers of the USSR. Continue to Ashtarak one of the oldest cities of Armenia with numerous historical and cultural monuments that allowed the town to retain the flavor of the ancient and beautiful Armenian town on the left bank of Kasagh River along the gorge. Visit Perch Proshyan House Museum and be a part of “Tonatsuyts “Early Music Theatre*. Visit Karmravor church (7th c.) that used to be a family chapel. Drive back to Yerevan.

Meals: (B/L)
Overnight: Yerevan

* Participation in Revival of Armenian traditional and cultural festivals and rituals representing Armenian medieval and folk songs, dances, musical instruments, customs and ritual food (Minimum participants 6 pax).

Visit the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts – Matenadaran the state repository that holds one of the world’s richest depositories of medieval manuscripts and books. Drive to Kotayk province and visit Garni fortress (3rd-2nd cc.BC) the summer residence of the kings and Garni temple (1st c.) which is the only survived pagan temple of heathen culture in Armenia. Nowadays the ruins of the royal palace and the bathroom with a stunning mosaic work can be found near the temple. Northeast of Garni, higher up the gorge of Azat River, there is an outstanding monument of medieval Armenian architecture – Geghard monastery (4-12th cc.) listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Drive to Arinj city and visit the underground cave/museum dug by Levon. It’s interesting to realize that it’s a handmade labyrinth of a cave, with stairs, rooms, chambers, open shafts and sculpting was supposed to be a simple potato cellar. Drive back to Yerevan.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Meals: (B) Transfer: Hotel-Airport